How AMSA is beating inequality

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of women in maritime and drive awareness of the issues facing women to help achieve gender equality in this male-dominated industry.  

At AMSA  

We invest in a range of measures to remove barriers to workplace participation and build an inclusive culture for all women. We deliver training, workshops, and seminars that provide opportunities for women to advance, including our Women in Leadership mentoring program.  

Educating on gender diversity issues and providing a truly supportive environment is key to achieving change. We are exploring options to establish better facilities and more flexible policies to support staff with carer responsibilities.   

We consult with industry bodies such as the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) and give women leaders in maritime a platform to speak about their experiences, challenges, and successes.  

Additionally, AMSA executives sponsor a Diversity Working Group — a passionate volunteer-based group that develops, implements and monitors AMSA’s diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives. Our goal is to implement high impact and meaningful change to AMSA’s policy and practice. 

We have recently appointed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer, who will guide AMSA’s efforts to strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples. She will work to ensure that AMSA follows through with our strategy to increase representation of Indigenous Australians at AMSA and include indigenous culture throughout our operations and community activities. 

 AMSA has also implemented a ‘Respect the workplace’ policy, which requires our employees to treat each other with respect, recognise the efforts and achievements of others, to be inclusive, and accept and value the differences of others. And to back this up, AMSA has committed to a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate conduct with anonymous feedback systems to encourage employees to speak up. 

We also took part in the Diversity Council of Australia’s Inclusive Index Survey, which allows us to benchmark AMSA’s inclusivity against other council members across Australia. On 14 November 2022 we were announced as an Inclusive Employer. This is a proud achievement for us and recognises the commitment we have made towards building a stronger workplace culture. 

Maritime SheEO Conference 2021

Meet the speakers

Ms Julie Heckscher

Ms Julie Heckscher is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to taking up the role of Deputy High Commissioner in London, Ms Heckscher headed the Department’s Southeast Asia Division, and was responsible for Australia’s bilateral relationships with the ten ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and Timor-Leste.

Ms Heckscher has previously served as the Department’s Corporate Counsel and on the Department’s Audit and Risk Committee and Aid Governance Board, headed the Americas Division and occupied other legal roles within the Department. Overseas Ms Heckscher has served in senior positions at Australian diplomatic missions in Singapore, Ottawa and Moscow. Before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ms Heckscher was a commercial lawyer in private practice.

Ms Heckscher holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Law (with Honours) from the University of Tasmania, a Master’s Degree in International Relations and an Executive Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Monash University.

 

Mr Mick Kinley

Mr Michael (Mick) Kinley was appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on 27 August 2014. Mick was previously the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and held this position since October 2008. Mick joined the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Cairns, as a Marine Surveyor in 1994. Since that time he has gained experience across all of AMSA’s business but most particularly maritime safety and casualty response.

Prior to joining AMSA, Mick had an extensive career with BHP having commenced as an engineer cadet with BHP Transport. He sailed with the BHP fleet before undertaking various shore-based roles including fleet safety instructor and project engineer. Mick holds an Australian Chief Engineer Class 1 Certificate, a Bachelor of Applied Science, a Bachelor of Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies.

 

Mr Kitack Lim

Mr. Lim (Republic of Korea) is the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Born in Masan, Mr Lim graduated from the Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU), Busan, and worked on ships before joining the Korea Maritime and Port Administration in 1985.

From 1986, Mr. Lim participated in the Republic of Korea delegation to IMO meetings. In 2006, he was appointed as Maritime Attaché, minister-counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in London and served as Alternate Permanent Representative to IMO until August 2009. Mr Lim was then appointed Director General for Maritime Safety Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM). In 2011, Mr. Lim was appointed Commissioner of the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal (KMST).

In 2012, he became President of Busan Port Authority, until January 2016 when he took up his appointment as Secretary-General of IMO. Mr Lim holds master’s degrees from Yonsei University, and the World Maritime Univer-sity (WMU).

 

Captain Jeanine Drummond

 

Captain Jeanine Drummond was appointed to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Board on 2 November 2020 for a three year term. As an experienced Harbour Master, Master Mariner and Maritime Industry Professional, Capt. Jeanine Drummond, has extensive background across the maritime industry sectors, at sea, offshore oil and gas, and in the ports sector, both in operations and development, in Australia and internationally.

