Following the success of last year’s HR Initiative Awards, Spinnaker once again recognised the organisations and individuals driving positive change across maritime people and culture at the Maritime People & Culture Conference 2026.

This year’s awards celebrated excellence across Learning & Development, Employee Engagement and Health & Wellbeing, alongside a special recognition award honouring an outstanding contribution to the maritime sector.

The awards highlighted the growing importance of people-focused initiatives across the industry, with organisations continuing to invest in leadership, wellbeing, inclusion, mentorship and employee engagement both at sea and ashore.

The awards were presented during the conference dinner by industry leaders and award sponsors.

Learning & Development

The Learning & Development Award recognises initiatives that foster talent growth and professional development, including leadership training programmes, mentorship, coaching and career development opportunities.

This year’s award was sponsored by Mintra, a leading provider of digital learning, crew management and payroll systems for shipping companies worldwide. The award was presented by Mintra’s Director of Maritime Strategy and Business Development, Erle Kristin Wagle.

The winner of the Learning & Development Award was AET.

The judges were impressed by AET’s submission, which showcased three key initiatives: a First Level Leader Programme, Divisional Short-Term Assignments and a pilot job swap initiative.

In particular, the judges praised the short-term assignment programme, which gave employees the opportunity to put themselves forward for tasks and projects outside of their usual roles. Delivered across different locations and divisions, the initiative enabled employees to develop new skills through practical, real-life experiences.

Employee Engagement

The Employee Engagement Award recognises programmes that empower and connect employees through strong workplace culture, communication and engagement initiatives.

This year’s award was sponsored by Bazeport®, a media platform focused on optimising crew wellbeing, operational performance and costs. The award was presented by Crew Welfare Specialist & Business Development Manager, Rob Parkin.

The winner of the Employee Engagement Award was Wallem.

The judges were particularly impressed by Wallem’s Employee Engagement Champion Programme and the company’s clear commitment to listening to employee feedback and acting on it.

What stood out most to the judging panel was the measurable impact of the initiative, including a significant increase in employee retention.

Health & Wellbeing

The Health & Wellbeing Award honours initiatives that prioritise employees’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, both onboard and ashore.

The award was presented by ABS Chief Human Resources Officer, Chuck Kemper.

The winner of the Health & Wellbeing Award was Anglo Eastern Ship Management for their WeCare programme.

The judges praised the programme for its integrated approach to remote healthcare, mental health support, engagement and DE&I initiatives.

The WeCare programme demonstrated strong operational accessibility through features including 24/7 doctor support, onboard wellbeing apps and buddy systems designed to support crew welfare and morale across the fleet.

Overall Recognition Award

The final award of the evening was a special Overall Recognition Award for Services to Maritime.

This year’s recipient was Eva Rodriguez of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement.

Eva was recognised for her longstanding contribution to crew welfare and seafarer development across the maritime industry over the past two decades.

Her work has included supporting more than 2,500 cadets through BSM’s cadet programme and Smart Academy, while also helping achieve a 90% internal promotion rate within the organisation.

She has also played a key role in launching mentorship initiatives designed to support young seafarers during the early stages of their careers.

During the presentation, attendees were reminded of the passion and commitment Eva had demonstrated earlier in the conference during her session on mental health, diversity and the future of shipping.

The Maritime People & Culture Conference 2026 once again showcased the innovation, collaboration and dedication taking place across the industry to improve the experiences of maritime professionals around the world.