Aiming for human sustainability across the maritime industry – by 2030

The Future Maritime Leaders essay competition represents an opportunity for aspiring high-level leaders of the future to meet and engage with senior maritime stakeholders. The winners of the competition will win an invitation to the Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit 2022 this September in New York. There, they will join 200 leaders from inside and outside the maritime sector, and represent the voice of young generations—all expenses covered.

Human sustainability is about dignity and respect for every human being in the maritime industry – both at sea and on shore – and describes the human side of maritime trade. Read more about Human Sustainability and the topics associated with it here.

To improve human sustainability in the maritime industry, we are asking potential leaders of the future to outline what human sustainability might look like for the industry by 2030 and what needs to be done to get there.

In your essay, please choose a human sustainability challenge that you find particularly relevant to address. Describe why addressing this challenge is important and propose concrete actions that can be taken by maritime industry stakeholders to make necessary progress on this front.

Essay question: If the maritime industry is to significantly improve its approach to human sustainability by 2030, what do you see as the most important issue and/or challenge that needs to be addressed? Discuss concrete actions maritime industry stakeholders need to take to address the issue.

The Selection Committee tasked with selecting three winning essays is comprised of the following members:

• Stephen Cotton, General Secretary, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
• Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist, Institute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Head of Committee)
• Oivind Lorentzen III, Director, SEACOR Holdings
• Camille Simbulan, Head of Communication and Special Projects, Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP); winner of the 2020 Future Maritime Leaders essay competition
• Karrie Trauth, SVP Shipping & Maritime, Shell
• Capt. Rajesh Unni, Founder and CEO, Synergy Marine Group