Share your diverse knowledge via maritime speaker banks

Have you ever thought women seafarers should be more represented at maritime industry conferences?

If so, there's a way you can make a difference. If you are a female maritime professional, you can sign up as a speaker to a maritime 'speaker bank' which puts expert women forward to sit on panels and give speeches. And anybody can encourage their company to use these speaker banks when organising maritime events.

You won't be alone: several Nautilus members and senior officials are already listed on the Maritime UK and WISTA International speaker directories.

If you think deck or engineering officers or other ranks onboard could be better represented, you can register to be a volunteer speaker and list your area of expertise. The future of any sector is its people, so now is the time to get engaged for maritime!

What are the benefits?

For speakers, it is an opportunity to share your knowledge and experience and contribute to helping the audience understand different perspectives.

For conference organisers, it is an opportunity to have inclusive, diverse, richer panels from this free-to-use directory of industry speakers.

How do I sign up?

There are two speaker banks which are welcoming new members: The IMO/WISTA Maritime Speakers' Bureau and the Speaker Bank run by the Maritime UK Diversity in Maritime Taskforce.

In both of these, women in maritime are encouraged to inspire, educate and engage audiences by registering as speakers.

The launch of the Maritime Speakers Bureau is a joint project under the IMO-WISTA Memorandum of Understanding on promoting greater diversity and inclusion through enhanced cooperation activities in the maritime sector.

• find out more about the Maritime Speakers Bureau

For the Maritime UK Speaker Bank, Helen Kelly of Nautilus International is the project lead.

The Speaker Bank provides a database of diverse speakers for panels and conferences with specific industry expertise.

Maritime UK's Diversity in Maritime Taskforce was launched in May 2020 in response to the UK government's flagship Maritime 2050 strategy.

• find out more about the Maritime UK Speaker Bank

For your diary

Nautilus Equality and Diversity Forum

Are you interested in promoting an inclusive maritime workplace? You'll find like-minded people at the next Nautilus Equality and Diversity Forum of 2024, to be held on 7 November, so save the date!