Congratulations to Captain Munden, who is the most recent recipient of the Impact Award. Captain Munden was presented with this honour during Marine Club week in Toronto. She has sailed with Algoma since 2005.

What was your initial reaction to finding out you’d been selected as the award recipient?
When I first found out I had been selected as the award recipient, I was completely overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude. It was a moment of disbelief, as I never imagined I’d be chosen. It took a while to fully sink in, and then I felt it was an affirmation of my hard work and dedication.

In your view, what has been the most significant change in the marine industry regarding gender equality during your time, and what steps do you believe still need to be taken to further support women in this field?
The marine industry has made significant strides toward gender equality, particularly through stronger harassment policies that promote a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone. These changes benefit both women and men, fostering a fairer workplace for all. While progress is evident, more work is needed, especially in increasing female representation in leadership and ensuring equal career advancement opportunities. To support women, we must promote marine careers in schools and universities, highlight work-life balance, and showcase female role models in the industry through interviews and videos. These efforts will help inspire and encourage more women to join and succeed in the field.

What inspired you to dedicate your career to the marine industry and do you have a pivotal moment that fueled your passion?
I never planned on working in the marine industry—it just kind of happened. I started out as a mate, and over time, I became more drawn to the challenge and complexity of the job. As I gained experience, the idea of becoming a captain started to seem like a real possibility. Watching my colleagues get promoted to captain was a pivotal moment for me—it made me realize that if they could achieve it, so could I. That inspired me to push myself harder, pursue the necessary certifications, and fully dedicate my career to this field. The sense of accomplishment that comes with mastering such a demanding industry is something that keeps me motivated.