DCN May Edition 2019

QUEENSLAND
WISTA launches network in far north QLD
Women in the tropical north are coming together to support their endeavours in the
maritime industry under the umbrella of national association WISTA
The Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association is
an international networking organisation whose mission is to
attract and support women, at the management level, in the
maritime, trading and logistics sectors.
The Australia arm of WISTA, which until now has focused
mainly on the capital cities, has extended its reach into far north
Queensland. At the beginning of April the organisation held two
key events in the region – in Townsville and Cairns - to bring
together women interested in networking and becoming part of
the organisation.
“The main purpose of these events is to include our regional
areas of Australia into the WISTA network and provide a scope that
is beyond just the metropolitan areas because shipping is national,”
WISTA Australia president Alison Cusack said.
“WISTA also now has the capacity to expand regionally,” she
said, adding increased membership and sponsorship had buoyed
the non-profit organisation.
The aim of the events was to empower women. It does this
by providing access to regional networking, business and skill
building opportunities, corporate visibility, and also facilitating
relationships within the industry.
Guest speakers at the Townsville event include Michelle Taylor,
vice president of WISTA Australia and partner at Colin, Biggers &
Paisley; Lilian Auvaa, managing director of HERLI Group; Maria
James, trade and business development executive at the Port of
Townsville; and Peter Hinsch, managing director of Harbourside
Coldstores.
DRIVING FORCES
“I grew up in Townsville and began my shipping career in Cairns,
so I have a personal connection to north Queensland,” Ms Taylor
told Daily Cargo News.
“The collegiality and energy of the participants at both events
was inspiring,” she said.
Ms Taylor said members of the shipping and trade industries in
north QLD, and particularly women, are incredibly resilient, with
an outstanding ability to get things done.
Lilian Auvaa, HERLI Group (left) with delegates at the WISTA event
“For all these reasons, WISTA is proud to encourage and support
the development of career opportunities in shipping and the export
business in north QLD,” she said.
WISTA recently achieved IMO consultancy status and 2019
is the IMO year of “Empowering women in the maritime
community”.
“I can’t think of a more deserving community to support, than
women in shipping in north QLD,” Ms Taylor said.
The driving force behind WISTA’s expansion in the region
was local business woman Lilian Auvaa. She has worked in the
shipping industry for 16 years and in 2018 began her own freight
consultancy business in Cairns, which specialises in the Pacific
Islands trade.
“Lilian recently became aware of the role that WISTA plays in
Australia,” Ms Taylor said.
“The shipping and trade industries are pivotal to the future of
the north QLD region, and as a result, Lilian reached out to WISTA
for support to facilitate networking, mentoring and business
development opportunities.”
PROMOTING DIALOGUE
The theme for the Townsville panel discussion was “opportunities
for Townsville as an export hub”. One of the guest speakers was
Maria James, trade and business development executive for the Port
of Townsville. She spoke about her experience in shipping and the
benefits of providing a supportive working environment for women
in a regional business community.
Port of Townsville was the winner of the Gender Diversity Award
at the 2018 DCN Australian Shipping & Maritime Industry Awards.
The theme for the Cairns panel discussion was “promoting
agricultural exports through Cairns and Townsville”. One of
the guest speakers, Barbara Ford, managing director, Airfreight
Handling Services was the 2016 Cairns Business Woman of
the Year. She spoke of her incredible journey to overcome
discrimination in the industry to succeed as a business owner
and manager.
MOVING FORWARD
Ms Taylor says WISTA plans to facilitate further events in far
north QLD.
“We’ve received support from both the Maritime Museum of
Townsville and the Cairns Regional Council to host any future
events in their venues and conference rooms,” she said.
WISTA proposes to continue its support for women in the far
north QLD shipping and trade industries through a number of
initiatives including: funding for regional representatives to attend
WISTA events in capital cities of Australia; ensuring WISTA Board
Members regularly attend Far North QLD events; and a mentoring
program which is due to be launched at the 2019 AGM Conference
for WISTA Australia, in Sydney on 21 August 2019.
WISTA
32 May 2019
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