From art studio to control room – Rachel’s story in the marine sector

Like many industries, ours is beginning to see a shift to a more gender-neutral makeup, but we know that we have a long way to go.

We are proud to have so many women in roles across all levels of our organisation and we love to share their stories wherever possible

On International Women’s Day 2022, Rachel Moir, Marine Coordinator, spoke to us about her background and the journey which led her to the port.

Rachel said: “I first joined the team at Montrose Port Authority in 2013, and over the past eight years I have developed my skills and knowledge to the point where I was able to take on a new role as Marine Coordinator in February 2020.

“However, working in the marine sector wasn’t always my plan – in fact my degree is from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and painting is still something that I love doing when I get time outside of work.”

Despite not having a conventional route into the sector, Rachel is well versed in the legislation which keeps us all safe at work here at the Port, with over 10 years of experience in compliance management within the public sector.

Tom Hutchinson, CEO and Harbourmaster, said: “Rachel is a real credit to MPA and her hard work and dedication makes us a better organisation all round. It is fantastic to see a better gender balance in our industry – indeed not too long ago the thought of even having a woman on a boat was unheard of!

“I hope that Rachel sharing her story shows that there is a place in the marine industry for anyone regardless of their work or education background.”

Thinking back to her own youth and trying to choose a career path, we asked Rachel what advice she would give to her 14 year old self.

She said: “I would tell her to explore and experience different worlds of work and pursue what you enjoy!”

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s theme is Break the Bias.

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organisation specific.

To view some of Rachel’s incredible artwork, visit her Instagram page.