Speaker Biographies - Ocean Careers 2021
Lorna Wagner, Programme Manager (Careers and Outreach), Maritime UK
Lorna Wagner joined Maritime UK from an FE College in Eastleigh in Hampshire where she managed the support services for six years including being the Careers Leader. Eastleigh was the first Technical and Professional College in the County to achieve the coveted Quality in Careers Standard under her tenure. She is a qualified careers adviser and a passionate advocate for helping people reach their potential through successful and satisfying careers.
As the Programme Manager (Careers and Outreach) she has responsibility for leading the careers activity of Maritime UK, working with employers and educators to promote the many exciting opportunities in the sector. She is the driving forward the programme of activity and supporting resources in a collaborative and coordinated way sharing best practice from around the regions. Lorna is based at Solent LEP in Portsmouth.
Sixteen months into the role Lorna has developed the national careers programme and published the strategic plan. We have established a careers professionals’ network with over 380 members (nationwide) and an Industry Ambassadors network of over 120 maritime people, who have delivered maritime careers information to over 16,000 children!
The programme is gaining momentum and support from the sector, and a good level of interest form educators with outreach work happening in primary, secondary, FE and Universities. This would not be possible without the active participation from Industry professionals, and her presentation will focus on the breadth of the sector, the different strands of the careers programme, as well as how maritime industry can get involved in the programme.
Daniel Stoker FRGS, Head of Technical, Policy & Content, IMarEST, UK
Daniel is responsible for coordinating and managing the technical, policy & content activities for the IMarEST membership. His role incorporates providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas, practices and opportunities to influence the development of policy and legislation at local, regional and global levels. He also oversees the IMarEST contribution to the work of a number of Intergovernmental Organisations, including the International Maritime Organization, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. A former marine biologist, who graduated from the University of Southampton and helped out as an undergraduate at the first ever Ocean Business in 2007, he is passionate about supporting and enabling early career professionals and developing activities that address some of the key challenges facing marine and maritime science, engineering and technology.
Emma Johnson, Business Development Director, Society of Maritime Industries, UK
Emma has a BSc in Marine Biology and an MSc in Marine and Aquatic Biology from the University of Portsmouth. Her BSc dissertation was on Artificial Coral Reefs in Thailand and for her MSC Thesis she worked with MDL Marinas and Blue Marine Foundation on the native oyster restoration project in the Solent. During the MSc a range of topics from Aquaculture to Subtidal Marine Ecology were also covered. After leaving university she got a job at a marine sensor manufacturing company where she specialised in sales and marketing of Maritime products in particular compliance monitoring of wash water from exhaust gas scrubber systems and ballast water discharge. During this time, she worked closely with international agents and customers as well as representing the company at conferences, exhibitions and in presentations and panel debates. She is now a Business Development Director at the Society of Maritime Industries, focusing on Marine Science and Technology and Maritime Autonomous Systems.
Gordon Meadow, CEO and Founder, SeabotXR, UK
Gordon Meadow is committed to the long-term development of Maritime Education and Training and the digital transformation of the maritime workforce’s transition to the connected mariner. He is Chair of the IMarEST’s Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) Special Interest Group, Co-Chair of the International Standards Working Group, MASSPeople, and Chair of the UK MASRWG, People Skills and Ethics Committee. Gordon is CEO and Founder at SeaBot, a leading agency for next generation learning products and services with a focus on the shift to automation.
Carl Lafferty, Survey and Positioning Manager, First Marine Solutions, UK
After moving to Aberdeen from South London, Carl started his offshore career some 15 years ago as a Trainee Survey Engineer for a small marine consultancy called Trident Offshore, better known today as Intermoor.
Carl then went on to work offshore in the role of Survey Party Chief on various positioning and construction projects across the globe.
In 2013 Carl decided a career in project management was where his expertise would be best utilised. Accepting a role as Project Manager, at the world’s leading geodata specialist Fugro, and quickly found himself supporting energy industry giants Shell, BP and Total for their positioning, construction and ROV operations.
After 7 years of project management, an opportunity arose to grow his management and leadership skills in the role of Project Delivery Manager where he was directly responsible for supporting 5 project managers and 2 project surveyors in the day to day success of the positioning and construction support service line.
Some of Carls career highlights include in the world’s first remote FPSO heading control operation and the provision of survey services for the installation of the first turbine for the Kincardine floating offshore windfarm.
Today Carl is the Survey and Positioning Manager for First Marine Solutions. Responsible for execution his business strategy and leading a team of support staff to undertake a range of survey, positioning and construction operations both on and offshore.
Lennon Jones, Graduate Business Coordinator, Subsea Technology & Rentals
Lennon has recently graduated from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen with a BA in Law and Management and has transitioned into the Energy Sector earlier this year, taking on the role of Graduate Business Coordinator at Subsea Technology & Rentals. Six months into Lennon’s Graduate role, Lennon is undergoing extensive commercial training where he is gaining an understanding of Oil & Gas contract law, commercial contracts and tenders as well as supporting our marketing and QHSE activities.
As an individual, Lennon relishes in any challenge presented to him and to certainly transition into a different industry presents its own challenges. With Lennon’s determination and ability to work as part of an international team and strong work ethic, this is a key example of how the Offshore Energy Industry remains diverse and presents opportunities to all.
Gail Clark, Managing Director of OceanIQ
Gail began working with Global Marine Group as part of the marketing team from 1996 to 2001. Following several years working in other sectors including professional services, retail and manufacturing in both large corporations as well as small start-ups, she returned to Global Marine Group in 2014 heading up marketing activities across the Group.
With the formation of the fourth business unit, OceanIQ, Gail has assumed the role of Managing Director, taking to market the company’s rich wealth of subsea data and route engineering consultancy services. She also is currently sitting on RenewableUK’s Shadow Board bringing a passion for collaborative working and contributing to the net zero conversation.
Gail completed a BA (Hons) Business Studies degree, subsequently completing a postgraduate diploma in Marketing.
Frances McNally, Co-Founder, ReelHires, UK
Frances started her career in philanthropic management and academic research, but she steered into career development from a love of people and a desire to disrupt the traditional recruitment industry. Having worked for a range of startups on coaching, talent sourcing and peopletech products, Frances decided to create her own service with a distinct purpose and smart solutions. Together with Co-Founder RJ Lincoln, a former commercial fisherman turned culture wizard, ReelHires was built to elevate maritime jobs to their rightful position as the best choice for environmentally forward careers. Frances and RJ are also passionate about future-of-work practices and collaborating with clients on flexibility policies.
Ben Ayres, Chief Surveyor at Fugro GB Marine Ltd
Ben began his survey career as a hydrographic surveyor with Gardline Geosurvey from 2014-2016 after graduating from Plymouth University in Ocean Exploration. Ben then went on to join the geophysics team within Fugro, also as a hydrographic surveyor. Undertaking shallow water geophysical surveys in all manner of disciplines, from unexploded ordnance surveys, ultra-high resolution seismic, and MCA hydrography projects. Primarily in the offshore renewables market. Today, Ben is the Chief Surveyor within the Portchester office with a strong presence in technical management and support of data acquisition systems globally, while working remotely from his home in Cornwall and attending vessels for calibrations, mobilisations, technical troubleshooting and the training of surveyors.