Jeanine has for the past six years worked in all areas of harbour master functions, port operations and governance, with Port Authority of New South Wales. Prior to this, she was employed with Caltex to provide maritime advice and expertise to their Australian terminal, port and shipping operations.

Having transitioned from a seagoing career, that saw Capt. Drummond commence in the industry in 1995 as a Deck Officer trainee with ASP Ship Management, and work her way through to Master, on Australian, as well as overseas operated vessels, including deep sea, coastal and offshore vessels, as well as serving in international shore based roles in vessel operations, voyage management and chartering, she transferred ashore permanently in the role of Tugmaster in Gladstone, Queensland. This then led to providing maritime advisory services for LNG port development projects, towage license transitions and integrated maritime management systems before returning to Sydney with Caltex in 2012.

Jeanine is also member of the Australian Maritime College Advisory Board and Councillor with Australian Mariners Welfare Society.

Jeanine holds an Australian Master Unlimited Certificate of Competency, Bachelor of Business (Maritime Management), Graduate Diploma Maritime Management, Advance Diploma of Applied Science and is an Associate Fellow of Nautical Institute, Member of WISTA, and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Jeanine was the inaugural recipient in 2018, of the Australian Shipping and Maritime Industry ‘Women in Shipping and Logistics Award’.

 

Ms Annalisse Sly

 

Ms Annalise Sly is the Alternate Permanent Representative of Australia to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Prior to Ms Sly’s appointment to this role in December 2019, she had been active in the work of the IMO for over a decade.

She participated as part of the Australian delegation to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and intersessional meetings on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from ships, and was Head of delegation to the sub-committee on Pollution, Prevention and Response (PPR).

 

Ms Katie Marshall

 

Ms Katie Marshall is a Deck Officer based out of Melbourne, Australia.

She has a background in traditional square rigged sailing, and recently completed her cadetship working for MMA Offshore in the Australian Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. She studied at the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania, Australia from which she received an Advanced Diploma of Applied Science (Nautical Science).’

 

Ms Catherine Linley

Ms Catherine Linley is a Senior Port Marine Surveyor with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, marine casualty officer and examiner of Masters and mates.

When not processing permissioning activities she undertakes marine surveys, inspections and investigations to establish compliance with maritime safety, pollution and other legislation.

Catherine joined the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in 2002 after spending 13 years in the British Merchant Navy as a navigating officer. Since joining AMSA Catherine has worked as a Senior Marine Surveyor and as the Principal Advisor—Cargo and spent two years in London as the Secretary of the Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC) Sub-committee at the International Maritime Organization.

 

Ms Shanice Havili

Ms Shanice Havili joined the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in 2015 and works from Thursday Island.

Shanice provides a contact point and cross cultural liaison for AMSA with maritime stakeholders in the Torres Strait region, supporting promotion of AMSA’s core responsibilities with regard to implementation of the National System, maritime safety, search and rescue and protection of the marine environment, including AMSA’s ongoing contribution to the Torres Strait Marine Safety Program.

Shanice also assists in the development and delivery of school based, and industry specific maritime training programs, an integrated media and marketing campaign, providing AMSA with specialist advice in relation to matters involving Indigenous culture, politics and protocols and assisting other AMSA business units in the delivery of their core functions in the Torres Strait region (and more broadly).

 

Ms Kirsteen Roberts

Ms Kirsteen Roberts started her career in the maritime industry as a Linesman at the Port of Melbourne before working on ships as a Deck Officer for 10 years, primarily in the Offshore Oil & Gas industry.

She has now been with Svitzer as a Tug Master for 18 months back in the Port of Melbourne where she started her career.

Kirsteen is passionate about supporting and encouraging women to pursue careers in the maritime industry. She has been very involved with WISTA Australia and enjoys networking with the inspiring women she meets from all sectors of the industry.

