The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology

Women in shipping present unified voice

(Posted on 06/11/20)

Despite the global pandemic, WISTA International – the global voice for female managers within the shipping industry – held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 5 November. This online event was attended by more than 500 representatives from its worldwide membership.

As the world’s leading professional body for women working in the maritime industry, the Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) now has 53 national associations (NWAs) around the globe with over 3,800 active members. Over the past two years, WISTA has welcomed new members from WISTA Angola, WISTA Bangladesh, WISTA Cameroon, WISTA Chile, WISTA Colombia, WISTA Guatemala, WISTA Mexico, WISTA Romania and WISTA South Africa.

In July 2018, WISTA was approved for consultative status with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and has been providing the organization with a formal voice to support the IMO’s work in a variety of areas. WISTA also works with a variety of global maritime and governmental bodies to support professional development opportunities and networking for female executives in the maritime industry.

Earlier this year, it was decided during the Extra General Meeting (EGM) decision to extend the terms of the current ExCo post holders for one year because of COVID19. Notwithstanding, WISTA’s President, Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, is confident the association will continue to lead the diversity drive within global shipping. At the AGM, she commented:

“Diversity continues to be the bedrock of our work. This year, this focus takes on an even more important aspect as the global pandemic has had a major impact on the shipping world and gender roles in particular. We have worked hard over the past two years to present the case for more women in the industry and with a growing presence and influence across the world we have high hopes for the future.”

WISTA welcome enquiries for new national memberships. Individual membership is only possible through National WISTA Associations (NWAs). For further information, please browse: https://wistainternational.com/join-us/

WISTA International is an international organization for female managers in the shipping industry. It is comprised of 53 National WISTA Associations (NWA) around the world and more than 3,800 members. WISTA was approved for consultative status with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in July 2018, providing the organization with a formal voice for supporting IMO work in a variety of areas. WISTA works with a wide variety of global maritime and governmental bodies to support professional development, opportunities and networking for female executives in the maritime industry.