Breaking down gender
stereotypes in the maritime industry is not just important in its own right, it
is also beneficial for the industry as a whole. That was one of the key
messages to emerge from a special event held at IMO Headquarters in London
yesterday, on International Labour Day (May 1).
In a year when IMO is
highlighting its efforts to empower
women in the maritime community, a panel
discussion among five high level female maritime professionals and an invited
audience of IMO delegates and other maritime representatives explored issues
around female representation in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
Sakura Kuma (Executive Director of the Port of Yokohama), Fran Collins (CEO of Red Funnel Group), Katy Ware (Maritime Safety and Standards Director at the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency), Despina Theodossiou (CEO of Tototheo Maritime and President of WISTA International) and Kathi Stanzel, (MD of INTERTANKO) discussed what had inspired them to join the maritime profession and the barriers that still need to be tackled.
IMO Secretary-General
Kitack Lim confirmed that IMO is strongly committed to helping Member States
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting SDG 5 on gender
equality as one of the key platforms on which a sustainable future can be
built.
Four maritime NGOs (ICS, BIMCO, INTERTANKO and WISTA) combined to organise the event.