Women's shipping group bids for international conference

THREE YEARS since the launch of the Women’s International Shipping and Trade Association (WISTA) in South Africa, its 43-strong local membership will put forward a bid to hold the annual international conference in Durban in 2003. The association provides women in managerial positions in the shipping industry with networking opportunities both locally and internationally, says current chairperson Keren Giladi of Dudula Shipping. While the international organisation has been in existence for over 27 years, WISTA SA was established in 1998 and has chapters in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. “We are all striving to establish face-to-face contact with others involved in this industry, and this is one of the main factors in the world-wide growth of WISTA,” says Janine Lee, a partner at Pampallis Marine and Commercial Law in Durban, who believes that there are many women in the local industry who would benefit from joining WISTA. The local chapters arrange regular meetings with guest speakers on relevant shipping-related topics. Anyone interested in further involvement should contact Janine Lee on (031) 201 8662.