The top 20 of women leaders in shipping highlights the rapid rise of female presence in top positions of the shipping world. From captains and engineers to presidents of major companies, these women are charting new courses.
The role of women in shipping has changed drastically in recent years. More and more women now lead shipping companies, as well as hold responsible positions in organizations operating within the Miaoulis Coast cluster. Women have also risen to become captains and engineers on ships, making significant contributions. Regarding the role of women in shipping, the president of the Union of Greek Shipowners and leader of Neptune Lines, Melina Travlou, has stated: “I am here as a woman, as a woman who started my journey very young in a field that is truly male-dominated. In a field where, for us women to get somewhere, we must prove the obvious every day. In a field where we are asked daily how we manage it. In this field, I have managed to reach this position.”
Most women at the helm of shipping companies are second-generation. Very few, of course, have started on an independent course. However, there are hundreds of women building careers in shipping, supporting shipping offices in various roles. In modern times, pioneers in ship management were Kadió Sigala and, of course, Athina (Nunú) Martinou, who proudly noted that over 45 shipowners emerged from her company. In recent years, a new generation of women with high educational levels and dynamic profiles has been managing shipping companies. Four of them—Angeliki Frangou, Semíramis Paliou, Alíki Paliou, and Ismíni Panagiotidi—lead shipping companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The twenty top female captains are María Angelikoúsi, Melina Travloú, Angelikí Frángou, Anna Angelikoúsi, Ioánna Prokópio, Semíramis Palióu, Ismíni Panagiotídi, Evgenía Andrianopoúlou, Alíki Palióu, Suzánna Laskarídi, Chrysánthi Stefánou, Maríli Fragísta, Elpí Petrákí, Alexándra Ganá, Stefánia Livéri, and Amalía Míliou – Theocharáki, Theodóra Ríga, Viví Kolliopoúlou, Dorothéa Ioánnou, and Payét Palaiológo.
### María I. Angelikoúsi
María Angelikoúsi manages three shipping companies: Maran Gas Maritime, Maran Tankers, and Maran Dry Management Inc. She oversees a fleet of 160 vessels, with a total capacity of 25,605,315 dwt. María Angelikoúsi is a third-generation shipowner, daughter of Yánnis Angelikoúsi and granddaughter of Antónis Angelikoúsi, who during the Occupation participated in the abduction of German General Kreipe in Crete and is considered the founder of the family shipping business. She studied medicine, participated in missions in the jungles of Africa, but now leads the top-tier Angelicoussis Shipping Group from the company’s headquarters, which occupies an entire block in Kallithéa.
She moves between London and Athens but maintains strong ties with the national economy, as most ships of the companies—Maran Tankers, Maran Dry, Maran Gas—sail under the Greek flag, employing hundreds of Greek sailors.
In other words, roughly one in four bulk carriers registered in Greece belongs to María Angelikoúsi.
### Anna A.
Angelikousi
Anna Angelikousi heads the shipping companies Pantheon Tankers Management, which operates 45 vessels with a capacity of 6,096,454 dwt, Alpha Gas S.A., Alpha Bulkers, and Shipmanagement, which manages 35 vessels with a capacity of 4,979,082 dwt. Her children, Antonis and Frangiskos Kanellakis, from her marriage to Christos Kanellakis, are also involved in the company. She is the daughter of the late Antonis Angelikousis, who founded the eponymous shipping company.
Angeliki N. Frangou
Angeliki Frangou is the head of the listed shipping company Navios Maritime Partners L.P., which owns a fleet of 174 vessels with a total value approaching $2,535.15 million. Currently, the company is constructing 25 new vessels. Angeliki Frangou was included for the first time by Lloyd’s among the world’s 100 wealthiest individuals and the top 10 women in global shipping in 2017. She studied at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, USA, and later earned a master’s degree from Columbia University. In 1987, she worked as an analyst at Republic National Bank, where she remained until 1989. At just 25 years old, she purchased her first vessel, the “Fulvia,” and founded the company Franser and later Maritime Enterprises Management. She subsequently acquired International Shipping Enterprises, which she listed on the New York secondary market in 2004, raising approximately $200 million.
