Diversity Study Group Ltd

We’re thrilled to announce that the 3rd annual ‘Headwinds & Tailwinds’ DEI in Maritime conference, hosted by Seatrade Maritime Events, is SOLD OUT! 🌟 The interest in promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in maritime has been remarkable. 🔖 Join the Waitlist: If you missed your chance to register, you can still join the waitlist by signing up at https://lnkd.in/egCSZufW 📅 Event Details: ●    Date: November 20, 2024, 08:30-17:00 GMT & November 21, 2024, 09:00-12:00 GMT ●    Location: Informa, 19th Floor, 240 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8BF 🗓️ A Two-Day Event: ●    Day 1 (November 20th): Open to all attendees, we’ll explore the theme of ‘Headwinds & Tailwinds’ – strategies for navigating DEI challenges while harnessing the forces driving progress. Expect practical discussions, real-life case studies, and actionable solutions. ●    Day 2 (November 21st): A half-day focus session exclusive to DSG Members only. This in-person event will provide deeper insights, peer-to-peer networking, and a unique opportunity to exchange views on best practices among DSG Members. Agenda Highlights: ●    Benchmarking Data Reveal: DSG will present the latest DEI data for both shore-side and seafarers, offering critical insights for industry leaders. ●    Industry Case Studies: including BP Shipping, Hafnia, Virgin Voyages. ●    Expert Speakers: Featuring Anglo-Eastern, G2 Ocean, International Maritime Organization, Portsmouth International Port and Informa. 🚀 Let’s Propel Maritime DEI Forward! Join the waitlist and be part of an engaging conference designed to turn DEI challenges into high-impact initiatives. Help shape the future of a more equitable maritime industry! #MaritimeData #MaritimeHR #Shipowners #ShipOperators #DiversityAndInclusion #Ports #Cargo

International Seafarers' Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN)'s 'Safe at Sea - it takes all of us! Building a culture of allyship' event yesterday highlighted the need for everyone to take an active role in supporting seafarers with some practical examples of how this can be done. We were proud to be part of it. There was so much to digest, some of the key takeaways being: - Organisations need to adopt a multi-faceted approach including leadership development and accountability (ashore and at sea), clear messaging around values and behaviours (and zero tolerance) and access to resources. - Seafarers need suitable practical solutions - from easy access to support (such as helplines and network groups) through to inclusive PPE, internet connectivity and appropriate provisions on board. - Allies exist throughout our workplaces and often in areas that are overlooked - from senior managers through to technical superintendents and crewing personnel - all can have a powerful impact on seafarers, let's ensure they are part of the conversation. - Supporting through intervention if needed doesn't have to be confrontational - it can be direct but it can also be through distraction - we can all play our part in a way that suits us. - Being curious is a crucial part of being an ally. Taking the time to learn about those around us and to engage in active listening and support helps to foster a culture of trust, a critical component in a physically and psychologically safe workplace. Thank you to all who took part and shared their insights and stories, including Heidi Heseltine, Louise Sara, Anisia Marin, Somiyeh D., Venus Venugopalan, Joseph Vess, Susanne Justesen (ph.d), Ann P., Kate Pike and to Simon Grainge and Georgia A. for an excellent and thought provoking event.

HR and Crewing Issues were discussed in detail at the Splash Maritime and Offshore News (splash247.com) Maritime CEO Forum in Singapore this week. An insightful panel discussion featuring Capt George Mathews, Hollie Scoon, Rajesh Divakaran and Swaminathan Hari was moderated by our own Founder & CEO, Heidi Heseltine. Many practical insights were shared including the need to invest time and resources to develop our leaders of the future, the adoption of an inclusive environment on board ships including PPE and appropriate provisions, strategic approaches to diversity and the crucial role leadership visibility and communication plays in fostering diverse and inclusive cultures. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eShBfK2S

🚢 🌊Our industry needs to nurture our talented workforce. We are thrilled that our Crest Maritime Mentoring Programme provides a structured environment in which mid-career mentees are given the support they need to develop into well-rounded future maritime leaders.   We look forward to welcoming representatives from Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Cargill Ocean Transportation, Northern Marine Group, Portsmouth International Port, RightShip and many more to this important programme when it launches in 2025.   The Crest Maritime Mentoring Programme is already receiving support from our project founding members. Chris Hatter. LLM, FICS from Portsmouth International Port says the project is essential to kickstart real change, while Margaret McFadzean, Group Head of HR at The Northern Marine Group, highlights the programme as a fantastic way to nurture emerging talent. Elena Pantazidou, Group HR Director, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, adds that mentorship will empower maritime professionals to build meaningful connections.   Want to know more?   📖 Learn more about this impactful programme here: https://lnkd.in/eFUYyhSp   Join the journey to a more inclusive and collaborative maritime sector! #Maritime #Mentoring #MaritimeDEI #DEI

We love supporting and participating in the Sailors' Society Wellness at Sea cadet conferences, a series of four events taking place virtually around the world. Understanding the different experiences and expectations of cadets is a crucial enabler for us to create relevant and sustainable working cultures if we want the cadets to continue to invest their time and effort in a career at sea. Today was the Africa conference and our Founder & CEO, Heidi Heseltine, was honoured to speak about the skills needed for handling diversity and to moderate a panel of cadets from across Africa who shared their thoughts and experiences of the industry so far. We heard how differences show up on board vessels - from rank, age, gender, nationality and religion through to the cultural differences that exist. The cadets echoed the importance of being curious and open to difference - sharing examples related to understanding others perspectives in how they approach work, or how the food provided can have an impact through to the benefits that social engagement on board can bring, not only creating an opportunity to get together informally but also to learn more about fellow seafarers on board and the different cultures and behaviours that diversity brings. We heard that maritime academies are speaking about diversity and inclusion but there is a desire for more whilst recognising that individuals can also take responsibility for learning more about their environment and those they work with. For those who are on board and want to share their experiences and talk to others, the Sailors Society confidential WhatsApp Peer to Peer Support Groups are a great way to do so. Congratulations to Sara Wall Baade and her team for another great event and thank you to the cadets who shared their perspectives and insights. We are looking forward to the next conferences for SE Asia and UK/Europe. To learn more visit https://lnkd.in/eKYcKM8D

