WISTA International Approved for IMO Consultative Status
On July 5, 2018, the International Maritime Organization’s (“IMO”) governing body, the IMO Council, approved the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (“WISTA”) International’s application for consultative status, which enables WISTA to attend IMO meetings, representing its views at international fora, as well as promoting, enhancing, and advancing women’s positions in the shipping industry.
In a recent interview, WISTA International President and CEO of Tototheo Maritime in Cyprus, Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, stated, “WISTA’s efforts support the overarching principles in the IMO’s Strategic Plan, specifically the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.” (Lloyd’s List, “WISTA International Joins IMO,” July 5, 2018).
WISTA International is a global organization for women at the management level in the maritime industry, with 44 active National WISTA Associations (“NWAs”) organized in their respective countries and more than 3,000 individual members in the NWAs from all sectors of the maritime industry. WISTA is governed by an Executive Committee comprised of seven women from seven different countries, including Blank Rome Partner Jeanne M. Grasso who also serves as vice chair of the Firm’s Maritime and International Trade practice group. Jeanne has been a WISTA International Executive Committee member since October 2013 and, prior to that role, served as president of WISTA USA for five years. As part of her current role within WISTA’s Executive Committee, Jeanne will share the responsibility of representing WISTA at IMO meetings along with Ms. Theodossiou, with support from the NWAs and the WISTA Executive Committee:
- President – Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou (WISTA Cyprus), CEO, Tototheo Maritime
- Treasurer – Rachel Lawton (WISTA United Kingdom), Director-Audit, Mazars
- Secretary – Diane Edwards (WISTA New Zealand), General Manager, People, Systems and Technology, Port of Auckland
- Member – Naa Densua Aryeetey (WISTA Ghana), Head of Shippers Services, Ghana Shippers’ Authority
- Member – Sanjam Gupta (WISTA India), Director, Sitara Shipping
- Member – Katerina Stathopoulou (WISTA Hellas), Vice President, Investments & Finance
For more information on WISTA, its consultative role within the IMO, and its Executive Committee, please click here.
PRESS RELEASE
July 5, 2018
WISTA INTERNATIONAL APPROVED FOR IMO CONSULTATIVE STATUS
The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) governing body, the IMO Council, approved the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) International’s application for consultative status on 5 July 2018.
“Consultative status gives us the opportunity to promote diversity, inclusion and women’s empowerment, which are our main aims,” said WISTA International President Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou. “We can now formally contribute to the discussion for increasing capacity in our industry, a critical component of which is promoting women in the industry, both shoreside and shipboard. WISTA’s efforts support the overarching principles in IMO’s Strategic Plan, especially the promotion of Gender Equality and the empowerment of women.”
WISTA International has been a voice for female executives in the maritime industry since 1974. Today, WISTA International has more than 3,000 members worldwide representing 44 National WISTA Associations. WISTA International has participated in a number of global initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in the shipping industry. WISTA International partners with organizations around the world including the European Commission, International Chamber of Shipping, InterManager, INTERTANKO, World Maritime University, ISWAN, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, and YoungShip to increase women’s participation in the maritime industry in coordination with the UN’s sustainable Development Goal 5, Achieve Gender Equality and Empowerment for all Women and Girls.
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