Australia will be represented at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regional seminar by Ms Megan Profke, currently Master of the Alexander Spirit, Teekay Shipping. Megan was nominated by the Australian Shipowners Association to attend the conference and visited AMSA last week to meet with staff to discuss Australia's engagement with the IMO and how Australia encourages and supports seafarers and women in the workforce.
During the seminar, Megan will deliver a country presentation on the participation of women in the Australian maritime industry, the government policies that support women's entry into the industry, and the challenges faced by women working as seafarers in the international maritime industry today.
Coordinated by our Navigation Safety and International Division, Megan met with staff from Ship Safety Division and the Rescue Coordination Centre. She spent time with our officers to share their experiences as women seafarers, past and present, to inform her presentation.
The IMO seminar will run from 16-19 April in Busan, South Korea. It aims to facilitate information exchange and the sharing of experiences and best practices in the promotion of maritime careers for women. The workshop will develop a framework for the development of a global strategy for women seafarers by identifying programs to enhance competency and opportunities for women.
