05.06.2026

IPAF's Women in Powered Access

IPAF held its annual Women in Powered Access breakfast at Apex this week,.

The event was well attended with representatives from manufacturers, rental companies, trainers and members of the press including JLG, Dinolift, Snorkel, Genie, Palazzani, Vertikal, Boels, Lolex, KHL, International Platforms and of course, IPAF.

The breakfast was hailed a success by those who attended, providing valuable networking opportunities in a more informal setting. Many felt that the absence of male colleagues created a less intimidating environment, encouraging more open discussion and stronger connections among participants.

Paolo Palazzani, president of Palazzani spider lifts kicked off the event with guest speakers including mother and daughter duo Vicki and Jade Allen duo lwho aunched International Platforms at the end of 2020.

Vicki Allen said: “When I started in the powered access industry with Genie, there were very few women, so it was a daunting experience and I really had to prove myself.”
To combat the hurdles that I faced, and those that women face in general in the industry, I had to really prove myself and know the differences between the platform models, which enabled me to speak confidently to customers, who were predominantly men.”

“Men are going to be cheeky, they’re going to be rude, and sometimes they’re going to be downright abusive, but do not let it get to you, just let it wash over you - this is always something we are going to have to face in this industry, so prove them wrong with your skill set.”

Jade Allen added: “Often when I am making a deal on the phone with a man, he may bypass me and speak directly to Vicki to try and get a better deal, which feels condescending… It’s important to remember that not all men look down on you, but sadly, a good few do, but with confidence and product knowledge, you’ll be absolutely fine.”

Julie Houston-Smyth then took over with the Q&A, followed by an inspiring speech and information about the launch of the ‘Women in Rental’ initiative from Carole Bachmann, secretary general of the European Rental Association (ERA).

Bachmann said: “The success in our industry is driven by people, but despite this, women are still underrepresented. It is not a question of capability, it is a question of visibility. So we need to work with women to attract more of them into the industry while keeping the ones already here… It can be made difficult for them to stay, onsite facilities are often not for women, neither is the protective equipment, hardly welcoming. But through our new initiative, we hope to change that.”

On a personal note: With more than half of the Vertikal team being women, we found the event both valuable and rewarding. It provided an excellent opportunity to share experiences, build connections and highlight the important role women already play across the industry. We hope to see continued progress in encouraging women to pursue careers within the sector and in creating opportunities for them to thrive.