WOMEN IN MARITIME Natalie Godward with Bruce Krumrine senior vice president of port operations for Holland America Group Natalie Godward (third from left) at the 2018 Eden Business & Community award. Cruise Eden won the Volunteer/Community Service Award PROFILE: Natalie Godward This month we are profiling Natalie Godward, cruise development manager for Port Authority of New South Wales. By Kendall Carter NATALIE GODWARD WORKS FROM visits from the expedition and luxury segments. “It is very humbling to see how a Eden on the beautiful south coast of New In Eden, both Federal and State funding community comes together to welcome South Wales, a wonderful natural harbour has enabled a new cruise terminal to be cruise visitors,” Natalie said. and a developing cruise destination. She built, where cruise vessels are now able to “In Eden for example, local volunteers, manages cruise visits into all the regional berth alongside instead of remaining at including individuals and businesses, get ports along the NSW coastline and runs anchor as used to be the case. up very early to be there and offer the Cruise Eden for the Sapphire Coast in the The Port Authority, with Natalie in best possible experience for visiting cruise far south. the lead, is now scoping the maritime passengers.” viability of several locations up and down GARDEN OF EDEN the state’s coast. On the north coast of BIGGER PICTURE Natalie took the role of Cruise Eden NSW Natalie recently has been examining Natalie is supportive of the Nautical coordinator about five years ago when it the possibilities for visits to Yamba, Coffs Institute’s Women in Maritime initiative started to become too much for volunteers Harbour and South West Rocks, working and believes it has helped remove in Eden. Initially this was a part-time with local stakeholders and communities perceived and actual barriers to entry in a position while she was working for Sapphire along with interested cruise lines to tailor traditionally male-dominated industry, by Coast tourism. Soon the role was full-time appropriate shoreside experiences for the highlighting the success stories of women. and she was organising all the shoreside passengers. All the other NSW regional She recognises you don’t have to go to sea aspects of cruise ships visiting Eden as well ports will also soon be examined to see how to be part of this industry and there are as being involved in attracting more cruise their potential may be harnessed. many varied roles and the opportunities for lines to the port. women to get involved. Natalie believes the Port Authority of NSW has always been a AMERICAN INSPIRATION maritime industry is fascinating and ever great supporter of Natalie’s work for Cruise Natalie recently attended the SeaTrade changing, with long term opportunities for Eden and last year, as the local development Cruise Global Conference in Miami Beach growth. She would definitely recommend it of the port was ramping up, they employed Florida, where she was extolling the virtues as a career for women and has been actively her directly as their cruise development of visiting NSW to cruise companies. introducing the industry to her daughters manager with the expanded role of not only The aim was to show off the many through her role, showing them what she looking after Eden cruise visits but also opportunities along the coast and bring does, and will encourage them to consider cruise visits to all the NSW regional ports. more cruise ships to the region. the maritime industry as a career when the Natalie especially enjoys working time comes. ‘WHOLE COASTLINE’ OPPORTUNITIES with regional communities to create Natalie would thoroughly recommend Cruising is an expanding area and in NSW opportunities for cruise ship visits that getting involved in the industry to women cruise ships regularly visit Sydney as well boost local economies. She explains cruise starting out on their careers as well as as Newcastle and now more recently, vessels come in all shapes and sizes and those considering a “sea change”. In Port Kembla. sometimes it might just be a case of 80 her own words, “Through chance and Natalie passionately believes that there is a whole coastline of opportunities and communities in NSW that would welcome cruise ships with open arms, especially people getting off a ship, eating their lunch in the local pub and visiting a few local stores, but even so it creates a great vibe and generally the community loves it. opportunity I fell into the maritime industry and feel very grateful for that. This is the best job I have ever had, and I love working in the industry”. NG; Cruise Eden 20 <strong>May</strong> <strong>2019</strong> thedcn.com.au
Delivering world-class port and marine services in New South Wales Sydney Harbour | Port Botany | Newcastle Harbour | Port Kembla | Port of Eden | Port of Yamba www.portauthoritynsw.com.au Follow us @portauthoritynsw Piloting a vessel into Newcastle Harbour, New South Wales
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