First Lady Arya Ali is backing efforts to get more Guyanese women into offshore careers, lending her support to an initiative designed to prepare them for opportunities aboard vessels, rigs and oil production facilities.

Ali delivered the keynote address at theofficial launch of the “She Goes Offshore” Guyana Chapter, an initiative created to promote, support and train women seeking to enter the energy, oil and gas and maritime sectors.

Drawing on her own experience witnessing the growth of Guyana's offshore industry, including serving as godmother to four Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, Ali said she is deeply committed to ensuring women have a meaningful place in the sector's future.

“It was therefore an honour to deliver the keynote address at the launch of the 'She Goes Offshore' Guyana Chapter,” she said.

The First Lady said she hoped the initiative would develop into a movement that breaks barriers and creates greater opportunities for women to participate in the country's expanding energy industry.

Her support, she said, is rooted in the belief that women should be more than spectators in Guyana's energy transformation, but should have opportunities to become active participants and leaders.

“I wish to commend Atlas NextWave and its partners for championing this important initiative,” Ali said.

She expressed hope that the programme would help open doors for more women to transition into offshore roles, expanding their participation in an industry that has become central to Guyana's economic development.

The initiative places particular emphasis on preparing women for work in offshore environments, including aboard vessels, rigs and production facilities