On January 1, 2020, engineer Ilya Espino de Marotta became the first woman to serve as the deputy administrator of the Panama Canal. Ms. Marotta has more than 30 years of experience in the Panama Canal in positions as executive manager of resource management and project controls before the Expansion Program.
Ilya Espino de Marotta started her career on the Canal in 1985 as the only engineer in the shipyard. She now works with more than 1,000 women in the interoceanic highway and recently served as Vice President of Traffic Business and Executive Vice President of Engineering during the Panama Canal Expansion Program.
Ilya exceptionally managed the construction of the expanded Canal, which led the interoceanic route to a new era of maritime trade
stated the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Minister for Channel Affairs, Aristides Royo.
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The Board of Directors of the Panama Canal appointed the engineer Espino de Marotta as deputy administrator on February 15, 2019, along with the appointment of the administrator Vásquez Morales.
The engineer Benítez held several positions in the Canal, including that of interim manager of the High Voltage Electricity Branch, manager of the Public Services Maintenance Branch within the Maintenance Division, manager of the Energy Section and manager of the Electrical Division.
As for her training, she obtained a degree in Marine Engineering from the University of Texas A&M, and a master’s degree in Economic Engineering from Santa María la Antigua University in Panama City.
She also took part in the Executive Development Program at INCAE Business School and at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Finally, she has a project manager certification from the Project Management Institute.
