Saudi Arabia Participates in Women’s Diplomat Network high-level panel: Empowering Women in Maritime

The President of Women in Diplomacy London Network (WDN), Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom, and Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) hosted and moderated the high-level discussion on "Empowering Women in Maritime and Ocean's Diplomacy" at the International Maritime Organization on September 27th.

The panel was made of highly celebrated and accomplished diplomats and leaders. Ms. Hayat Al-Yabis, Representative to the International Maritime Organization represented the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the panel. It also included Dr. Dorota Lost-Sieminska, Head of the Legal Department of IMO, Her Excellency Dr. Farah Faizal, High Commissioner of the Maldives to the UK, Her Excellency Sophie Katsarava MBE, the Ambassador of Georgia to the UK, Her Excellency Karen-Mae C. Hill, Obe Antigua and Barbuda High Commissioner Ambassador Nancy Karigithu, Advisor and Special Envoy for Maritime & Blue Economy- Office of the President, , Her Excellency Fernanda Milicay Permanent Representative of Argentina to the IMO, Ms. Maryanne Adams Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs for the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Jared Banks, PHD, the Permanent Representative of the USA to the UK at IMO and Science and Technology Counsellor.

Ms. Hayat Al-Yabis is the first appointed female Representative for the Kingdom and one of the first from the MENA region. She highlighted how Vision 2030 emphasizes that a prosperous, contemporary nation must inspire and empower all members of society and discussed how that commitment empowers women in the maritime sector. In 2023, Saudi Arabia hosted the first ever workshop dedicated to women in biofouling management. The workshop invited women from 18 nations in the MENA region to participate and expand their knowledge of biofouling to take with them into their high-level managerial and decision-making roles in their respective country. Additionally, this year, the Saudi Logistics Academy launched the first program dedicated to qualifying and developing capabilities of female leaders in the logistics field, in partnership with the Supply Chain and Logistics Academy (SCALA) in Singapore. The program also includes professional counselling sessions that aim to empower female leaders and train them to hold senior positions in the logistics market, in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.

This high-level panel serves as a testament to the recognition of women's pivotal role in shaping diplomatic and maritime affairs. It underscores the dedication and commitment of organisations like the IMO and the WDN in championing gender equality.