Managing director at the Fast Group Catrien Scheers succeeds Marc Van Peel as president of the Maritime Circle Antwerp. She is the first female president since the association’s existence in 1972.
The Maritime Circle is a circle of friends of people at board and management level who are active in the transport and logistics sector. The association brings its members together for informal meetings, separate from day-to-day ‘business’.
Musselsouper
After a year of chairmanship during the 2022-2023 season, former port alderman Marc Van Peel is passing on the torch. “During our annual mussel supper in 2022, a number of fellow members were already sounding out whether I wouldn’t be interested in becoming chairman. Marc also asked me that question,” says Scheers. “We then made the agreement that if he became chairman in 2022, I would succeed him as the first female chairman in 2023. The deal was done.”
It has not been that long that women have been admitted to the Maritime Circle
When asked why it has taken so long for a lady to take up the chairmanship, Catrien gives a clear answer: “It is not so long yet that women are admitted to the Maritime Circle,” she says. A lot of efforts to rejuvenate and feminise the society happened over the past few years. “The path towards more diversity and inclusion within the Maritime Circle had already been set. Marc has certainly contributed to that and that is only a good thing,” she says.
She is already looking forward to it and has a clear vision for the future. “For me, the Maritime Circle is a club of like-minded people,” she continues. “We can only grow in our sector if we think together and strive together for a more sustainable sector. By that I mean not only cleaner, but also more inclusive transport.”
From a different angle
Every month, the club organises a networking meeting around a guest speaker. The guest speakers are not only people active in the transport and logistics sector. The next speaker is Jan De Beurme, vice-admiral of the Belgian navy. “It is also nice sometimes to look at things from a different angle. It will be interesting to hear from Vice Admiral De Beurme about the connections between the world of transport and the navy,” she says. “We are also joined by Carmen Willems, general director of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts.”
City Hall
For the Maritime Circle, 2022 was an anniversary year. In August that year, the private business club – then chaired by Van Peel – celebrated its 50th anniversary with a dinner in the town hall. Mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever raised a glass with the club especially for the occasion.
The Maritime Circle was founded in 1972. Today – together with MKA Plus (retired members) – the club has 100 members.
