The Panama Canal Authority has appointed the first-ever woman member of its advisory board with the addition of a Cargill executive.
Eman Abdalla, global operations director at the US agricultural giant’s Cargill Ocean Transportation division, was added alongside South Korean academic Han-Kyu Lim, authority spokeswoman Makena Dingwell confirmed.
The advisory board is made up of a mix of Panamanian and international experts who provide guidance and recommendations to the canal authority’s board of directors.
Abdalla, who is based in Geneva, is an experienced shipping professional who oversees Cargill’s fleet of 700 vessels and is responsible for the sustainability agenda of the ocean transportation unit.
“I am honoured to be the first female member of the Panama Canal advisory board,” she told TradeWinds.
“I look forward to working together to support the canal’s mission and aspirations of maintaining its position as a vital global trade route.”
Lim is a professor at Woosong University’s Woosong Convergence Technology Research Center.
He has also served as executive vice president at the Korea Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corp, which supports the financing and development of infrastructure projects. He held similar roles at SK Engineering & Construction and SK Chemicals.
The Panama Canal’s advisory board was set up in 1999 to provide regular updates on maritime affairs and other topics.
It is made up of established experts and leaders who are experienced in international business, transportation, world trade, civil construction and development.
The advisory board is led by president William Flanagan, a retired US Navy admiral.
