22 October 2025
Under the theme “Ports that have developed innovative policies and/or strategies that successfully attract more women to work in ports”, the ESPO Award 2025 will be handed over given to the port managing body that actively promotes a supportive and inclusive work environment for female professionals, thereby advancing gender balance.
The four projects that are shortlisted for this year’s Award are the projects of: Port of Helsinki (Finland); Port of Lisbon (Portugal), Port of Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and Shoreham Port (United-Kingdom)
ESPO is proud to present the shortlisted projects before the winner is announced during the traditional ESPO Award Ceremony and Dinner taking place on November 5 at the Hotel des Douanes. Find out more about the project of Port of Lisbon.
Port of Lisbon, Portugal
EmpowerHER : Elevating Women’s Leadership in Maritime and Port Operations
1. Congratulations! You have been shortlisted for the ESPO Award 2025! Could you briefly describe your project?
The port sector in Portugal has always been a predominantly male sector. However, it is undeniable that women have long been present in some specific operational activities, such as unloading coal and fish. These women – called “carvoeiiras” and “varinas” – are depicted in the murals by the celebrated Portuguese artist Almada Negreiros in the Alcântara and Rocha Conde d’ Óbidos maritime stations dating from de 40’s of the last century. With the appointment of the first female chair of a port board of directors in Portugal in 1996, and subsequently two other women, totalling 18 years of female leadership in the last 30 years, new opportunities have opened up for women in the port authority, which have been consolidated over time through the implementation of various measures that promote work-life balance, such as non-discrimination on the basis of gender, the possibility of flexible working hours and remote work, to the promotion of holiday camps for employees’ children and the celebration of Women’s Day. In this sense, in 2023, APL committed with the UN Global Compact to achieve a target of 40% of women in decision-making positions by 2030, decisively contributing to the Goal the ODS 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The EmpowerHER project embodies these measures, promoting gender equality and valuing the role of women in the different activities in which they are represented in the port. It reflects the Port of Lisbon’s continuous effort to create a fair, inclusive, and balanced work environment for all, promoting a culture of equality that has produced tangible, measurable progress over the years.
2. Could you tell us more about how your project attracts more women to work in ports and creates a supportive work environment for female professionals in the port?
On the one hand, the EmpowerHER project stands on a non-discrimination principle based on gender. Both male and female have the same opportunities to join the port authority, for any position available, regardless of their personal situation, meaning no woman is disadvantaged in her career development because she is pregnant, has children or has sick or elderly relatives in her care. Flexible working hours and, more recently, remote work, ensure the work-life balance that is necessary to attract more women to a company that has long been dominated by men. On the other hand, with the EmpowerHER project, the port authority is committed to gender equality since 2016, by joining the “Gender Equality in Business Project – Break Even – Promoting Gender Equality in Business” and the “Business Forum for Gender Equality – Our Commitment”. This commitment has already produced visible results. The proportion of women in the organisation has steadily increased from 32.54% in 2018 to 35.59% in 2025. Likewise, the percentage of women in management and decision-making positions grew from 35.56% in 2018 to 45.65% in 2025, demonstrating consistent progress towards gender balance.
3. Could you describe the original and innovative character of your project?
The EmpowerHER project is innovative in the sense that it does not privilege women but, instead, it promotes gender equality and fights any situation that might distort this principle, either in the recruitment process, where the underrepresented gender is a tiebreaker criteria, and after that, apart from the benefits and inclusive measures, with possibility of anonymous report of any situation that goes against the gender equality principles, including non-inclusive language. To further support inclusivity, APL has implemented flexible working arrangements: currently, 8 employees (5 women and 3 men) work under flexible schedules, and 121 employees (77 of whom are women) perform their duties remotely, excluding operational roles. Additionally, in May 2022, APL approved the Code of Good Conduct for the Prevention and Combating of Harassment at Work, and created the SQE Unit (Suggestions, Complaints, or Praise), composed of HR representatives. This unit manages confidential channels — sealed boxes, email, internal mail, or in-person — to report issues related to equality and conduct. To date, no complaints or reports have been registered, reflecting the positive and respectful workplace culture cultivated through EmpowerHER.
4. Why do you think your project deserves to win the ESPO Award 2025?
Port of Lisbon’s project is not an HR action with a limited timeframe. EmpowerHER reflects the company’s efforts and policies throughout the years to ensure a supportive and attractive work environment for women in the port and maritime sector, a long-standing male dominated field. Through the hiring of women and empowering them to take leadership roles, we contribute to real change in the field. Seeing women develop successful careers in the port sector will attract the following generation of youths joining the work force. By adhering to external programmes such as Break Even – Promoting Gender Equality in Business and the Business Forum for Gender Equality – Our Commitment, and by establishing gender balance targets, APL reinforced its values of equity, conciliation between personal and professional life, and parental protection. These initiatives, combined with measurable improvements — 35.6% women in the workforce and 45.6% in leadership roles by 2025 — position EmpowerHER as a mature, data-driven project that continuously advances gender equality in the port sector. Because it is a long-term, integrated strategy, spanning the last two decades, our project has led to a strategic culture of inclusion. And we believe that this accomplishment is what makes EmpowerHER deserving of winning the ESPO Award 2025.
“Ports are gateways of connection, not only for trade but also for people and ideas. Social integration in our industry means ensuring that every talent has a place to thrive. By championing women’s leadership in maritime and port operations, we, at Port of Lisbon, strengthen our workforce, enrich decision-making and secure a more innovative and sustainable future for global trade.”
Vitor Caldeirinha, CEO, Port of Lisbon Authority
The ESPO Award Ceremony and Dinner is taking place with the support of:
