Céline Mortier, CEO of the Belgian maritime navigation services company Bougard Martin, has been elected as the new President of WISTA International. This election took place during the annual general meeting and conference of the association in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, held from October 28 to 30. Mortier previously served as the President of WISTA Belgium and is now appointed as the new President of this global association.
History and Objectives of WISTA International
WISTA, founded in 1974, is a global organization dedicated to promoting the participation of women, professional development, and leadership in the maritime, trade, and logistics sectors. The organization currently has 64 national associations and over 6,500 members worldwide. Mortier stated, "I am very pleased to serve as President of WISTA International at this time of continuous growth for our global network, and I am committed to working to advance WISTA's mission and impact."
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Global Expansion and New Achievements
Mortier's election comes as the organization continues to expand its international presence. During the annual general meeting, four new national associations from the Bahamas, Egypt, Montenegro, and the Philippines joined the organization. This reflects the expansion and influence of WISTA on a global scale. Mortier succeeds Elpi Petraki, who was elected as President of the organization in October 2022 and has served two consecutive terms.
During Petraki's presidency, WISTA has strengthened its international position and has taken actions based on its consultative status with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as well as expanding initiatives that help increase the representation of women in the shipping industry. At this meeting, the Corporate Diversity Award was presented to a commercial maritime management company.
The next WISTA International general meeting and conference is scheduled to take place from October 27 to 29, 2027, in Brazil, and Istanbul has been selected as the host for the 2028 event.
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