WHY TALL SHIPS YOUTH TRUST?
For my 18th birthday, my parents brought me a voyage on the Stavros S Niarchos (Stavy!) that kick started a TSYT journey that cumulated in my becoming a Challenger Skipper at the tender age of 21. Now, at the age of 35, working for Lloyd’s Register (LR) as a senior leader, I recognise the essential part that my years with TSYT have played not only in my personal development, but also within my career within the marine industry.
My journey and background I believe is aligned with TSYT’s mission of enabling young people to change their lives at sea, and contribute to the maritime sector and the blue economy. I feel that I embody this mission in my career and life story and can coach, mentor and guide our young people into pursuing their fullest potential in whatever industry they choose to progress in.
With a wide network and contacts in the maritime and yachting industry I also recognise that I can provide TSYT and its young people access to this network, enabling progression into the industry after completion of a TSYT voyage. The LR Foundation (the owning entity of LR) also provides support, technical expertise and funding to many charities including TSYT, and so I believe that I can also provide a useful link between TSYT and the Foundation.
Finally, my deep maritime technical background will enable me to support TSYT with decisions around future asset investments, long-term maintenance aspects and the strategic technical direction of the Challengers.
BACKGROUND
A graduate of Newcastle university, I hold a Naval Architecture degree and now manage the Materials, Equipment and Component certification business within LR. I began within the company as a Graduate Engineer, before progressing to be a Ship Surveyor and Operational Manager prior to starting this current role in 2021. However, in many ways this has been a second career that followed my work with TSYT.
Following my brig match-race voyages, I was asked back as a Volunteer Deck Hand and Watch Leader. Then following the purchase of the Challengers, I was fortunate to be heavily involved with their commissioning and delivery voyages. After many enjoyable voyages, supporting and developing our young people as Volunteer Mate, I subsequently became Skipper, completing several Fastnet campaigns on the Challengers, and taking hundreds of young people to sea on their own voyages of adventure.
I accredit my journey and success in the maritime industry to the experiences TSYT has given me. To this day, I still have my skippering experience on my professional CV as I know it demonstrates many great qualities employers would value. Team leadership, determination and the ability to deal with adversity are all skills learnt from my time as Skipper, and all in my early 20’s. I believe that such life experiences are vitally important to a person’s development and I would never have received any of these, had it not been for TSYT.
