WiSA celebrates female contribution to aquaculture on International Women’s Day

Women in Scottish Aquaculture (WiSA) is celebrating the important role of female talent in the valuable seafood production sector and its supply chain, with the winners of its annual awards announced on Friday 8th March.

 

Coinciding with International Women’s Day – and the fifth anniversary of the network’s launch – the awards recognise those making an impact across five categories. Nominations from WiSA’s 300 members were judged by an independent panel, with winners announced during a virtual ceremony held online on Friday 8th March.

^{top left clockwise: Alison Brough, Daniel Carcajona, Clémence Fraslin, Kimberley McKinnell}

WiSA’s rising star of 2024 was awarded to Alison Brough, fish veterinarian at Scottish Sea Farms, for her contribution to sector-wide advancements in fish health and welfare over the past year. Alongside her day job, Alison is the current secretary of the Fish Veterinary Society as well as being involved in other groups such as the Young Aquaculture Society.

Kimberly McKinnell, head of health at Bakkafrost Scotland, was named role model of the year, recognising her commitment to nurturing the next generation of aquaculture professionals through mentoring and leadership. Meanwhile, Clémence Fraslin of the Roslin Institute was named academic champion for her work as leader of the aquaculture genetics group, focusing on disease resistance in Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout.

Daniel Carcajona, business development manager at SAMS Enterprise, was recognised as WISA’s ally of the year for his continued support for women in aquaculture and enthusiasm for highlighting the impact of female-led companies and research groups.

^{l-r: Heather Jones, Anne Anderson, Sarah Riddle}

Sarah Riddle, managing director of Northern Light Consulting; Anne Anderson, head of sustainability and development at Scottish Sea Farms and Heather Jones, CEO of SAIC, were also recognised for their outstanding contribution to diversity and inclusion in the sector.

The WiSA network – which was founded by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) on International Women’s Day 2019 – represents all areas of the sector from producers and the supply chain to academia and continues to champion the diverse range of career opportunities for women in aquaculture.

Teresa Garzon, chair of WiSA, said: “The annual WiSA awards provide us with a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in the sector who are helping to promote diversity and deliver impact in their respective fields. While great progress is being made in terms of inclusion, International Women’s Day is a reminder of the need for balance and support for women and girls in every workplace. Over the past five years, we have seen WiSA making a real impact, bringing together women in the sector for professional collaboration, networking, and career growth.”

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