WISTA International Welcomes WISTA Colombia
September 15, 2019
WISTA INTERNATIONAL CONTINUES EXPANSION IN SOUTH AMERICA, WELCOMING WISTA COLOMBIA AS THE 47th NATIONAL WISTA ASSOCIATION
WISTA International will officially welcome Colombia to the global network of women in shipping at the 2019 IMO World Maritime Day parallel event in Cartagena, Colombia 16 -17 September 2019. WISTA Colombia joins 46 other National WISTA Associations (NWAs). WISTA International has expanded significantly in South America in the last few years, thanks in large part to the strong leadership of WISTA Brazil and WISTA Argentina. WISTA Chile, WISTA Panama, WISTA Peru, WISTA Uruguay, and WISTA Venezuela joined the organisation or re-established in 2018.
“WISTA has grown significantly in South America in the last few years,” said WISTA International President Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou. “We are so proud to welcome Colombia into our network, expanding the opportunities for women in the region. Colombia is an important hub in South America, having access to both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Officially welcoming them at the World Maritime Day parallel event is particularly meaningful, as this event will be celebrating IMO’s 2019 theme of Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.”
“WISTA Colombia will reach women from all different areas of Colombia, promoting studies, agreements, alliances to help develop opportunities for women in the maritime sector,” said Yasmin Andreina Maldonado Escobar, president of WISTA Colombia.
WISTA Colombia is led by Yasmin Andreina Maldonado Escobar, founding partner at JYM & CO Consultants and IMO instructor with Institute Meridian. Margarita Maria Chacon Balaguera, National Coordinator for AT Abogados will serve as Vice President; Diana Osorio Physco, founding partner of Educational Institute Entremares will serve as Secretary; and Gloria Ines Hurtado, Teacher at University of San Buenaventura and Director of Colombia Maritime Foundation will serve as Sub-Secretary. Other founding members include: Lina Maria Carmona Arango, Merchant Officer with Dirección Marítima Colombiana; Adriana Angulo, Merchant Officer with Dirección Marítima Colombiana; Melisa Consuegra Teheran, Specialist in Maritime and Port Law with Instituto Tecnológico Uniguajira; Yajaira Karina Saray Ayola, Attorney with Coordinadora Puerto Riohacha; Angelica Borja Di Filippo, Industrial Engineer with Impala Terminals; Helena Robles Dias, Ship and Port Management Technology with Customs Agency Representations; and Monica Andrea Calderon Castro, Technician with IRIE Resources S.A.
WISTA welcomed several new National WISTA Associations in 2019 and 2018: WISTA South Africa, WISTA Chile, WISTA Portugal, WISTA Panama, WISTA Peru, WISTA Venezuela, WISTA Uruguay and WISTA Japan. National WISTA Associations are formed in individual countries in accordance with the laws and regulations of the country. To launch a National WISTA Association, the association must first contact WISTA International and follow the formation processes set forth in Protocols, which include submitting drafts of the governing documents to WISTA International, filing appropriate paperwork in the home country, having at least ten members in management positions and paying annual fees to WISTA International.
The 2019 WISTA Annual General Meeting & Conference will be hosted by WISTA Cayman Islands on October 30 to November 1, 2019. For more information about WISTA International, please visit www.wistainternational2019.com
