SCHIFFSTECHNIK | SHIP
SCHIFFSTECHNIK | SHIP TECHNOLOGYVDMA: One woman, two rolesSince the beginning of the year, VDMA Hamburg has been under new leadership:Katrin Caldwell has taken over as managing director. She now heads both the NorthernRegional Association and the Marine Equipment & Systems (MES) group, whileHauke Schlegel remains as MES‘s second managing director»Maritime suppliers arethe key drivers oftechnological progress«Katrin Caldwell© VDMALike her predecessor, Jörg Mutschler,Katrin Caldwell holds two positions. Inthis interview, the new VDMA managingdirector talks about her path into the maritimeindustry, her goals in her new role,and the future direction of the VDMA.You started your career in the tourismindustry. How did you transition into themaritime sector?Katrin Caldwell: My career path has beensomewhat unconventional. I studied tourismmanagement and worked in variousareas after graduation. However, I alwayswanted to work in the maritime industryMy parents had a sailing boat when I wasyoung, and we spent a lot of time at sea –so the ocean has been close to my heartfrom an early age.When the cruise company A-ROSAwas looking for a head of internationalsales, I took the opportunity. It was afantastic job with wonderful clientsworldwide, and I travelled extensively.After having children, I transitioned tothe Maritime Cluster Northern Germany(MCN), initially as branch manager forMecklenburg-Western Pomerania andlater as deputy managing director.How did you come to join the VDMA?Caldwell: My main task at MCN was toraise the association’s profile in Mecklenburg-WesternPomerania. The organisationrepresents the entire maritime sector– from shipping companies and suppliersto shipyards and researchinstitutes. Since it is a collaboration of thenorthern German states and funded byfive ministries, I was able to establishvaluable connections. I believe my expertisein the maritime industry and mynetwork were the key reasons whyVDMA approached me.What appealed to you most about thisopportunity?Caldwell: The international aspect wasparticularly appealing. With 3,600member companies, the VDMA is alarge organisation. We have six regionalassociations, as well as offices in Berlinand Brussels for political affairs.Additionally, we operate country officesin several European nations, includingAustria, Poland, Italy, and the Beneluxcountries, as well as global offices in50 HANSA – International Maritime Journal 04 | 2025
SCHIFFSTECHNIK | SHIP TECHNOLOGYBrazil, China, India, and the USA. Mostrecently, Singapore was added.Of course, the role of ManagingDirector of the Marine Equipment andSystems working group was also highlyattractive. This is my area of expertise,and I feel completely at home here.What exactly does your new role entail?Caldwell: My responsibilities are twofold.On the one hand, as managingdirector of the VDMA NorthernRegional Association, I oversee allmechanical engineering companies inSchleswig-Holstein, Bremen, Hamburg,and Lower Saxony. On the other hand,together with Hauke Schlegel, I amresponsible for Germany’s maritimesuppliers as managing director of MES.The VDMA is both broad and deeplyspecialised. A key part of my role isensuring that our member companiesreceive support not only from the regionalassociation but also from the 36 specialisedtrade associations. These cover highlyspecific areas with top industry experts –from power systems and valves topropulsion technology. Additionally, wehave working groups like MES and severalcross-sector departments. My job is tomake this full range of support available toour members and show them theopportunities they can leverage.Another major aspect of my work ispolitical engagement. This includesbuilding relationships at the state leveland connecting ministers, senators, andMPs with companies – whether throughcompany visits or industry dialogues,where both sides can exchangeperspectives.You are succeeding Jörg Mutschler, who isretiring after nearly 29 years at VDMA.What will set you apart from yourpredecessor?Caldwell: The VDMA is undergoing astrategic shift. Over the next ten years,several long-serving VDMA employeeswill retire. This means that the associationis not only repositioning itselfat the European level but also undergoingan internal restructuring.By the 2030s, the VDMA will look verydifferent from what it is today. We arerethinking our structure and asking:What do our member companies need inthis changing landscape? Our goal is tobecome even more member-focused andprovide maximum value to thecompanies we support.What key topics are you prioritising?Caldwell: Shipping must become climate-neutralby 2050, and maritime suppliersare the driving force behind thistechnological transformation. My goal isto create the best possible conditions forthem to achieve this, so that we can meetour climate targets – for ourselves andfuture generations.Another crucial issue is reducingbureaucracy. The new OmnibusRegulation, which consolidates and simplifiesvarious regulations, is a step in theright direction. But there are otherpressing challenges, such as digitalisationand the shortage of skilled workers,which impact nearly every company.I want to help ensure that ourmembers can maintain their presence inGermany rather than relocating abroad.At the same time, I want to support themin establishing a strong internationalposition.What are the biggest challenges yourmembers are currently facing?Caldwell: Bureaucracy is by far the biggestissue. Many companies have to createentire departments just to handle reportingrequirements. For SMEs, this is asignificant burden.Rising labour costs and pressure to offerunion wages are additional concerns.Geopolitical developments also play a role– companies must constantly adapt to newmarket conditions and adjust theirproduct portfolios accordingly.On a more positive note, in what areasare your members excelling?Caldwell: The mechanical engineeringsector has seen better years, but in themaritime industry, the outlook isdifferent. Global shipbuilding is booming,shipyards are at full capacity, andmany vessels are being retrofitted. Thispresents huge opportunities formaritime suppliers.What has always fascinated me aboutthis industry is its spirit of innovation. Suppliersare the real drivers of technologicalprogress. They conduct cutting-edgeresearch, develop new technologies, andcreate market-ready solutions that bring uscloser to our climate goals – and I thinkthat’s incredible.We are moving towards climateneutrality. We’re not there yet, and theroad ahead is long, but progress is beingmade, and this industry is making a realdifference.Interview: Anna WroblewskiSpende und werde ein Teil von uns.seenotretter.deEinsatzberichte, Fotos, Videos undGeschichten von der rauen See erleben:#teamseenotretterHANSA – International Maritime Journal 04 | 202551
