SPOTLIGHT ON: Women in Shipping & Maritime Logistics Award

SINCE its introduction in 2018 Women in Shipping & Maritime Logistics Awards has been one of the most highly contested awards.

2026 Sponsor

Last year was a perfect example of this with the award going to joint winners, with Ekaterina Khramova (general manager at shipping lines CMA CGM & ANL) and Kelly Crossley (owner/director at Transitainer WA) sharing the honours.

According to the judges, Ms Khramova had exemplified leadership in the maritime sector.

During her time with CMA CGM and ANL, she had delivered transformational outcomes in capacity building, diversity and sharing the benefits of shipping with dependent local communities.

Ms Khramova said receiving the award was “deeply meaningful to me because it recognised not only my professional journey, but also the resilience, dedication and contributions of the teams and communities that have been part of it”.

“The Women in Shipping Award matters because visibility creates possibility. When people see women succeeding and leading in the industry, it opens the door for others to imagine themselves in those roles,” Ms Khramova said.

“It also demonstrates that inclusive, people-focused leadership is not only about representation - it brings diverse perspectives to decision-making and helps build a more resilient and sustainable future for the maritime industry.

“I hope it encourages more women and men to pursue opportunities across the industry and contribute to meaningful and lasting change.”

The judges were impressed by how consistently Kelly Crossley, meanwhile, had gone above and beyond the expectations of her role, building not only a successful freight forwarding business, but also creating a workplace culture defined by care and accountability.

Ms Crossley said Winning the Women in Shipping Award was “a wonderful honour, but what it really gave me was an opportunity to stop and reflect on how far Transitainer WA and I have come”.

“Logistics is a fast-paced industry, and, like many people, I've spent years focused on the next challenge, the next shipment and the next customer need, without taking much time to look back,” Ms Crossley said.

“The award gave me a rare chance to pause and appreciate the journey, the people who've supported me along the way, and what we've built together.

“It was even more special because my son accompanied me that night, giving us the chance to share the moment together.

“These awards matter because they shine a light on what's possible. When women see others leading businesses, holding senior roles, running businesses and balancing family life, it helps make those aspirations feel achievable.

“If sharing my journey encourages even one woman to back herself and pursue a leadership opportunity, then I'm incredibly proud of that.

“While receiving the award was a personal honour, the greatest reward has been the opportunity to share our story and recognise the incredible people who contribute to our industry every day.”

For the fourth year in a row, the award is proudly supported and sponsored by Onestop, a provider of software solutions for the global freight and logistics community.

"At OneStop, we believe diversity drives creativity and innovation.

“In industries like tech and supply chain, previously dominated by men, we're proud to sponsor an award that celebrates the women making a genuine impact across every corner of our industry. Those achievements are worth recognising and celebrating loudly.”

Nominations are now open across all award categories. Winners are to be announced at the 2026 DCN Australian Shipping & Maritime Industry Awards night at the Star Brisbane on Thursday 26 November. For more information, visit the DCN Awards site.