Currently women represent only 1.2% of all seafarers. In 2019, the theme for the IMO World Maritime Day was Empowering Women in the Maritime Community, and, after that year of action, it was recognised that more is needed. So the IMO announced that the International Day for Women in Maritime would be celebrated on 18 May annually, and for the first time in 2022.
The observance of this date by the International Maritime Organization is to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the industry; to strengthen IMO’s commitment to #SDG5 (gender equality); and to support work to address the current gender imbalance in maritime.
WISTA celebrated this event in Perth together with PIANC (World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure) and the Department of Transport – Maritime. The celebrations involved a panel of inspiring women sharing their stories of careers in maritime:
• Kathryn Davies, Team Leader of Navigational Safety at the Department of Transport. Kathryn had some truly terrific stories to share and an excellent message, in trying to prove herself to those around her she accomplished something much more powerful, and proved her capability to herself, and she never looked back.
• Carol Shannon, CEO of the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation. Carol is involved in one of the most valuable pursuits in our industry, inspiring more young people to join the industry. Carol’s passion for the Leeuwin and her work most evident when she talks with pride of the young people who have started on a tall ship and stepped onto ships.
• Nicole Lockwood, Director of the Lockwood Advisory and Chairperson of Infrastructure WA, among several other board positions. Nicole’s strength and leadership is a beacon so strong that those around her never questioned her place, as a woman, at the table. This is what we are all working towards.
In the evening we took to the water for a cruise and networking event, for, after all, when we connect and communicate, change accelerates.
WISTA challenges every person to engage with the purpose and theme of the International Day for Women in Maritime:
• Today – action the IMO theme: visibility. To increase visibility of women in maritime – share the many faces of women in maritime on social media and use the hashtag #WomenInMaritimeDay.
• Next Week – talk about this at your workplace. If you’re doing something well, then celebrate it! Post on LinkedIn, highlight it to your stakeholders, let others know that you are a leader in this space, be proud. Your leadership will inspire others.
• Next Year – set a goal to be completed by International Day for Women in Maritime next year, so that when the day comes around we can celebrate what has been achieved.
WISTA thanks its sponsors for the entire day, WISTA, PIANC, the Department of Transport – Maritime, Sealink, City of Cockburn, KBR, Hall & Wilcox, and the Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors.
This article has been supplied by WISTA. It has been lightly edited by Shipping Australia.
