Following its acceptance as a National WISTA Association (NWA) during our 2025 AGM, WISTA International ExCo Member Nazli Selek had the pleasure of attending WISTA Malta’s first networking event. The occasion was a celebration of diversity and inclusion, officially welcoming Malta to the global WISTA network and shining the spotlight on the country’s rich maritime heritage and position as a key maritime nation.
During her keynote speech, Nazli discussed WISTA’s growth from it’s humble beginnings over 50 years ago into an international network with over 60 NWAs and 6,000+ members across maritime, trade and logistics, united by a shared commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion and gender equity.
While progress has been made in increasing female participation, the speech emphasised that challenges remain around leadership progression, structural barriers and retention, highlighting mentoring, visibility and professional development as key enablers to long-term change. Nazli also spoke about WISTA’s global partnerships with organisations such as the International Maritime Organization and UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and how these relationships have lead to several successful joint initiatives including leadership programmes and the Women in Maritime Survey.
During her visit, Nazli also met with the Malta Ship Registry along with WISTA Malta President, Alexia F., which provided a greater overview of Malta’s strong ties to the global maritime community.
Congratulations and very warm welcome again to WISTA Malta!
