IMO names Dr Rosalie Balkin recipient of International Maritime Prize for 2024

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently named Dr Rosalie Balkin, Secretary-General of the Comité Maritime International (CMI) and legal adviser to the IOPC Funds, as the recipient of the International Maritime Prize for 2024.

The decision to confer the prestigious award on Dr Balkin, a former Assistant Secretary-General and Director of Legal Affairs and the External Relations Division at IMO, was announced by the IMO Council during its 134th session.

In its nomination to the award panel, the Government of Australia recognised “her outstanding commitment, achievements, and contributions to the maritime community.”

During her time as Assistant Secretary-General, Dr Balkin worked closely with previous Directors of the IOPC Funds, maintaining strong cooperation between the two organisations.

Since 2014, she has served as Legal Adviser to the IOPC Funds, where she played a key role in preparing the Resolutions to dissolve the 1971 IOPC Fund, which was replaced by the 1992 Fund, thereby strengthening the international liability and compensation regime for oil pollution damage. Dr Balkin was also instrumental in developing the IOPC Funds’ recent guidance for Member States on investigating the circumstances of oil pollution incidents involving uninsured and unsafe ships. Since her appointment in 2017 as Secretary-General of the CMI, she has led the organisation’s delegation at several sessions of the IOPC Funds’ governing bodies.

Dr Balkin has served in various senior roles across Australia’s public service, including as Primary Legal Adviser to the Commonwealth Ombudsman and later as Assistant Secretary in the Office of International Law within the Attorney-General’s Department. In this capacity, she led the Australian delegation to IMO Legal Committee meetings and was elected Vice-Chair in 1993.

Established in 1980, the International Maritime Prize is awarded annually by the IMO to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the Organisation’s work and objectives. The recipient is selected by a panel chaired by the IMO Secretary-General and composed of representatives from the IMO Council, along with intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations.

The IOPC Funds proudly congratulates Dr Balkin on this well-deserved recognition.

She will receive the award at an official ceremony in November 2025.