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
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.
Kitada will receive the award in May 2026, alongside celebrations for the International Day for Women in Maritime (May 18).
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.
Kitada is a former seafarer and was awarded a PhD in Social Science from Cardiff University, United Kingdom.
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