The ISWAN – India Seminar 2025, held on 17 December 2025 in Mumbai, brought together maritime stakeholders to discuss people-centred approaches to attracting, retaining and sustaining seafaring careers, with a strong focus on wellbeing, structured induction and family engagement. Dr. Malini V. Shankar, IAS (Retd.), Vice Chancellor, Indian Maritime University (IMU), participated as Guest of Honour at the seminar. In her address, she emphasised the vital role of maritime education and training institutions in developing seafarers who are not only technically competent, but also equipped with emotional resilience, ethical values and an understanding of family dynamics, particularly for young cadets at the start of their careers. Dr. Shankar also moderated Panel 1 – “First Voyage, Firm Foundations: Strengthening Induction to Secure Retention”, which examined how effective induction, mentoring and support systems during the early stages of a seafarer’s journey can contribute to long-term retention and wellbeing. The seminar reinforced the importance of collaboration between academia, industry and welfare organisations in building a resilient and sustainable maritime workforce.