Inspiring Inclusion Not Just For Women, But For Everyone

This article has been adapted from an executive statement written by Cathy Stephenson, W?rtsil? Water & Waste’s Managing Director, on the International Women’s Day website here: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Activity/20365/Inspiring-inclusion-not-just-for-women-but-for-everyone

In the traditionally male-dominated realm of marine engineering, a significant shift is underway.

“During my time working in the global maritime world I have seen more, and more talented women come into the industry from a variety of backgrounds and doing a variety of roles. They are brave, passionate and knowledgeable women who are committed to making themselves, the industry and the world a better, more inclusive and diverse place.

But this does not happen by accident. It comes from hard work and determination to push against the stereotypes and prove that they too can positively contribute in an environment that has been, at times, challenging to enter and difficult to navigate.”

Moreover, at W?rtsil? Water & Waste, we take pride in leading by example in this arena, with women making up 29.25% of our workforce. This is a significant achievement for the industry and reflects our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Nevertheless, there is still more work to be done. Women account for 29% of the overall maritime workforce, but women seafarers make up just 2% of global crew, according to Martide. This is an issue that is being taken seriously at the highest level, including at the IMO. Gender equality and female empowerment is one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, and the IMO’s own gender programme was initiated 36 years ago in 1988.

Over those nearly four decades, the IMO's capacity-building programme has helped put in place an institutional framework to incorporate a gender dimension into IMO's policies and procedures. This has supported access to maritime training and employment opportunities for women in the maritime sector.

The reasons for doing this are clear. There are many studies that show that a diverse workforce is a more productive workforce. When we are all having to grapple with new and changing customer demands, not to mention a rapidly evolving geopolitical backdrop, being able to tap into diverse perspectives is even more important to solving problems quickly and efficiently.

It’s why this year’s International Women's Day theme of inspiring inclusion is so important. Raising the tide for women in maritime empowers all of us.

At W?rtsil? Water & Waste, we are committed to cultivating a workforce that is based on a range of experiences and insights. We’ve tried to build a corporate culture that celebrates diversity across the board, and that welcomes individuals from various backgrounds and lifepaths. We offer a culture that encourages diversity from all backgrounds and all walks of life, and, we have talented, engaged, and knowledgeable women in all departments from sales to project delivery, engineering to finance and purchasing to services.

They are the engineers helping to design and deliver complex marine water and waste systems. They are the project managers who ensure that our technical solutions are delivered according to customer requirements, they are the parts coordinators who ensure that our spares quotations for customers are accurate, they are the purchasers who negotiate with our supply chain, they are the finance professionals who ensure we are legal, compliant and profitable, they are the sales people who understand what a customer needs, and they are leaders in our organisation who support their teams with passion and commitment every single day.

Of course, the journey towards inclusivity is never over. We remain committed to nurturing a culture untainted by bias, one where every individual feels valued and respected.

Together we can redefine the contours of excellence and pave the way for a future in shipping where every voice is heard, every talent is nurtured, and every individual is empowered to realise their fullest potential.

That’s something to celebrate on this International Women’s Day.