Sylvia Boer is Director of Amsterdam IJmuiden Offshore Ports (AYOP) and she is President of WISTA The Netherlands. Sylvia has spent her whole life close to the maritime industry. She feels it is important to share her enthusiasm for the industry by emphasising its richness and vitality. This, she feels, is best achieved via the promotion of diversity in the industry. Sylvia is passionate about empowering women in the industry and is a regular speaker on the subject, regionally and internationally. She feels it’s time to make gender equality a reality! Sylvia holds a Master Degree in Business Administration from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Her maritime career started in 2007 at Holland Marine Equipment (HME) where she worked as an Export Manager. After which she became a Policy Advisor Export & Finance at Holland Shipbuilding Association (‘Netherlands Maritime Technology’ nowadays). In 2012 Sylvia started as a Marketing Manager within Damen Shipyards and from September 2016 until the end of January 2020 she was their Head of Communications. Last February Sylvia started as Director AYOP, an association of companies, local authorities and knowledge institutions in the North Sea Canal region that delivers future proof solutions for the offshore energy industry. Sylvia is also President of WISTA the Netherlands. Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) is a dynamic and international networking organisation of women at management level positions in the maritime industry. WISTA unites over 4,000 members in 50 countries. WISTA the Netherlands counts more than 180 strong and ambitious women.