The Australian Maritime College (AMC), a valued member of the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU), recently took part in a series of high-level events hosted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to welcome the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, during his official visit to Australia.
On Monday evening, a dinner in honour of the Secretary-General was held at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney, attended by approximately 100 representatives from across the maritime sector. The evening featured a keynote speech by Mr. Dominguez and a panel discussion titled “The Future of Seafaring – Challenges and Opportunities for Modern Seafarers in an Increasingly Dynamic World.” AMC was represented on the panel, providing academic perspectives on the evolving maritime profession. The college was also well-represented during the dinner, with one delegate seated alongside the Secretary-General.
IMO Secretary-General and AMC Principal
 The following day, a half-day seminar featured two round-table discussions focused on:
Decarbonisation: Exploring Australia’s efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the transition to alternative fuels, and
Women in Maritime: Addressing pathways toward equal representation and inclusion in the maritime industry.
During the events, AMC took the opportunity to highlight its membership in IAMU and reaffirm its strong connections with international maritime institutions, including the World Maritime University (WMU). The IAMU lapel pin worn by AMC’s representative caught the Secretary-General’s attention, prompting a positive acknowledgement of AMC’s involvement in the IAMU network.
AMC’s participation in these events exemplifies the kind of active engagement IAMU encourages among its member universities—fostering strong collaboration with industry, maritime administrations, and international organisations. Sharing such achievements not only reflects the global relevance of IAMU’s mission but also inspires other member institutions to pursue similar partnerships and visibility in international maritime affairs.
From the left, Prof. Stephen Hurd, AMC; a representative from Maritime Industry Australia Ltd; the National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia (also President of the International Transport Workers’ Federation); the IMO Secretary-General; a recent AMC graduate and current deck officer; the Royal Australian Navy’s Commander of the Australian Fleet; and the CEO of Ports Australia.
