Global Maritime Forum honours essay winners from Japan, Mauritius, and Montenegro
"112 essay submissions from more than 35 countries proposing creative solutions for creating a more sustainable and inclusive maritime industry."
October 09 2023
The Global Maritime Forum today announced the three winners of its 2023 Future Maritime Leaders essay competition, who have demonstrated outstanding dedication, innovative thinking, and a passion for shaping the future of the maritime industry.
This year’s essay competition posed the question: “What does an inclusive transition to a sustainable maritime industry mean to you – and what are your recommendations to industry leaders and policymakers on how this could be achieved for future generations?”
The Global Maritime Forum received 112 essay submissions from more than 35 countries proposing creative solutions for creating a more sustainable and inclusive maritime industry. After careful deliberation by an international selection committee, three essays were chosen as winners for their exceptional insights and visionary ideas.
The top three winners are:
Saki Inoue (Japan): Student, Faculty of Oceanology, Kobe University. Her essay: “Why you are the heart of the ecological revolution, not just part of it.”
Shareefa Jewan (Mauritius): Senior Business Consultant, Ernst & Young. Her essay: “All hands on deck: Fostering female inclusivity for a sustainable maritime industry.”
Vladimir Zorić, (Montenegro): Fleet Personnel Officer at MOL Tankship Management. His essay: “Navigating the Waves of Change: The Economic Promise of a Green Maritime Future”
These outstanding young talents will be honoured at the upcoming Global Maritime Annual Summit 2023, which will take place in Athens from 17-19 October. There, they will join over 200 C-suite leaders from within and beyond the maritime industry and will have the opportunity to share their insights and vision with some of the sector’s most influential figures. The three winners have received an all-expenses-paid invitation to attend the Annual Summit.
“The maritime industry’s future hinges on its ability to adapt, innovate, and prioritise sustainability. The fifth Future Maritime Leaders essay competition offers a unique platform for emerging leaders to share their ideas for an inclusive transition towards a sustainable maritime future,” said Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Chair of the selection committee. “The future of the maritime industry must include environmental and social sustainability and use technology to reach the goals of decarbonisation and inclusivity. We are delighted to invite the winners to attend the Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit 2023 in Athens, where they will share their ideas with industry leaders.”
In addition to the essay competition, the Global Maritime Forum hosted a workshop for the top 20 essay writers in mid-September that focused on bringing these young leaders’ different perspectives on what constitutes an inclusive transition and the steps required to achieve it. With guidance from the Global Maritime Forum team, these participants will co-create an Ambition Statement, which the three winners will present at a press briefing at the Annual Summit in Athens, on Thursday, 19 October at 9:15-10:00am, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
This year’s essays from this year’s winners can be found here.
For media inquiries:
Molly P. Hannon, Senior Communications Manager
mph@globalmaritimeforum.org
+45 5376 6787
About the Global Maritime Forum
The Global Maritime Forum is an international not-for-profit organisation working to create a decarbonised maritime industry that supports sustainable long-term economic development while being committed to human welfare and dignity. Established in 2017, the Forum is funded through a combination of grants and partner contributions but operates independently of any outside influence and does not support individual companies. Most of its roughly 50-person staff is based in the organisation’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.