Missão Internacional Mulheres a Bordo concludes its program in Panama

The mission’s final meeting featured a farewell lunch, where participants reviewed the trip and attended a technical presentation (Luciana Moledas/TV Tribuna)

After four days of technical visits to some of Panama’s main maritime and port facilities, meetings with female executives and an agenda focused on knowledge exchange, the first Missão Internacional Mulheres a Bordo came to an end this Thursday (20). The initiative by Grupo Tribuna brought together around 20 female leaders and concluded its program with the challenge of turning the experiences gained in the country into new connections and opportunities to expand women’s presence in decision-making positions in the sector.

The mission’s final meeting featured a lunch and a technical presentation by Elvia Bustavino, president of Wista Panamá, an organization that is part of an international network dedicated to connecting and developing women working in the maritime, port and logistics sectors.

During the discussion, Elvia highlighted the importance of closer ties among professionals from different countries, building networks and increasing women’s visibility in the market. “It is essential that we establish this link with women in the region and recognize the importance of our work and participation in the sector, fostering connections and acting as agents of change”, she said.

Elvia Bustavino, from Wista Panamá, addressed the importance of building networks (Luciana Moledas/TV Tribuna)

Four days of experiences

The program, which began last Monday (17) in Panama, combined technical knowledge with meetings with women holding strategic positions at companies and organizations connected to the sector.

At the Miraflores Locks, participants watched a vessel transit through the Panama Canal and learned about the operation of the infrastructure that enables passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The mission also visited Svitzer’s headquarters, where the group discussed diversity and women’s participation in leadership positions in the maritime sector.

The technical program also included visits to port terminals on both sides of the canal. On the Atlantic coast, in Colón, participants learned about SSA Marine’s operations and climbed aboard a ship-to-shore crane, approximately 60 meters above ground, to observe terminal activities. They then traveled approximately 80 kilometers to the Port of Balboa, on the Pacific side, where they observed APM Terminals’ operations.

In addition to providing direct contact with different operations, the meetings brought participants together with female executives with diverse career paths and experiences, broadening discussions on careers, representation and the challenges faced by women working in a sector historically characterized by male predominance.