The allaboutshipping.co.uk 100 top Women for Shipping for 2023

by Anny Zade

Good day to the Eastern Hemisphere and Good morning to the Western one!

This is our mid-week breaking news, with AllAboutShipping’s 100 Top Women List in the Shipping Industry for 2023, following respective voting; 1,007 women were voted this time from more or less all sectors of the Shipping Industry. In a parenthesis are last year’s results and positions.

We had new entrants in the list with many retaining more or less their position, whilst others either fell or reached high levels. The United Kingdom, Greece, Denmark, Central and South America were the countries/areas were women received the majority of the votes. Some new entrants make waves and some of them are below middle age, a great success. As you will witness diversity played a crucial role and we hope women will continue to rise in the Shipping Business.

In an uncertain Geopolitical climate the results are a success as well as the thought that women might try and bring Peace – we are having two major confrontations between Ukraine – Russia and Israel with Hamas. These are causing concern for the crew members on board ships and its about time to end these conflicts before more surface.

We are pleased, following the Covid mess, to meet again all over Planet Ocean all these Sea-Maidens in Conferences and other international events and witness their progress.

This year also marks to 50th Anniversary of WISTA and WISTA UK already under the presidency of Monica Kohli – supported by her team, have planned events all over UK, the country which launched WISTA; don’t miss them!

Many Congratulations to all those who made it to the list, to all the voters and also to those who didn’t make it; they will one day!

I am sure that Women in Shipping can change Planet Ocean; watch this space!

AND here comes the winning list with a special reference to the winner:

