WISTA Names Céline Mortier International President
Belgian maritime executive Céline Mortier was elected to lead WISTA International, succeeding Elpi Petraki after four years.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in People
WISTA International elected Céline Mortier, chief executive of Belgian maritime navigation services provider Bogerd Martin, as its president during the annual general meeting and conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 28 to 30. She succeeds Elpi Petraki, who led the association for four years.
Why it matters
The leadership change comes as WISTA, founded in 1974, expands its network, with four new national associations admitted at the same meeting. The shift places a Belgian industry executive at the head of a global body representing maritime women.
WISTA's network now comprises 64 national associations and more than 6,500 members worldwide. The Kuala Lumpur conference drew more than 250 maritime professionals, while the newly admitted associations are from the Bahamas, Egypt, Montenegro and the Philippines.
The players
Céline Mortier
Chief executive of Bogerd Martin and former president of WISTA Belgium, she now leads the global women's maritime association.
Elpi Petraki
Outgoing WISTA International president who first won election in October 2022 and led the organization for four years.
WISTA International
A global association founded in 1974 to advance women in the maritime industry, with 64 national associations.
The details
Mortier previously served as president of WISTA Belgium and was appointed during the association's annual general meeting. The conference was jointly hosted by WISTA Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, and Maryana Stober, Diruni Chanmugam, and Amsha Gengan joined the executive committee.
Timeline
October 28 to 30, 2026: Annual general meeting and conference held in Kuala Lumpur, where Mortier was elected.
October 27 to 29, 2027: Next WISTA International AGM and Conference takes place in Brazil.
2028: Istanbul is scheduled to host the following WISTA gathering.
Market Landscape
WISTA's expansion into the Bahamas, Egypt, Montenegro and the Philippines extends its reach beyond its traditional European and Asian base. The leadership handover from Petraki to Mortier follows the organization's established pattern of rotating presidents through national member associations.
For maritime professionals, the leadership change and new national associations open additional networking and membership pathways in regions such as Egypt and the Philippines. Members in existing chapters may see new programming tied to the incoming leadership's priorities.
The takeaway
Industry leadership is increasingly drawn from national member associations, and WISTA's latest election shows how regional experience can carry into global roles. Professionals interested in maritime careers can use such associations to build visibility across borders.
What happens next
The next WISTA International AGM and Conference will take place in Brazil from October 27 to 29, 2027, with Istanbul set to host the 2028 gathering.
Further reading
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