Women in Constellation: How our team are helping us take action for inclusion 

At Constellation, we believe in One Team – collaborating, sharing ideas, and acting in the interest of the group to create the best outcomes for all. That’s why, in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, we’re not just reflecting on the achievements of women across our business – we’re taking action.

We’re proud to announce the launch of Women in Constellation, our first company-wide Employee Resource Group (ERG). This initiative is designed to empower, uplift, and support women across our organisation, offering mentorship, networking, and a platform to shape a more inclusive workplace culture.

To mark this milestone, we’ve spoken to women in different roles across Constellation to hear their stories, insights, and what they think are the key steps businesses can take to create more inclusive workspaces for women. Their experiences highlight the importance of One Team in building a stronger, more inclusive cold chain – one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Rosa Matthewman

Transport Controller, Constellation UK

I started just before Christmas, and honestly, it’s been the best decision I’ve made working here. It feels like a big family; we all work together as a team to get the job done and make it better for the drivers and customers. I really enjoy my job – it’s the first job I’ve had where it doesn’t feel like work.

I’m inspired by Fiona Hamilton, the Transport Manager at Constellation. I remember the first week working alongside her and seeing how she manages the drivers. The amount of respect she gets from them just blew me away. The way she organises and plans everything to make sure all the workers alongside her and the drivers are happy, and the work is flowing without any problems, is truly inspiring.

The key steps to making a more inclusive workplace for women is to never leave anyone out and make sure everyone gets a fair chance at any work path they want to take. For example, when I went for my CPC Transport Managers Licence, I was worried that no one would give me a chance to prove I could do the role at my age (18), but they did. Transport is a growing industry for both women and men, which I love to see and makes me happy.

Helen Brookes

Transport Controller, UK

I have had the pleasure of working for Constellation Cold Logistics for almost 4 years now. I am employed as a controller and the role provides me with variety and challenges in perfect proportions.

My proudest achievement throughout my time at Constellation is more of an ongoing feeling than one particular event. It’s feeling that I am trusted to carry out tasks which could carry big consequences for license holders if not done properly. It’s feeling that my opinion matters and being trusted to act in the interests of those around me. As a person that thrives on responsibility I am extremely grateful for the opportunities Constellation has provided me with. 

We have a few women drivers now and in order to break down barriers and for them to be seen as equal we have paired up our women drivers with some of the established male drivers. This has had wonderful results and new friendships have formed as a result. We need to embrace what individuals can bring to the table – someone may bring physical strength, another emotional intelligence, someone else may bring fabulous negotiation skills. We all have multiple strengths but they need to be harvested in a nurturing environment, somewhere people feel comfortable. 

Pien van Winkoop

Site Manager, Constellation Netherlands

I work as a Site Manager in Nijkerk, where I am responsible for implementing the organisation’s strategic policies. Additionally, I focus on sales, acquiring new customers, and maintaining relationships with existing clients. 

In Nijkerk, we operate three facilities with a combined storage capacity of 65,000 pallet locations. The Nijkerk facility was expanded by 20,000 pallet locations in 2024, and this additional capacity was fully utilised within the year by both new and existing customers.

An inclusive workplace for women is based on fairness, equality, and respect. It starts with leadership. They must communicate their commitment to ensuring everyone feels at home and can build a career within

Leanne Keates

Transport Controller / Driver, Constellation UK

I have been with Constellation for 3 years now, and my role has changed quite a lot. I started off as a night driver, then I temporarily shunted for them, then I went on days, and now I am a Transport Controller in the office.

I was working one weekend where I completed my work for the day and covered the on-call telephone. A customer had an issue with a faulty trailer, so I took it on myself to go back to work and deliver a good trailer to them. This meant I incurred a night out and a long day, but doing this pleased the customer as well as my manager.

As a female HGV driver, I was the only one when I started at Wolverhampton, which makes us a small minority in a man’s world. Working with my Transport Manager Fiona and seeing what she does is a massive inspiration to me.

Ioana Chicireanu

Picking Coordinator, Constellation Denmark

I’m a Picking Coordinator in the Netto department in Kolding and have been working at Constellation since October 2024.

One of my proudest achievements while working at Constellation has been reducing our picking errors by implementing better communication, training, and quality control measures. We’re constantly striving to improve our efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.

A woman I’m truly inspired by is Rose Marcario, former CEO of Patagonia. She made Patagonia one of the most efficient and sustainable companies while prioritising worker satisfaction, proving that a company can be productive without sacrificing employee well-being.

A key factor in building a more inclusive workplace for women requires changes in behaviours and everyday practices. Teamwork is an essential stepping stone, as well as a clear understanding of gender stereotypes.

Andrea Wellink

Operations Manager, Constellation Netherlands

I have been working at Constellation for 2.5 years now. I started as an office assistant, and since the end of 2024, I have been fulfilling the role of Operations Manager.

I am very proud that in just two years, I have been able to work my way up to Operations Manager and now have a strong grasp of many processes. I look forward to everything I can still learn and the challenges that lie ahead at Constellation.

Nikki Jacobi

People Director, Constellation

I’m a very new member of the Constellation team, just weeks in, but am delighted to be joining a team that I can see really values each person for what they bring to the role and the person they are as a whole in its truest sense. I feel we have a wonderfully diverse team and can only continue to build on that. 

Very recently, we hired a new General Counsel and Finance Director who are strong, powerful, smart women and add so much richness and depth to our organisational culture. International Women’s Day for me is a great reminder of why diverse organisations are more successful and how we all need to take action to continue to put diversity at the heart of how we do business.

Equal pay policies, mentoring schemes for female talent, diversity training, fair recruitment policies, and good maternity packages can all help and encourage women to stay and grow within an organisation. But ultimately, having people who create a supportive, inclusive culture beats all of those things.

Florence Demat

Logistics Assistant, Constellation Belgium

When I arrived, I did not know much about logistics. I had worked for 10 years in retail, which was completely different. I try every day to give the best of myself and to constantly improve. I owe a lot to my mum, who made me an independent person who isn’t afraid to take on challenges.

We are a predominantly female office – it’s hard to do better than that! I do not feel any inequalities at Constellation because women hold as many leadership positions as men.

Looking forward

We believe it is vital to offer a platform for women to talk about their time at Constellation and how we can continue to build a workplace that values diversity and empowers everyone to thrive. By hearing directly from the women who make up such an integral part of our team through Women in Constellation, we can continue to build a workplace that values diversity, and further strengthens our commitment to our team and our customers.

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