GUEST COLUMN:
Helen Thomas
Head of Property
Associated British Ports
Mention maritime careers and the image that often comes to mind is one of ships, crews and life at sea. It is an understandable picture, but it only shows part of how the sector works and where many long term careers are built.
Ports succeed on land as much as they do at sea. Often quietly, port land underpins the regional economy through leases, development, infrastructure and estate management decisions that shape how businesses grow.
Associated British Ports (ABP) is the UK’s largest port operator, but also one of the country’s largest commercial landowners. Across South Wales, including Swansea, Port Talbot, Barry, Cardiff and Newport, our ports operate as complex commercial estates. Land within port boundaries supports trade, logistics, manufacturing, energy projects and long-term investment, forming the foundations of regional growth.
Managing this land requires professional expertise that looks far closer to mainstream commercial property than to traditional maritime roles. This distinction matters when we talk about women in the sector.
Both property and maritime remain male dominated professions. Industry data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows women make up around 18% of chartered surveyors in the UK. Maritime figures tell a similar story. The recent joint survey by the International Maritime Organization and WISTA shows women account for under 20% of the maritime workforce globally, and around 1% of seafarers.
What often sits behind these figures is the reality of port work itself. Land based roles in ports tend to fall between two sectors. They are not always recognised as maritime, because they are not at sea, but they are also rarely visible within mainstream property conversations. As a result, the women building careers in port estates, surveying and development can be overlooked, despite doing work that is central to both industries.
As Head of Property at ABP, I see this first hand. The roles within port property mirror many parts of the wider commercial property profession, from leasing and estate management to development strategy and customer engagement. The difference lies in context. Port estates are operational, regulated and tied directly to national infrastructure, with land decisions influencing supply chains, jobs and regional resilience.
This mix creates strong opportunities for women.
Within my team, which manages the estate for 16 ports across the UK including Wales, 40% of roles are held by women. The environment is fast-moving and complex, and for many within the team, that variety is part of the appeal.
The clearest way to understand why port property works for many women is to hear from those doing the work.
Tracy Brooker, Lead Estates Manager, often speaks about the balance the role requires:
“Managing port land involves commercial performance alongside long term stewardship. Port estates are operational, industrial and regulated, which makes them different from many other property portfolios.”
That difference offers experience that is hard to replicate elsewhere.
Nina Wu, an Estates Manager, highlights the exposure port estates provide:
“You work alongside logistics firms, energy companies and manufacturers. This breadth helps develop strong commercial judgement and a practical understanding for how infrastructure supports growth.”
For others, the appeal lies in the direct link between property decisions and economic outcomes.
Katherine Hinds, also an Estates Manager, points to the satisfaction that comes from seeing land decisions translate into impact:
“Development decisions within ports support nationally important infrastructure, from clean energy to advanced manufacturing. You really see up-close how well-managed land enables investment, jobs and long-term resilience.”
Despite this, port property roles remain under the radar.
There is still a perception that maritime work happens offshore, and that property careers follow traditional paths through offices, retail or residential portfolios. That view hides a large and varied part of the profession, and it limits who sees themselves reflected within it.
Sarah Williams, another Estates Manager, often notes how many people are surprised to learn how much of port work is office and site based, strategic and professional:
“Ports rely on surveyors, planners and estates managers as much as engineers and mariners.”
This lack of visibility has implications. It affects who applies for roles, how careers are explained to students, and who sees a future for themselves in maritime.
For women at earlier career stages, access and development matter.
Charlotte Elbury, an Estates Surveyor, describes working in port property as a strong foundation for career development:
“Surveying roles in ports combine leasing, development and asset management in one setting. That breadth helps accelerate learning and build confidence.”
Rebecca Tilley, a Surveying Assistant, highlights accessible the sector can be with the right support:
“I did not come from a maritime background. What matters is curiosity and willingness to learn. Working in a port environment exposes you to so many aspects of property early on, which helps you find your direction.”
The experience of our team reflects a wider shift taking place. As ports expand their role in energy transition, logistics and regional regeneration, demand for property expertise continues to grow. The sector increasingly relies on professionals who understand land, infrastructure and long term investment.
International Day of Women in Maritime is a moment to broaden the conversation. Widening participation depends on showing the full picture of what a career in maritime looks like today. For many women, a career in ports is built on land, through professional property roles that shape how regions grow and how the Welsh economy performs over decades.
The future of maritime will not be delivered by ships and sea alone. It will be built through land, skills and leadership. I am proud that the women in my team are already playing a central part in that future.