1. Mia Krogslund Jørgensen, Head of People, Culture and Strategy at HAFNIA, (Denmark) (4). Mia began her career at TORM where she held various commercial and operational roles before joining Hafnia Tankers in 2012. Prior to Mia’s current position, she held strategic roles, including being responsible for executive projects for the management team at Hafnia. In her current role, Mia is responsible for Hafnia’s corporate strategy and people practice including overseeing initiatives across culture and diversity as well as communications and branding. Mia has a Master’s degree in Business Administration, International Marketing and Management from Copenhagen Business School. Mia Krogslund Jørgensen resides in Denmark with her husband and two young children. In her spare time, she enjoys early morning runs, winter bathing and spending time with her family and close friends.
2. Sabrina Chao, Wah Kwong Maritime Transport, Hong Kong and former president of BIMCO, Hong Kong (3)
3. Semiramis S. Paliou, CEO Diana Shipping Inc, President of Helmepa and Intermepa, Greece (1)
4. Melina Travlos, head of Neptune Lines Shipping and Managing Enterprise, head of Neptune Dry and president of Union of Greek Shipowners, Greece (14)
5. Elina V. Papageorgiou, Lloyd’s Register Global Strategic Growth Director, and LR’s Greece Vice President, Greece (0)
6. Mary Carmen Barrios, senior vice president for Ports, Terminals, Stevedoring Ops for Europe, Middle East & Africa at Wallenius Wilhelmsen (7)
7. Dr. Marina Papaioannou, Head of DNV Maritime Academy Hellas, Maritime Service Centre & Advisory at DNV GL Maritime, Greece (2)
8. Katharina Stanzel, Managing Director at INTERTANKO, London, U.K (5)
9. Lesley Bankes-Hughes, Maritime Journalist, publisher, co-owner and director of publishing Petrospot Ltd (Bunkerspot and ship.energy), Director of Shipping Innovation, organiser of London International Shipping Week, U.K (19)
10. Elpi Petraki, president WISTA-International and WISTA-Hellas, Chartering Manager at ENEA Management Inc., and II vice-president EENMA (USSDS), Greece (11)
11. Akanksha Batura Pai, Head of Strategy & Growth Sinoda Shipping Agency Pte Ltd, International Maritime Organization (IMO) Goodwill Maritime Ambassador (GMA) representing Singapore, Singapore (0)
12. Angeliki Frangou, CEO of NAVIOS, Greece (52)
13. Maria J. Angelikoussis, CEO Angelikoussis Group, Greece (18)
14. Nicola Good, Journalist and Global Head of Brand and External Relations Marine & Offshore at Lloyd’s Register (9)
15. Maria Karahaliou, Lloyd’s Register, Global Technical Client Care Training & Development Manager (27)
16. Dr. Helen Thanopoulou, Professor at the University of the Aegean, Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, Greece (10)
17. Anne H. Steffensen, Director General and CEO at Danish Shipping, Denmark (53)
18. Dorothea Ioannou, CEO at the American P&I Club – the first female for over a century, Governor of the Propeller Club of Greece, and WISTA-Hellas Member, Greece (12)
19. Maria Theodosiou, Managing Director at GP General Procurement Company Limited  (GENPRO) Gen-Pro, Cyprus (0)
20. Eleni Letoni, Communications, Sales & Marketing Coordinator Greece, Cyprus,
    Malta; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Officer SEEBA Zone at Bureau Veritas.
    Radio and TV commentator on Modern Greek History and Politics, Greece (25)
21. Ida Stier, founder of Stier Group, Las Palmas de Canaria, Canary Islands (92)
22. Maria-Christina Ktistakis, CFO Genimar Shipping & Trading S.A. and WISTA-Hellas former president, Greece (24)
23. Debora Madrid, Maritime Lawyer, former WISTA-Venezuela president; she was 61st in 2021 (see under Debora Valera), now owner and CEO at Madrid Painting Kc, Venezuela (0)
24. Katerina Mahera, Senior Business Development Executive Data Intelligence at VESON, Greece (13)
25. Monica Kohli, Senior Lawyer, FD&D, Gard (UK) Limited; WISTA UK president, UK (60)
26. Danae Bezantakou, CEO at Navigator Shipping Consultants, First Vice president at the International, Propeller Club, Port of Piraeus, founder of YES Forum and president iforU, Greece, (15)
27. Pailette Palaiologou, vice President Marine & Offshore Division, hellenic, Black Sea & Adriatic Zone, Bureau Veritas Hellas S.As, Greece (22)
28. Philippa Charlton, Chief Marketing officer of Lloyd’s Register and member of the Executive Leadership Team , UK (31)
29. Zoe Upson, FACT director of Freight and Commodity Talent and founder of WOMEN
    TOGETHER, UK (65)
30. Dr. Sadan Kaptanoglou, Director / Board member at Kaptanoglu Denizcilik San Ve Tic As, president TURMEPA and vice president of INTERMEPA, former BIMCO president, Turkiye (64)
31. Isabella Ryckbost,  Secretary General at ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation), Belgium 72)
32. Teresa Peacock, Managing Director Spinnaker Global and WISTA -UK BoD member, UK (49)
33. Dorota Lost-Sieminska, Director Legal Affairs and External Relation Division at the IMO, UK (0)
34. Katerina Raptakis, Digital Transformation, Cyber Security and e-Governance, Navios Group, Greece (20)
35. Suzanna P. Laskaridis, Director Lavinia Group, Laskaridis Shipping Co. Ltd and founder of Real Times Graduates, Greece (28)
36. Claudia Ohlmeier, DNV, head of section Class systematics Data and Operation Centre at DNV Hamburg, former president of WISTA Germany (37)
37. Daphne Angelidou, ExCo Member for the Americas / WISTA Argentina President and CEO at Agencia Maritima Intercontinental, Argentina (32)
38. Ioanna G. Prokopiou, CEO at Sea Traders and founder of Prominence Maritime S.A., Athens, Greece (36)
39. Jucilla Walters, Marketing and Communications Manager at Waves Group, UK (0)
40. Sanjam Sahi Gupta, founder of Maritime SheEO, also director for Sitara Shipping (India) (43)

41.Dr. Sasha Heriot, Product Development Business Manager,  Evac Group UK (40)

