What do you do?
As well as taking the lead on commercial issues for the company, due to my long and varied experience in marine, energy, port and water research and consultancy throughout the world, I am also Project Director on some large maritime technology and offshore wind development projects.
What drew you to working in this area?
After graduating in oceanography at Southampton University, I’ve worked in the consultancy sector pretty much my entire career.
Initially this was looking at pollutants in rivers and bathing water quality. Later, I returned to metocean science and the design of marine infrastructure, leading various teams at different large multidisciplinary consultancies in the UK.
Having previously worked with Ed and Jamie, founding directors at NASH Maritime, I was excited to support a start-up in an area that was novel to me.
Large global organisations are often not as nimble as small companies and whilst my previous work had concerned risk - compliance risk (water quality) and engineering risk (metocean studies), shipping risk was a new focus.
What kind of studies are you currently involved in?
As well as the commercial work I do (reviewing commercial position of all NASH Maritime proposals and projects, developing annual and quarterly budgets, and reviewing commercial performance), I’m currently involved in the development of a new port control tower in the middle east and supporting the design and installation of the various systems and services that that port requires.
I’m also project managing the shipping and navigation input to two large offshore wind farms in the UK and leading the development of a new procedure and associated navigation risk assessment for remotely controlled autonomous vessels.
What’s your favourite thing about the work you do?
There’s a couple of things. The roles I perform for the company give me the opportunity to use my different skills, apply my consultancy knowledge and continue to learn and grow.
The variety of work means I don’t get bored or feel I am doing the same thing. The projects are different sizes, located around the world and the pace/delivery is different each time.
I’ve also had the chance to work with different clients, port owner/operators, offshore wind developers, technology product providers, software developers and research organisations.
How does the work you do support NASH Maritime’s belief in better?
I naturally challenge how things are done and wonder if there are alternative ways. It’s not necessarily boredom that drives it, I’m just curious as to whether are other/better ways.
For example, I cycle to work (15 miles) and for the past 18 months I’ve found different routes every day. Maybe not entire routes but, I have consciously changed parts of it each time.
And in work, I’ve initiated a project to examine how we can harness the power of AI to accurately summarise large documents, providing our team with better information more quickly and our clients alternative routes to access what at times can be our very detailed technical deliverables.
What do you like best about working here?
In a nutshell, it’s the culture. At NASH Maritime, we have fun while getting serious things done. It might be called work but there’s always ways to make it enjoyable.
It’s also clear that the directors recognise that work must fit around your personal life and other responsibilities.
It’s so good to be able to bring your dog to work, cycle in and know that your bike will be safe and to be able to work from anywhere – home or office.
This kind of culture brings out the best in people and you can feel it when you’re in the office.
What phrase or word sums up NASH Maritime for you?
Doing serious work whilst having fun.
