Maritime SheEO Conference 2024: Celebrating Leadership, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Maritime Industry

The Maritime SheEO Conference 2024, held at Taj Santacruz, Mumbai on 15^th November 2024, brought together over 300 industry leaders in person and more than 1,500 online participants from across the globe. This year’s conference, strategically held on Gurunanak Jayanti, emphasized the importance of leadership in driving diversity and inclusion within the maritime sector. With an exceptional lineup of speakers and thought-provoking sessions, the event was a resounding success.

Key Highlights

This year’s conference centered around the theme of leadership’s critical role in promoting diversity and inclusion in maritime, highlighting the need for collective action across the industry. Session topics ranged from “Measuring Diversity and Closing the Pay Gap” to “Empowering Women Leaders and the BBNJ Agreement”, offering fresh insights and solutions to challenges that persist in the sector.

A standout moment was the concept launch of the “Inclusion of Women in the Sri Lankan Maritime Industry - A 2025 Study”, setting a benchmark for future diversity research initiatives. Other popular sessions included “Navigating the Future: Technology & Innovation in Maritime” and “Supporting Wellbeing: From Sea to Shore”, which addressed the importance of mental and physical well-being in the industry.

Notable Speakers and Participants

This year’s speaker roster featured high-profile leaders, including Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Monica Nagelgaard, Consul General at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Mumbai, and Dr. Malini Shankar, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Maritime University. Industry insights were also shared by Guy Platten, Secretary-General at the International Chamber of Shipping, Nathalie De Jaeger, Head of the Strategic Department, DG Shipping (Belgium), and Max Meija, President of the World Maritime University.