52 I SAFETY4SEA Log I May 2025 I ISSUE 103 safety4sea.com The newly elected President of WISTA Norway, Capt. Jaquelyn Burton, EMBA, AFNI, emphasizes that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is not solely a gender issue—it’s about transforming industry structures, expectations, and mindsets to foster real progress. WISTA NORWAY: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION CAN SAFEGUARD INDUSTRY’S RESILIENCE SAFETY4SEA: Tell us a few words about the '40 by 30' pledge. What motivated WISTA Norway to launch this initiative and how it aligns with the broader goals of gender equality and diversity in the maritime sector? Capt. Jaquelyn Burton: The "40 by 30" pledge is now in its fourth year. We have 38 companies signed on, all committing to strive toward 40% women in leadership by 2030. This isn’t a quota, and it isn’t about replacing men. It’s about striving to increase the size of the talent pie in the sector to ensure we are future ready and able to view the challenges from various perspectives with resilience. Given Norway’s strong global maritime reputation, there’s a strategic opportunity here. If we get this right, we not only build more resilient leadership, we strengthen our competitive position in uncertain geopolitical times. Leadership teams that reflect the world around them will be better equipped for the future. S4S: Are you satisfied with the progress made towards diversity so far? Capt. J. B.: I’m proud of the progress, but no—we’re not there yet. The talent war is real. We're not attracting the volume or variety of talent we need for maritime 5.0, for the energy transition, or for digital transformation. And if women don’t see visible, diverse career paths in the industry—they’ll go elsewhere. Diversity and safety go hand in hand. When we design for everyone, we usually create systems that are better for everyone. The public still often hears about shipping only when something goes wrong: oil spills, criminal cases, or safety incidents. We need to flip that narrative and show the world that this industry is a place for people who want to make a difference.
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