H.E. Eng. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport, Affairs, The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure won the “Shiptek Award for Maritime Competitiveness & Leadership” at the Shiptek International Maritime Awards 2021. The award ceremony was held on June 7, 2021, at the Al Wasl Ballroom, Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai.
The Shiptek International Maritime Awards has been positioned as one of the most prestigious awards and leading events in the maritime, offshore and oil and gas sector. The 14th edition of the award honoured the work of key players in the industry who reinforced the growth of the industry through their numerous endeavour, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting disruption in the market.
Leading the way forward
H.E. Eng. Hessa Al Malek won this accolade owing to her outstanding work in the UAE’s maritime sector that has witnessed ample growth over the years. Eng. Al Malek is a well-known name not only in the maritime sector in the UAE and but also in the Middle East. Through her accomplishments in the field and beyond, she has been an inspiration to men and women, irrespective of their age or the industry they work in.
H.E. Eng. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport, Affairs, The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said, “It is truly an honour to be receiving this award at ShipTek 2021. The event has, over the years, uplifted the maritime industry through their efforts and being recognized by them is heartwarming as my vision for the industry aligns with their goals. Such accolades will further encourage me to carry on the mission of enhancing the maritime sector in the UAE and making it accessible to all, irrespective of gender. My ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of the country and encouraging the future generation of maritime professionals.”
Supporting social causes
While ensuring the economic prosperity of the sector and the country, Eng. Al Malek has been at the forefront of numerous social causes. When it comes to women’s empowerment, in her position as the President of AWIMA, she has constantly stressed the importance of co-existence between male and female colleagues in the industry. Apart from this, as the Founder of Salva, a UAE-based perfume label, she joined hands with Marasi News, one of the first specialised maritime magazines and portals in the UAE, to support the welfare of seafarers with a fragrance named “Hope” dedicated to their ceaseless efforts.
Boasting an experience of over 20 years, her area of expertise includes maritime strategy, policy, and governance in the maritime sector, maritime legislation, maritime education and training, port development infrastructure, as well as certifications in several maritime training courses related to strategy, policymaking, management, human resources and more.
