When women lead, the maritime industry moves forward with greater strength, inclusivity, and purpose. This spirit of leadership and collaboration brought together women maritime leaders and representatives from 15 countries across Asia in Singapore from 28 to 30 September 2026 for the Women in Maritime Association, (WIMA Asia) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Regional Workshop on Gender-Responsive Policy and Legislative Design and Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Hosted by the Maritime and Ports Authority of Singapore (MPA) with the International Maritime Organization. (IMO), the gathering opened with the welcome message of Ms. Lee Yong Ding, Dean of MPA Academy who expressed strong support to the Women Programme of IMO with Singapore’s hosting of the workshop and its active engagement in the maritime industry in Asia.

Ms. Mariana Noceti, IMO Programme officer of IMO in her message highlighted the workshop’s value as a reminder that advancing women’s participation in maritime affairs is a shared regional responsibility. By bringing together women leaders from maritime administrations, educators and industry players as advocates, WIMA Asia continues to create opportunities for knowledge-sharing and stronger partnerships through a workshop that focused in key concepts on power and structural gendered injustice.

The Regional Workshop explored gender-related barriers in the maritime sector, relating to: leadership and power, institutional structures and culture, advocacy, power mapping, and practical approaches to advancing gender-responsive reforms. Aside from the Philippines, delegates come from Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Timor Leste, India, Vietnam, Mongolia and Maldives who comprise the Governing Council. Other IMO member states which attended are Singapore, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and Pakistan. The trailblazing workshop ably facilitated by Madhura Chakraborty provided valuable insights on the dynamics of leadership and power in a cultural setting and power mapping as tools to address institutional barriers and advance gender responsive change.

Another key agenda item was the IMO Regional Presence Office (RPO) Operational Overview, presented by Ms. Johanna Acallar, IMO Regional Coordinator for East Asia, who provided updates on the office’s role, regional responsibilities, and operational priorities. Her presentation introduced the RPO team and their respective roles, followed by an overview of the office’s establishment, funding, staffing arrangements, and modernization initiatives.

The RPO presentation provided valuable context on how regional coordination, institutional capacity, stakeholder partnerships, and technical cooperation contribute to the implementation of IMO priorities across Asia.

WIMA ASIA and WIMA Philippines President Merle Jimenez-San Pedro, emphasized that women should not just be simply beneficiaries of sound and just policies — women should be policy makers, seafarers, maritime professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, regulators, executives and leaders. San Pedro emphasized the need to “continue not only to be a network of women in maritime in Asia but a strong organization of women shaping maritime policy, leadership and the future of maritime industry.”

The Philippines was represented by MARINA and WIMAPHIL members who played valuable role in the regional gathering with the Philippine Coast Guard, Archipelago Philippine Ferries and Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation of Legazpi (Mariners’ Legazpi) forming part of the Philippine delegation. Its participation highlighted the important contribution of the Philippines in developing future maritime professionals and supporting greater opportunities for women in the industry through broader career pathways.

The AGM further discussed updates on the IMO Gender Equality Programme and Global Strategy of WIMA Networks, the WIMA Asia Governing Council report, the proposed WIMA Asia Regional Strategy and preparations for the 2027 Activity Plan.

The Singapore gathering reinforced WIMA Asia’s role as a regional platform for women in maritime, fostering collaboration among member countries and strengthening a shared commitment to women’s empowerment, gender equality, leadership, maritime education, and sustainable development.

WIMA Asia’s Singapore event further strengthened the region’s collective efforts toward a more inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable maritime industry. The Philippine delegation has targeted a National Action Plan on Gender Equality from October 2026 to September 2027 and work together with other WIMA Asia members to respond to IMO global strategy for WIMA. The major output of the Regional Workshop is to create a Regional Action Plan to implement the Global Strategy of IMO WIMA networks in 2027.

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