The maritime industry is set to gain a sharper picture of how inclusive its workplaces really are in 2025, as new data from the DEI Annual Review gets unveiled at the 4th Annual DEI in Maritime Conference in London, taking place from 18 – 19 November 2025.
The results, covering both shore-based and seafaring employees, will highlight where progress is being made and where urgent gaps remain. With recruitment and retention at the top of the industry agenda, organisers say the data could shape how shipping attracts and develops the next generation of talent.
The two-day event, hosted by the Diversity Study Group (DSG), takes the debate beyond the maritime echo chamber by bringing in expert speakers from the very different worlds of finance, law, and professional sport, to share lessons on building inclusive, safe, high-performance cultures and expose where maritime may be falling behind others.
With the theme of Horizon Scanning: Where is Maritime DEI Headed?, the event acknowledges that, following another turbulent year, it is more crucial than ever that the sector takes the time to truly understand global DEI trends, as well as what the data is saying for those ashore and at sea.
Heidi Heseltine, Founder & CEO, DSG, said: “Maritime is suffering a global skills shortage, and it is only through leveraging accurate DEI data and learning from other sectors that we can accelerate our people and culture programmes.
“Maritime doesn’t operate in isolation, although sometimes it can feel that way. We’re competing for talent against sectors that have invested heavily in inclusion and culture but what maritime needs to understand most is where it sits in the international market of talent and culture right now and how to drive progress.”
The conference will be a highly interactive, informative and practical event for senior leaders responsible for the DEI strategy and those responsible for the operational delivery of DEI programmes.
Speakers include:
Jack Guest, former Global Director of Group Inclusion, HSBC.
Kathleen Russ, ex-Managing Partner and Chair of the D&I Board at a global law firm, now Chair of England Hockey.
Shruti Saujani, EDI Senior Lead, The Football Association.
Heseltine added: “By interrogating the latest DEI data and learning from industries like law, finance and professional sport, we can pinpoint what works and accelerate change that benefits both people and business”.
“Latest news reports on the impending drain in talent suggest maritime simply can’t wait any longer to know how it compares with other sectors, but hopefully with the very latest data, analysis, and expert insights, we will get the answers we need.”
Highlights of the conference include:
Official publication of ‘DEI in Maritime Annual Review 2025’, DSG’s sixth annual review based on membership survey data
Goldfish bowl debate with DEI leaders from outside maritime
Deep dives into the 2025 DEI data from shore and sea
Trend forecasting: how to adapt to emerging inclusion challenges
Case studies of initiatives delivering measurable impact
The first day of the London event (18 November) is open to all attendees and concludes with a networking reception. A second, members-only session (19 November) will focus on practical case studies and responses to DEI trends at sea and ashore.
Source: Diversity Study Group (DSG)
