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 <strong>2019</strong> 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 <strong>DCN</strong> 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 <strong>2019</strong> AGM Conference for WISTA Australia, in Sydney on 21 August <strong>2019</strong>. WISTA 32 <strong>May</strong> <strong>2019</strong> thedcn.com.au
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