Speaking and events for maritime audiences
I speak at maritime events, conferences, colleges and industry forums on the people issues the sector can no longer afford to ignore.
From SASH prevention and response, to retention, culture, leadership, generational friction and women in maritime, my sessions are grounded in real industry experience and designed to leave people thinking differently — and acting differently too.
This is not generic conference filler.
It is practical, straight-talking input shaped by lived maritime experience, senior leadership insight and a deep understanding of the human issues sitting underneath performance, trust and retention. Retention does not usually fail because one person makes one bad decision.
It fails quietly, over time — through poor conversations, avoidable friction, weak leadership habits, unclear expectations, unchallenged behaviour and cultures that slowly wear good people down.
That is why I work with maritime organisations on the human issues sitting underneath retention, performance and trust.
This is not generic leadership development. It is practical, maritime-specific support designed to help organisations improve culture, strengthen communication, and prevent the loss of good people for preventable reasons.
Why this matters
Maritime is changing.
The expectations on leaders, managers, educators and organisations are changing too. Conversations that were once avoided or brushed off are now central to safety, retention, culture and reputation.
That includes how we handle sexual harassment. How we support cadets and junior talent. How we lead across generational differences. How we create cultures people actually want to stay in.
These are not side issues anymore.
They are business issues, leadership issues and human issues — and they need to be talked about properly.
That is where I come in.
Topics I speak on
My speaking and event work typically covers:
- SASH prevention and response in maritime settings
- The 2026 SASH training requirements and what they mean in practice
- Culture, communication and retention in maritime organisations
- The generational divide between senior leaders and younger entrants
- Women in maritime, visibility, confidence and progression
- Leadership, behaviour and accountability
- Practical culture change in environments where hierarchy matters
Sessions can be tailored to the audience, event theme and level of depth required.
Formats
My speaking and event work typically covers:
- Keynote talks
- Conference speaking
- Panel discussions
- Facilitated conversations
- Guest lectures
- Webinars and online events
- Workshops and interactive sessions
- Hosted interviews and moderated discussions
Some sessions are designed to inform. Others are designed to challenge, open up discussion or give audiences practical next steps they can take away immediately.
What audiences can expect
Maritime-specific
I do not speak about the sector from the outside. I understand the realities of shipboard life, operational pressure, hierarchy and the cultural habits that shape behaviour at sea and ashore.
Practical and grounded
I focus on what this looks like in real life, not just in theory. That means people leave with clearer thinking, stronger language and more confidence in what to do next.
Honest but accessible
A lot of the topics I speak on are uncomfortable. I handle them in a way that is direct, clear and engaging, without losing the humanity of the conversation.
Previous speaking and event work
Maritime industry workshops and seminars, 2015–2018
Worldwide workshops and seminars with shipping companies on reducing reliance on paper charts, transitioning to digital navigational products onboard, and introducing cybersecurity as an emerging operational risk.
Women in Shipping Summit, London, September 2019
Speaker at the first Women in Shipping Summit, presenting on finding your voice, being seen, resisting the pressure to become “one of the boys”, managing harassment, and building allies.
UN Smart Transport Summit, September 2020
Online speaker at the UN Smart Transport Summit, presenting on greener shipping and how vessels can reduce their carbon footprint by maximising technological efficiencies.
Constanţa Maritime University, Romania, September 2024
Facilitator for the international conference Mentoring – Potentials for the advancement of female careers in European academia and research and Gender Equality Plans, hosted at Constanţa Maritime University.
Upcoming: Spinnaker Maritime HR Conference, May 2026
Session topic: How to prepare for the new Sexual Harassment legislation — focusing on the manager’s viewpoint, the 2026 SASH requirements, UK expectations on prevention, and practical steps HR teams can build into policy, training and reporting routes.
Upcoming: Lloyd’s Register Foundation, May 2026
Featured guest for An evening with Emma Mark, discussing what motivated the creation of SASH at Sea and why maritime needs to move beyond policy and awareness into real behavioural change through realistic shipboard scenarios.
Who I speak to
- Maritime colleges and universities
- Shipping companies and crewing organisations
- Ports and maritime employers
- HR and people teams
- Women in maritime networks
- Industry bodies and conference organisers
If your audience needs a speaker who understands maritime from the inside and can speak credibly about culture, retention, leadership and SASH, I would love to hear from you.
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Photography by Finlay Twiss