SAVE THE DATE: SYMPOSIUM “AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN”

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) invites the global maritime community to commemorate International Women in Maritime Day 2025, which since its establishment in 2021, aims to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the sector, as well as strengthen the commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality. 

As part of the celebrations, IMO organized the Symposium “An Ocean of Opportunity for Women” to be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 14:30 hrs. (London time) at IMO's London headquarters and will be streamed live on its official YouTube channel. 

During the symposium, the final report of the IMO and WISTA Survey on Women in Maritime 2024, which provides key data on female participation in the field, will be presented. In addition, the award ceremony for the IMO Gender Equality Award 2025 will take place. This year's recipient will be Karin Orsel, co-founder and CEO of MF Shipping Group, recognized for her outstanding work in promoting gender equality and inclusion in the maritime sector.

}Save the date! Don't miss this important activity where we will have the opportunity to reflect on the progress made and the remaining challenges in the fight for gender equality in the maritime sector.

 

PROGRAMME - SYMPOSIUM “AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN”

13.30 – 14.00 -  Registration
14.00 – 14.10 - Opening of the event  - Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General 
14.15 – 15.00 - Live Podcast Recording  

  • Moderator: Mr. Karanvir Singh Nayyar, Merchant Navy Officer & Filmmaker (India)
  • Panelists: 
    Captain Josephine Clark, President of the Australasian Marine Pilots Institute (Australia) 
    Ms. Mariam Al Shaikh, Deck Cadet, Bahri (Saudi Arabia) 

15.00 – 15.15 - Presentation - IMO-WISTA Women in Maritime Survey 2024 Results 

  • Ms. Louise Proctor, Deputy Director, Subdivision for Planning and Programming, IMO
  • Mrs. Elpi Petraki, President of WISTA International 

15.15 – 16.00 - Panel discussion - Ocean Conservation: Young People and Why Change Matters 

  • Moderator: Ms. Karen McVeigh, Senior Reporter - The Guardian (United Kingdom) 
  • Panelists: 
    Ms. Alannah Vellacott, Marine Ecologist, Science Communicator and Ocean Advocate (Bahamas)
    Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, Director of the Marine Institute School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth (UK) 
    Dr. Renis Auma Ojwala, Post-doctoral Research Associate, World Maritime University (WMU) (Kenya) 

16.00 – 16.30 - Coffee Break 

16:30 – 17.15 - Panel discussion - Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities  

  • Moderator: Ms. Karen McVeigh, Senior Reporter - The Guardian (United Kingdom) 
  • Panelists: 
    Ms Nicole Fisher - Senior Lecturer (Deck Cadet Education), Warsash Maritime School
    Ms. Michelle Bentubo, Chief Operating Officer, Virgin Voyages (United States) 
    Mr. Dominic Patterson, Executive Secretary, OSPAR Commission 

17.15 – 17.30 - IMO Gender Equality Award Ceremony 

17.30 - End of Transmission

SAVE THE DATE: SYMPOSIUM “AN OCEAN OF OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN”

For more information on the event and details on how to participate, visit the official IMO website: https://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/Pages/International-Day-for-Women-in-Maritime-2025.aspx