Board of Directors

Chairman of the Association

Don serves as Chair of the Club. He has over 30 years of experience in international shipping and has held senior executive positions in the marine sector. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, he brings to the Club Board in depth knowledge of the marine sector in Canada and abroad including offshore oil and gas, subsea construction, trans-ocean cable installation and maintenance, salvage, tug operations and the passenger sector. 

Don has extensive board experience serving on boards in the commercial, educational, and charitable sectors.  Previously he chaired the Club’s Finance Committee and has extensive corporate finance and investment experience. In addition to chairing the Club’s main Board he sits on the Audit and Risk, Finance and Renumeration subcommittees. Don is a trained lawyer with expertise in charterparty interpretation, commercial transactions, marine insurance, salvage, vessel sale and purchase, marine crewing and industrial relations, shipyard contracting and dispute resolution.

Vice Chairman of the Association

Jan is Chief Executive Officer at Ultranav and is also the Executive Director of Ultratug, Chile. He brings to the Board specialist knowledge in container, tanker, dry and tug operations.

Jan is based in Chile but has experience in cargo operations across six continents. Jan has a Master's in Business Administration from Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago.

As well as serving the Club’s Members on the Association’s Board, Jan also serves on the Finance Committee.

Director of the Association

Ali is President of Sanmar Shipyards and brings to the Board extensive experience in the construction and operation of tugboats as well as harbour towage and pilotage services.

Based in Turkey, Ali is passionate about innovation and technology and has led the development of several pioneering vessels including the world’s first LNG powered tugboats and remote operated commercial vessel.

Ali has a Master's Degree in Marine Engineering from the Istanbul Technical University Department of Marine Engineering and is a Board Member of the Turkish Environmental Protection Foundation.

Director of the Association

David has over 40 years’ experience in ferry operations and served as General Manager of the Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Co Ltd for 25 years, until his retirement in 2021.

Based in Hong Kong, David has a Doctorate in Business Administration and a Master's in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong as well as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors.

David also serves the Club’s Members on the Finance Committee.

Director of the Association

Theo Kailis is an Executive Director of Austral Fisheries, West Australia, and brings to the Club’s Board huge experience in the global fishing vessel sector, which remains a very significant vessel sector to the Club, plus his knowledge of the Australian market.

Theo is focused on sustainable fishing, with his business being certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.

Director of the Association

Mark is the Executive Director of the Club’s longstanding Member, Tian San Shipping. Mark’s business is  based in Singapore and has a fleet covering passenger ferries, Ro-Ro barges and workboats.

Mark is also Co-Chair of the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore’s Harbour Craft Safety Work Group and is  Member of the Singapore National Maritime Safety at Sea Council.

Director of the Association

Kathy brings to the Board extensive experience across a wide range of business sectors including telecommunications, ports and logistics, infrastructure and insurance. Based in New Zealand, Kathy served as a CFO for over 20 years, and has 25 years’ experience in both Executive and Non-Executive Director roles in New Zealand and offshore entities.

Kathy is a Fellow (FCA) of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and is a Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

As well as serving the Club’s Members on the Association’s Board Kathy is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Director of the Association

Having worked for international seafarer support service Mission to Seafarers since 1999, Stephen currently serves as both Senior Chaplain, Hong Kong, and as Regional Director for East Asia for the organisation.

Stephen has experience working with seafarers across all four corners of the world and has been posted to missions in the UAE, Asia and Europe, the latter being where he studied Maritime Law and Policy at Erasmus University, Rotterdam.

As well as serving the Club’s Members on the Association’s Board, Stephen also serves on the Finance Committee.

Director of the Association

Eline is co-owner and a senior executive of the Club’s longstanding Member Multraship. Eline’s business is based in Terneuzen in The Netherlands and has a fleet providing harbour and terminal towage, sea towage, support to the offshore energy and marine infrastructure industries and emergency response salvage.

Eline is an active member of the International Salvage Union where she is chair of its Salvage sub-Committee. She also engages with other shipping industry bodies such as the European Tug Owners’ Association and the Royal Dutch Shipowners Association.

Director of the Association

Phil brings to the Board over 30 years’ experience in the onshore contracting, offshore marine contracting and port management industries both in the UK and overseas with allied engineering and manufacturing knowledge.

Phil’s business was based in the United Arab Emirates, as the single shareholder of OP Maritime Services DMCEST and a shareholder and Director of Ocean Power Holdings.

Phil served as the Club’s Chairman for eight years until 2022. He continues to serve Club Members as Chair of the Finance Committee and as a member of both the Audit and Risk and Remuneration Committees.

Director of the Association

Siana is President Director of the Club’s longstanding Member PT Berlian Laju Tanker. Siana’s business is based in Indonesia and has a fleet of Oil/Chemical Tankers, LPG Carriers and LNG Carriers. Siana is a member of a number of marine related committees and boards, including the Indonesian Advisory Committee of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects and the Indonesia Committee of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, ClassNK.

Director of the Association

Simon is the recently retired Chief Executive of the Association’s management company, The Shipowners’ Protection Limited. Simon served the Club for 32 years, including eight years as CEO. He has a wealth of P&I experience and of all aspects of the business that stems from the Club’s core P&I service, including knowledge in the areas of (re) insurance and insurance broking.

Director of the Association

Peter has over 40 years of insurance and reinsurance experience and most recently was a Managing Director and Leader of Special Lines at Swiss Re. Peter's specialisms included marine, aviation and agriculture business as well as credit and surety and engineering.

Peter is based in the UK but has spent significant time in other locations including New York, HK, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai and Tokyo. Peter commenced his career in 1979 on a marine syndicate at Lloyd's and has extensive underwriting, claims and risk management experience in all classes of marine insurance. Peter is also a Vice President of the Insurance Institute of London and previously chaired the London Reinsurance Committee.

As well as serving the Club’s Members on the Association’s Board, Peter also serves on the Audit and Risk Committee.

Director of the Association

Yves is a Partner and co-founder of The Directors’ Office, the leading practice of independent directors in Luxembourg. Having previously served as Chief Executive of Fortis Investment Management Luxembourg, Yves brings to the Board extensive knowledge in finance, investments and risk management.

Yves has a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Aix-Marseille and continues to teach and holds chairs at several universities and business schools, including the University of Luxembourg and the Institut de Formation Bancaire.

As well as serving the Club’s Members on the Association’s Board, Yves also serves on the Finance and Audit and Risk Committees.

Director of the Association

Mark is Managing Director of the Whitaker Group and brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge in tanker operations.

Mark has extensive experience of overseeing operations in the UK and Northern Europe, but has also operated out of Australia, Africa and South America.

As well as serving the Club’s Members on the Association’s Board Mark is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and serves as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.