ICOMIA podcast: Driving diversity and inclusion in the marine industry
Melanie Symes of TransEurope Marinas and James Ward of Marine Resources, both members of ICOMIA’s diversity committee, explore the critical topic of diversity in the marine industry in the latest ICOMIA podcast.
The pair cite studies that say just 23 per cent of women hold senior roles in the sector. Plus, the median age within the industry is nearly 50, underscoring the urgent need to attract and retain younger generations.
Symes and Ward emphasise the commercial and strategic importance of diversity, noting that diverse teams consistently outperform less diverse organisations. While awareness of the issue is growing, the marine industry still requires more resources and concrete initiatives to drive structural change. Key challenges identified include a lack of role models and gender parity at decision-making levels, unconscious bias affecting equality of opportunity, and outdated recruitment practices, along with traditional workplace cultures that fail to engage younger talent.
Looking forward, the pathway involves supporting career development for young professionals and showcasing younger industry ambassadors. It also means adapting recruitment language to highlight company purpose, culture and values, and encouraging two-way conversations during hiring processes, recognising that candidates are selecting companies just as much as companies select them. Both Symes and Ward stress that achieving meaningful change will be a long-term effort requiring collective action from trade associations, businesses and industry events worldwide.
By shifting workplace practices, improving representation and actively engaging new voices, the marine industry can build a more inclusive, innovative and sustainable future. Diversity is not a ‘nice-to-have’ but a necessity for retaining knowledge, attracting new generations and securing long-term competitiveness.
