Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, Co-CEO of Tototheo Maritime™, and a prominent figure in the maritime industry, has been honored with the inaugural “Gender Equality Award" by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The candidacy of Ms. Panayiotou Theodosiou for the Gender Equality Award was submitted by the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry last July. The results were announced yesterday during the 130th Council Session of the IMO. It was emphasized that Ms. Panayiotou Theodosiou embodies the essence of this award, significantly contributing to the promotion of gender equality in the maritime sector through her work and actions.

In an announcement Cyprus' Shipping Deputy Minister, Ms. Marina Hatzimanolis, congratulated Ms. Panayiotou Theodosiou for the prestigious accolade. She commended her notable achievements and unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality in the field of shipping, setting a significant benchmark for excellence in the industry.

In her statement, Ms. Panayiotou Theodosiou said that it is an immense honour receiving the award, and extended her gratitude to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides and the Shipping Deputy Minister, Mrs. Marina Hadjimanolis, for submitting and supporting her nomination. She also expressed her dedication to the continuous promotion of gender equality within the maritime community.

“Over the last 10 years raising awareness of the incredible work women are undertaking within the maritime industry and the importance of gender diversity, equity and inclusion have been a key focus for me on both a personal and professional level. During my time as President of WISTA International it was a privilege to be part of the driving force behind many of the initiatives related to advancing gender equality within the industry, and when I look at what has been achieved I feel an immense sense of pride for being able to play my part in bringing about change. With that said, we still have a long way to go, and I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to continue to break down the barriers, acknowledge the need for change and work together to create a more inclusive and diverse maritime industry.”

The IMO Gender Equality Award aims to recognize individuals, regardless of gender, whose contributions significantly promote gender equality and empower women in the maritime industry.