We had a great time hosting our Senior HR Leaders Roundtable Lunch at the elegant Jade restaurant, Fullerton Hotel Singapore, bringing together senior HR professionals from across the maritime industry for a thought-provoking discussion on some of the most pressing people challenges facing the sector today.
Chaired by Rachel Farndell, Director of Talent and Lorenzo Agatiello, Director-Asia Pacific at Faststream Recruitment, the session opened with reflections on the current state of maritime HR and recruitment, before moving into a wide-ranging and candid conversation among participants.
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Key topics discussed at the Maritime HR Leaders Roundtable
Succession Planning & Leadership Development:
A central theme of the discussion was the continued challenge of building effective succession plans. Many attendees shared their experiences and concerns around leadership pipelines, prompting a deeper exchange on the importance of leadership development and the use of HR tools such as PPA, DISC, and other psychometric assessments, not only in recruitment but in shaping and strengthening existing teams.
Employee Engagement & Communication:
We explored the role of employee engagement surveys and the importance of consistent, multi-channel communication in building connected and motivated teams.
Attracting Talent from Other Industries:
There was a shared recognition that now presents a strong opportunity to bring new talent into maritime from adjacent sectors. However, attendees also acknowledged existing barriers to entry, from perceptions of the industry to onboarding complexity.
Singapore as a Maritime Hub:
Singapore’s status as the world’s leading maritime hub was reaffirmed, yet there were questions about whether enough was being done to attract and retain international talent. The group discussed the impact of the COMPASS scheme, efforts to diversify nationalities within teams, and the wider impact of rising living costs and schooling challenges on relocation decisions.
The Role of AI in HR:
A particularly engaging part of the session focused on the growing role of AI across maritime businesses. Attendees discussed its impact on HR functions, the rapid pace of development, the potential to create new roles, and the increasing urgency of upskilling teams to meet changing business needs.
This roundtable was a fantastic opportunity to connect senior leaders, exchange ideas, and reflect on the future of HR in the maritime sector. We would like to thank all attendees for their openness, insights, and contributions.
If you would like to discuss any of these topics or you have any recruitment needs, please get in touch.
