A milestone event dedicated to celebrating and supporting women in the marine and maritime sectors took place, bringing together key industry leaders, experts, and advocates. Hosted by Irish Lights and MARA, in collaboration with leading maritime and marine organisations, the event will feature insightful discussions on leadership, governance, and gender equality within the sector.
Opening the event, Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO of Irish Lights, emphasised the importance of fostering diversity in the marine and maritime sectors and the importance of building networks of trust to support women on their leadership journey:
“Women play an essential role in the marine and maritime sectors. This event is about raising the profile of women in the sector, celebrating leadership, creating opportunities for sharing, and driving meaningful change in an evolving industry. There are many non-linear pathways to leadership, and we must ensure that women are supported and given opportunities at every stage of their journey.”
(L-R) Deirdre Lane, Harbour Master, Dunmore East, Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO of Irish Lights and Lieutenant Cáit McKeown, Irish Naval Service, at the event to mark International Women’s Day, at Irish Lights, Dun Laoghaire
Charing a diverse panel of female leaders, Laura Brien, CEO of MARA, highlighted the importance of representation in the industry:
“Representation matters. When women see others thriving in leadership roles within the maritime sector, it sends a powerful message that their ambitions are achievable. Building a more diverse and inclusive industry benefits everyone, and this event is a valuable opportunity to promote this.”
The keynote speech was delivered by Gary Joyce, Managing Partner at Genesis, titled “The Leadership We Don’t Talk About: The Truth Behind Success.” This compelling session explored the often-unspoken challenges of leadership, including emotional labour, vulnerability, and the myth of having it all. Speaking on the realities of leadership, Gary Joyce states:
“ Many of the capabilities that make someone effective in today's complex world – emotional intelligence, comfort with ambiguity, collaborative problem solving – are qualities that women have developed throughout our lives, often without recognition. Effective leaders can be strategic and adaptable, confident and humble and visionary and practical depending on what the moment calls for. By opening up about these challenges, we can redefine leadership for future generations.”
The panel featured leading women in the maritime sector, including:
Caroline Bocquel – CEO BIM
Clodagh O’Reilly – Chair, Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers Ireland
Deirdre Lane – Harbour Master, Dunmore East
Cáit McKeown – Lieutenant, Irish Naval Services
Patricia Orme – Director of Corporate Services, Marine Institute
Networking opportunities followed, providing attendees with a platform to connect, exchange ideas, and build collaborative relationships across the industry.
This event was co-hosted by Irish Lights and MARA (Maritime Area Regulatory Authority) collaborating with BIM (Bord Iascaigh Mhara), Enterprise Ireland, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, Irish Chamber of Shipping, Irish Coast Guard, IMDO (Irish Maritime Development Office), Irish Navy, Marine Institute, Marine Ireland Industry Network (MIIN), National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), Údarás na Gaeltachta, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland.
