Power Up! About This Year's Women in Breakbulk Programme
Women in Breakbulk at Breakbulk Europe 2026 brings energy to the industry by focusing on how women fuel progress, projects and teams across project cargo and breakbulk. The programme includes a dedicated breakfast and a Women in Breakbulk lounge on the show floor, creating spaces to connect, exchange ideas and recharge during the event. All activities are open to visitors, shippers and exhibitors.
This programme is by women, for women, shaped by those who understand both the opportunities and the realities of working across global projects and heavy industry. Many participants know what it's like to be the only woman in the room, whether that room is a ship, a jobsite or a boardroom. From early-career professionals to senior leaders, Women in Breakbulk brings together a global community with shared experience.
Connection comes first. Women in Breakbulk is built around conversation and mutual support. By taking part in the 2026 programme, you'll join a network of women who share insight, encouragement, practical perspectives and an enthusiasm for making new connections that will last long beyond this year's event.
Schedule of Events
Networking Power Breakfast
When: Tuesday, 16 June from 9:00 – 11:00
Where: Rotterdam Ahoy, Third Floor, Port 1
Join us for an energizing morning of information, inspiration and powerful new connections. Includes breakfast with coffee and tea bar, keynote, industry panel and organised networking activities. Tickets include access to the Women in Breakbulk Lounge on the show floor throughout Breakbulk Europe.
Secure your ticket when you register for Breakbulk Europe. Maximum number of guests: 150
Sponsor a table for employees and clients! You can reserve a full table for 10 for €750. Reserved tables will include company logo on the table sign. Contact Leslie Meredith for availability at [email protected]
Women in Breakbulk Lounge
The Women in Breakbulk Lounge is the meeting point for all women at Breakbulk Europe. Schedule meetings, drop in for impromptu networking, participate in a workshop, or take a few minutes to relax during the show.Open during exhibition hours.
(Free to enter, workshops and panels are also free) View agenda
Our 2026 speakers
Yasmina Rauber
Certified coach & trainer, ICI Geneva IIN New York & Transformational Coach LMI
YAS Coaching
Power Breakfast Agenda
Tuesday, 16 June 2026 | 9:00 – 11:00
Rotterdam Ahoy, Third Floor, Port 1
Check-in and breakfast buffet
Start Breakbulk Europe, the world’s largest event for the project cargo industry, with a burst of energy. Connect with women from across the global breakbulk community, reconnect with colleagues and make new introductions before the exhibition doors open.
Welcome
Speaker
Keynote: Sustaining High Performance Under Pressure: The Science of Personal Energy
What happens in your brain and body when you lose focus, feel exhausted, or hit “brain fog” during high-stakes work? Unlike cargo ships running on bunker fuel, humans run on something far more complex, but more trainable. Join Vivien Puppa Kocsis, award-winning Harvard-educated scientist and Guinness World Record endurance athlete, for a science-backed look at how high-performing women sustain energy under pressure. Featuring a live brainwave demo, this session explores the physiological factors and practical advice that help women maintain energy in demanding environments.
Speaker
Industry Panel: Building Energy: From Projects to Personal
We’ve gathered women working in energy projects from across the supply chain to provide updates and outlooks for transitional and green energy, representing an enormous pipeline of work in engineering, transportation, infrastructure and logistics. The conversation will then turn to other forms of energy, both personal and for teams, to help you sustain yourself and your colleagues through your most challenging project work.
Speakers
Moderator
Interactive Session: Live Wire!
This fast-paced role-playing card game is a great way to learn more about women in the industry and make strong connections. You will pair up for rapid-fire rounds, switching partners frequently to practice identifying burnout, refueling personal energy, supporting team members and keeping momentum moving up the management chain. You'll come away with new ideas and new friends.
Speaker
Energy That Sustains You
Presented by Women in Breakbulk's Official Wellness Partner
True performance isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about managing energy in a way that supports both output and well-being. Designed for women in the breakbulk and logistics industry, this session acknowledges the realities of high-pressure environments while offering practical, restorative tools to help participants feel more energized, focused, and grounded throughout their day.
Speaker
Wrap-up
Closing remarks and invitation to continue the conversation in the Women in Breakbulk Lounge, Stand 2R70, located in the entrance hall.
