Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Australia is a non-profit organisation established in 2011 for women within the shipping and trade sectors to promote networking and educational opportunities for female participants in these industries for the betterment of the Australian and international trade. 　 Our aim is to provide an alternative networking, mentoring and educational opportunity to women within these sectors. We meet on a regular basis in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Perth and organise either a visit to a ship yard, vessel, port or trading relating facility. We also organise short seminars with ad-hoc speakers who provide guidelines or information on relevant topic for the industry. 　 There is very strong enthusiasm for Australia's participation in WISTA given the importance of our trade and commodities exports. This is not surprising given that Australia is one of the great maritime trading nations of the world, with about 12% of the world’s trade by volume being carried by sea either into or out of Australia, and, being "girt by sea", with major trading ports on every coast line of Australia.