Kalicia O’Sullivan: Steering toward success

KALICIA O’Sullivan is helping to reshape the operational landscape at Kingston Wharves Limited (KWL). For seven years, she steered toward career success as the only female car driver for KWL subsidiary, Newport Stevedoring Services Limited.

She fulfilled her role with skill and precision, offloading and loading heavy equipment and cars from Ro-Ro vessels for the domestic and transhipment market.

“When I just came to Kingston Wharves in 2019, as part of my initial assessment, I was required to demonstrate technical proficiency by parallel parking a large truck and executing a hill start on a ramp. That performance with handling heavy equipment helped to earn me the job,” O’Sullivan noted.

After securing a perfect score of 100 on her initial written examinations, she moved from a casual worker to a full-time driver and eventually into a role orienting new staff. In these positions, she has been responsible for enforcing port protocols, including speed limits and the use of specialised protective equipment designed to protect high value cargo.

In an environment where women have been significantly underrepresented, O’Sullivan navigated the initial scepticism of the male-dominated field by setting firm professional boundaries, staying consistent and letting her competence speak for itself.

“After my colleagues realised my capabilities their initial opposition eased,” she stated.

O’Sullivan did not rest on her laurels. To hone her skills, over the years she has completed several specialised courses, including defensive driving, fire and safety warden training, discrepancy handling and stevedore level three.

Her career path has also been defined by a rigorous adherence to safety and professional development.

In 2025, O’Sullivan was promoted to motor vehicle coordinator. Her role involves the specialised task of overseeing vessel loading and discharging operations and managing entire shifts, particularly for the vital motor vehicle business.

“I feel like l have been carefully prepared for this role, given the critical importance of the auto business, safety and customer satisfaction to the organisation,” she observed.

Beyond the technical requirements, O’Sullivan credits the organisation for providing the platform necessary for her professional evolution. “I love Kingston Wharves because it is a place that offers the opportunity to improve yourself and makes you feel like you can truly make a difference,” she said, adding: “I admire the company for seeing my potential and providing the training that has helped shape me into the professional I am today”.

Her presence on the port has helped to open doors for other women, as the company recently hired a cadre of other women drivers.

Outside of her professional duties, O’Sullivan leads a disciplined life, centred on her family and her church community. She provides mentorship to young people and takes pride in the career achievements of her two sons.

Her professional philosophy is built on the belief that discipline and a strong mindset are the primary requirements for success in any non-traditional field.

Kalicia O’Sullivan is proving that the combination of technical skill and a disciplined mind-set is the key to success in the maritime industry..