Detail

Where It All Began

When Lina first walked into the Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA), it felt less like a formal visit and more like a homecoming. She greeted everyone with a bright smile, pausing to chat with staff and lecturers she had known for years. SP has remained a constant in her life, a place she often returns to in order to share her experiences with students and reconnect with the close-knit maritime community.

“My life started here. SP holds a lot of memories, tender emotions, and nostalgia,” she said with fondness.

Setting Sail at SP

At 17, Lina enrolled in the Diploma in Nautical Studies, one of only three women in her cohort. Getting accepted was not straightforward. At the time, female cadets were rarely considered, and entry into the course required a sponsoring company even before lessons began.

“Back then, companies were reluctant to take in female cadets. Only two firms were willing to open their doors to us, and I was fortunate to be accepted. It wasn’t a choice of where I wanted to go; it was take it or leave it,” she recalls.

Life at sea brought steep challenges. She endured long months away from home, seasickness, and the isolation of being the only woman on board. She even cut her hair short and wore baggier clothes to blend in.

“There was some jealousy when the male cadets were assigned harder jobs, while I was given lighter work like painting. It wasn’t easy, but it made me more resilient.”

What helped her through was the trust and encouragement of her lecturers. “The maritime industry is small, so we all look out for one another. We were so young back then. Whenever we needed help, we would call our lecturers from the ships, and they always answered.”

Those bonds have endured. Lina and her peers stay connected through LinkedIn and WhatsApp groups, often exchanging advice and offering support.

From Deck to Boardroom

Lina’s career has since spanned seafaring, vessel and project management, education, and technology. After nearly a decade offshore, she moved into shore-based roles to focus on the next chapter of her life and start a family.

Today, as a proud mother of two young children, she continues to chart new waters, navigating the balance between work, motherhood, and leadership in a demanding, male-dominated industry. It is a journey she approaches with humility, grace, and gratitude for the support around her.

During her partial scholarship from SP to pursue a Bachelor’s in Maritime Operations at the Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz in the Netherlands, Lina began weaving a global network of peers and mentors. What started as student connections soon grew into a lifelong circle of maritime professionals, people who would later play pivotal roles in shaping her career journey.

Her courage and determination were especially evident later in her journey, when she transitioned into shore-based work while simultaneously pursuing her Master of Science in Maritime Studies at Nanyang Technological University.

She embarked on postgraduate education just as she entered motherhood, attending convocation at 35 weeks pregnant with her first child. This defining chapter reflects the resilience, discipline, and commitment that continue to shape her leadership today.

Today, Lina is the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Sea Teknik Robotics, a Singapore start-up specialising in underwater hull cleaning and inspections. Their flagship innovation, M.A.V.E.R.I.C. (Modular, Autonomous, Versatile, Engineered for Robotic Inspection and Cleaning), is designed to perform both maintenance and inspection with efficiency and precision.

“Singapore is one of the world’s leading maritime hubs, and we saw the demand for innovation in vessel maintenance. That is how our start-up was born,” she shares with pride.

Beyond her start-up, Lina continues to widen her impact. She is a Board Director of Amancare Marine Offshore, serves on the Council of the Singapore Nautical Institute, and chairs the WISTA International Technology Committee, where she champions gender equity in maritime by creating spaces for women in the industry to connect, share knowledge, and grow.

Giving Back on Shore

Even with her many responsibilities, Lina makes time to give back. She mentors young girls through MENDAKI Club’s PEER Programme, guiding students aged 13 to 15.

“Some of them just need someone outside their families to listen. Empowering girls with knowledge builds confidence and gives them tools to change their future.”

She is also a licensed yoga instructor and teaches to support causes close to her heart. These include Yoga for a Change, which raises funds for women and children, Dyah Gayatri Academy and Aidha, which empower domestic helpers, and volunteering with the Singapore Prison Service, where she leads yoga practice and develops wellness programmes for female inmates.

“By empowering female domestic helpers and vulnerable women in Singapore, we help them build brighter opportunities for themselves and their families.”

Anchored in Gratitude

Looking back, Lina sees success not in titles or wealth, but in balance and gratitude.

“Success is health, happiness, and freedom. It is about being able to live well, give back, and empower others.”

It is a philosophy rooted in her years at SP, where she first learned to push past doubt, trust her mentors, and rely on the support of a close-knit community. “The lecturers and system here at SP and SMA really shaped us. They never gave up on us, and that is why I believe it is important to give back.”

From a young cadet breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry to a leader, mentor, and advocate, Lina continues to carry forward the same spirit of resilience and support she found at SP, opening doors for others just as they were once opened for her.