Lantra Scotland, the training and skills body for land-based industries and aquaculture, has assumed the role of host for the Women in Scottish Aquaculture (WiSA) network.
WiSA, established by the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) in 2019, supports the growth and development of women in the aquaculture sector.
Lantra, which already supports similar initiatives such as Women in Agriculture and Women in Forestry, will provide administrative support for WiSA and continue its focus on training, qualifications, and skills development. The network will remain under the guidance of an experienced advisory group and plans to build on its successful knowledge-sharing and skills development programs, as well as its annual awards and mentoring scheme.
Over the past five years, WiSA has grown to include nearly 400 participants from various sectors related to finfish, shellfish, and seaweed, spanning industry, government, academia, and non-governmental organizations. With SAIC shifting its focus to finfish health research and development, the innovation center began searching for a new host for WiSA in May, leading to Lantra’s involvement.
New lead
In addition to taking over WiSA, Lantra has appointed Jillian Couto-Phoenix as its new Head of Aquaculture. Couto-Phoenix, previously Head of Skills and Talent at SAIC, will play a key role in ensuring a smooth transition for WiSA and strengthening relationships between UK aquaculture employers and Lantra. She will also focus on identifying gaps in current training provisions and enhancing Lantra’s capabilities in the aquaculture sector.
Couto-Phoenix expressed her excitement about continuing her work in aquaculture, emphasizing the importance of nurturing talent to meet the evolving needs of the industry.
