Key collaborative efforts are needed across maritime, trade, and logistics sectors to reach objectives related to equality, gender diversity, and decarbonisation.
This was the message from speakers at the 2025 WISTA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference in Barcelona, running from 22-24 October. The summit, noteworthy as the association's largest in over five decades, welcomed more than 400 maritime professionals and leaders globally.
Elpi Petraki, WISTA International President, highlighted in her keynote address the pivotal role of collective commitment in advancing gender equality across the maritime industry. She stated, "Collaboration has always been shipping's greatest strength. It unites people from all corners of the world, across cultures and disciplines. When we bring diverse perspectives together, we don’t just solve problems—we create new possibilities. That is where innovation begins."
Commitment to gender equality
The conference, supported by the Port of Barcelona and various transport authorities, also featured an opening welcome by Jose Alberto Carbonell, President of the Port of Barcelona. Carbonell reiterated the Port's dedication to gender equality and innovation, encouraging the industry to face its challenges with deliberation.
"The sector must follow what WISTA has done and continues to do; challenge the status quo, innovate, and even in the most difficult context, move forward with determination," he urged.
Government backing
He also reiterated Spain's commitment to the full decarbonisation of the maritime industry
Echoing these sentiments, Benito Núñez Quintanilla, Secretary of State of Maritime and Air Transport, reaffirmed the Ministry's support for WISTA International and underlined the importance of gender balance and equality for sector success.
He also reiterated Spain's commitment to the full decarbonisation of the maritime industry within the global trading system.
In addition, Manel Nadal, Secretary of Mobility and Infrastructures of the Government of Catalonia, spotlighted the maritime sector's role in Catalonia, highlighting its significance with over 24,000 companies engaged in logistics and port activities.
Catalonia's role and industry innovation
The latter part of 2025 is seen as a critical juncture for energy, maritime, and trade sector pioneers
The latter part of 2025 is seen as a critical juncture for energy, maritime, and trade sector pioneers to converge, share insights, and influence the industry's future. Rosana Velasco, President of WISTA Spain, emphasised the importance of such collaboration during this period.
The event topic—Powering the Future of Shipping & Trade: Global Energy in Challenging Times—was mirrored in engaging discussions regarding international trade complexities, logistics, and modern shipping.
Highlights included a decarbonisation panel where Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, discussed outcomes of the latest MEPC session. Further sessions addressed shore power, just-in-time port calls on sustainability, and the industry's adaptation to geopolitical changes, trade barriers, and supply chain digitalisation.
Fireside chat and key discussions
An exclusive fireside chat featured Dominguez and Dorothea Ioannou, CEO of The American P&I Club, delving into policy, regulatory concerns, and human factors in global shipping, covering topics like decarbonisation, legal frameworks, seafarer rights, safety, and the IMO's role.
Moreover, it broadened its scope to address women's contributions to maritime and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty.
Change and new initiatives
Ahead of the conference, WISTA International held a President's roundtable and the Annual General Meeting. Mariella Collazzi was appointed Treasurer of the WISTA International Executive Committee, with Connie Roozen concluding seven years of service.
The AGM announced three new National WISTA Associations (NWAs)—in Croatia, Kenya, and Malta—and the re-launch of WISTA Japan.
A new brand identity, with a redesigned WISTA International logo was also revealed, symbolising the organisation's global reach, unity, and progress for women across shipping, trading, and logistics sectors.
Collaboration is key across maritime, trade and logistics if the sectors are to achieve their goals on equality, gender diversity and decarbonisation, according to speakers at the 2025 WISTA AGM and Conference, held in Barcelona between 22-24 October.
The event, the largest staged by the association in its more than 50-year history, brought together over 400 maritime professionals and leaders from around the world.
In her keynote speech, WISTA International President, Elpi Petraki stressed that collective commitment had been the source of WISTA’s strength in moving the entire maritime industry forward on gender equality.
Shipping’s greatest strength
“Collaboration has always been shipping’s greatest strength. It unites people from all corners of the world, across cultures and disciplines,” she said. “When we bring diverse perspectives together, we don’t just solve problems — we create new possibilities. That is where innovation begins.”
Drawing inspiration from this year’s Nobel laureates in Economic Sciences, who showed that progress often comes through creative destruction, Petraki applied the same principle to the current industry situation, surmising that what might seem disruptive at first can in fact lead to renewal and long-term growth.
Commitment to gender equality and innovation
Welcoming delegates to the gathering supported by the Port of Barcelona, as well as national and regional transport administrations, Jose Alberto Carbonell, President, Port of Barcelona pledged the Port’s commitment to gender equality and innovation. He urged the industry to respond to its challenges with purpose.
“The sector must follow what WISTA has done and continues to do; challenge the status quo, innovate, and even in the most difficult context, move forward with determination.”
Ministry’s support for WISTA International
The sentiment was shared by Benito Núñez Quintanilla, Secretary of State of Maritime and Air Transport, who highlighted the Ministry’s support for WISTA International and the nation’s strong belief in gender balance and equality - not only as a general principle, but as essential to the sector’s success.
Núñez Quintanilla took the opportunity to reaffirm the Spanish Government’s commitment to fully decarbonising the maritime industry as part of the international trading system.
Manel Nadal, Secretary of Mobility and Infrastructures of the Government of Catalonia, highlighted the importance of the maritime sector in Catalonia, as a centre for logistics and ports activities that sustains over 24,000 companies.
Critical moment for maritime sector
Rosana Velasco, President of WISTA Spain, emphasised the significance of late 2025 as a critical moment for leaders in the energy, maritime, and trade sectors to come together to exchange ideas, inspire action, and shape the industry’s future.
The importance of global collaboration was further reflected in the event theme - Powering the Future of Shipping & Trade: Global Energy in Challenging Times – with the conference agenda delivering a series of thought-provoking discussions on the complexities of international trade, logistics and shipping today.
Programme highlights
Programme highlights included a panel discussion on decarbonisation where the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, summarised the outcome of the latest MEPC extraordinary session and next steps.
Other sessions also provided insights into the impact of shore power and just-in-time port calls on sustainability and how the industry is adapting to geopolitical tensions, new trade barriers, and the digital transformation of supply chains.
Exclusive fireside chat
An exclusive fireside chat between Dominguez and Dorothea Ioannou, CEO, The American P&I Club, offered a deeply engaging conversation that focused on policy, regulations and human factors in global shipping.
Discussions covered a wide array of topics, including decarbonisation and legal frameworks, the treatment and criminalisation of seafarers, safety, human rights and crew welfare, women in maritime, the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, and the role of the IMO.
Spirit of change
In the days ahead of the conference, WISTA International hosted its President’s roundtable and Annual General Meeting. This year’s event saw Mariella Collazzi appointed Treasurer of the WISTA International Executive Committee, with Connie Roozen stepping down after seven years of dedicated service.
During the AGM, three new National WISTA Associations (NWAs) were announced – Croatia, Kenya and Malta – in addition to the relaunch of WISTA Japan.
In the spirit of change, a new brand identity was also unveiled, with the new WISTA International logo representing the global reach, unity, and forward movement for women in the shipping, trading, and logistics sectors.
