Launch of Maritime SheEO leadership accelerator programme

Let me start this speech by wishing every one of you Happy International Women's Day.

The maritime industry is working to transition to a more sustainable future. To this end we must decarbonize, digitalize, increase efficiency and fight climate change.

This transition cannot take place without the brightest minds working to find solutions. Diversity in leadership is good for business. We must do everything in our power to cultivate a wide range of thoughts, skills and attitudes.

Women leaders are vital for the future of maritime. We must take steps to make the industry more welcoming and to support women on their career paths.

IMO is committed to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes Goal 5, which aims to "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls".

IMO has been working to facilitate gender equality in maritime since 1988. Our gender and capacity-building programme is dedicated to helping achieve "Training-Visibility-Recognition" of women in maritime.

In furtherance of this work, the eight Women in Maritime Associations (WIMAs) were established. These WIMAs offer valuable networking and mentoring opportunities that can enhance the careers of women around the globe. 

IMO benefits from the work of those capable and skilled women who guide the complex discussions and deliver excellent work within their national and regional bodies as well as at some of our committees and sub-committees.

The IMO Assembly has adopted a resolution urging continuing firm action in the coming years to advance gender equality throughout the maritime sector to reach a barrier-free environment.  

Furthermore, I know that many IMO Member State delegates are active in the IMOGEN, the Gender Equality Network for IMO delegates. IMOGEN is pursuing key initiatives in pursuit of our common goals.

On the 18th of May this year, we will also celebrate the inaugural International Day of Women in Maritime. This day gives us an annual platform to celebrate women in the industry, promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector, raise the profile of women in maritime as well as to strengthen IMO's commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) and support work to address the current gender imbalance in maritime.  

I am pleased that IMO is sponsoring 30 spaces for women from around the world to participate in the Maritime SHEeo leadership programme.

This programme will empower women from our sector to become future maritime leaders and create diversity legacies in their own organisations. After all, the students of today will be the teachers of tomorrow.

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that you will join me in this moment of pride for the journey that these 30 women are undertaking. And in a moment of gratitude for the hard work by Sanjam, Despina and their teams to create and run this programme.

Together, we will build a more diverse future for maritime.