The 2026 Gender-inclusive Leadership in Maritime training course, a joint initiative by the World Maritime University (WMU), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International), successfully concluded on July 8. The program gathered 23 maritime professionals representing 18 different countries. Its primary objective was to bolster leadership capacity and foster gender-inclusive practices across the maritime sector.
This initiative underscores a growing recognition within the maritime industry of the importance of diversity and inclusion. By equipping current and future leaders with the skills to promote gender equality, the program aims to create a more equitable and effective workforce.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, a more diverse and inclusive maritime workforce can lead to improved decision-making, enhanced innovation, and better problem-solving capabilities within the supply chain. While not directly impacting rates or capacity, such programs contribute to the long-term resilience and efficiency of the shipping industry, potentially leading to more stable and predictable operations in the future.
