Women's roles in our industry are undisputed - MarineBusinessWorld Oceania newsletter
by Peter Rendle 24 Apr 22:00 BST
Women in the boating sector © Boating Industry Association
The AMSA invited BIA recently to record a video Q&A to highlight the work of industry to promote women in the boating sector to all Regional Safety Committees around Australia.
AMSA's Maddie Reid interviewed BIA's Government and Public Relations lead Neil Patchett who highlighted the diverse and inclusive workplaces benefit from improved retention, innovation, and overall performance, with a broader talent pool and stronger collaboration. This session focused on gender equity and increasing women's participation in the industry and highlighted the importance of starting education on maritime careers in schools and in the broader community, ensuring young people see maritime careers as an accessible and rewarding career path.
Carbon Yachts has announced its exclusive appointment as the distributor for Shogun Yachts across Australia and New Zealand. Built in Sweden, Shogun represents a bold and highly refined take on performance sailing—combining Scandinavian craftsmanship, carbon construction, and a sharp design focus on ease, control, and enjoyment.
In Queensland, the Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard celebrates 25 years of trail-blazing excellence in Australia. The iconic shipyard that redefined Australia's marine industry by boldly transforming Gold Coast farming paddocks into an internationally renowned 'one-stop-shop' for vessel refit and repair has notched up 25 years. Since opening in 2000 as the first major marina development within the Gold Coast's famous Coomera marine precinct, GCCM has been instrumental in changing the face of how boaties managed vessel maintenance and bolstering the Gold Coast's status as the marine capital of Australia.
Also in the sunshine state, a foundation exhibitor since the inaugural Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in 1989, the Leigh-Smith family, is acknowledged among Australia's pioneers in boat sales and marina development. The Leigh-Smith family has sold boats for 60 years. Led by patriarch the late Reg Leigh-Smith, they developed and built Runaway Bay Marina, which opened in 1979. In 1988, they sold the marina and set up shop at Sanctuary Cove as Leigh-Smith Cruiser Sales. Over the decades, they also built and co-owned Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, which opened in 2000, and operated the facility until 2014, when they returned to Sanctuary Cove to represent Alaska, Hampton, Endurance, Vicem, and AvA motor yachts.
From SE Asia and following a successful 2025 show, which saw thousands of visitors from more than 20 countries enjoy an expanded show format at a new venue, organisers of the Thailand International Boat Show, a Luxury Lifestyle Event, have confirmed that the fourth edition will return to Phuket Yacht Haven Marina and will take place 15-18 January 2026, preceded by the Thailand Yachting Conference on 14 January.
New appointments include the GB Marine Group, designer and builder of the iconic Grand Banks and Palm Beach Motor Yachts brands, who have announced the appointment of Lynn Fischer as Chief Marketing Officer. On the heels of successful new product introductions, a recent 114,000 square-foot factory expansion, and ongoing strategic investments in brand presence and owner services, CEO Mark Richards recognized the importance for a veteran U.S.-based brand strategist.
Peter Rendle - peter.rendle@worldmarine.media