🚢🌊  We are proud to announce that our Crest Maritime Mentoring Programme will launch next year to develop future leaders in the maritime industry! This six-month programme will pair mid-career professionals with experienced mentors to foster leadership, skills development, and knowledge sharing.   In addition to helping individuals achieve their full potential, the programme is expected to increase employee retention and engagement, grow access to an expansive and diverse network of professionals, and deliver greater knowledge of the maritime industry and its trends through exposure to new perspectives and ways of working.   We are thrilled that this project has the strong backing of industry leaders - including Bernhard Schulte Ship Management, Cargill Ocean Transportation, Northern Marine Group, Portsmouth International Port and RightShip (who first suggested the idea) - who will send us members of their teams as our first cohort of mentees.   Our founder Heidi Heseltine says: “The Crest Maritime Mentoring Programme will help develop the well-rounded and knowledgeable future leaders that the maritime industry will need in the coming decades by drawing on the insights, skills and experience of a global pool of respected and influential figures.”   Purnima Singh, Chief HR Officer at RightShip, echoes this: “We are delighted to see the Crest Maritime Mentoring programme officially launched with DSG’s expertise at its heart. We are thrilled to see how quickly an idea we shared around a cross-company mentoring scheme has been transformed into a structured programme that will provide benefits for the maritime sector for years to come.”   📖 Learn more about this impactful programme and how you can take part here: https://lnkd.in/e2Q8E22S #Maritime #Mentoring #MaritimeDEI #DEI

We're honoured to be nominated for the 2024 Safety4Sea Sustainability Award. Thank you SAFETY4SEA! We have evolved exponentially since we began our journey in 2018 but our aims and values remain the same - to support the industry, organisations and individuals within it to make lasting progress in relation to human sustainability. Our benchmarking at sea and ashore provides detailed insights for the industry into the lived experiences of our employees and the demographic make up of our industry, including our leaders of the future; our annual DEI in maritime conference brings together leaders from around the world to share their initiatives in relation to DEI and to learn about practical applications that have an enduring impact; our advisory work supports explicit action in the workplace, bespoke to each organisation we work with. Our values of community, collaboration and change underpin all that we do and are realised by our incredible team here at Diversity Study Group along with our exceptional DEI in maritime community. For details of all the awards and nominees, and to vote, go to https://lnkd.in/gAav_bNe

Our Founder & CEO, Heidi Heseltine, is looking forward to joining SAFETY4SEA's London Forum on September 18th and to a forward thinking panel discussion with Adam Parnell, Apostolos (Apo) Belokas and Dr Pennie Blackburn, D.Clin.Psych to discuss the importance of a culture of care on board ships and how diversity and inclusion can contribute to a safer environment on board.

Our founder and CEO Heidi Heseltine recently joined other maritime experts to discuss the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in port safety. Speaking on 5 July at the Port Skills and Safety Members’ Conference on Health, Safety, and Culture Strategy, she highlighted the role DEI plays in fostering a safer working environment and challenging outdated cultural norms. Heidi addressed some of the unique challenges ports face regarding enhancing safety and provided practical solutions that they can adopt to boost performance, attract new talent, and achieve operational benefits. She emphasised DEI’s capability to lead wider cultural change and create safer working environments, meanwhile tackling skills shortages, increasing innovation and openness while harnessing the increasing power of data. Another key need identified was to ensure that port workers feel they can speak up and Heidi noted ways ports can help give people the confidence to do so. Her message resonated with the delegates, underscoring the transformative power of a truly inclusive culture. We will have an article with more insights from her presentation live soon - so do stay tuned. Thank you to Chris Hatter. LLM, FICS for the photo and to Debbie Cavaldoro for inviting us to present on this important topic. #maritime #inclusion #SafetyTipsAtSea #MaritimeHR #PortSkillsSafety #DiversityEquityInclusion #Safetyculture #Innovation #Ports

As we celebrate the contributions of crew members to safety on this Day of the Seafarer, it’s worth remembering the vital role diversity and inclusion plays in keeping our people safe across the maritime industry. ⚓ While diversity is often emphasised as one of the great strengths of our industry, it’s important to remember that diversity by itself is not enough — inclusion is key to making diversity work. The two go in tandem, it is never an either-or choice. 🤔 How is this relevant to safety? 🔷 An inclusive working environment established at the outset, rather than in the aftermath,  is critical for successful and sustainable employee integration and onboard performance. 🔷 A positive company culture where everyone feels encouraged and able to contribute and communicate respectfully will naturally lend itself to improved physical and psychological safety. 🔷 Inclusive and respectful working environments facilitate greater employee engagement and retention. 🔷 Understanding diverse experiences and tailoring inclusive approaches brings nuance to the table and has greater impact on an employee’s sense of trust and belonging. 🔷 Everyone contributes to safety — from the ground up and from the top down, everyone has a role to play in ensuring a positive and collaborative environment. Would you agree? Tell us in the comments below! #DayOfTheSeafarer #SafetyTipsAtSea #MaritimeHR