Name: Diane Gilpin
Position: Founder and CEO of Smart Green Shipping
Company: Smart Green Shipping
Website: https://smartgreenshipping.com
About Diane Gilpin and Smart Green Shipping
I am the founder of Smart Green Shipping, a company that unlocks wind power for the shipping industry by building and financing autonomous, retrofittable wind technologies to help reduce carbon emissions by up to 30%. The first product in our suite is FastRig – an intelligent, autonomous, recyclable wingsail being launched this year.
For more than 30 years I have worked at the forefront of technology and innovation, beginning my career working on the team that launched the UK’s first cellular telephone. I went on to be the only woman to manage an F3 team, worked in F1, before managing an offshore yacht racing team in the BT Global Challenge. An ardent climate campaigner, I believe that the climate emergency can be addressed by technology and innovation – especially in the shipping industry, which accounts for 3% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the course of my career, I’ve overcome the challenges of working in male-dominated industries and carving out a space for myself. I left school at 16 because my father didn’t believe women should go on to higher education – before later going on to complete two degrees. A government agency appointed mentor once told me I’d never be recognised as a CEO of a tech company, and when I attend events with other founders I am still struck by how competitive, combative, and, frankly, male dominated it can all be.
Keen to inspire girls to believe they can make it in any industry, and because we need the best talent to address the climate and nature crises I mentor young women, from Girl Guides to secondary schools and those considering entering engineering and tech jobs, as well as working with local primary schools in Glasgow. In 2018, I was proud to be awarded a Woman in Innovation Award from InnovateUK in 2018 and to be nominated as a BBC Woman’s Hour ‘Woman of Power’ in 2020.
The urgent need for new climate infrastructure is evident, but sadly we’re still seeing slow uptake in investments into this sector. Too many conversations are focused on the financial risk involved with green businesses, and not the very real climate emergency we are facing. This year, I expect to see a strong appetite for investment into green innovations – and I hope to see women-led companies securing their fair share of investment. Smart Green Shipping is spearheading this movement.
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