Dr. Balkin, nominated by the Australian Government, received the prestigious International Maritime Prize at the IMO Awards Ceremony in London on November 24, 2025. This event coincided with the 34th session of the IMO Assembly, which ran from November 24 to December 3. IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez presented her with the silver dolphin trophy, acknowledging her remarkable five-decade career, particularly her role as the first female leader of the Comité Maritime International (CMI), the oldest organization dedicated to international maritime law.
Throughout her career, Dr. Balkin has held various academic positions at institutions like Wits University, Melbourne University, and Cambridge University, and has extensively published on international maritime law. Notably, she was the Academic Coordinator for “The IMLI Treatise on Global Ocean Governance,” published in 2018. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Governors of the World Maritime University and currently advises the WMU President on ethical matters.
Dr. Balkin’s tenure at the IMO from 1998 to 2013 was marked by several landmark conventions on maritime safety and pollution liability. Among these were the 2001 International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage and the 2010 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with Hazardous Substances. Her contributions extend to her role as Legal Adviser to the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, where she helped strengthen the global compensation framework.
In recognition of her extensive service, Dr. Balkin was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2018 and has been active in advocating for seafarers’ rights. The International Maritime Prize, awarded annually by the IMO, honors individuals or organizations for significant contributions to maritime objectives, highlighting Dr. Balkin’s profound impact on the field.
Share it now