Women in Breakbulk Lounge Agenda
Career Talk: Women at Sea | Charting Your Course
Learn what it's like to choose a career at sea from an experienced industry leader. She will present the pros and cons to give women a realistic assessment and help decide if this is the career for them.
Speaker
Next Generation Project Cargo: Mentorship and Future Readiness
Aligned with The Heavy Lift Group’s recently launched THLG Next Gen initiative, this interactive workshop explores how the industry can become more accessible and engaging for young talent while strengthening knowledge transfer and long-term career development.
Designed as an informal, conversation-driven session, the workshop will focus on practical skills development, mentorship, cross-generational collaboration and the growing impact of AI and digitalization across project logistics. Participants will have the chance to ask questions, exchange ideas and gain practical insight from senior professionals working across the global THLG network.
THLG is a global alliance of 72 specialized transport and logistics companies across 57 countries, with expertise spanning industrial project forwarding, crane operations, oversized transport, vessel chartering and engineering.
Bunkering 2.0
The maritime energy transition comes at a time where digitalisation, increasing demand for transparency and a complex maze of regulations are having a huge impact on the bunkering industry. How will all of those changes impact the bunkering industry as we know it and how does the bunkering industry 2.0 look like? How can stakeholders work together to make the transition as smooth as possible to futureproof our industry?
Who is this workshop for? Everyone who has a stake in fuel buying, fuel selling or who just wants to know better how the maritime energy transition will change the bunkering industry and what role you can play in this.
Speaker
Workshop: The Power of NO
Non-promotable work keeps organizations running but too often, it keeps women stuck. From note-taking to behind-the-scenes coordination, these low-visibility tasks quietly drain time, energy, and advancement opportunities.
This session invites a powerful shift. You’ll learn to recognize what truly moves your career forward, set clear boundaries without guilt, and step into more strategic, visible contributions. We’ll also explore how leaders can create more equitable team dynamics, where responsibility is shared, and talent is fully seen.
You’ll leave with practical language, mindset shifts, and a renewed sense of ownership over your time, your value, and your next level.
Speaker
Yasmina Rauber
Certified coach & trainer, ICI Geneva IIN New York & Transformational Coach LMI
YAS Coaching
Ubuntu in Business - Leadership, Collaboration & African Values in Global Trade
This session explores Ubuntu the African philosophy of “I am because we are,” as a framework for leadership, collaboration and sustainable growth in maritime and global trade. The participants will examine how trust-based partnerships, inclusive leadership and African values can strengthen commercial ecosystems, support decarbonisation and build resilient supply chains.
Speakers
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Call the Lawyer! (Or Not?): How to Navigate Your Way Around Maritime Casualties, Marine Insurance and Contractual Issues
Many people are hesitant to call a lawyer when issues arise; lawyers are expensive, only make things more complicated and should only be involved when there is no other option. In this workshop I will explain more about my work and when it can actually save you money to call a lawyer.
Speaker
Inclusive Leadership: Which Diversity Are We Really Pursuing?
Diversity is often treated as a goal, but what kind of diversity actually strengthens teams? In this interactive and thought-provoking workshop, participants will experience how inclusion, leadership and team dynamics influence collaboration, trust and performance. Through practical exercises and honest reflection, we explore the difference between having diversity in a team and truly benefiting from it. Expect interaction, discomfort, insight and concrete takeaways.
Who this workshop is for: Leaders, HR professionals, team managers and anyone responsible for team culture, collaboration and people development.
Speaker
Built to Be Seen: Building a Personal Brand That Lets You Show Up Anywhere
In this session, Ship Happens creator Jenn Morris shares the framework she’s used to build a recognized personal brand in the industry, how to define what you stand for, identify your natural strengths, and start showing up with confidence on your own terms.
Every attendee leaves with the Built to Be Seen workbook to work through at their own pace, plus concrete first steps to take, whether that's a LinkedIn post, a speaking pitch, or hitting record.
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Our 2026 ambassadors
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Join the Women in Breakbulk Networking Group
Become a member of the Women in Breakbulk networking group to stay in contact with other members all year round. Fill out the form and be sure to include your photo and advice to other women. All members receive free entry to the Women in Breakbulk Lounge at Breakbulk Europe and early access to tickets once registration opens.
Association Partners
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2025 Highlights
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