Melina N. Travlou
Melina Travlou heads Neptune Lines Shipping, a car carrier shipping company. She manages a fleet of 21 vessels, with a total value of $1.5 million. She also serves as the president of the Union of Greek Shipowners and SYN-ENOSIS, through which Greek shipping contributes to society. Neptune Lines was founded in 1975 by Nikos Travlos, with a fleet consisting of 21 car carriers ranging from 1,500 to 6,500 ceu. Melina Travlou was born in Athens and studied Business Administration at Northeastern University in Boston, USA. She is the president of the shipping companies Neptune Lines Shipping and Managing Enterprises S.A., which has dominated Greece’s vehicle transport sector for over four decades, and Neptune Dry Management Company, which operates in the dry bulk shipping sector.
Semiramis S. Paliou
Semiramis Paliou heads the listed shipping company Diana Shipping and a fleet of 37 vessels, valued at $1,078.3 million. The daughter of Symeon Paliou, she is the CEO of Diana Shipping Inc., a leading global shipping company specializing in dry bulk cargo transportation. In addition to her role at Diana Shipping, Semiramis Paliou also serves as CEO of Diana Shipping Services S.A., a ship management company. She plays an active role in various industrial organizations and committees. Currently, she is the president of HELMEPA and INTERMEPA, organizations dedicated over the past 40 years to promoting marine protection through education, activities, and initiatives for seafarers and the broader community.
Eugenia A. Andrianopoulou
Eugenia (Jenny) Andrianopoulou heads Cape Shipping, which owns 18 vessels valued at $1 billion. She comes from a traditional shipping family from Kasos.
She is the daughter of Andreas Andrianopoulos and Fifi Giannaga. In 1999, she was elected as the first woman on the board of directors of the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, the Hellenic Shipping Cooperation of London. She resides, when in Athens, in her home located on Herodou Attikou Street, right next to the Maximos Mansion, but also in the British capital, London.
### Alice S. Palaiou
Alice Palaiou has founded the listed shipping company Performance Shipping, in which her husband Andreas Michalopoulos also participates. The company manages six vessels. Additionally, she has served as director, vice president, and treasurer of Unitized Ocean Transport Limited since January 2020. From 2010 to 2015, she worked as director and treasurer of Alpha Sigma Shipping Corp. She is the daughter of shipowner Symeon Palaiou and is married to Andreas Michalopoulos. It is noted that the vessels of Performance Shipping Inc. are primarily employed in short-term charters with leading energy companies and carriers. As of December 15, 2020, the company owns and manages five tankers.
### Suzanna P. Laskaridis
Suzanna P. Laskaridis, child of Panos and Marilena Laskaridis, is president of the company Lavinia Corporation, as well as Laskaridis Shipping Company Ltd., which owns over 60 cargo vessels and a fleet of fishing-refrigerator vessels. In total, she manages 90 vessels. She has been working in the family business since 2007 and is involved in all aspects of daily management. She is an active member of the Greek Shipping Community, participates in the committee of the Hellenic War Risks Association, the United Kingdom Defense Club, as well as the RINA Decarbonization Committee.
In 2016, Suzanna Laskaridis founded Real Time Graduates, a non-profit initiative that gives university and college graduates the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in the shipping sector. Additionally, in 2019, Suzanna Laskaridis founded the company BlueCycle, the first integrated company in Europe focused on recycling marine plastic waste, which originates from shipping and fishing activities. Since 2018, she has been on the Leadership Council of UNSDSN (United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network).
### Ismene G. Panagiotidis
Ismene Panagiotidis is the daughter of Gabriel (Vili) Panagiotidis, who founded Panivar in 2014 after the loss of the listed Excel Maritime Carriers. Pavimar manages 26 vessels and the listed shipping company Icon Energy, which owns two vessels. She has been involved in investments, ownership, and vessel management since 2006 and has developed a deep understanding of the industry by working in shipping business development from a very young age.
She has successfully managed over 50 vessels in the dry bulk, tanker, and container sectors. She has served as business development manager for another NYSE-listed company for eight years, while also being a board member of the London P&I Club, a member of the Greek National Committee of DNV, and participating in numerous social and philanthropic initiatives.
