The Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC) recently conducted a Regional Conference and 6th Annual General Meeting, which was hosted under the theme, “Navigating Horizons: Mobilizing Stronger Networks for Caribbean Women towards a Sustainable Maritime Industry.”
The conference brought together members affectionately called SEAsters from approximately 15 countries across the Caribbean. It was hosted from the 3rd to the 5th of October 2023, at the Conference Centre of Ocean Coral Spring Hotel, Trelawny, Jamaica.
New beginnings: Welcoming the governing council
A pivotal part of the conference was the introduction of the new WiMAC Governing Council.
The newly elected WiMAC Governing Council consists of the President – Dr. Evette Smith Johnson (Jamaica), Immediate Past President – Mrs. Tamara Lowe- James (Dominica), Vice President, Research and Development- Ms. Suzette Balkaran (Trinidad and Tobago), Director of Finance -Ms. Ilaisa Lila (Suriname), Vice President, Public Relations and Marketing – Mrs. Tricia King (St. Kitts and Nevis), Vice President, Membership- Ms. Abigail Bryan (Jamaica), Member-At-Large, – Ms. Carlita Benjamin ( Dominica ), Director of Corporate Affairs- Ms. Raquel Forbes (Jamaica), Vice President, Women and Development –Mrs. Katina Benn (Guyana), and the Operations Manager – Ms Valerie Simpson (Jamaica).
Student chapter: A fresh wave of enthusiasm
A significant highlight was the inclusion of 80 ardent participants from the freshly inaugurated Student Chapter at the Caribbean Maritime University, launched in alignment with World Maritime Day on September 28th.
A tapestry of regional representation
The Annual General Meeting, exclusive to members, was a rich tapestry of diverse representations. Members hailed from an array of nations across the Caribbean, including Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, and many others, which facilitated a comprehensive and multi-faceted dialogue about the maritime industry’s future.
Keynote insights: Redefining networking
The keynote speaker was Mrs. Eva Lewis, Director of Citi Jamaica and a St. Lucia national. She challenged a captivated audience to redefine “Network” focusing on purposefulness, the value of mentorship, and being vulnerable.
A collective endeavour: Support from the IMO
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has facilitated the creation of professional networks to improve gender balance in the shipping industry.
Under IMO’s auspices, eight WIMAs have been established including WiMAC. The Maritime Authority Jamaica hosted the 2023 WiMAC Conference and AGM.
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