After a remarkable 26-year career with the British International Freight Association (BIFA), Robert Keen officially fully retired from the association at the end of October 2025.
Robert – known to many as Bob – has been a familiar and respected figure across the UK freight forwarding community, having personally visited countless BIFA members and tirelessly championed the industry at home and abroad.
Originally joining the BIFA secretariat full-time in 1999 as general manager, Robert brought with him significant experience from previous roles at ASM (UK), Burlington Air Express, and BAX Global.
Over the years, he became the go-to authority on the BIFA Standard Trading Conditions, co-developing both member training programmes and the Know your BIFA STC article series in BIFAlink alongside former director general Colin Beaumont.
In 2014, following the retirement of Peter Quantrill, Robert was appointed BIFA’s director general. Over the next eight years, he led the association with distinction, driving membership growth, increasing industry recognition within government, and placing a renewed focus on attracting and developing the next generation of freight professionals.
Robert also played a vital role on the global stage. He chaired FIATA’s Working Group Sea and was later appointed Secretary General of FIATA, fostering international collaboration on behalf of freight forwarders worldwide. His work with FIATA saw him attend many of its World Congress events, fulfilling a personal ambition to travel while representing UK freight forwarding interests globally.
Although Robert stepped down from his role as BIFA director general at the end of 2022, he remained with BIFA as international relations manager, continuing to support the association and its members during the transition.
Robert’s commitment to education and training in the sector was unwavering. He championed career development and was a passionate advocate for promoting freight forwarding as a rewarding profession – something he experienced first-hand from his early days in the industry.
Reflecting on his retirement, Robert said:
“As anyone heading for retirement will tell you, your working life seems to pass in the blink of an eye. My memories of 1970 are still sharp – as is my recollection of my first day at Airport Courier Services walking around Heathrow from the airline sheds to the forwarders and to the long room at Customs. Since then, forwarding has given me many great memories and some great friends.
“We are part of a fantastic community and although our profile is often low, it’s a sign that forwarders get on with the tasks at hand quietly, under the radar – which means that we are doing the job well.”
BIFA director general, Steve Parker added: “Bob has not only been a work colleague, but also a great friend, whose company and sense of humour (we know he has a sense of humour – he supports Brentford FC) I have enjoyed for many years.
“ I wish him well for a long, healthy and enjoyable retirement, as does everyone at BIFA – from the secretariat to the Board of Directors.”
