Women In Maritime Summit Charts A Course For The Future

Historically, the maritime sector often presented an image of immense, slow-turning stability, a vast operation resistant to rapid change, where tradition dictated the currents. Yet, squinting at the current nautical charts reveals an industry less like a steadfast oil rig and more like a high-speed catamaran cutting through heavy weather.

The pace of change is acute. Advances in digital technologies—think AI steering and predictive maintenance—are colliding with the frenzied reality of regulatory-driven sustainability efforts. The workforce itself is experiencing a strange, lovely evolution. This environment of profound transformation is precisely the backdrop for the Women in Maritime Summit, returning for its second year to the International WorkBoat Show (IWBS). This gathering is not simply an addendum to the main event; it’s an essential vantage point.

The summit offers a chance, as Jessica Galli, conference manager for the IWBS, suggests, “to look at how the maritime industry is changing through the lens of female experience, leadership, and inclusion.” This is a vital exercise, considering the immense cognitive shift required to manage 19th-century global logistics using 21st-century ecological mandates.

Empathy emerges when one realizes the sheer velocity of this required adaptation. Taylor Dickerson, vice president of the project management office at Kirby Corp., noted during the previous event that the rising presence of women in operations and as port captains is fundamentally altering company culture. A subtle, yet undeniably profound shift felt everywhere from the wheelhouse to the efficiency of the mooring lines.

Sponsors like the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Fairwater underline the institutional recognition that the future fleet requires everyone.

For 2025, the format itself is adapting to deepen connections. Forget the endless lecture hall drone; the summit has introduced an all-new interactive structure involving two targeted mini-sessions, each immediately followed by focused roundtable discussions among peers.

This is designed for reflection, sharing personal experiences, and proper peer-to-peer learning—the most effective kind, surely, provided no one tries to dominate the salt shaker. The second session, titled “Innovation at Sea and Ashore: Maritime Solutions for a Changing World,” dives into the deep end of the future.

The panel includes Anastasija Kuprijanova, the director of business development at Carbon Ridge (thinking about capture technologies!), and Eileen Tausch, electrification program manager at Fleetzero. They are grappling with the dizzying task of merging centuries-old maritime infrastructure with urgent modern necessities, specifically, how to propel vessels without immediately triggering global catastrophe.

Their unique perspectives—especially from women and emerging talent—are not merely shaping solutions; they are steering the entire sector.

• Interactive Design The 2025 Summit features two mini-sessions paired immediately with small, structured roundtable discussions for deeper dialogue and peer learning.
• Key Sponsorship The event is sponsored by Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Fairwater, highlighting institutional support for inclusion and leadership development.
• Innovation Leaders Panelists for the future-focused session include Anastasija Kuprijanova (Carbon Ridge) and Eileen Tausch (Fleetzero), addressing advanced solutions like carbon capture and vessel electrification.
• Cultural Adjustment Increased representation is measurably changing corporate cultures, as demonstrated by observable changes in operations, particularly regarding women in roles such as port captain.