On the evening of 13 May, the historic halls of Trinity House opened its doors to a packed audience of maritime professionals, policy influencers and advocates for gender diversity to celebrate the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime, officially observed every year on 18 May. A joint event organised by WISTA UK and Trinity House and sponsored by OCIMF, the event delivered inspiration, insight, and a renewed sense of purpose in supporting women in this dynamic sector.

Under the fitting theme “Ocean of Opportunities,” the evening was hosted with warmth and vision by our own Sue Terpilowski OBE, Managing Director of Image Line Communications. As moderator, Sue reminded us that inclusive leadership is at the heart of maritime’s future—one where innovation, resilience, and opportunity must be made accessible to everyone.

Powerful voices and transformative ideas

The event began with a welcome from Rear Admiral Iain Lower, Deputy Master and Chief Executive of Trinity House, setting the tone for an evening that celebrated not only achievements but also the potential that lies ahead.

Our keynote speaker, Sara Kenny OBE, Chief Executive of BMT, offered a compelling view of the future maritime landscape. She identified three key trends shaping the sector in the next decade: a doubling of global maritime trade, the development of new sea trade routes

and the expanding role of oceans in communication infrastructure and offshore energy.

These shifts, she noted, will bring new operational challenges and opportunities—but none of it can happen without people. “Technology will transform every aspect of our maritime world, but technology is nothing without people,” she said, calling for collective action to rethink how we attract, train, and retain the next generation of maritime professionals, especially women and diverse talent.

We then heard inspiring stories from those who’ve charted their own paths in maritime:

  • Lacey Griffin, Marine Superintendent at Trinity House and former deck officer, shared her extraordinary career journey at sea—traversing continents, cultures, and career milestones. Her message was clear: the maritime industry offers incredible experiences for those ready to embrace them.
  • Rachel Noronha, Head of Policy at the International Chamber of Shipping, brought a fresh, global lens to maritime leadership. With only six months in the industry but a lifetime of international insight—born in India, raised in Australia—Rachel encouraged more people, especially women, to explore careers in trade and policy.
  • Captain Peter Thornton BE reminded us that self-belief can open doors: “My advice would be don’t wait until you think you’re good enough, you already are good enough. Also, the opportunities are way beyond they used to be.“
  • Monica Kohli OBE, senior lawyer and President of WISTA UK, shared her deep roots in seafaring and her commitment to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across all levels of the industry.

Among the standout takeaways:

  • Expand flexible and blended working models to reach a broader talent pool.
  • Ensure supportive hiring practices, like anonymous CVs and diverse interview panels.
  • Build robust mentorship and leadership pipelines.
  • Recognise that shore-based careers need tailored support too.
  • Promote maritime across multiple entry points, such as in schools, but also to people looking to make career changes.
  • Promote a variety of career options, such as engineering, infrastructure project management, supply chain experts, software analysts, and new technology specialists.
  • Strengthen leadership and government engagement to close the gender gap.

One idea that resonated deeply was the call for more Ambassadors for Maritime. Perhaps some of us will step forward to help tell its stories, champion its people and unlock its future.

We’re proud to be part of that mission at Image Line Communications and honoured to support initiatives that showcase the power of inclusion, innovation and storytelling in maritime.

Our sincere thanks to Trinity House, WISTA UK, and OCIMF for making this event possible and for driving the conversation forward. The ocean of opportunity is vast, and it’s time more women set sail!