DCN AUGUST Edition 2019

GENDER DIVERSITY
a policy of the best person for the job and some great opportunities
for further study and career advancement,” she says.
Ms Galbraith is now one of four women in Royal Wolf’s executive
committee, a number that has increased in the past 10 years.
“When I first started working in the industry, there weren’t
many women in senior management — but that’s shifted. While
the shipping industry is still a man’s world, Royal Wolf has changed
faster than the shipping industry,” she says.
“We now we have four women in the committee, who work
across HR, marketing, operations and technology. Women broaden
the outlook and we bring a new perspective to the business,” Ms
Galbraith says.
A BLOKE’S WORLD?
“The biggest challenge can be that shipping is still seen as a bloke’s
world,” Ms Cusack says.
“Sometimes, I think, the automatic assumption is that women aren’t
interested in a particular aspect of a job, or won’t have the skills. Things
like ‘it’s dirty, it’s a man job’. I’m not saying that this is everywhere in
the industry however the industry is due for a re-branding.”
Most of the women DCN spoke to challenged assumptions by
consistently expressing their passion for the industry and genuine
interest and insight into how freight is moved around the globe.
“There are three things that I love about working in this sector.
Firstly, the work we do is tangible. Whilst we make one move at a
time, the efficiency of each move is what creates an effective supply
chain,” Eliza Anning, general manager corporate services, LINX
Cargo Care Group, says.
“Secondly, the diversity of work in this sector is like no other I
have worked in. As the sector embraces new technologies, this is
not going to change,” she says.
“Finally, and most importantly for me, it is about the people who
work in this sector.”
My Therese Blank, Oceania customer service director, AP Moller-
Maersk, says the people are the most interesting aspect of her job.
“We have some amazing people working in the shipping and
transportation industry, in Oceania and all around the world,”
she says.
“I find it fascinating to learn about the challenges of the past, as
well as the changes our industry is now undertaking.”
Dani McGlashen (left) and GBRIMC teacher, Mick McDonald in the
Great Barrier Reef International Marine College’s full mission bridge
simulator
Sunlover Reef Cruises group general manager Sharon Sheldrake
(left), Dani McGlashen (centre) and Sunlover Reef Cruises group
human resources manager Nadine Machan
MAKING A SPLASH IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY
Cairns resident Dani McGlashen is making her mark in the
maritime industry and she’s passionate about encouraging
more women to join the community.
Born to navy parents and growing up by the ocean, the
29-year-old has the sand and sea in her DNA.
“Ever since I was young I have always felt really good
and comfortable being on or near the ocean, and I decided
early on that I wanted a career in the maritime industry,” Ms
McGlashen says.
“I spent several years working as a dive instructor in Thailand
and on the Great Barrier Reef which was so fulfilling and a
dream of mine since I was a little girl.
“I reached a point where I started wondering what I was
going to do with my career long term, and I decided that the
boat handling and driving side of things seemed like a natural
progression for me.”
Natural for Ms McGlashen but traditionally uncommon,
women represent just 4.2% of the marine transport industry’s
national workforce.
In order to take the next step in her career, Ms McGlashen
enrolled at TAFE Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef International
Marine College.
“I was blown away by the college, it is an amazing facility and
it has the latest training gear and equipment,” she says.
Throughout her studies she learnt how to forecast the
weather and predict ocean conditions, operate propulsion
systems, radar and other electronic navigation equipment,
manage a small crew, and act as a chief mate on a vessel up to
80 metres long.
“It was great to practice my boat driving skills in the
full mission bridge simulator, as it’s a safe environment to
troubleshoot problems which could happen in the real-world,”
Ms McGlashen says.
She has now reached a major professional milestone -
becoming Sunlover Reef Cruises’ first ever female captain.
“Five years ago I couldn’t picture myself here so I am really
happy and grateful for the opportunities that have come my
way and for the support I’ve received from Sunlover,” she says.
TAFE QLD; Calypso Reef Imagery
28 August 2019
thedcn.com.au