Panel Discussion "Women in Shipping"

Zoe Upson

FACT - Freight and Commodity Talent Ltd

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoeupson1/

Zoe Upson is a visionary entrepreneur and leader in the global shipping, commodities, and hedge fund talent sector. As Director of FACT - Freight and Commodity Talent Ltd, she has built a reputation for connecting businesses with top-tier, high-impact professionals—particularly those not actively seeking new roles—across oil, metals, agriculture, freight derivatives, shipping, LNG/LPG, and power markets. With over 15 years of industry experience, including a decade as a derivatives broker, desk head, and trusted partner to traders and C-suite executives, Zoe brings an unparalleled network and deep market understanding to every search1.

Recognized as #2 in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Shipping and named Entrepreneur of the Year by SheEO, Zoe is also celebrated as a Top 20under40 leader in global shipping by Seatrade Maritime Logistics Middle East. Her company, FACT, is a market leader in talent solutions for shipping, commodities, and hedge funds, with a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in supporting female and BAME hires1.

Zoe is the founder of WOMEN TOGETHER, a thriving global community empowering over 1,800 women in shipping, commodities, hedge funds, and trading. The platform fosters knowledge sharing, mutual support, career advancement, and mindful wellbeing, serving as a safe space for women to connect and grow together1. She is also a sought-after keynote speaker, panelist, and podcast host, inspiring audiences with her insights on female leadership, business, and breaking barriers.

Based in Dubai and expanding FACT’s reach into Singapore and the UK, Zoe is committed to driving change and raising the bar for talent and diversity in maritime and commodities industries. She holds a 2:1 in Philosophy from the University of Reading and is a passionate advocate for leadership, inclusion, and community building.

Gina Panayiotou

Oceans Arena

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginapanayiotou/

Gina Panayiotou LLB, LLM, CBA, MBA is a globally recognized impact leader, maritime influencer, and board member renowned for simplifying ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies and empowering women in the maritime sector. As CEO and Founder of Oceans Arena in London, she supports industry stakeholders with practical ESG solutions—spanning strategy formulation, implementation, compliance, communications, and brand alignment—while also championing personal branding for founders and CEOs1.

Gina is celebrated as a Top 100 Woman in Shipping, a Seatrade Maritime 20under40 honoree, and a leading voice in thought leadership and advocacy for the ocean and maritime communities. She is regularly featured as a speaker at major international forums, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and has been recognized in the Legal 500, GC Powerlist (Greece & Cyprus), and as a “Top Maritime Influencer” to follow. Gina has also been shortlisted for the Inspirational Influencer Awards in the Global Impact category and advises the IMO on innovation forums1.

With a background in maritime transactional law, policy, contract, commercial, corporate, and ship finance law—as well as business development, market penetration, and brand coaching—Gina has held numerous senior roles in both in-house and private practice. She is a passionate advocate for leadership, change management, and gender equality, and hosts the broadcast “It’s ALL about Shipping,” dedicated to highlighting the vital role of the maritime sector in the global economy1.

Gina holds an MBA with Shipping from CIM - Cyprus Business School and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School Online. She is actively involved in industry advancement as a UK Ambassador for the Seatrade Maritime Club, Guest Lecturer at NEXT MBA, and Associate Consultant for the World Ocean Council. Gina also serves as a volunteer for WISTA UK and is a member of the Cyprus Bar Association’s Navigation Committee1.

Her motto, inspired by the TV series Suits, is “Win a no-win situation by rewriting the rules.” Gina is committed to making the maritime industry a better place for women and young professionals, consistently paying it forward through mentorship and sharing her expertise in exclusive, invite-only sessions.

Federica Maiorano

OCEANIS Tech GmbH

https://www.linkedin.com/in/federicamaiorano/

Federica Maiorano is the Chief Executive Officer at OCEANIS Tech GmbH, a company at the forefront of technological innovation in ship financing and maritime investment solutions. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Inspirational Females of Ocean & Energy, she is a leading maritime commentator, focusing on digitalization, decarbonization, and commodities within the shipping industry.

With over a decade of experience in commercial shipping, Federica has held key leadership roles including Chief Commercial Officer and Vice President of Strategy at Spot Ship, where she contributed to rapid international growth across 16 countries and four market sectors. She has also served as a Tanker Broker at BRS Shipbrokers and as a Tanker Chartering Broker at Shipping 360 Ltd, building strong business relationships and expertise in global freight and commodity markets.

Federica is actively involved in industry advancement as a member of WISTA International’s Technology and Futures Committee, where she champions diversity and technology-driven change in maritime, trading, and logistics. She holds an MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance from Bayes Business School and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

A passionate advocate for sustainability and innovation, Federica regularly writes and speaks about the future of shipping, technology applications in shipbroking, and the evolving landscape of global trade. She is committed to redefining technological boundaries to empower informed, profitable, and sustainable investment decisions in the maritime sector1