Women in mid-stage maritime careers are invited to the inaugural “Maritime Women’s Leadership and Empowerment” training course in Malmo, Sweden, from September to October 2025.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International), along with the World Maritime University (WMU), are seeking female maritime leaders and officials to participate in the training course. The “Maritime Women’s Leadership and Empowerment” training course is a unique opportunity for women in the maritime sector to expand their expertise.
Designed to promote gender equity, the course addresses existing barriers and equips participants with advanced strategic management skills. It fosters confidence, self-awareness and professional growth, while promoting knowledge-sharing, networking and collaboration among women in the industry.
The training course will be held in a hybrid format between mid-September and the end of October 2025: three days of remote learning; one week on-site at WMU in Malmö; and two additional days of remote learning once participants have returned to their home countries.
The training will include interactive lectures, workshops, case studies and group exercises led by experts in maritime leadership, public speaking, project management and team building.
The course is open to women leaders and professionals in the middle stages of their careers, working in the public sector of maritime domains (maritime administrations, port authorities, coastguards, and maritime education and training institutions).
Additionally, women working in the private maritime and logistics sectors in developing countries who are members of WISTA national chapters can participate through fellowships granted by WISTA International.
Key facts about the course
- The candidate’s affiliated government or organisation can make a nomination.
- Applications must be submitted to WMU by the nominating authorities on behalf of the candidate.
- Please note that the number of admissions per country is limited. If there are more than two nominations from a single country, the nominating authority’s candidates should be indicated in priority order.
- Nominating authorities must submit applications to WMU no later than April 25, 2025.
Recently, IMO has carried several initiatives to train women in maritime and foster diversity and inclusion in shipping. For instance, last month women maritime professionals from the Pacific region completed their first training session under the IMO-Republic of Korea SMART-C Women Project. Additionally, in September 2024, women leaders from Southeast Asia’s maritime sector completed a comprehensive IMO training course focused on green shipping technologies and digitalization.
