Based on your whole experience and as President of WISTA HELLAS, how would you consider the future of woman in the maritime industry in the years to come?
A woman’s future in the shipping industry will be no different form that of women and men in all other professional sectors: replete with difficulties but with achievements; with foreseeable and unforeseeable risks that may arise, such as the recent pandemic, for instance.
In Shipping we work amid an intense competitive environment due to the global nature of ship- ping activity. We nevertheless have the responsibility to “serve” all other sectors, as we’re the pre-eminent international transporter of goods. There’s no real fixed work shift in our industry. Rapid decision-making is necessary in our sector, for adapting fast in new situations and in detecting opportunity.
Synergies and in uniting forces is the only way forward; We have reached a point where we have realized the benefits that arise from having teams that engage all skilled and knowledgeable people despite their gender. Of course, a certain imbalance is still there, but we need to assist in achieving a greater change of attitude and culture towards an inclusive industry, for the benefit of all of us.
This is what we do at WISTA. One of our aims is to get professional women and their work more visible in the maritime industry and beyond .We believe in having powerful role models, the necessity of continuing education; we are promoting professional networking; we’re trying to break down barriers between female and male professionals in the shipping sector.
Finally, I would like to stress that with the new challenges shipping is facing, we need all talents onboard. The world and the shipping sector have to face a transition towards decarbonization, in tandem with targets to deliver a sustainable future for the industry. No professional woman or man can be excluded from the greater collaboration that is imperative.
I am certain that a diversified workforce will result in a secured and sustainable future for all.
* Operations/Chartering & Business Development Manager,
ENEA MANAGEMENT INC President, Women in Shipping & Trade Association (WISTA) Hellas 2nd Vice-President, Hellenic Shortsea Shipowners Association (HSSA)
The answer was provided for NAFS magazine issue 143 in its special report “WOMEN in SHEPPING”