Shattering the glass ceiling: Lasse Kristoffersen wins the WISTA Norway Leadership Award 2023
In a world where the winds of change are blowing toward greater equality and representation, we are extremely proud to announce that our CEO, Lasse Kristoffersen, has received the prestigious WISTA Norway Leadership Award 2023! The event took place at WISTA Norway’s 35th Anniversary Celebration, during Nor-Shipping in Oslo, on June 6.
History in the making: Lasse becomes the first male to receive the award
An annual accolade that's been around for 17 years, the WISTA Norway Leadership Award is handed out to someone in the Norwegian maritime industry who embodies WISTA’s core values of being professional, dynamic, open-minded, and above all, committed to gender equality.
In addition to these values, the awardee must also have contributed to the industry's development in some way, whether that's enhancing competencies or inventing new solutions or products.
This year’s ceremony was unprecedented, as Lasse became the first male industry leader in history to receive the award.
Stine Mundal, President of WISTA Norway, praised Lasse for his unwavering commitment to promoting female talents and improving representation in our industry. She said: “Kristoffersen is a visible and inspiring leader. He has led by example, been vocal about the urgency, and been committed to securing female competency and representation in the Norwegian shipping industry.”
Kristoffersen’s leadership legacy
Lasse’s leadership history in the maritime industry has been impactful and influential.
Prior to taking the reins at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, he served as the President and CEO of Torvald Klaveness for 15 years, following an 11-year term at Det Norske Veritas (DNV). His contributions have also extended to the Norwegian Shipowners Association, where he held the presidency from 2018 to 2020, and the International Chamber of Shipping, where he served as Vice President from 2019 to 2023.
When presented with the award, Lasse admitted it was an unexpected honor and stressed that his efforts should be the norm rather than the exception. He said: “We have only just begun; this is a continuous work. WISTA is a key player to help us succeed. At the same time, gender is only one dimension of diversity, we have a long way to go on other dimensions of diversity.”
About WISTA
The Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) is an international organization for maritime professionals, with 3,500 members spread over more than 56 countries. WISTA Norway, part of this global community, has around 350 members all committed to promoting diversity for a sustainable future. They focus on networking, education, and mentoring to build members' skills and encourage career success. In addition, they work together with our maritime industry to ensure all stakeholders can embrace and benefit from diversity, a vital resource for our journey towards sustainability.
Our commitment
The WISTA Norway Leadership Award 2023 represents values that are so vital for the success of our industry as we move forward. Winning the award is a testament to Lasse's commitment to equality, diversity, and representation. We're incredibly proud of this recognition, and under Lasse's leadership, we will continue to strive for a more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable maritime industry.
