From WISTA

George Town, CAYMAN ISLANDS:

Global organisation Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) now has a Cayman chapter through the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association Cayman Islands Limited (WISTA Cayman Islands).

At a recent shipping conference, Dorisley Jackson of the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (CISR) was approached by WISTA International to be a founding member of a Cayman chapter. Ms. Jackson accepted the challenge and invited several women leading Cayman’s maritime industry to participate. WISTA Cayman launched with its first meeting on 29 August 2014 at the offices of international law firm, Maples and Calder.

WISTA International’s beginnings go back to 1974 at a Christmas luncheon in London attended by some women in senior positions in the maritime industry. By 1981 they had hosted their first international conference and now they have hosted 34 international conferences in 17 countries, welcoming their 1,950 members from 34 countries.

Karin Orsel, President WISTA International warmly welcomes the Cayman Islands as new National WISTA association in North America, “Ms Jackson and her board members are well respected within the maritime industry – they can pave the way for the next generation of young maritime professionals.”

Ms. Jackson was appreciative of the approach by WISTA International. “WISTA’s core principles of international networking, business relationships, improving members’ competence, sharing knowledge, mentoring and friendship are those already shared within Cayman’s maritime industry and this is a wonderful way to formalise these ideals, using them to encourage the further development of Cayman as an international maritime centre”, she said.

The local membership comprises a cross section of members who have already significantly contributed to the enhancement of the local maritime industry. The newly elected board of directors include: Sherice Arman of Maples and Calder (President), Dorisley Jackson of CISR (Secretary), Vangie Hunter of Hyde Agencies (Treasurer), Exie Tomlinson-Panton (CISR), Lorna Washington (CISR) and Natasha Bunting (Cayman Management).

The Cayman chapter will be introduced at the next WISTA AGM in Limassol, Cyprus from 8 – 10 October, 2014, where the President and Secretary will be in attendance.

WISTA Cayman President Sherice Arman is looking forward to the challenge of taking the helm of this new organisation in Cayman. “It is an exciting opportunity to lead a group of professional women who have dedicated their careers to the development of the jurisdiction’s shipping industry. The enthusiasm within this group is overwhelming and we are already preparing to tackle a long list of goals that we want to accomplish,” she said.

One of the first projects to be undertaken by this new board and its membership is to reach out to the educational institutions in the Cayman Islands to begin work on developing programmes that will inspire, educate and encourage young people in the pursuit of careers in the maritime industry.

IMAGE: Standing (L to R):

Wanda Ebanks (Maples and Calder), J.D. Mosley-Matchett (UCCI), Robynette Hera-Bodden (CISR), Glenda Dilbert-Davis (CISR), Jenna-Dell Humphrey-Terry (CISR), Melanie Whittaker (Maples-FS), Stacy Foster (Maples-FS), Nanalie Cover (Maples and Calder)

Seated – Board of Directors (L to R):

Lorna Washington (CISR), Vangie Hunter – Treasurer (Hyde Agencies), Sherice Arman – President (Maples and Calder), Dorisley Jackson – Secretary (CISR), Natasha Bunting (Cayman Management) and Exie Tomlinson-Panton (CISR)

Missing from photo:

Jennifer Reilly (Campbells), Dianne Farjallah (Maples), Wendy Ebanks (Maples), Nancy Bodden (CISR), Nicola Moore-Gothár (CISR) and Keisha Yates (CISR).