I think it's fine to address senior female authority figures as 'Sir.' Some people say, 'Mam' or 'Madam' which is fine, but to me it seems like they may come a

I think it's fine to address senior female authority figures as 'Sir.' Some people say, 'Mam' or 'Madam' which is fine, but to me it seems like they may come across as diminutive. For instance it would seem insulting to call a female book author an 'authoress', or a 'poetess'.