Semiramis Paliou is the Chief Executive Officer of Diana Shipping Inc., a leading global shipping company that specializes in the transportation of dry cargo goods. She has been with the company since 2015, serving in various positions including Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and member of the Executive Committee. In addition to her role at Diana Shipping, Ms. Paliou also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Diana Shipping Services S.A. the wholly owned ship management company.

Semiramis is also actively involved in various industry organizations and committees. She currently serves as the Chairperson of HELMEPA and Chairperson of INTERMEPA, organizations dedicated for the last 40 years to promoting the protection of our seas through education, activities, and projects for our seafarers and the broader society. Under her leadership HELMEPA now focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the United Nations, to promote social, economic and environmental sustainability.

She is also the Vice president of the Greek committee of Det Norske Veritas, a member of the Greek committee of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, the Greek committee of Bureau Veritas and the American Bureau of Shipping. Moreover, Semiramis is a member of the board of directors of the UK P&I Club, the Union of Greek Shipowners and the Global Maritime Forum.

Semiramis Paliou's passion for the shipping industry was instilled in her from a young age, having been born into a family with a long-standing tradition in the sector.

She holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London, and an MSc in Naval Architecture from University College, London. She has also completed several executive education programs at Harvard Business School, including “Finance for Senior Executives,” “Authentic Leader Development,” and a certificate program on “Sustainable Business Strategy.”

Semiramis began her career as a trainee ship surveyor at Lloyd’s Register of Shipping where she was assigned field postings in Spain and Finland. Her experience at Diana Shipping Agencies S.A. further solidified her passion for the field, and Semiramis has since held numerous leadership positions throughout her career.