Dr. Anil Vitarana is a senior level maritime industry professional with five decades of experience. Anil takes an active role in the growth and success of the transportation industry and he has made it his personal mission to guide future industry leaders through their journey of continued education.

“I have been closely associated with CII for quite some time. I have been into academics my whole life. I am a firm believer in any organization that pursues education and helps young people break into the industry,” says Anil. “I welcome an opportunity to give back to the industry that has supported me throughout my career.”

Anil has received extensive higher education including a master’s degree and a doctorate degree in Maritime Law from the University of Southampton in England. This has enabled him to take on leadership roles at Ceylon Shipping Corporation and United Arab Shipping Company. Since February 2016, Anil has served on the CII Board and has worked closely with CII’s Academic Advisory Committee since its inception in 2021 to help CII expand its education mission. He along with Robert Cannizzaro, Chief Operating Officer of Intermodal Association of North America, are the Co-Coordinators and they act as the “eyes and ears,” keeping track of trends impacting the education aspect of the industry. 

“We created the Academic Advisory Committee to bring leaders together. It is an opportunity for academia to integrate with the industry and, in turn, to tailor academia to the needs of the industry. The goal is to provide logistics and supply chain students with the needed skill sets to navigate the workforce post-graduation,” says Anil. “The transportation industry has extended to include more than just maritime. Intermodalism has come to stay. Now the industry is much broader and includes more fields of study. Those who have been around to see the changes have the opportunity to teach and pass it on to the younger generation.”

His work with the Academic Advisory Board reflects just one of the roles he has with CII. Anil and Rob Cannizzaro are also the Co-Chairs of the Education/Scholarship Committee of CII. He helped to expand the scope of CII’s scholarships to include schools beyond the East and West Coast. The scholarship committee works with upwards of 20 schools nationwide to award scholarships to deserving students looking to pursue careers in the industry.

Anil was drawn to CII because of its mission of promoting and supporting education for the trade and transportation industry. Since the introduction of its scholarship program in 1992, more than $1 million have been awarded to students looking to pursue industry careers. Part of the Connie Award events on the East and West Coast features a scholarship reception for the recipients.

“The students that receive CII scholarships have a chance to attend the Connie Award event, which is a great experience,” says Anil. “It goes beyond the monetary value. They get to network and perhaps find internships or even job opportunities once they leave school. The students pride themselves in earning this prestigious scholarship and CII benefits from the school selecting their best students.”

In his work with CII, Anil is dedicated to supporting tomorrow’s supply chain industry leaders through continued education. He is looking ahead to the future of supply chain management.

“The more trained personnel at critical points in the supply chain, the more prepared we are as an industry to tackle any future crises that can impact the supply chain. It is our goal to bring forth students who are ready to hit the ground running post-graduation. These students will be an invaluable asset to the field.”