Panel discussion in the European Parliament June, 27th 2023 

Ms Vera Tax, MEP European Parliament, organised this panel event to raise awareness amongst the maritime community and policymakers about the importance of women and how to improve working conditions in the sector. 

This is a recording of our discussion on June 27 in Brussels. The participants have generously given me permission to share with you what we discussed. 

You will hear five panellists (besides me) speaking;

• Ms Line Heimstad, Deputy Head of Agreement, Norwegian Seafarers' Union. Line is eager to share the Gender Equality Strategy for the Maritime Sector in Norway. 
• Ms Vanessa De Michele, 1st Officer, Costa Cruises 
• Mr David Kerr is a Member of the European Commission, working in the Cabinet of the Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli. 
• Mr Sotiris Raptis is the European Community Shipowners' Association's Secretary General, ECSA. 
• Ms Evina Fotiadou, Policy Advisor at European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA)

Moderator: Ms Marjolein van Noort, who is the Dutch Shipowners Association's representative in Brussels

This is the first half of our discussions, part 2 will be released on the next Shipping Podcast Friday!

Thank you for listening. #everyconversationmatters #shipping #maritime

Why is it important with a diverse and inclusive maritime industry? 

I was invited to the European Parliament to participate on a panel discussion on Empowering Women in the Maritime industry and the role of the EU, organised by Miss Vera Tax (MEP). 

Since you were not there, and I took the time to prepare my interjections, I thought that it would be a good idea to share my thoughts on this topic with you.

At a later stage, I might be able to share with you what was said since I have asked for the audio files to be released to me. We cannot withold all the wisdom shared in that room from you. 

What is your view on diversity and inclusion? And how can we attract more women and retain them? 

Here is the link to the female photographer Nina Varumo and her portfolio. 

Thank you for listening. 

All parts in the logistical chain needs to link together 

Listen to Emily Babot, Environmental Project Manager, Aeler Technologies, a young engineer and a former sailor. We talk about how rewarding it is to work in the maritime industry since we face many challenges. Emily's passion for the sea made her go for a career in shipping, first as a cadet and then on the engineering side when she decided to go ashore. Today, she works on the smart container and wants to spread the word about the importance of shipping. 

Thank you for listening. Every conversation matters. 

The future is digital 

Listen to Pacmar, an experienced Singapore-based ship agent who recently embarked on their digital transformation journey with MagicPort's Ship Agency solution. Capt Sitki Kok, the founder,  joins us, and Mr Osman Budak, the Operations Manager for their agency business.

Together with Magic Port, we will create dedicated content focused on the digital transformation journeys of these crucial maritime industry players in a series of podcasts. This episode focuses on the Ships Agent. Thank you for listening. I am eager to hear your feedback. Send it to [email protected] 

There is so much spotlight today on diversity, inclusion and equity

What do you stand for? What are your values? What is your purpose? What is your goal? Those are the things the next generation is looking for. They will not choose to work for you if you don't have the answer. Listen to Eman Abdalla, Global Operations Director for Cargill Ocean Transportation, describing what an attractive employer looks like. 

Also, this episode is packed with good advice from a modern leader walking the talk and is the change needed in our industry. 

Happy belated International Day for Women in Maritime!

Thank you for listening. Spread the word!

#everyconversationmatters 

In my honest opinion

Every conversation matters. That is something that I have realised over the years of producing the Shipping Podcast. We need to talk about the change we want, and we need to speak about what we want to achieve. And we need to listen to people with other viewpoints to understand the pain points and how we can make them less painful. 

Where do I find the Stars of the Sea to be guests on the Shipping Podcast? I often get that question, and here I spill the beans.

Do you have anything to say after listening to this solo episode? Please drop me a line at [email protected] Thank you for listening.

It's all about changing our behaviour and opening-up

The maritime industry is facing so many challenges. The only way forward is to change our behaviour and collaborate with others. Listen to Sameer Kalra, President of the Marine Division and Executive Vice President at the Alfa Laval Group. Going from old traditions to a new way of thinking is how you change. 

It's interesting to listen to Sameer's insights and that he is willing to share them with the world. After all, he is a leader on a global scale, and Alfa Laval is a 140-year-old industrial provider. 

I am so fortunate to have these conversations with so many thought leaders.  It gives me hope. 

Please continue the conversation at your kitchen table, and invite some friends since  #everyconversationmatters 

Thank you for listening.

What do the young people in our industry think about the future?  

Be comfortable to be uncomfortable; it's crucial when working at sea. 

The next generation of leaders is singing the same old song; We need to promote working in shipping since hardly anyone knows what it's like. It's the same old Cinderella story. It's time for us to do something about that! Otherwise, the explanations to friends and family will continue for generations. But, unfortunately, we do not have the time for that; we have more enormous challenges! 

What can you do to spread the word? Do you want to collaborate? Drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know. #everyconversationmatters 

What do the young people in our industry think about the future? 

Who better to ask than the next generation of shipping? Listen to Jeanna, Alva and Max. They are at the beginning of their careers and are very passionate about the maritime industry. We can learn so much by just listening to what they think. 

This exciting conversation continued for a while, so the end product is two episodes, 210 & 211. What do you think? Is there a place for ordinary seamen (OS) in five years? Drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know your thoughts. 

Tune in to the second part of this conversation and make the content a conversation in your workplace. #everyconversationmatters 

Thank you for listening!

Electric hydro foiling vessels trending again

Seeing is believing. That is a saying that fits very well with Candela. You need to see this video to understand what we are talking about. Boats flying! It's super cool, and it's a changemaker. 

Erik Eklund is the Chief Commercial Officer of Candela. When he talks about his career, it's like it was all building up to his current position. You can hear in his voice how passionate he is. And I cannot wait to go to Stockholm in the autumn to commute on the new boat.

System thinking, digitalisation, sensors, problem-solving thinking, visionary and brave. Listen to Erik and give us a shoutout on social media! What do you think? Can the rest of the shipping industry learn from this? I am eagerly waiting for your comments.

Thank you for listening #everyconversationmatters