If you’ve been with us for a while, you know Conqueror didn’t begin as a grand business plan. It started with a simple observation back in 2011. Independent freight forwarders were working twice as hard for half the visibility. You had the expertise, the customer loyalty, the hustle… but global reach? That was reserved for the giants.
Conqueror entered the scene with a simple but bold solution: unite strong, vetted, independent forwarders under one banner, with one exclusive member per city. Quality over volume. Collaboration over chaos.
That was the beginning. No big speeches. No perfect roadmap. Just a belief that collaboration could change the game. City by city, we started building. Slowly at first, because we were selective and determined to get it right. Some of those first territories that joined us from Europe to Asia and are still part of Conqueror today. That continuity means more than numbers ever could. It means the early promise held true.
One of our founder members from Sialkot, Arif Nadeem of Teknik Movers, puts it well:
“It is with great pride that I state we passed through the best of times with Conqueror. We rest assured that Teknik Movers are your outpost in this territory.”
Phuket, 2012: Where We Became a Family
Now, if there’s one moment that captures the soul of Conqueror, it’s Phuket. Our first Annual Meeting. 2012. Eighty-nine forwarders took a leap of faith and travelled to meet people they’d only exchanged emails or calls with.
The Welcome Cocktail reception broke the ice, and within hours, conversations flowed as if the members had known each other for years. Across the two days, more than 1,600 one-to-one meetings took place, a record at the time for a network of this size. Business cards exchanged, new partnerships formed, and trade lanes opened up. Members often say that Phuket was where Conqueror stopped being an idea and became a community.
The evening tour of Phuket cut through the formality and helped strangers become allies. It ended with a Gala Dinner that many still talk about. Deals were signed, laughter was shared, and several members walked away with business on day one, a rare outcome for a first-edition event.
Andrea Visone from Sev Stante, our founding member in Venice, who has also been a member in Genoa since 2015, summed up the spirit that emerged from those early days: “I have been working with Conqueror since 2011. Conqueror is a first-class tool and, more than this, it’s an opportunity to meet new friends. I am sure this is the right way to win new challenges in the shipping industry.”
From Phuket to Bali: A Journey Through the Years
Over the years, our Annual Meetings became milestones for the network, each reflecting the growth and spirit of Conqueror. After Phuket, meetings were held in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi, and finally Bali in 2024. Even during the pandemic, our team made sure communication among members never faltered, arranging two virtual conferences. But that’s a story on its own! All our gatherings have been more than events; they were living proof of collaboration, connection, and community in action.
More than a decade later: Bali, 2024
Fast-forward to 2024. Conqueror celebrated its 10th in-person Annual Meeting in Bali- a milestone considering the virtual years during the pandemic. It wasn’t just a reunion. It was a moment to honour the journey and the people who helped build it.
Founder members were felicitated in a special awards ceremony, a thank-you to those who believed in the vision from the start and helped shape what Conqueror is today. Almost fifteen years have passed, but the essence of Conqueror hasn’t changed. It began with connection, trust, and the belief that independent forwarders deserve a global platform. This first chapter sets the stage for what came next.
Loyalty that says it all
Here’s the thing. Anyone can launch a network, but staying relevant, reliable, and united for over a decade is a remarkable achievement. Across the years, members have joined from every corner of the world, solidifying Conqueror as the largest exclusive freight forwarders network on the planet. But the most telling proof of the network’s strength is this: 51 of our founder members are still with us today. They’ve stayed from day one until now, which really speaks for itself. Loyalty like that isn’t bought, it is earned through consistency, trust, support, and shared growth.
One of our recent members, Gregorio Fernandez of AMAN Forwarding SLU in Las Palmas, Spain, shared his experience:
“This is truly a must-attend event, an opportunity not to be missed. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Conqueror team and all the members for their warm and gracious welcome. Although it was my first time attending, I felt an immediate sense of camaraderie, as if I had known everyone for many years. I look forward to participating again next year, wherever the event may be held.”
This kind of experience, whether for long-standing founder members or newcomers, is exactly what makes Conqueror Annual Meetings unique. Connections are forged, collaborations begin, and the global family keeps growing stronger.
Now, we’re closing this first chapter of our Conqueror Origins series with the same spirit the network was founded on: community, trust, and progress. And the story continues. We are now gearing up for yet another fruitful in-person meeting, this time in Bangkok, from 7 to 9 May. A new city, new opportunities, and the same Conqueror spirit that began all those years ago in Phuket.
