At the heart of Jakarta’s bustling convention center, amid the echo of footsteps and the low hum of conversation, a quiet tide was turning. Indonesia Maritime Week 2025 was underway, and for the first time in its history, the spotlight shifted firmly onto a different kind of voyage, the journey of women navigating the male-dominated world of maritime.
Taking center stage at the Women’s Forum, Shanti Puruhita, President Director of PT Jasa Armada Indonesia Tbk (IPCM), delivered a message as clear and steady as a lighthouse beam: “Inclusive workplace culture is not just an ideal, it’s a necessity for the maritime industry’s transformation.”
Her words didn’t just resonate; they reverberated.
Themed “An Ocean of Opportunities for Women: Women’s Participation in the Male-Dominated Maritime Industry”, with a powerful sub-theme “Navigating New Horizons, Breaking the Limits”, the forum created a platform where stories met strategy, and passion met policy.
Photo: Shanti Puruhita and Chairwoman of WIMA INA Dr. Chandra Motik Yusuf
The session began with warm welcomes from Diah Kurniawati, Chairperson of PERTIWI Sub Holding Integrated Marine Logistics, and Dr. Chandra Motik Yusuf of Women in Maritime Indonesia (WIMA INA). Their voices, rich with experience, laid the foundation for what would become a day of reflection and resolve.
As international and national leaders, including Lollan Andy Sutomo Panjaitan of the Ministry of Transportation and Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, added their perspectives, the tone shifted—this wasn’t just a local conversation. It was a global call to action.
And when it came time to talk about changing the culture from within, Shanti joined a powerhouse panel of fellow changemakers: Cut Noosy of Maersk Indonesia and Dewi Oktavia Husein of PT Pertamina International Shipping. Together, they unpacked the hard truths and hopeful futures of women working at sea and in port.
For Shanti, the journey toward equity isn’t abstract, it’s personal and professional.
“At IPCM,” she shared, “we’re committed to building a safe, fair, and empowering environment for everyone, especially women serving in both operational and leadership roles.”
Photo: Shanti Puruhita among the key speakers and participants
But she didn’t stop at sentiment. Shanti outlined concrete changes, policies that protect women, support work-life balance, foster leadership, and recognize the unique challenges faced by female professionals in maritime. Her message was clear: gender inclusion must not be a corporate side note, but a strategic priority.
Through its active participation, IPCM showcased more than just alignment with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, it demonstrated a lived commitment to them. As the maritime industry faces complex global challenges, the company’s embrace of diversity is proving to be one of its strongest navigational tools.
As the day drew to a close, the tide of conversation had shifted. No longer about why women should be at the helm, the question had become how soon and how far they could go.
Shanti Puruhita and leaders like her aren’t simply participating in the changing tides, they’re steering the ship.