Busan, South Korea – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) actively participated in the Women in Maritime Association (WIMA) Asia Regional Conference, themed “Tides and Change: Women Leading to a Sustainable and Innovative Maritime Future.” The conference, organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under the Technical Cooperation Programme and the Women in Maritime Association – Korea (WIMA-Korea), was held from 10-12 September 2024.
The forum emphasized the need for continuous learning, collaboration, and addressing the unique challenges women face to foster a more equitable and innovative workforce by empowering women through educational strategies and transformative solutions.
Highlighting women’s leadership in the Philippines, MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan emphasized the agency’s crucial role in the maritime sector, focusing on two key priorities: digitalization and decarbonization. Malaluan introduced the “Charting a Clean Course” campaign, which promotes responsible governance and sustainable development. She also showcased MARINA’s digital transformation efforts, including the MARINA Integrated Seafarers Management Online (MISMO) System for efficient seafarer certificate issuance and the Blockchain Enabled Automated Certification System (MARINA-BEST), designed to enhance efficiency and transparency in maritime operations.
On decarbonization, Malaluan discussed MARINA’s work in developing a National Strategy and Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She highlighted the importance of strong partnerships with government and industry stakeholders to implement these initiatives effectively, while also strengthening MARINA’s organizational capacity to drive industry-wide reforms.
Atty. Sharon D. Aledo, MARINA’s Director for Legal Service also participated as one of the panelists at the conference. She contributed to discussions on the evolving role of women in the Asian maritime sector, emphasizing leadership trends, the crucial role of women in driving innovation, and the importance of inclusivity and collaboration.
The panel discussion highlighted the growing visibility of women in high-ranking maritime positions and the potential for future advancements, while also stressing the need to address and eliminate gender stereotyping within the industry.
The event was attended by representatives from various sectors, including private companies and government agencies, from countries such as the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor Leste, Maldives, Mongolia, and others across the region. This underscored the crucial role of women’s leadership in advancing innovation within the maritime sector.
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