42. Susan Terpilowski OBE, Founder Image Line and former president WISTA UK, UK, (39)
43. Kristie Loutsiou, EA to Professor Costas Th Grammenos CBE Dsc, Centre for Shipping, Trade and Finance, Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) UK (47)
44. Anna Vourgos, co-founder Aphentrica Marine Insurance Brokers and former WISTA-Cyprus president, Cyprus (30).
45. Martina Meinders-Michail, Managing director at MSM, WISTA Cyprus member, Cyprus (58)
46. Patty Apostolopoulou, Marine Client Manager at Lloyd’s Register EME Greater Southampton Are and Secretary at HESGB (Hellenic Engineers Society of Great Britain (UK) (61)
47. Lady Teresa M Stevens, founder and director, Guardian Maritime Limited, UK (48)
48. Despina Panagiotou Theodosiou, CEO Tototheo Maritime and ex WISTA International president, Cyprus (16)
49. Karen Martin, Commercial Director, LISW (London International Shipping Week) UK (8)
50. Elina Souli, Deputy head of Brittannia Piraeus office and WISTA-Hellas secretary-general, Greece (21)
51. Elvia Bustavino, Deputy Administrator & ViceMinister of Maritime Affairs, Panama Ship Registry, Former President RedMAMLa, Maritime Award of the Americas, 100 Most Powerful Women Forbes, WISTA member, Speaker, Panama (6)
52. Natalia Margioli, head of HMC and ICS Piraeus Branch, Greece (29)
53. Elena Sendona, Fashion designer and journalist, the heart and soul of fashionality and beyondgreeksalad, Greece (23)
54. Unni Einemo, former director of IBIA and IBIA’s representative at the IMO, UK ( 51)
55. Milena Pappas, Commercial Director of Star Bulk Carriers Corp., Greece (66)
56. Anna-Maria Monogioudis, Director, Aegean protective Coatings, Piraeus, and WISTA-Hellas former president, Greece (44)
57. Natasha Brown, Media and Communications at the IMO, London, United Kingdom (62)
58. Alison Cusack, Cusack & Co, UK (0)
59. Dorthe Bendtsen, Chief Operating Officer (COO), former head of Corporate Services at global marine energy provider KPI OceanConnect, UK (54)
60. Maria Mavroudi, Marine Insurance Broker and Founder of Searock Marine Insurance Brokers. Founder of Kallichoron Boutique Hotel, Island of Astypalaia, Greece and former WISTA-Hellas BoD secretary, Greece (69)

61. Claudia Paschkewitz, Diversity & Inclusion Director, Columbia Group, Hamburg, Germany (0)
62. Ashlee Williams, Vice President of Data Operations, Client Services & Customer Care, S&P Global Market Intelligence, UK (0)

63. Katrina Davis, Executive director and Marine Insurance broker at Gallaghers, United Kingdom (55)
64. Eleni Polychronopoulou, ERMA FIRST and the full group of companies owned by them – also president of METIS and HEMEXPO and vice chair of Sea Europe, Greece (71)
65. Shelagh Ingledow, lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards and Greek shipping Hall of Fame, Greece (63)
66. Kate Bollanou of KB Training and Consulting UK (0)
67. Natalia Bury, Chief Operations Officer at Tototheo Maritime and President of WISTA
    Cyprus (0)
68. Catherine Mulvihill, CEO of the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN), UK (0)
69. Maria Papadoyanne, manager at Seascape Marine & Trading Ltd, WISTA Hellas member, Greece (77)
70. Carleen Lyden Walker, Chief Executive Officer at Morgan Marketing & Communications, IMO Goodwill Maritime Ambassador, member NAMEPA, USA (73)

71.Artemis Vamvakopoulou, co-founder and managing partner at Extrovert Business Communications and Posidonia Exhibition Press Office, Greece (74)

