Mumbai, November 22, 2023: The Maritime SheEO Conference 2023, one of the largest international conferences for diversity and inclusion in the maritime sector, took place on November 21, 2023, at The Taj SantaCruz in Mumbai and was also live-streamed globally. This conference, the brainchild of Sanjam Sahi Gupta, Founder of Maritime SheEO and Director of Sitara Shipping, drew an astonishing 250 delegates from roughly 80 nations worldwide with a 60:40 gender ratio – where 60% of our attendees were women.
The majority of attendees were from the maritime community, including ship owners, educational institution professionals, ship managers, supply chain exporters, and liner and port personnel. In addition, there around 1000 people who participated virtually. A great feat indeed.
Sanjam opened the conference with the traditional lighting of the Lamp. She then welcomed everyone in attendance. Professionals from the maritime sector spoke at the conference leading talks, panel discussions, and presentations focussing on the value of diversity for growth and innovation. About 50 speakers covered a wide range of subjects which included, Sustainable Shipping Practices, The power of the media in elevating women's role models, Sustainable Shipping Practices, Bringing our diversity ambitions to life, Women in bio-fouling and marine plastic litter, Psychological Security – Transforming Workplace Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Policies, Tackling Tomorrow’s key maritime issues.
The impressive line of keynote speakers included
There were several empowering speeches from the designated speakers, both in person and online who provided their distinct viewpoints based on their experiences and insights, which were both inspiring and educational for the numerous companies and individuals in attendance. Many more eminent delegates shared the dais and took part in other panel discussions and interviews that were equally captivating and enlightening.
Another highlight of the conference was the award presentation to Companies as well as individuals in various categories. The companies that received awards were The Daily Cargo Award for Media Company of the Year Award. Seaspan Corporation for Best Practices in Diversity, second year in a row. Allied ICD Services Ltd for the most Diverse Board. Fleet Management Limited & South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) for Best Practices in Sustainability. SAGT has won this award a second time in a row.
Individual awards were presented to the following winners in various categories – Lifetime Achievement Award - Mrs. H K Joshi, Brilliant SheEO (Nomination by Association) – Dr. Sharmila H. Amin, Champion of Diversity – Pirojshaw Sarkari (Phil) and Capt. Dinesh Jairam, SheEO of the Year – Kurti Jobanputra and Alison Cusack, SheEO to watch out for – Dr. Deepti Mankad, SheEO of the Year – Katherine “Karen” Avelino.
Sanjam Sahi Gupta concluded the conference with a closing note and thanked all those who attended the conference and made it a truly memorable event. She ended by saying:
“Together we’ve embarked on a journey with collective exploration of ideas, experience and perspectives. We have the power to transform, not just our workplaces but our world. As we leave this space and return to our daily lives, let’s not forget about what we spoke about today. Let’s carry the lessons learnt and the connections made. Let us all be ambassadors of change, advocating for diversity in every interaction and decision we make. The real impact of this conference lies not just in the discussions we’ve had, but in the actions we take henceforth. Diversity is not just a destination, but a journey – it requires unwavering commitment and a shared responsibility.”
After her closing note, Sanjam received a well-deserved standing ovation from everyone present.
Overall, it was a successful day that, hopefully, changed a lot of mindsets to shape a brighter future for the maritime industry.
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