Professor Momoko Kitada, Nippon Foundation Professorial Chair in Gender and Innovation; Head, Maritime Education & Training at the World Maritime University (WMU), has been selected to receive the 2025 IMO Gender Equality Award, following her nomination by Japan.

The Award is bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in the maritime sector.

The IMO Council endorsed Professor Kitada as the recipient during its 135th session held in London (20-21 November 2025), to receive the award in May 2026, alongside celebrations for the International Day for Women in Maritime (18 May).

Global impact on gender equality  

Members of the assessment panel noted that her influence extended far beyond her role at WMU in Malmö, Sweden. She has inspired generations of students to carry forward the principles of gender equality into their own administrations and institutions.

The panel highlighted the global impact of her work, with her research, teaching and leadership of WMU’s gender and diversity initiatives translating into tangible change in many countries. Bridging academia, policy and practice, Professor Kitada’s quiet leadership style has achieved transformative results for both women and men in the sector, while maintaining a strong and authentic commitment to diversity.

Former seafarer 

Professor Momoko Kitada  is a former seafarer and was awarded a PhD in Social Science from Cardiff University, United Kingdom. She joined WMU in 2011 and serves as Full Professor and Head of Maritime Education and Training (MET). She coordinates and teaches in other MSc specializations, including Maritime Energy Management (MEM), as well as the Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Energy and the Summer Academy on Maritime Decarbonization.

Professor Kitada leads WMU’s collaboration efforts with IMO, which supports women’s integration in the maritime sector. She is a certified Gender Audit Facilitator and a certified expert in Monitoring and Evaluation as well as Impact Evaluation.

Professor Kitada actively incorporates gender perspectives in her interdisciplinary teaching in maritime subjects, including maritime education and training, maritime energy management, sustainable development, capacity building, digitalization and innovation, and research methodology. She has 20 years of research experience in gender equality in the maritime and ocean sectors.

Letters of Commendation  

In addition to the IMO Gender Equality Award, the Council decided to award Letters of Commendation to the following nominees, to highlight their dedication to women’s empowerment through best practices and various initiatives across the globe:

• Mr. Marcos Tinti, nominated by Brazil, for the significant reforms and initiatives undertaken under his leadership at Companhia Brasileira de Offshore (CBO), which the Panel considered to represent notable progress in promoting diversity in the offshore sector.
• Mrs. Mariana Pescatori Candido da Silva, nominated by Brazil, for her work within the Ministry of Ports and Airports, where her contributions to strengthening gender perspectives in national maritime governance were recognized by the Panel as particularly important.
• Ms. Eleni Polychronopoulou, nominated by Greece, for her leadership and advocacy for gender equality, where the Panel underlined her success in the recruitment of women into technical roles, recognizing that this was a rare achievement in the industry, and for raising the visibility of women with marine engineering backgrounds in Europe.
• Commodore Christine Pauline Bergaño-Diciano, nominated by the Philippines, for her pioneering and transformative role in the Philippine Coast Guard, where, in parallel to her successful career, she championed opportunities for women. Panel members noted that her advocacy influenced change not only in the Philippines but also across Southeast Asia.
• Ms. Elisa D. Chomi, nominated by the Philippines, for her achievements as the country’s first female Chief Engineer and her role as a visible example to others in a male-dominated profession. The Panel stressed her leadership by example, showing other women that they could attain senior technical positions at sea.
• Rear Admiral Mitzie Silva-Campo, nominated by the Philippines, for breaking barriers within the Philippine Coast Guard and implementing gender-responsive policies that opened doors for women to achieve flag rank. Panel members emphasized her influence in promoting equal opportunities not just nationally, but also through international engagements.
• Ms. Christine Duffy, nominated by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), for her advocacy and success in raising the proportion of female staff across Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. The Panel highlighted the tangible results of her executive leadership, noting the significant percentage increases in female representation achieved under her tenure and her tireless work in developing mentorship and sponsorship schemes to support the career advancement of women.

IMO Gender Equality Award  

The IMO Gender Equality Award was established by IMO to recognize individuals, irrespective of their gender, who have made significant contributions to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women in the maritime sector.

Nominations for the 2026 Award were considered by an Assessment Panel comprising of IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez as Chair, along with representatives from IMO Member States who are Members of the IMOGENder Network; the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF); Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA International); Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA); and the Chair of the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR).

Nominations may be made by Member States and observer organizations, specialized agencies, programmes and funds of the United Nations system; intergovernmental organizations with which IMO has established cooperative agreements or arrangements; and non-governmental international organizations in consultative status with IMO.