MARITIME UK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee )
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the People and Skills Forum )
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Chairman of the Regional Council )
Chris Shirling-Rooke joined Maritime UK as Chief Executive Officer in June 2023, having previously headed up Mersey Maritime as CEO for 10 years.
Chris brings a wealth of experience from across the sector and has led on many important matters including the establishment of Maritime UK's Regional Council, advocating for funding, and fostering cross-industry relationships to support progress across the industry.
Chris was also responsible for overseeing the launch of the pioneering Maritime Knowledge Hub (MKH) in 2016, a partnership in the Liverpool City Region including Mersey Maritime, Peel Group and Wirral Council. The MKH aims to become the UK centre of excellence for maritime and marine innovation and research and development and will move into the eagerly anticipated Wirral Waters development in 2024.
Job Titles:
- Diversity & Inclusion Programme Executive
Daniel joined Maritime UK in May 2023 as the Diversity and Inclusion Programme Executive.
He is focused on promoting a fair, equal and inclusive UK maritime industry that embraces diversity and creates a supportive and open atmosphere for all to be able to achieve their potential.
Daniel has a strong background in communications, and specialises in political campaigns, audience analysis, and stakeholder engagement. He is also a serving British Army reservist.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Regional Council )
Job Titles:
- Policy and Research Manager
- Programme Executive ( Careers and Outreach )
After graduating with an MSc in EU Politics and Government at the London School of Economics, Giorgio began a career in policy and public affairs, working for a number of industry bodies across sectors ranging from construction and housebuilding through to further education. Prior to joining the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) and Maritime UK at the end of May 2022, he had been working as Public Affairs Manager for the trade body representing the UK's insolvency and restructuring profession. Giorgio is very passionate about the positive difference that good policy can make in helping individuals and organisations across society, changing lives for the better in the process.
Job Titles:
- Engagement & Marketing Executive
Job Titles:
- Programme Executive ( Skills )
- Sustainability Skills Manager
Kit has been seconded to Maritime UK as Maritime Sustainability Skills Manager since October 2022. Kit leads the "Skills for Green Jobs" workstream, a project being delivered through a partnership between the Maritime Skills Commission (MSC) and Cornwall Marine Network (CMN), investigating the extent of the green skills shortage in the Maritime sector and helping to deliver the "people" ambitions within Maritime 2050.
Kit comes from an Education background, teaching Zoology, Conservation and Ecology at an FE college in Cornwall. He is based at Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) in Falmouth, where he leads the development of CMN's Sustainability/Green Skills provision offer, working with organisations across Cornwall to develop team members' skillsets and improve the sustainability efforts of organisations county-wide.
Robin joined the PLA as chief executive officer on 31 March 2014. Prior to joining the PLA, Robin had 20 years' experience in the UK Government civil service across a range of Government Departments. He was Private Secretary to the Environment Secretary from 1996-97, Deputy Prime Minister from 1997-98 and to the Transport Secretary from 2001-03. He led the work on the UK Climate Change Bill in 2006 and in 2007, became a Director in Defra where he set up the UK's Adapting to Climate Change programme, oversaw the creation of the Canal & River Trust and directed policy on air quality and the natural environment.
In addition to serving as Chair of Maritime UK, Robin is a Member of the CBI's London Council, a trustee of Thames 21 and Chair of Estuary Services Ltd, a JV subsidiary with Peel Ports.
Job Titles:
- Head of People Programmes
- Policy and Research Manager
Scarlett joined Maritime UK following work as a Parliamentary Assistant, running an MP's Office in the House of Commons. She studied Politics at the University of Huddersfield. Through her work Scarlett has gained extensive experience with project management and stakeholder engagement.
Job Titles:
- Innovation Coordinator
- Programme Manager for Maritime Innovation
Sheldon joined Maritime UK following a varied career focussed on technology and innovation, in scientific publishing, for the South West Regional Development Agency and latterly Plymouth City Council where he helped establish innovation projects bringing together government, industry and academia. For the last six years Sheldon has led the development of the Maritime UK South West Cluster.
As Programme Manager for Maritime Innovation, Sheldon is tasked with increasing collaborative R&D, enabling cross fertilisation of ideas from other sectors. As part of this work Sheldon provides secretariat to the Technology Innovation Group to help deliver the innovation ambitions within Maritime 2050.
Sheldon's work base is at the Oceansgate Enterprise Zone Plymouth.
Job Titles:
- Programme Manager
- Sustainability Skills Manager
Simon joined Maritime UK following a varied career working in on the ground political campaigning, both as a constituency and regional campaign manager and latterly head of UK office for a Member of the European Parliament. He studied History and Politics (BA Hons) at the University of Warwick.
As Programme Manager, Simon is responsible for delivering Maritime UK's Regional Cluster Development Programme, sharing knowledge and best practice in the development of existing, and the creation of new, regional cluster organisations across the UK. He serves as Secretary to the Regional Council.
Simon is based at the Maritime Knowledge Hub in Birkenhead.
Job Titles:
- Head of Stakeholder Engagement
- Head of Stakeholder Engagement / Head of Stakeholder Engagement
- Programme Manager ( Regional Cluster Development Programme )
A serving Communications and Information Systems Officer in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Steve is currently on secondment to Maritime UK.
Prior to his seagoing career Steve spent much of his early life in the hospitality industry which subsequently led him to his first step afloat as a Steward for Stena Line in the early 90's. A desire to move into the technical field he then applied to the RFA as a Communications Rating and underwent initial training at HMS Collingwood, receiving the course award for Outstanding Contribution on completion.
Promoted to officer in 2005, Steve has served on board numerous RFAs conducting core roles replenishing National and NATO units, carrying out counter-narcotics operations, piracy interdiction, humanitarian and disaster relief tasking and amphibious operations.
In 2015 he moved ashore to the Afloat Support division in NCHQ as head of the CIS specialisation overseeing CIS capability and developing the branch's strategic direction. Awarded the Commodore RFA's award for Outstanding Achievement in 2021, Steve has now taken up the role of Team Coordinator & Stakeholder Engagement for Maritime UK, responsible for supporting the secretariat in delivery of activity against Maritime UK's strategic plan and maintaining stakeholder engagement with the sector.
Steve is based at 30 Park Street in London.
Suzanne joined Maritime UK in September 2023, having previously worked as Office Manager at Mersey Maritime.
Tom is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Mission to Seafarers. Tom has over 40 years' experience in the maritime sector, including several years as Marine Director at Lloyds Register. His most recent full-time role was with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Europe, as Secretary General, based in Brussels. The first part of Tom's career was in the container shipping and ports industry with P&O and NYK.
He also is a member of the UK Chamber of Shipping Supervisory Board, the Lloyd's List Editorial Board and the Council of RINA (Royal Institution of Naval Architects).
Highly regarded within the maritime industry, Tom has featured several times in the Lloyd's List Top 100 People in Global Shipping. He served on the UK DfT expert panel for the Maritime Growth Study and the Maritime 2050 report.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Technology and Innovation Group )