Ms. Panayiotou Theodosiou said it was a tremendous honour to have been chosen for the award. “Over the last 10 years raising awareness of the incredible work women are undertaking within the maritime industry and the importance of gender diversity, equity and inclusion have been a key focus for me on both a personal and professional level,” she said.
Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, Co-CEO, Tototheo Maritime and Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization. The IMO said Ms. Panayiotou Theodosiou had brought significant attention to WISTA’s mission, shed light on the challenges faced by women in shipping, and raised awareness among industry stakeholders and international policy and decision makers.
Her actions had also amplified the voices of women, highlighting their important contributions to the maritime industries. Ms. Panayiotou Theodosiou was instrumental in gaining consultative status for WISTA International at IMO, and the two organisations have since launched joint initiatives, such as the Women in Maritime Survey 2021 and the Maritime Speakers Bureau.
The survey, which will be repeated this year, examined representation and distribution of women working in the maritime sector. The Speakers Bureau is a platform for female experts across a variety of maritime fields which seeks to ensure that conferences and events feature inclusive panels with a range of perspectives. Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President.
