CJC Director Jacqueline Zalapa was honoured to have received the Global Maritime Legal Leadership Award at the Maritime SheEO Conference during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, where she also moderated and participated in diversity-focused panel discussions. 

The award, which recognises international lawyers who lead structural, legal and cultural changes to support diversity in shipping, was presented to Jacqueline by the International Maritime Organization’s Dr Jose Matheickal at the Maritime SheEO Conference on 29 October. This conference brought together over 50 speakers and more than 500 attendees and is the industry’s largest event focusing on diversity and inclusion in the maritime sector.

This year’s agenda included a discussion on “Boardroom Diversity: Where Are We Now?”, in which Jacqueline was one of five panellists.  Whilst it was agreed that boards with diverse mindsets mitigate risk, the panel also agreed that we have only seen incremental change, rather than true progress, at board level. In order to increase transparency, the panel considered compulsory public reporting upon pay gaps as well as promotion and retention rates.

At Anchorcon25, held during India Maritime Week 2025 and hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India at NESCO, Jacqueline moderated a panel session on “Ship Recycling, Shipbuilding and Repair: Evolving Legal Frameworks”. The discussion covered the escalation of contractual risks in shipbuilding, the recent entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention and the challenges facing India’s Alang Ship Breaking Yard. The Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, addressed global maritime leaders and stakeholders. With an extensive conference programme, the event welcomed over 350 international speakers and 400 exhibitors.