First Women in Marine event at METSTRADE hailed ‘great success’
There was a fantastic turnout for the first Women in the Marine Industry International Event ever held at METSTRADE, which took place on Wednesday morning (16 November 2022).
Supported by Marine Industry News, the event welcomed more than 120 women and men at the METSTRADE Elicium Theatre and was heralded a tremendous success by organisers and attendees alike.
The event format included a breakfast networking session followed by an industry leadership panel.
Niels Klarenbeek, director of METSTRADE, and Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, offered opening remarks, followed by Michele Goldsmith, publisher of Soundings Trade Only, who introduced the morning’s panel speakers: Malin Schwartz, senior vice president of Volvo Penta; Nona Pedersen, general manager of Propspeed; Delphine Planes, vice president of purchasing, Groupe Beneteau’s Boat Division; Barbara Amerio, CEO of PerMare Group; and Leontien Moulijn, franchise development manager EMEA at Brunswick’s Freedom Boat Club.
During the panel discussion, the speakers shared with the packed theatre their backgrounds, experience and insights as female leaders working in the marine industry.
“What an incredible event, with an inspirational panel of women,” says Robinson. We have been delighted by how many people have joined us today. It just shows that there is a real appetite for inclusive events of this nature.”
Goldsmith, who moderated the panel, adds: “I am so pleased with the turnout at today’s event and to hear from attendees how they found great value in the content provided from this dynamic, intelligent, and empowering panel.”
“It is important for us to share our struggles and successes with each and not feel alone in this. It is so empowering to sit here today in a room full of people who all want to make a difference,” comments panellist Nona Pedersen.
While fellow panellist Delphine Planes adds: “I have loved being at this event today. The atmosphere has been really relaxed, the audience was really engaged and everyone seems to have had a good time. This is an important topic, but it is wonderful to be able to discuss the issues without any drama. The variety of the panel was amazing, and Michele did an amazing job bringing it all together today.”
Another driving force behind the Women in Marine movement has been Barton Marine CEO, Suzanne Blaustone. “As a veteran woman in business, it is wonderful to come to an event like this and still learn new things from women like these. It is so necessary for women to meet, network and feel the support that other women can provide in the industry and that we continue to push these events forward in the future,” says Blaustone.
In closing Robinson added: “I would like to thank everyone who joined us here today to make this first Women in the Marine Industry International event here at METSTRADE a great success and, of course, my thanks to all of our speakers, METSTRADE, Soundings Trade Only, Barton Marine and Marine Industry News for bringing this all together. I very much look forward to the next one and seeing this event go from strength to strength.”
A Women in the Industry Summit and Industry Leadership Panel, was due to take place at IBEX in September until the arrival of Hurricane Ian unfortunately forced the event’s last-minute cancellation.
The Women in the Marine Industry International panel discussion was videotaped and will be made available on the METSTRADE website in the near future.
