Shipping—the world’s second oldest industry and the first global business. It has been the engine of trade throughout the millennium, and the source of pride, industry and employment. Until recently, it has been an almost entirely male domain. But in the past 50 years, there has been a shift and opportunities for women to participate in this exciting, dynamic industry are created and increasing every day.

2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA). WISTA is a networking organization for women at the management level in the maritime industry. It was founded in the United Kingdom in 1974 when a handful of women brokers active in the tanker market from Germany and the United Kingdom met in London over lunch. Through the years, this became an annual event and contacts from overseas were invited to join the meeting. The group expanded throughout the world to include women from other areas of shipping and trading.

In 1981, the annual lunch turned into an annual international conference, the first of which was held in Hamburg, Germany. Since that time, an annual international conference has been held in 20 different countries, including Norway, Sweden, Holland, Greece, England, France, the United States, Canada and Singapore. The 2014 conference will be held in Cyprus.