On the occasion of the 2023 International Day for Women In Maritime, we are glad to host an interview with President of WISTA International, Mrs. Elpi Petraki, who suggests key actions to turn challenges that women in maritime still face into opportunities.
In that regard, the IMO – WISTA Maritime Speakers Bureau initiative provides a platform for visibility of the many women experts in the maritime industry with the aim to inspire the next generation of female leaders in the field.
SAFETY4SEA: Tell us a few words about the IMO – WISTA Maritime Speakers Bureau. What was the reason behind its launch?
Elpi Petraki: The IMO-WISTA Maritime Speakers Bureau was established to address the challenge frequently expressed by conference organizers of a lack of women speakers to achieve balanced panels at their events. The bureau aims to provide a comprehensive global directory of women experts in various subjects related to the maritime industry, including highly technical issues, rather than solely focusing on diversity and inclusion topics.
S4S: What challenges/hurdles have you noticed that women in maritime still face in their career path?
E.P.: One of the key challenges that women in the maritime industry still face in their career path is underrepresentation in leadership and decision-making roles. Despite progress in recent years, women continue to be underrepresented in senior positions within maritime organizations, including shipping companies, ports and maritime authorities. This lack of representation can limit the visibility of women professionals in the industry and create a perception that leadership roles are not accessible or suitable for them. Another challenge is the persistence of gender bias and stereotypes. Stereotypes about women’s roles and abilities in traditionally male-dominated industries like maritime can hinder their career advancement. Preconceived notions about women’s supposed limitations in technical or physically demanding roles may discourage them from pursuing certain career paths or receiving equal opportunities for training and advancement. Moreover, there may be limited networking and mentorship opportunities available to women in the maritime industry.
S4S: What are your suggestion to turn these challenges into opportunities and how the IMO – WISTA Maritime Speakers Bureau aims to assist towards?
E.P.: Networking is crucial for career growth, but if women are not well-represented in industry events, conferences and speaking engagements, they may miss out on important connections and professional development opportunities. Mentorship programs can also play a vital role in supporting women’s career progression. Still, the availability of mentors who understand the unique challenges faced by women in the maritime industry may be limited. Visibility is another significant aspect. It is essential for women to see others like them succeeding and excelling in their sector as speakers. By showcasing women experts in the maritime industry through the Speakers Bureau, it provides role models for aspiring women professionals, helping to break down barriers and inspire the next generation of female leaders in the field. To overcome these challenges, it is crucial to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment within the maritime industry. This includes promoting diversity in leadership positions, implementing policies and practices that address gender bias, providing mentorship and networking opportunities specifically tailored to women in the industry and creating platforms like the IMO-WISTA Maritime Speakers Bureau that highlight the expertise of women professionals across a broad range of subjects.
S4S: What are the key priorities in the agenda of the IMO – WISTA Maritime Speakers Bureau for the next five years?
E.P.: The bureau has set forth key priorities to guide its agenda for the next five years to create a more balanced representation of women speakers in maritime conferences and events. By focusing on comprehensive speaker representation, conference pledges, sponsorship impact and collaboration with diversity consultants, the bureau aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable maritime industry.
Setting key priorities: A quick look on IMO – WISTA Maritime Speakers Bureau agenda
#1 Building the Most Comprehensive Directory of Speakers Worldwide
The foundation of the bureau’s efforts lies in expanding and maintaining the most comprehensive directory of women speakers in the maritime industry. By curating a diverse and expansive database of experts covering various subjects, including highly technical areas, the bureau aims to ensure that conference organizers have access to a wide range of qualified women speakers. This comprehensive directory serves as a powerful resource for event organizers seeking to create balanced and diverse panels.
#2 Encouraging Conference Pledges for Diversity and Inclusion
Recognizing the crucial role of conference organizers in shaping the representation of speakers, the bureau promotes the adoption of its conference pledge. The pledge urges organizers to undertake data analysis, examining year-over-year trends, feedback and social media comments to identify areas for improvement. By committing to ensuring diverse representation across genders, races, religions, abilities and cultural backgrounds, organizers can take concrete steps toward inclusivity. The bureau aims to see widespread implementation of the conference pledge among maritime events globally.
#3 Leveraging Sponsorship Impact
Acknowledging the influence of sponsorship on conferences and events, the bureau emphasizes the power of sponsors in driving change. The bureau encourages companies that sponsor maritime events to become pledge signatories themselves or establish clear diversity policies. By aligning their sponsorship with events that prioritize diverse and inclusive speakers and audiences, sponsors play a significant role in shaping a more equitable maritime industry. The bureau actively promotes the sponsorship pledge to garner greater support from industry leaders.
#4 Collaboration with Diversity Consultants
To further enhance the effectiveness of their speaker diversity program, the bureau highlights the value of collaboration with diversity consultants. These experts can provide invaluable guidance in developing a comprehensive approach to speaker diversity. By drawing on their expertise, event organizers can ensure that conferences and events reflect the diverse talent pool within the maritime industry. Collaborating with diversity consultants can facilitate more meaningful and impactful discussions and drive positive change.
#5 Strengthening the Impact of Speakers
The bureau underscores the importance of selecting speakers who can make a lasting impact on conference attendees. By considering the audience’s demographics and choosing a diverse range of speakers who can challenge and inspire, conferences can foster an inclusive environment. Balancing established, well-known speakers with emerging talents ensures a vibrant and dynamic program that highlights diverse perspectives and experiences. The bureau encourages organizers to carefully arrange the order in which panellists speak carefully, recognizing the influence this can have on the overall perception of diversity and inclusion.
The views presented are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
