The Maritime Speakers Bureau, supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and WISTA International, has been updated with new features to help event organizers more easily identify, evaluate, and secure the best female speakers from the global maritime sector.
With the addition of endorsements and peer recommendations, the platform now helps organizers create more balanced, engaging, and credible panels, thereby enhancing the quality of maritime events worldwide.
WISTA International President Elpi Petraki said, “This Bureau is not just a tool, it is a catalyst for change. By giving organizers access to the best female speakers from around the world, we are removing barriers and enabling them to create more dynamic, more representative, and ultimately more effective events. The Bureau supports the industry in raising its own standards.”
Organizer Demand
Organizers want faster and easier access to expert speakers who reflect the realities of today’s maritime sector, and the Bureau helps provide this. A recent surge in platform traffic indicates the growing urgency for event planners to secure leading names and create standout sessions for 2026 and beyond.
Connecting Organizers with the Right Speakers Quickly
The Maritime Speakers Bureau has received over 180 direct speaker requests since its launch and currently lists approximately 450 female speakers.
Each profile includes:
-Topics the speakers are comfortable presenting on,
-Regions where they can speak, in-person or online.
With conferences approaching that address urgent topics such as carbon emission reduction, regulatory changes, digital transformation, and human-centered leadership, the revamped platform ensures organizers can now quickly find speakers with relevant experience and fresh perspectives.
New Tools Making a Difference
• Endorsements: Speakers can now be endorsed by logged-in users for specific areas of expertise, providing organizers with an additional source of information on recognition and credibility within the industry.
• Recommendations: Written recommendations, approved by the speaker, provide deeper context about the speaker’s presentation style, insight, and professional strengths.
• Smarter Profile Management: Speakers are encouraged to regularly update their areas of expertise and available regions, ensuring the platform remains relevant to the rapidly evolving maritime agenda.
Call to Organizers: Use the Tools, Raise the Standards
As planning for 2026 maritime conferences progresses rapidly, WISTA International calls on organizers, associations, and media platforms to fully utilize the potential of the Speakers Bureau.
Petraki said, “We now have the tools, the technology, and nearly 450 women from across the industry ready to share their insights. The Maritime Speakers Bureau makes them easy to find. There is no longer any excuse for unbalanced panels.”
The platform is free to use, searchable by topic and region, and open to organizers worldwide. All interactions are managed directly between organizers and speakers.
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