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Women Leading Maritime: In Conversation with Bernice Yeoh

In conjunction with the month of International Women’s Day 2025, we celebrate the achievements of female maritime professionals who have dedicated their careers to this essential industry that drives world trade and the global supply chain.

To mark the month of IWD 2025, the Singapore Maritime Foundation has produced a special four-part blogpost series, Women Leading Maritime, to feature exceptional female maritime leaders and their contributions toward driving women empowerment in the industry. Earlier this week, we had the following leaders share their perspectives and lessons in leadership:

  • Lim Ying Ying, APAC Lead, Cargill Ocean Transportation and Country President, Cargill Group of Companies in Singapore
  • Laure Baratgin, Head of Commercial Operations, Rio Tinto
  • Angeline Teo, Head of Global Transportation, OCBC Bank and Board Member, Singapore Maritime Foundation

 

We conclude the series by speaking with Bernice Yeoh, Executive Director at the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration.

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Bernice Yeoh, Executive Director, Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration

Personal Career Journey

Can you share how your career led you to the maritime industry? Was it a sector you always wanted to get into, or one that you entered by serendipity?

My maritime journey started in 2005 after a one-year hiatus from work to take care of my firstborn son. I was looking to rejoin the workforce then and Ms Tan Beng Tee, dubbed by Tradewinds as “Singapore’s First Lady in Shipping”, asked if I wanted to join her at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s International Maritime Centre Division (IMC Division). I joined the IMC Division and went on to stay in the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for the next 16 years prior to taking on this role as Executive Director at the Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration.

What about maritime continues to fascinate you to this day?

The diversity of the maritime industry continues to fascinate me! When I was involved in industry development and promotion in the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, I had the opportunity to interact with and learn from the industry players from different sub-sectors – ship-operating, shipping finance, marine insurance, maritime law, ship management, and the list goes on… It was so fun! In the maritime world, there is never a boring day!

Reflections on Leadership and Inclusivity

Many perceive maritime as being traditionally male dominated, especially at the top. Have you found this to be true and has this changed over the years that you have been in the industry?

The maritime industry, which has traditionally been male-dominated, is slowly but surely changing. If one looks around, there are many female leaders in the maritime sector today, not only in Singapore but also globally. Just look at the fellow female leaders in this feature.

The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), including its Singapore Branch, has done an excellent job in bringing together women who may face similar challenges and in serving as a platform for women to share knowledge and experiences. Kudos to WISTA and many other organisations and individuals (both men and women) who have continuously promoted the importance of the role of women in a traditionally male-dominated industry!

What can leaders do in practical ways to foster a culture that is more inclusive and that values the contributions of employees regardless of their personal background/identity? In this regard, is there anything that female leaders in particular can do to promote this process?

Leaders must demonstrate respect for diversity in their employees regardless of their personal background/identity. The reality is that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Leaders need to leverage the strengths of the individuals that make up the team in working towards achieving an organisation’s goals.  

It has been scientifically reported that the amount of blood flow to both sides of the human brain regulates cortical activity. In females, as more blood flows to the right side of the brain thereby increasing cortical activity, women have been said to be more “right-brained”. Being right-brained is associated to being more emotional, intuitive and creative. I certainly hope that the more emotional, intuitive and creative female leader will be able to recognise the importance of cultivating respect for diversity and help promote an inclusive culture that embraces the contributions of diverse members!

Over the years, how have you picked up your lessons in leadership? And what have been some enduring leadership principles that have withstood the test of time?

I have gone through several courses on leadership styles. Whilst leadership styles can be adapted, I feel that one needs to stay true to oneself and adopt a style which defines oneself. My style is a more relationship-oriented one where I much prefer to build emotional bonds (I’m more right-brained!) and create team spirit, camaraderie and a more positive culture in the workplace. For me, I feel that this is a leadership style which has withstood the test of time. Who doesn’t want to work in a positive environment where team members feel that they belong, can freely share ideas and work closely together towards common goals, right! 

If you could speak directly to younger women considering a career in maritime, or are today in the industry trying to work their way up, what would you tell them?

Ladies, build and acquire knowledge. To work your way up, you have to know your stuff! Continue to go for training and hone your skills. Engage the many fellow women in the industry and your mentors (both men and women) for support, if you need guidance. Do not be afraid to ask for help. You are not alone!

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Mr. Lars Kastrup

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LINES

Mr. Lars Kastrup is the Chief Executive Officer of Pacific International Lines (Pte) Ltd (PIL).

Prior to joining PIL, Mr. Kastrup was CEO of NOL/APL, and subsequently assumed the role of Executive Vice President, Strategy and M&A at CMA CGM Group. A veteran in the global shipping industry with over 30 years of experience, Mr Kastrup’s other roles include Executive Vice President of Assets at CMA CGM Group heading up CMA Terminals, CMA Ships, Container Logistics as well as regional carriers such as MacAndrews, OPDR and Mercosul; as well as Vice President at AP Moller-Maersk.
Mr. Kastrup complemented his tertiary education with leadership and management training at Penn State University and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Angeline Teo

MANAGING DIRECTOR & HEAD, GLOBAL TRANSPORTATION & OFFSHORE, OCBC BANK

Ms. Angeline Teo is the Managing Director and Head of Global Transportation and Offshore, Global Corporate Banking at OCBC Bank which focuses on the maritime, aviation, land & port ecosystems.
Ms. Teo has spent over three decades in maritime finance. Prior to OCBC, Ms. Teo was working at ING Bank, ABN Amro and DnB in Singapore focusing on maritime and offshore.
Ms. Teo graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Business Administration.

Mr. John Martin

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, GARD SINGAPORE

Mr. John Martin began his career in London in 1989 with Richards Hogg Lindley Average Adjusters, and qualified as a Fellow of the UK Association of Average Adjusters in 2000.
At RHL he worked in their offices in Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In 2003 he joined Gard Hong Kong, as a claims handler. Mr. Martin also worked in Gard Japan, and in 2014 he moved to Singapore to set up the Gard Singapore office.
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Mr. Cyril Ducau

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EASTERN PACIFIC SHIPPING

Mr. Cyril Ducau is the Chief Executive Officer of Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte Ltd, a leading shipping company headquartered in Singapore for the past 30 years.

He is also currently the Chairman of Kenon Holdings Ltd and a member of the board of directors of Gard P&I (Bermuda) Ltd. and of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation Limited, which was established by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. He was previously Head of Business Development of Quantum Pacific Advisory Limited in London from 2008 to 2012 and acted as Director and Chairman of Pacific Drilling SA between 2011 and 2018.
Prior to joining Quantum Pacific Advisory Limited, Mr. Ducau was Vice President in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley & Co. International Ltd. in London between 2000 and 2008.
Mr. Ducau graduated from ESCP Europe Business School (Paris, Oxford, Berlin) and holds a Master of Science in business administration and a Diplom Kaufmann.