### Ioanna G. Prokopiou
Ioanna Prokopiou, second-born daughter of George Prokopiou, is active in the shipping sector with two shipping companies, Prominence Maritime S.A.
and Sea Traders S.A., with which it manages 15 ocean-going vessels, but also actively participates in executive boards and leadership positions of the most important institutional bodies in shipping, such as the Union of Greek Shipowners, the Cyprus Shipowners Association, in technical committees of marine surveyors, in public benefit groups such as DESMOS, is among the founding members of SYN-ENOSIS and is Vice President of the maritime organization Baltic and International Maritime Council – BIMCO. He holds a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath and a master’s degree in Shipping, Finance and Trade from the City University in Shipping Trade and Finance in London, and has completed the Leadership Development program at Harvard University.
He is CEO of Sea Traders S.A. and founder of Prominence Maritime S.A., a company that began investing in bulk carrier vessels. Ioanna Prokopiou has been honored with the “Eukranti Award 2020 for the International Promotion of Greek Shipping.”
**Marily Fragista**
Marily Fragista has been Managing Director of Franco Compania Naviera S.A. since 1995. Since 2000, she has held non-executive positions on the boards of various institutional organizations in the shipping industry. The company owns and manages 11 vessels. She also served as an independent non-executive member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Greece. Since 2004, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Malta International Shipowners Association (MISA) and currently serves as Treasurer and Secretary. Since September 2012, she has been a member of the Board of Directors of Endeavour Greece. The “Eukranti Award 2023 for the International Promotion of Greek Shipping” was awarded to Marily Fragista, Managing Director of Franco Compania Naviera S.A.
In addition to managing a company with over 70 years of presence in international shipping for many years, Ms. Fragista serves on the boards of a significant number of institutional bodies in the shipping industry. Since 2022, she has been President of the Malta International Shipowners Association (MISA), while also serving on the Board of Directors of the Union of Greek Shipowners, the most important institutional body for the collective representation of Greek shipowners.
From ship bridges to listed companies, women bring new standards to shipping
**Elpi Petrakis**
Elpiniki (Elpi) Petrakis is President of WISTA International. She belongs to the second generation of the family-owned shipping company ENEA Management, which manages seven tankers and small-sized specialized tankers. She has been involved in almost all aspects of the company and now specializes in operations, chartering, and business development. In 2022, she was included for the first time in Lloyd’s List of the 100 most powerful and influential personalities in global shipping, ranking 83rd.
A scion of a shipowning family with 22 years of active involvement in the shipping business, she is Vice President of the Union of Coastal Shipowners and a member of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping.
Elpi Petrakis studied Maritime Business and Maritime Law in Plymouth, England, and holds a postgraduate degree in International Transport and Trade from the British Guildhall University.
**Amalia Miliou – Theocharaki**
Amalia Miliou – Theocharaki is the managing director of the family-owned shipping company Teo Shipping Corporation Greece, which operates six vessels. She is the granddaughter of Vassilis Theocharakis and the daughter of Annita Theocharaki and Nikos Miliou. She began her shipping career in 2009 as an analyst for the dry bulk and commodities sectors at ICAP Shipping in London, later working in Singapore and subsequently in the commodities trading department of the global commodities giant Bunge S.A. in Geneva.
Today, she is responsible for chartering, sales, and purchases at TEO Shipping Corporation, a family-owned ship management company active in the dry bulk market. She studied economics at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) and holds an M.A. in International Trade, Commodity Finance, and Shipping from the University of Geneva.
**Alexandra Gana**
Alexandra Gana manages the family-owned shipping company Ganmar Shipping and is a member of the board of directors of the Union of Shortsea Shipowners. Educated in the UK, she holds four degrees, including two postgraduate degrees, with a specialization in maritime law.
She studied for one year in Nottingham and six in Liverpool. She is now a board member of the Union of Shortsea Shipowners and a member of the Special Shipping Committee (EKO) of New Democracy, responsible for the general secretariat.
**Stefania Liveri**
Stefania Liveri manages the shipping company Lidmar Shipping and Trading Company Ltd, which owns three vessels.
She is a member of the board of directors of the Union of Shortsea Shipowners.
**Chrysanthi G. Stefanou**
Chrysanthi Stefanou is the daughter of Captain Giorgos Stefanou and Laskaro and belongs to the second generation of shipowners in a self-made maritime family from Stenies, Andros. Her experience spans from the crewing sector, providing Filipino seafarers to Greek shipping companies through Bright Maritime Corporation, to the commercial shipping sector, owning bulk carriers through the companies Bright Navigation Inc. and Sea Gate Navigation Ltd. For the past fifteen years, her family has also been active in coastal shipping with Golden Star Ferries, where she recently assumed the role of managing director.
