Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Director Julie Lithgow named WISTA-UK Woman of the Year
National nomination goes forward on shortlist for international award at WISTA conference in Istanbul in October 2015
London, September 8, 2015. Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Director Julie Lithgow has been named Woman of the Year by the Executive Committee of WISTA-UK for her work in education and training.
WISTA-UK President Sue Terpilowski OBE, said the organisation’s choice reflected Julie’s tireless promotion of the Institute’s mission and its relevance to the International Maritime Organization’s theme for the 2015 World Maritime Day celebrations.
“Everyone who knows Julie understands that education and training are subjects very close to her heart, personally and professionally. She is a passionate advocate of education for men and women, someone who believes in increasing access to education for all and in promoting to our industry the value of education and professional qualifications.”
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers has been offering professional qualifying exams in commercial maritime subjects for over 100 years and now has a syllabus spanning 16 subjects.
It offers subsidised exams to over 5,000 students in over 100 countries every year, meeting the cost of sitting exams wherever its students live and charging each a subsidised rate for the study programme of less than £100 per exam.
In thanking WISTA-UK for the award Julie Lithgow stressed her belief that training and qualifications should be universally accessible.
“Last year we supported 5,000 students in their ambitions and aspirations, whether rich and poor, male and female, ship owner or second officer. Our students are special people – they are curious about our industry and want to learn more. They are tenacious in studying alongside busy jobs, and families. And they are courageous, brave enough to take exams to show they have the knowledge.”
Hundreds of Institute students use its qualifications to approach their first job in shipping and in addition they are designed to test the commercial knowledge and ethics of people already working in the industry. Julie added that WISTA-UK’s endorsement was also important in promoting education among women around the world.
“Kofi Annan said ‘there is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls and the empowerment of women’. What I have achieved has come from a core belief that it is access to education is what changes the world. It’s a privilege to be part of a tide that raises all boats, providing a channel for young people to access affordable education, to give them an opportunity in our industry.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) was established in 1911 and received Royal Charter in 1920. It is the only internationally recognised professional educational body in the maritime arena and represents shipbrokers, ship managers and agents worldwide. ICS is based in the heart of the City of London and has 25 branches in key shipping locations worldwide with 4,000 individual and 120 company members. ICS membership represents a commitment to maintaining the highest professional standards across the shipping industry.
About WISTA-UK
WISTA is an international organisation of women working in the shipping industry. Our members include naval architects, maritime lawyers, ship’s engineers, insurance and sale and purchase brokers, claims adjusters and many others working both directly in the industry and providing services to the industry. WISTA-UK is the oldest of all the National WISTA Associations dating back to 1974. We organise events such as site visits, seminars, workshops and industry related events where our members have the opportunity of meeting and forming relationships with other professionals working within the shipping industry.
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