WISTA Converges in Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka will be the venue for a gathering of global WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association) Executive Committee and National WISTA Association (NWA) leaders converge on Sri Lanka.  The meetings coincide with the WISTA-CASA (Ceylon Association of Ship Agents) Asian Shipping Conference 2016, entitled “Emerging Trends in Shipping & Logistics- Asia Connects”.  The events occur around the May 6th conference at the Colombo Hilton.

The conference is comprised primarily of WISTA women, most of whom are leaders in the WISTA organization; opening remarks will be provided by Karin Orsel, President of WISTA International.  Additionally, Mr. Anil Singh of DP World, a WISTA Ambassador, will be speaking on “Trends and Challenges for Ports and Shipping in Asia”.  Other speakers include US-based Jeanne Grasso of Blank Rome who will address “Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement”, Ms. Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou of Tototheo Group in Cyprus speaking on “BPOS/Outsourcing and driving cost efficiency in ship management”, Greece’s Investments & Finance Director, Ms. Katerina Stathopoulou addressing the ship finance market and moderator Sanjam Sahi Gupta of Sitara Shipping in India.  Other speakers include Birgit Liodden of Nor-Shipping who will give a dissertation on the “Sustainability of Global Shipping”, Mr. Julian Bevis of A.P. Moller-Maersk on India’s Ports and Logistics Challenges, and Mr. H.D.A.S. Premachandra of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.  Sri Lanka’s Minister of Ports & Shipping, Mr. Arjuna Ranathunga, will give an opening address, and remarks will also be provided by Captain Ajith Peiris, Chairman of CASA.

“The ExCo (Executive Committee) Spring meeting will take place on the Thursday, May 5th in Sri Lanka to coincide with this important conference” stated WISTA President Karin Orsel.  “Additionally, the Asian Pacific members have been invited to join us in the second half of the afternoon. We will meet board representatives from Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, India, UAE and Sri Lanka as well as from Norway and USA.  Two women from National WISTA Associations to be founded (Pakistan and China) will be joining the same meeting. We are grateful to Shehara Jayawardana, President of WISTA Sri Lanka and her members for their gracious hospitality.”

The Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) is an international organization for women in management positions involved in the maritime transportation business and related trades worldwide. WISTA is a major player in attracting more women to the industry and in supporting women in management positions.  With networking, education and mentoring as our focus, we can enhance members’ competence and empower career success.  Today there are 35 country National WISTA Associations with over 2,000 members worldwide.