Trygve Nøkleby, Managing Director of the Bergen Shipowners Association, has been named the 20th recipient of the WISTA Norway Leadership Award. Chosen by a vote of WISTA Norway members and announced at the Bergen International Shipping Conference on 10 June 2026, he was recognized for making diversity a strategic priority across the industry — strengthening recruitment pathways, mentoring, and broader participation in maritime careers.

WISTA Norway is proud to announce that Trygve Nøkleby, Managing Director of the Bergen Shipowners Association, has been named the recipient of the 20th annual WISTA Norway Leadership Award, presented at the Bergen International Shipping Conference on 10 June 2026. With the honour, Nøkleby becomes only the second man ever to receive the award.

The award was presented to Nøkleby by Siv Remøy-Vangen, herself the 2021 recipient, together with WISTA Norway President Jaquelyn Burton and Vice President Maren Lodden.

The recipient was chosen by a vote of WISTA Norway members at the organization’s Annual General Meeting, held on 18 March 2026 in Bergen and hosted by the Grieg Group. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, inspired others, and made a significant contribution to the maritime industry.

As Managing Director of the Bergen Shipowners Association, Trygve Nøkleby has demonstrated exceptional commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout the maritime industry. Under his leadership, diversity has become a strategic priority across the association’s activities, helping to create stronger recruitment pathways, mentoring opportunities, and platforms that encourage broader participation in maritime careers.

Beyond organizational initiatives, Nøkleby has led by example. As an early supporter of the WISTA #40by30 pledge and a long-standing mentor in the Maritime Meet-Up program, he has actively mobilized leaders across the industry to engage in the work of creating a more diverse maritime sector. His consistent advocacy, both publicly and behind the scenes, has helped turn ambition into meaningful and lasting change.

WISTA Norway congratulates all nominees, who have worked steadily to promote the values of WISTA and to attract, retain and elevate strong pathways for female leaders within the industry:

• Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Government of Norway

• Lena Dyring, Director – Cruise Operations, Norwegian Seafarers’ Union (NSF)

• Sara Søreng, Planned Maintenance Manager, Aurora Offshore

“The quality of this year’s nominees was exceptional. Each nominee has made a meaningful impact on our industry through their leadership, dedication, and commitment to creating positive change.”

— Jaquelyn Burton, President, WISTA Norway

The Leadership Award has taken many forms over the years — from a ship’s figurehead leading vessels over the waves, to prints of the Fearless Girl statue that meets every challenge with courage and certainty, and, more recently, sculptures of penguins; as natural emblem of shared responsibility and a fitting nod to equality both at home and in working life.

This year’s award is a print by the artist Björg Thorhallsdóttir titled “Trygg venn” (“safe friend”) — a lighthouse-and-boat motif celebrating the steady people who guide others safely through every storm and home to harbour, which we hope all leaders strive to be.

As WISTA Norway presents the 20th Leadership Award, the organization remains committed to recognizing leaders who inspire others and contribute to a stronger, more diverse and more sustainable maritime industry.

Past recipients 

Every recipient becomes an honorary lifetime member of WISTA Norway. Its past recipients, in the order they were honoured, are: Elisabeth Grieg, Ellen Forland, Gunvor Ulstein, Marita Scott, Borgny Eidesvik, Rikke Lind, Birgit Liodden, Irene Waage Basili, Linn Cecilie Moholt, Eli Vassenden, Birgitte Vartdal, Hege Økland, Helle Hammer, Agnes Árnadóttir, Siv Remøy Vangen, Synnøve Seglem, Lasse Kristoffersen, Ingelin Grimsæth, Yngvil Åsheim.