 

Lieutenant Commander Gemma Casserly

Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Gemma Casserly joined the Australian Defence Force (ADF) through the ADF Academy in January 2006 as a RAAF Logistics Officer at the age of 18. In November 2008 Gemma transferred service to the RAN as a Maritime Warfare Officer. She graduated from the Academy in December of the same and has served at sea in HMA Ships New-castle, Darwin, Armidale, Canberra and Adelaide.

Gemma completed her basic Navy Officer’s training in June 2009 and then her Junior Warfare Application Course in 2012 upon the award of her Bridge Warfare Certificate in HMAS Newcastle. During her posting in Newcastle the ship participated in many multinational exercises as well as multiple Long-N Sea Assessment periods and PWO Warfare Assessment Periods.

In July 2014 LCDR Casserly was posted as one of the Officers of the Watch as part of the commissioning crew of HMAS Canberra, meaning she was one of the first officers in the Navy to be qualified to drive the LHD, a feat she is quite proud of. LCDR Casserly then deployed to Bahrain with the Australian led Combined Task Force 150 rotation from November 2015 – April 2016 as part of the planning team. Upon completion of the deployment she conducted Principle Warfare Officers Course, specialising in anti-submarine warfare, and graduating in May 2017. From May to December 2017 LCDR Casserly conducted duties as a Force Warfare Officer with Sea Combat Command.

Through 2018 she was appointed to the Adelaide Class Frigate, HMAS Newcastle as the Torpedo/ Anti-Submarine Officer and on completion of this assignment was promoted on posting to the Australian Amphibious Task Group as the Operations Officer. In December 2019 Gemma moved to the United King-dom to conduct an exchange posting and is serving as the Operations Officer on the Type 23 ASW frigate, HMS Richmond.

A keen sportswoman, Gemma likes playing or watching any sport, with a particular affinity for surfing and rugby union, however with the lack of live during lockdowns in the UK, she has learnt the new skill of knitting. She misses her partner Henry and their fluffy cavalier cross poodle, Rosie.

 

Lieutenant Commander Karra White

In January 2006, at age 17, Karra joined the Royal Australian Navy having never seen a Naval vessel as she wanted to see the world and could not imagine herself working in an office. After completing her initial training at sea, she attended the Australian Defence Force Academy from 2007 to 2009, graduating with a Bachelor of Science. She conducted her navigational and Bridge Warfare training in Armidale Class Patrol Boats and the FFG, HMAS Sydney.

In June 2013, Karra assumed duties as the Executive Officer and Navigator of a Patrol Boat for 18 months before becoming the Aide De Camp to the Vice Chief of Defence Force in Dec 2014 for 12 months. She went on to specialise in Air Warfare as a Principal Warfare Officer, posting to HMAS Parramatta, as the Gunnery Officer and then Operations Officer from May 2017, conducting deployments around Australia and to the Indian and Pacific region.

In October 2019, Karra moved to the United Kingdom to undertake an exchange with the Royal Navy, posting to HMS Defender, a Destroyer with a crew of 250 personnel, as the Air Warfare Officer.

Karra enjoys cooking with friends when she is home, travelling and has become a proficient knitter during the various UK lockdowns.

Next month, Karra will deploy for seven months as a part of the Carrier Strike Group and can safely say her goal of seeing the world and not sitting in an office, has been achieved.

Agenda

9:30am UTC	Opening of the session and housekeeping Ms Annalisse Sly Australia’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO
9:35am UTC	Introductory Remarks Ms Julie Heckscher Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
9:40am UTC	Welcome Mr Mick Kinley CEO Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
09:45am UTC	International Maritime Organization (IMO) Mr Kitack Lim Secretary-General of the IMO
09:55am – 10:45am UTC	Women in Maritime Captain Jeanine Drummond Harbour Master/Master Mariner Australian Maritime Safety Authority Board Member Ms Katie Marshall Deck Officer Ms Catherine Linley Senior Port Marine Surveyor Australian Maritime Safety Authority Ms Kirsteen Roberts Tug Master Svitzer Australia Ms Shanice Havili Service Officer Indigenous Engagement Australian Maritime Safety Authority Lieutenant Commander Karra White Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Commander Gemma Casserly Royal Australian Navy
10:45am UTC	Q&A All
10:55am UTC	Closing remarks Ms Annalisse Sly