Two IPAF Women Named in Trade Association Forum (TAF) 2025 Awards

Ahead of International Women’s Day on Saturday 8 March, two International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) employees have been named in two of the Trade Association Forum’s (TAF) 2025 awards. 

Jo Power, Head of Membership and Communications at IPAF, who featured on the Powerlist last year, was named on the Women in Trade Associations Powerlist 2025, whilst Courtney Kellett, Events Manager, was named on the “new for 2025” 2025 30 Under 30 List. 

Jo’s vision and drive have been pivotal in the phenomenal growth of IPAF’s membership, which now stands at over 1,800 members in more than 80 countries and regions – an astonishing growth in the 14 years since she joined. She is generous with sharing her time and expertise by participating in a mentoring scheme which coaches younger women in the industry, supporting and encouraging them to speak up, be noticed, and learn new skills to empower them on their career paths. Jo is also the project lead on IPAF’s Women in Powered Access initiative – the first-ever campaign of its kind in the industry focused on promoting the roles of women in a typically male-dominated sector.  

With more than 25 years of marketing and communications experience, Jo has capably steered several key projects with safety and membership engagement at their heart. These include the introduction of the ePAL smartphone app, unique in the industry, and groundbreaking because, for the first time, this introduced a direct communication channel with key stakeholders – the machine operators – enabling the distribution of crucial safety advice with the potential to prevent injuries and save lives.   

I’m truly honoured to be featured in the Women in Trade Associations Powerlist for the second year in a row! Highlighting the role of women in a traditionally male-dominated industry like powered access is so important. There are countless opportunities for women to excel in our sector, and we should be celebrating and showcasing these success stories – just like we do through our Women in Powered Access (WiPA) case studies.

Courtney is a dynamic emerging leader in the trade association world. Since joining IPAF in 2018, she has demonstrated exceptional growth, delivering measurable impact and showcasing a strong commitment to personal and professional development. Her career trajectory, from Coordinator to Executive and most recently to the newly created role of Events Manager, reflects both her dedication and the trust IPAF places in her leadership. At IPAF, Courtney has played a vital part in driving membership growth and retention. Working with a dedicated team of regional representatives, she helped achieve a global membership retention rate of 93%, with membership growing by 7% in 2024 and 3% in 2023.  

Courtney’s event leadership is another key area of her impact. She has taken the lead on IPAF’s flagship event, the IPAF Summit & IAPAs, and has played a major role in managing the UK conference and trade shows. Her organisational expertise, alongside her marketing and membership work, has significantly boosted IPAF’s regional events, leading to higher member engagement, positive satisfaction surveys, and increased attendance. 

I'm thrilled to be named in the 2025 WiTA 30 Under 30 List! I've loved my journey at IPAF over the past seven years, more recently transitioning into the role of Events Manager. I'm excited for the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing to make an impact, especially by shaping and supporting more events that inspire and empower women in our industry.

In 2024, IPAF celebrated three women being named in the TAF awards. More information is here.