About Şadan Kaptanoğlu

Şadan Kaptanoğlu grew up within the maritime sector as a member of one of Turkey's established shipowning families. As part of the management family of Kaptanoğlu Denizcilik, she entered the sector at a young age and continues her activities as a shipowner and shipbuilder to this day.

Having served at İMEAK Chamber of Shipping for many years, Kaptanoğlu took on responsibilities in the Chamber's strategic decisions, international representation processes and member relations management. During the same period, she contributed to maritime education through roles within TÜDEV and in the governance structure of Piri Reis University.

Having enriched her career with academic depth alongside commercial experience, Kaptanoğlu had the opportunity to combine theoretical knowledge with field practice through her doctoral studies completed in England.

She took on her most defining international role in 2019. At the BIMCO General Meeting held in Athens, Kaptanoğlu was elected President of the world's largest shipowners' association, becoming the first Turk and first woman ever elected to this position. During her presidency spanning 2019–2021, she served as the sector's spokesperson on many critical fronts, from IMO negotiations to the green transition agenda, from digitalisation policies to global freight processes.

In the field of civic responsibility, as Chairman of the TURMEPA Marine Environment Protection Association Board of Directors, she conducts work on marine environment protection, sustainable shipping and the fight against marine pollution. She follows current environmental agendas from ballast water management to decarbonisation targets at both policy and field levels.

Today, having announced her candidacy for the Presidency of İMEAK Chamber of Shipping, Kaptanoğlu aims to take Turkish maritime to the next stage with the slogan "A New Course at Sea."