International Women’s Day 2019 (IWD19) has arrived, an occasion Port Technology has been celebrating all week by highlighting a number of leading women currently working in the maritime sector.
From Monday to Thursday, we drew attention to four technical papers covering a wide range of topics; beginning with Nicola Clay of Royal Haskoning DHV, who published a paper on how ports can become smarter in small steps.
The series concluded yesterday with former INTTRA President Inna Kuznetsova.
#SPSC18 Although there are many challenges still ahead, we should not fear the future, says Dr Eva Savelsberg, @inform_software
For more on this session, and all of the talks taking place at this year's conference, continue to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. pic.twitter.com/IntoIczAah
— Port Technology (PTI) (@PortTechnology) October 3, 2018
Also featured during the build-up to International Women’s Day was Dr. Eva Savelsberg of INFORM, an expert on smart data who wrote a technical paper revealing how ports can optimize their processes in an agile fashion.
Nadia Hewett of the World Economic Forum, who presented on the subject of blockchain at the Smart Ports and Supply Chain Technologies Conference 2018, was profiled as well as part of our preparations for International Women’s Day.
For a review of Smart Ports and Supply Chain Technologies 2018, please click here
Now we have reached March 8 on the calendar, we reflect on how the port sector can achieve the “Balance for Better” that is a key theme of this year’s campaign.
While the number of women involved in technological industries has risen, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has revealed that just 2% of seafarers around the world are women.
It is because of this disparity that the maritime sector is now choosing to respond, with global organizations and national bodies supporting programmes to promote and encourage female involvement in the shipping business.
“It's a journey that we need to embrace with the contribution of everybody.” says Mara Zavagno, Konecranes Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. At Konecranes, #diversity & #inclusion are fundamental components of our company’s #culture and #values. #IWD019 #BalanceForBetter pic.twitter.com/QjnXjXjHjz
— Konecranes (@Konecranes) March 8, 2019
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has made “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community” the theme of this year’s World Maritime Day – September 26, 2019 – to raise awareness of gender equality’s importance and highlight the contributions of women across the sector.
In the UK, the Department of Transport has announced that it will provide £100,000 (US$130,000) in funding to The 1851 Trust, a charity which aims to give girls and young women more access to the shipping industry by offering a series of workshops and roadshows focused on the opportunities available.
On the one year anniversary of the launch of #DPWorld4Women, we revisit our efforts to drive equal opportunities, empowerment and education for women in our business. Let’s all continue to pull together in these areas to create more change. #IWD2019 #WomensDay pic.twitter.com/WNhthXhRhs
— DP World (@DP_World) March 8, 2019
Looking beyond International Women’s Day 2019, Port Technology will continue its efforts to highlight the work of women in the industry.
Joyce Bliek, Director of Digital Business Solutions at the Port of Rotterdam, is one of many women leading the movement towards smarter, digital operations, a journey which Bliek explores in a recent series of interviews with Port Technology visible below:
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