72. Olga Jaques, Business Development & Events Manager at Maritime London, UK (75)
73. Katerina Fitsiou, director and relationship manager at XRTC Greece and treasurer of the Association of Banking & Shipping Executives of Hellenic Shipping – the first woman in the board and long lasting member, Greece (81)
74. Sandra Speares, Journalist/writer; the heart and mind of The Maritime Advocate, UK (78)
75. Maria M. Tripolitis, director at PMS (Piraeus Marine Services) and secretary-general of the Chios Marine Club, Greece (86)
76. Evgenia Benavides, Terpel, WISTA Colombia and IBIA member, Colombia (83)
77. Maria Yiassa, Senior Marketing Manager at the Swedish Club and co-founder at Seaorama, Greece (0)
78. Karin Orsel, Marin Ship Management BV and former WISTA International president; president ECSA, Chairman at International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and BIMCO BoD member representing The Netherlands (82)
79. Chrysoula Patrikiou, CEO and founder of Potentia, Greece (98)
80. Gina Panayiotou lawyer, Founder & CEO, Oceans Arena, UK Ambassador, Seatrade Maritime Club, 20under40 Seatrade Maritime List, WISTA UK Board – Secretary, WISTA International Environmental Committee Co-Chair, ESG Manager, West P&I, G100 UK Chair, Sustainable Brand Creation & Marketing, 100 Women @ Davos, World Ocean Council, Brand Women as Leaders Concept Founder and Oceans Arena Stage Host, UK (85)
81. Maria Angelidou, Manager at GAC Greece and former BoD member of WISTA-Hellas, Greece (91)
82. Namrata Nadkarni, Journalist, CEO of Intent Communications, United Kingdom (0)
83. Laia Politou, Attorney-at-Law, Claims and Insurance manager at Goldenport Shipmanagement, Greece (90)
84. Irene Notias, Country Manager Sing Fuels Hellas, Founder Prime’s Bunkersplus, Founder and Director, Project Connect young professionals in the making which introduced and successfully runs Adopt a Ship maritime educational programme in primary and secondary level schools all over Greek nation and provides the pioneering online CV platform pre-screening shipping interns and entry level for the Shipping community membership. Irene is investing in youth employability. Greece (89)
85. Carly Fields, journalist at Break Bulk Magazine, UK (0)
86. Julia Siebert, COO of COLUMBIA blue, UK (0)
87. Elisabeth Cosmatos, CEO of Cosmatos Shipping Services and Cosmatos Group,
    President of The Heavy Lift Group (THLG) – the first female to have been elected, Greece (0).
88. Jaqueline Burton, Kongsberg Maritime, Head of Creative Design, and chair for the board for SAMS, Sustainable Autonomous Mobility Systems (97)
89. Liona Bacha, Shipbroker, Founder and CEO of Hellaschart, winner of WISTA-Hellas Leadership Award in 2022 and Shipbroker of the Year at Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards 2021, Greece (0)
90. Holly Birkett, journalist at TradeWinds, UK (68)
91. Olga Bornozis, managing director at Capital Link USA (87)
92. Anna Kaparaki Lecturer in Maritime Law at John Moores University, Liverpool and senior Solicitor at Mackinnons Solicitors LLP, United Kingdom (95)
93. Camila de Oliveira Diniz, HESGB Events (Brazil) (67)
94. Holly Bibby, Marketing Manager at KVH Industries, UK (0)
95. Frances Baskerville, Small Ship Cruise Management at Noble Caledonia, ex vice president at CIRM, UK (33)
96. Debbi Bonner, journalist and founder j-l-a media, UK (57)
97. Anastasia Kuzmenko, VP-Marketing & Communications at IEC Telecom Global, Dubai (0)
98. Ergi Guven Kale, Chief Clinical Officer at Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS), Turkiye (0)
99. Pam Kern, licensed Clinical Maritime Psychotherapist, UK ( 0), and
100. Julia Anastasiou, Board of Directors of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, and
     Chief Crew Management Officer / Managing Director of OSM Thome, Cyprus (0)