Neil Barber

I originate from London, UK but have spent the majority of my life living and working in Asia.

I began my career in shipping as the first ever apprentice for Hapag-Lloyd in the UK in 1986. I completed my apprenticeship at the end of 1989 in Hamburg, being able to witness first hand the end of the Eastern Bloc, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the euphoria of the Germans becoming reunited after so many years.

This started a passion for learning about people and culture and in 1992 I relocated to Asia where I have spent almost the entirety of my career.

In 1992 I relocated to Tianjin in North East Asia and established a network of offices for Hapag-Lloyd in Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao and Beijing.

This ultimately led me to Singapore where I have had the privilege to live and work for 32 years and counting.

Following my career in Hapag-Lloyd, I spent almost 10 years at Kuehne & Nagel and am now working for JAS Worldwide, an American based Freight Forwarder.
My career has focused on Ocean Freight negotiations and contract management for cargo exported from and within Asia as well as allocation and yield management and industry related policy.