A HIGH-level taskforce launched to tackle inequality in the UK maritime sector has been welcomed by the government'.s new shipping moinister.

The Maritime UK taskforce will identify practical steps to increase the number of women in maritime, and to promote women into senior roles across the shipping, ports, marine and business services industries.

Chaired by Image Line managing director and Wista UK president Sue Terpilowski, OBE, the taskforce will make a series of recommendations and use best practice from other industry sectors.

Ms Terpilowski said there was a clear social and business case for improving gender equality in maritime.

“The OECD has estimated that equalising the role of men and women in the labour market could increase GDP by 10% by 2030,” she said in a press release.

“There are women of all ages and abilities wanting to be a part of our maritime future and we must make sure we don’t waste any more time in not addressing this issue.” 

Maritime UK chairman David Dingle welcomed the new taskforce, and said the entire maritime sector needed to do much more to address gender imbalance. 

He pledged to lead by example, urging members to nominate women leaders to sit on the board.

Maritime UK currently has two female board members, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers director Julie Lithgow and Solent LEP executive director Anne-Marie Mountifield.

Lloyd’s Register’s global head of brand and external relations, marine & offshore, Nicola d’Hubert will shortly become chair of the Maritime UK Marketing & Promotion working group.

Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani said she was delighted to see Maritime UK taking action to attract more women into the maritime industry.

“There is a fantastic wealth and breadth of career opportunities in maritime, and I am determined to see more women accessing these.”

Transport select committee chair Lilian Greenwood MP, who said the plan to tackle gender inequality was essential. “Right now our maritime sector is missing out on the skills and talents of outstanding women.”

The Department for Transport’s trust port policy adviser Alison Lockyer will join the taskforce alongside industry representatives from the ports, classification, education, skills and training, and media industries. A full list is below.

Lloyd’s List will be represented on the taskforce by Europe Editor-in-Chief Helen Kelly.

Ms Kelly is passionate about talent development, diversity and the relevance of women in the industry.

In 2018 she was awarded the Seahorse social media journalist of the year for promoting these causes.

In 2017 she launched the Lloyd’s List Tom Leander fellowship for aspiring maritime journalists, sponsored by global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, which seeks to encourage greater diversity in maritime journalism.

Taskforce members