See below the full release:
The Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC) – Guyana Chapter successfully hosted its inaugural Gala and Awards Ceremony under the theme “An Ocean of Opportunities for Women: Anchoring Excellence” at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Georgetown on Friday June 20.
The prestigious event brought together leading voices in maritime to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women across the sector.
Held in honour of the trailblazing women working both locally and internationally within the maritime industry, the event recognised their unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous development. The evening was marked by a spirit of celebration, inspiration and advocacy, reflecting WiMAC–Guyana’s mission to champion gender equity and professional growth within the maritime sphere.
In April 2025, fourteen award categories were open for nominations, recognising diverse areas of excellence across the maritime sector. Fourteen visionary women were honoured as the 2025 awardees in each category: Maritime Leadership Award-Romona Arthur; Executive of the Year-Briony Tiwarie-Gabriel; Port Management Excellence Award-Nalini Jamuna; Outstanding Female Ship Captain-Sabita Sookdeo; Sustainable Maritime Champion-Dawn Maison; Blue Economy Advocate-Donnette Streete; STEM In Maritime Award-Shania Stewart; Mentor of the Year-Annette Arjoon- Martins; Diversity & Inclusion Champion-Miranda Thakur-Deen; Maritime Educator of the Year-Coleen Denyse Abrams; Exemplary Seafarer Award-Rebecca Samuels; Maritime Safety Advocate-Sherry-Ann Wilson; Shipping & Logistics Innovator-Keisha Hack; Women-Owned Maritime Business Award-Kerensa Bart. The Executive Council of WIMAC recognized and honored Thandi McAllister as the Maritime Ambassador for her continued advocacy and excellence in maritime stewardship.
In her opening remarks, Katina Benn, President of WiMAC–Guyana, expressed pride in the Chapter’s milestone event, stating: “This Gala is more than a celebration, it is a statement of intent. We are here to honour the resilience, intellect and leadership of women in maritime, while actively creating space for the next generation of female professionals. WiMAC–Guyana is steadfast in its commitment to building a more inclusive, visible and empowered maritime workforce.”
The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including The Honourable Bishop Juan A. Edghill., Minister of Public Works, who offered congratulatory remarks and reaffirmed the government’s support for gender equity and development within the maritime industry. He reiterated “The establishment of the national WiMAC Guyana chapter, which serves as the voice for women in our local maritime sector, and actively seeks opportunities for women is something that must be applauded.”
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of awards to outstanding women who have made notable contributions to the maritime industry. Nominees were assessed based on criteria including active employment within the sector, a demonstrated impact in their area of expertise, and between two to five years of professional experience.
Delivering the keynote address to over 360 guests was esteemed Jamaican legal scholar and maritime governance expert, Dr. Deniece M. Aiken. As the President of WISTA-Jamaica, Dr. Aiken’s address focused on the critical role of women in shaping a resilient, inclusive maritime future.Offering an inspiring call to action, she encouraged women to seize the ocean of opportunity. “Let every step you take be purposeful, you belong in this industry and your voice matters. To the awardees, thank you for your courage and resilience. You remind us of what is possible when determination meets opportunity. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition”.
Since its inception, WiMAC–Guyana advocates for and actively works to create equal opportunities for women in the maritime sector by fostering an environment that supports capacity building, training, and increased visibility. The award ceremony reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where women are empowered to lead, innovate and thrive within the maritime sector.
The event’s accomplishments were made possible by the generous contributions of its sponsors and partners, including the Guyana Maritime Administration Department, International Register of Shipping, El Dorado Offshore, Caribbean Shipping Ltd., C&V Shipping Ltd., Muneshwers Shipping, BK Marine, SBM Offshore Guyana, John Fernandes Ltd., and Tropical Shipping.
WiMAC–Guyana extends its sincere gratitude to all sponsors, stakeholders, and members of the maritime community whose participation and contributions helped make the inaugural event a resounding success.
The post Women in maritime sector celebrated appeared first on News Room Guyana.
