Women in the maritime sector create WISTA Costa Rica to promote gender parity in leadership positions

- Costa Rica joins WISTA International
- Only 20% of the workforce in the maritime/logistics sector are women, and only 14% occupy leadership positions.

San José, November 2024. With the objectives of strengthening the positioning of women in leadership and management positions in the port, maritime, logistics and transportation sector, as well as leaving aside the stereotypes that surround the female gender in the sector, nationally and internationally, a group of women joined together and managed to form WISTA Costa Rica.

WISTA ( Women's International Shipping and Trading Association) is an international organization, founded in London more than 50 years ago, that promotes the leadership and participation of women in the maritime industry and international trade, and to promote gender parity in various leadership positions.

A KPMG study reveals that 86% of women in this sector are more motivated to aspire to management positions when they see more women in leadership positions, and 76% are interested in actively participating in initiatives that boost the professional growth of other women.

This achievement, driven by APM Terminals Moín's female employees, marks a significant step forward in the fight for gender equality in an industry historically dominated by men. According to WISTA International data, only 20% of the workforce in the maritime sector is female, and only 14% of management positions are held by women.

The creation of WISTA Costa Rica reinforces the country's commitment to diversity, inclusion and female empowerment, and is supported by APM Terminals Moín. The Board of Directors of WISTA Costa Rica is represented by:

“We are excited to be part of this transformative moment. The creation of WISTA Costa Rica is cause for celebration and pride, as it represents the progress we are making in the country's maritime sector. We need our women to be able to access leadership positions on equal terms with our male colleagues. We are going to promote regional networking to take the first steps,” said Lisbeth Thomas, Director of Human Resources and Training at APM Terminals Moín and President of WISTA Costa Rica.

The formation of WISTA Costa Rica comes at a time considered crucial for the maritime sector, where inclusion and gender equity are fundamental for the sustainable development of the industry.

“By supporting the formation of WISTA Costa Rica, we are creating opportunities for more women to integrate and lead in our industry. This milestone is fundamental for the economic and social growth of our region and reinforces our commitment to an inclusive and diverse work environment,” said José Rueda, Managing Director of APM Terminals Moín.

Boosting other companies. Through this initiative, we seek to motivate more companies to join WISTA Costa Rica's support for women working in the sector, ensuring that the organization's impact transcends the country's borders.

“This project has a global reach, and we are working to inspire and support more women around the world to take on leadership roles in the maritime and logistics sector,” Thomas added.
The international organization is currently developing a new survey with the goal of obtaining up-to-date industry information among its 45 member countries around the world. Those interested in participating in this industry survey can access the page where it can be found and it is recommended that this survey be completed by Human Resources personnel, in view of the information requested: Click here