This network, initially established by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC), is dedicated to fostering the development and progression of women within the sector.
Lantra, which already plays an active role in supporting women in agriculture and forestry, will now extend its expertise to aquaculture. The organisation is well-positioned to support WiSA, continuing its work in providing training, qualifications, and skills development opportunities. The network will maintain its structure, with an advisory group guiding its activities and Lantra offering administrative support. WiSA plans to build on its existing initiatives, which include knowledge-sharing events, skills development programmes, an annual awards ceremony, and a mentoring scheme.
Over the past five years, WiSA has expanded its membership to nearly 400 individuals, encompassing professionals from finfish, shellfish, and seaweed sectors. The network includes participants from industry, government, academia, and non-governmental organisations.
SAIC has served as the host of WiSA since its inception in 2019. However, with its focus increasingly shifting towards finfish health research and development, the innovation centre decided to transition the hosting responsibilities. The search for a new host began in May, leading to Lantra’s recent appointment.
Dr Liz Barron-Majerik MBE, director of Lantra Scotland, expressed enthusiasm about the new role, stating, “We are delighted to be taking on the hosting of the WiSA network and look forward to supporting its further growth and development. Growing the diversity of the sectors we work with is very important to us, and whilst we can bring learning from our work with forestry and agriculture, we can also learn from the journey WiSA has been on, and from the experience and expertise of the advisory group. I look forward to getting started!”
Heather Jones, the founder of WiSA, reflected on the network’s growth, noting, “Since WiSA began on International Women’s Day 2019, it has grown into a powerful grassroots network championing women and supporting hundreds of aquaculture professionals with career development. The goal was to highlight the important role of women in the sector, attract new entrants, and actively look for ways to improve the conditions for those already invested in it. The network is thriving, and it is fantastic to hand over the reins to the team at Lantra who will see the valuable work continue.”
To further bolster its involvement in the aquaculture sector, Lantra has appointed Jillian Couto-Phoenix as its new head of aquaculture. Previously head of skills and talent at SAIC, Jillian played a significant role in WiSA’s development and led various training initiatives at the innovation centre.
In her new role, Jillian will facilitate the transition of WiSA’s hosting to Lantra, while also strengthening ties between UK aquaculture employers and the skills body. She will focus on ensuring that the workforce is well-prepared for future challenges by aligning training provision with the evolving needs of the sector.
Jillian Couto-Phoenix commented on her appointment, stating, “Joining Lantra is an exciting next step, allowing me to build on my achievements to date at SAIC and continue working in aquaculture. We have an abundance of talent, whom we must continue to nurture to ensure they have the skills and qualifications to match sector requirements as they evolve to embrace new technology and tackle new challenges. I’m looking forward to supporting both employers and employees as part of my new role.”
