Rebecca Daniels is a shipping finance lawyer based in London. Working closely with maritime and shipping clients, Rebecca has seen first-hand how deeply traditional the industry can be. That reality has shaped her perspective on both the opportunities and the challenges facing women in the shipping and maritime sectors. While progress has been made, many of the structures, networks and cultural norms that define the sector were built at a time when women were largely absent. As a result, change does not happen organically. It requires intention, accountability and leadership.

Why gender diversity policies matter

Policies that actively encourage gender diversity are not symbolic gestures – they are essential levers for change. The maritime sector still carries deep-rooted structural barriers, from recruitment pipelines that overlook women, to workplace cultures shaped by decades of underrepresentation. 

Policies help shift the dial by tackling unconscious bias head-on, creating genuine pathways into leadership, and ensuring retention isn't an afterthought. Rebecca says she’d “love to see a maritime industry where diverse leadership is unremarkable – it is just the norm – and where the next generation of women entering the sector can see themselves reflected at every level, from the bridge to the boardroom.”

Breaking barriers

Obstacles to better representation are well known – unconscious bias in hiring and promotion, a shortage of visible role models, and workplace cultures that still reflect a narrower demographic than today’s talent pool. Rebecca has observed that good intentions alone are rarely enough to overcome these barriers.

In her own corner of banking and finance law, she has seen the difference it makes when organisations actively sponsor women into senior, client-facing roles, rather than limiting support to informal mentoring. “It comes down to a few things: make flexible working genuinely available (not just on paper), ensure shortlists and panels are diverse as a matter of course, amplify the stories of women already thriving in the sector, and call out bias when you see it – even the well-intentioned kind.”

Representation is not simply a pipeline problem. It is a cultural one. And cultures only change when leaders choose to change them.

Photo: Olivia Cullen and Rebecca Daniels enjoying a volunteering opportunity with Stella Maris Org in Southampton. 

Seeing is believing 

“You can’t be what you can’t see.” The maritime industry has been shaped by generations of talent, but for too long that talent pool has looked remarkably similar. Rebecca reflects “when women see other women navigating careers at sea, structuring complex financing deals, or leading on trade policy, it sends a powerful message: this space is for you, too”.

Diverse perspectives don't just make our industry fairer; they make it sharper, more innovative, and better equipped to meet the challenges ahead.

Encouraging the next generation to step aboard

For women considering a career in maritime, Rebecca’s advice is simple: Go for it! The sector is global, fast-moving and no two days look the same. “Working in banking and finance law within the sector means you're at the heart of some genuinely fascinating deals – whether it's financing a fleet of vessels or navigating cross-border regulatory challenges, there's always something new to get stuck into.”

The maritime industry is vast, spanning shipping, logistics, engineering, law, finance and beyond – offering careers that quite literally keep the world moving! “You'd be joining a growing community of brilliant women who are shaping the future of trade, sustainability, and innovation on a worldwide stage. It's challenging, it's rewarding, and the opportunities to make a genuine impact are enormous”, says Rebecca. 

While the industry remains male-dominated in many areas, Rebecca thinks the industry is changing, and with every women who steps in and back themselves (and each other), that change accelerates. “So if you're looking for a career with purpose, adventure, and real breadth – the maritime world is waiting for you” encourages Rebecca.

Visibility as the catalyst for change

If Rebecca could change one thing overnight, it would be the visibility of women already working across the maritime sector. Too often, the women driving progress – in shipping finance, port operations, regulatory roles or at sea – remain unseen. The default image of the industry has not yet caught up with reality.

One thing Rebecca would change tomorrow to improve diversity in the sector is “to make the women already in maritime impossible to miss; amplify their voices, put them on panels, feature them in trade press, and let the next generation see what's possible”. People stay where they feel they matter, and visibility is a huge part of that.

New technology, new opportunities

As digitalisation, automation and green technology transform the maritime industry, Rebecca sees a moment of genuine opportunity. “Entirely new roles are emerging – many without the legacy barriers that have historically made maritime harder for women to access.”

Fields such as data analytics, AI-driven logistics, cybersecurity, remote vessel operations and sustainability strategy are becoming increasingly central. In these areas, talent and fresh thinking matter far more than tradition. “What excites me most is that the green transition, in particular, is creating demand for interdisciplinary skills – combining engineering know-how with environmental science, regulatory expertise and project management. Women already excel in many of these areas across other industries, and there's a real chance to bring that expertise into maritime and shape its future from the ground up.”