The first Women in the Marine Industry International Event held at METSTRADE has been heralded a tremendous success by organisers and attendees alike.
Hosted by British Marine, Soundings Trade Only and METSTRADE, the event welcomed more than 120 women, and men, at the METSTRADE Elicium Theatre on Wednesday morning, 16 November. 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, Volvo Penta; Nona Pedersen, General Manager, Propspeed; Delphine Planes, Vice President of Purchasing, Groupe Beneteau, Boat Division; Barbara Amerio, CEO PerMare Group and Leontien Moulijn, Franchise Development Manager EMEA, Freedom Boat Club a division of Brunswick.
During the panel discussion, the speakers shared their backgrounds, experience and insights as female leaders working in the marine industry with the packed theatre and thoroughly engaged audience.
Speaking of the event, Lesley Robinson commented, “What an incredible event, with an inspirational panel of women. 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.”
Michele Goldsmith, who moderated the panel, added: “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. I would like to thank British Marine and METSTRADE for their support in making the first Women in the Marine Industry International event at METSTRADE a success.”
Panellists Nona Pedersen, General Manager at Propspeed and Delphine Planes, Vice President of Purchasing, Groupe Beneteau, Boat Division, also shared their views on the event.
“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,” commented Nona.
While Delphine added: “I have loved being at this event today. The atmosphere has been really relaxed, the audience has been 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 and bringing this event to fruition 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,” Suzanne commented.
In closing Lesley 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.”
The Women in the Marine Industry International event was also supported by Marine Industry News.
The Women in the Marine Industry International panel discussion was videotaped and will be made available at www.Metstrade.com in the near future.
