"We must insist on a first-class culture for our industry," Grantley Stephenson (second right), chairman of Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL), appears to be saying to (from left): Vivian Johnson, operations manager of Carib Star Shipping (CSS); Geneve Barnett-Fraser, traffic manager of CSS, and Donavan Martin, chairman of the Shipping Association of Jamaica's (SAJ) Agents' Committee. The group is pictured in discussion after Mr. Stephenson's presentation at the SAJ's Lunch and Learn seminar held recently at which he outlined KWL's strategic plan for 'Adopting a First-Class Culture for a First-Class Maritime Industry'. CSS and Transocean Shipping were joint sponsors of the seminar. - Contributed

The 'Lunch & Learn' series of seminars and workshops that was launched by the Agents' Committee of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) in July this year has become a popular monthly event on the Shipping Industry calendar.

The next 'Lunch & Learn' is scheduled for Thursday, November 23 at noon.

The seminar will be the second in the two-part series on Change Management and Globalisation and will focus on Jamaica's Maritime Industry and the Imperative for Change. Trevor Riley, general manager of the SAJ, will deliver the presentation.

SAJ members, industry partners and members of staff are attending these seminars in increasing numbers to participate in discussions that are aimed at raising the awareness of the maritime community and its various stakeholders on developments in the local and international shipping industry.

Topics covered by the SAJ's 'Lunch & Learn' seminar thus far include:

'New Trends in the Logistics Supply Chain, The Role and Function of Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers' with presentations by Beverley Johnson-Green, president of the Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica (FFAJ) and Donovan Wignall, president of the Customs Brokers Association of Jamaica (CBAJ);

'The Role of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) and Opportunities for Professional Development in the Regional Maritime Industry', presented by Fritz Pinnock, executive director of the CMI;

'Adopting a 1st Class Culture for a 1st Class Maritime Industry: Developments in Port & Terminal Operations', presented by Grantely Stephenson, chairman and CEO of Kingston Wharves Limited;

'Change Management & Globalisation', presented by Dr. Leahcim Semaj.

In launching the 'Lunch and Learn' seminars, SAJ President Michael Bernard said all persons involved in shipping need to keep themselves updated on new developments and expand their knowledge and view of the sector. He noted that the past 25 years have seen dramatic changes in the maritime industry.

"Globalisation and the quest to become more efficient have been the driving forces fuelling this change and the transformation is continuing, with far-reaching effects on our operations and how we do business," the SAJ president said.