WISA developing future female seafood industry leaders
Women in Seafood Australasia (WISA) was recognised for its leadership and development programs when it was presented the People Development Award at the 2021 Western Australian Seafood Industry Awards.
The award category is sponsored by the Western Rock Lobster Council.
The Awards event, recognising excellence in the WA seafood industry, was held at The Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle and opened by Minister for Fisheries Hon Don Punch MLA in front of a large audience of industry participants and seafood representatives.
WISA is a national organisation representing women in the seafood industry, with a mission to raise the profile of women in the industry by supporting, promoting, encouraging and representing women in the Australasian Seafood Industry.
With women making up 50% of the seafood industry, the opportunity to improve diversity and reduce employment gaps by embracing and improving the skills of women already in the sector is a great prospect.
In an effort to address the importance of building a skilled, well-trained and diversified workforce across Australia’s seafood industry, the Women in Seafood Pathways program was created. The program was designed to provide an inviting format to develop the managerial, leadership and social skills of women working in the seafood industry.
WA Fishing Industry Council CEO, Darryl Hockey said WISA had demonstrated excellence in developing and undertaking a people development activity that has contributed substantially towards a higher performing workforce for the seafood industry.
“As an industry body, we recognise the importance of acknowledging those individuals and organisations who make a substantial contribution to benefiting our industry, and Women in Seafood Australasia are certainly a worthy recipient of this award,” Mr Hockey concluded.