Her dynamic personality and passion for entrepreneurship drive her daily to pursue not only the growth of her existing family businesses but also the creation of new ventures, both within and outside shipping. She manages 25 cargo vessels and five passenger-car ferries. Consequently, over the past two years, the hospitality sector has also become part of her business interests.
**Theodora Riga**
Theodora Riga is the president of Medcuises and the Corfu Port Authority. She has served as a senior executive at the Thessaloniki Port Authority, the Piraeus Port Authority, and as a board member of the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization.
He was born in 1973 in the USA, holds an MBA in Business Administration, and has served as a top executive in port, shipping, and financial services companies over the last 20 years. He is also a member of the National Cruise Committee and a board member of a shipping company listed on the Athens Stock Exchange.
Theodora Riga served as General Commercial Director and Director of Strategic Communication of OLTH S.A. and has also been a representative of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping at the National Coordinating Committee for Cruises (ESEC).
She has extensive experience in the cruise sector. A notable example is her significant contribution to the development of cruising in Thessaloniki, where in recent years there has been a major transformation from a port with fewer than 10 annual calls (before the pandemic) to one with over 80 calls.
### Vivi Kolliopoulou
Vivi Kolliopoulou has been President of WISTA Hellas since 2001, while she held a position on the association’s board during the first year of her term (2004–2006) before relocating to London due to work commitments. She was also a member and later Secretary General of the Executive Committee (ExCo) of WISTA International from 2005 to 2009. She has attended numerous meetings, events, and conferences of both WISTA Hellas and WISTA International and has supported WISTA initiatives throughout her career. She has worked in marine insurance and claims for companies such as Richards Hogg Lindley and Standard P&I Club, in Piraeus, London, and New York.
In 2009, she joined Thenamaris (Ships Management) Inc. as Head of the Insurance and Claims Department. From 2019 to the present, she has been with the Angelicoussis Group as Director of the Insurance Sector.
### Dorothea Ioannou
Dorothea Ioannou was honored during the WISTA International conference held in Montevideo, Uruguay, as the “2023 International Personality.” She is the first female CEO of a major marine insurance organization, taking the helm of the American P&I Club. She was also ranked 88th on Lloyd’s List of the 100 most influential figures in the global shipping industry. Additionally, she was elected to the board of the International Propeller Club, taking an active role in chairing the Education and Next Generation Committee. She is also involved in the operations of WISTA (Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association), both in Greece and internationally.
Born to Greek-Cypriot parents, Dorothea Ioannou was born, raised, and educated in America. She holds a B.A. from the City University of New York and a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law.
In 1997, she moved to Greece, working in English teaching and law, but the marine insurance sector won her over. In 2015, she became the first woman in the history of the American Club to hold a senior global executive role, serving as Director of Global Business Development. As of August 1, 2022, she officially assumed the role of CEO at Shipowners Claims Bureau, the management company of the American P&I Club.
### Payet Paleologou
Payet Paleologou is Vice President Marine & Offshore Division – South East Europe, Black Sea & Adriatic Zone of Bureau Veritas.
He is a graduate of the University of Glasgow (BEng in Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering) and the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne (MSc in Marine Engineering). He began his professional career in the Technical Department of Oceanbulk Maritime S.A. in 1993 and in 1999 was promoted to Head of Hull & Classification Division.
In 2005, he began working at Bureau Veritas as a Marine Center surveyor, in 2007 he was appointed Delegate of the Marine Center Manager, and in 2013 Sales, Marketing & Business Development Manager for the Greece and Black Sea region. During the years 2015 and 2016, he held the position of Marine Marketing & Sales Director for the Marine & Offshore Division, splitting his time between the company’s headquarters in Paris and Greece. In January 2017, he assumed the position of Vice President, Regional Chief Executive for the Greece and Black Sea region, and in July 2018 for the Greece, Black Sea, and Adriatic Zone. As of January 1, 2022, he is Vice President for the Southeast Europe, Black Sea, and Adriatic Zone in the Marine & Offshore Division, based in Piraeus.
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