5 August 2026
AllAboutShipping is delighted to congratulate Dr. Akanksha Batura Pai on being recognised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) as one of 30 Changemakers who have helped shape Singapore’s maritime sector.
The recognition forms part of MPA’s “30 Years. 30 Changemakers.” initiative commemorating the Authority’s 30th anniversary and celebrating individuals whose leadership, ideas and contributions continue to strengthen the MaritimeSG ecosystem. Akanksha’s story was featured by MPA under the fitting title, “Making Waves, One Conversation at a Time.”
This latest honour carries particular meaning for all of us at AllAboutShipping. In February 2025, Akanksha topped our global ranking of the 100 Top Women in Shipping, having entered the list at number 11 the previous year (2024). We recognised her then not only for her growing professional accomplishments, but also for her commitment to maritime advocacy, talent development, inclusion and the visibility of women across the industry.
Her subsequent decision not to participate in the following year’s voting—and to offer the opportunity to other women, particularly younger emerging leaders—was equally characteristic of the inclusive leadership she promotes.
Akanksha is Executive Director of Sinoda Shipping Agency Pte Ltd and Raks International Pte Ltd, and a Director of SeaMind Blue Ocean. Her work combines the operational realities of maritime services with longer-term priorities such as digitalisation, workforce development, sustainability and inclusive business growth. She also serves on the Council of the Singapore Shipping Association and contributes to numerous national and international maritime organisations and initiatives.
A daughter of a Master Mariner, Akanksha grew up surrounded by stories of ships, ports and seafarers. However, her own route into maritime was not automatic. After exploring careers in other industries and international markets, she returned to Singapore’s shipping community and discovered an industry in which operational expertise could be combined with policy, advocacy, technology, diplomacy and human connection.
It is this breadth of engagement that has become central to her contribution. As an International Maritime Organization Goodwill Maritime Ambassador Emerita, Mission to Seafarers Global Ambassador, WISTA Ambassador, Maritime SheEO Ambassador, PIER71 mentor and leading Women in Logistics at Singapore Logistics Association (SLA), she has consistently worked to introduce young people—especially young women—to the many opportunities available within maritime.
Her message is that maritime is far greater than ships and seafaring alone. It encompasses technology, finance, sustainability, logistics, international trade, regulation and innovation. By speaking at schools and universities, mentoring young professionals and supporting initiatives such as the MaritimeSG Youth Ambassadors programme, she is helping a new generation recognise the scale and relevance of the industry.
At the same time, her work remains grounded in the people already serving maritime, including the seafarers whose contribution to global trade is too often invisible. Her advocacy repeatedly reinforces that shipping is, fundamentally, a people-driven industry.
In her MPA interview, Akanksha described purpose, community and intentionality as the three principles that allow her to contribute across many different responsibilities. Her observation that “extraordinary results come from repeating ordinary actions over an inordinate amount of time” offers an important explanation for why this Changemaker recognition is so well deserved.
From being ranked AllAboutShipping’s No. 1 Woman in Shipping to being named among the individuals shaping one of the world’s leading maritime centres, Akanksha’s journey demonstrates the impact that sustained advocacy, operational commitment and genuine community-building can achieve.
AllAboutShipping warmly congratulates Dr. Akanksha Batura Pai on this significant and meaningful recognition. We look forward to seeing her continue making waves—one conversation, one connection and one contribution at a time.
