Hermoine Manuel is the Managing Director of Damen Shipyards Cape Town, which is part of the Damen Group. With 19 years in the maritime industry, she has held senior positions across Project Management, HSSEQ, Quality Control and Compliance Management, before becoming Managing Director. Passionate about sustainability, her interests include circularity in shipbuilding; energy efficiency, and quieter propulsion. She chairs the WISTA International Environmental Committee, serves on the WISTA South Africa Board, and contributes to the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloNoise initiative, which aims to reduce the effects of underwater radiated noise from shipping. Hermoine envisions a self-sustaining and collaborative African maritime sector; one that harnesses the continent’s talent, resources, and industrial capability to build ships locally, execute repair and conversions, unlock regional value chains, and position Africa as a confident contributor to the global blue economy.