Debbie Francis OBE

Chair of the Board

Joined January 2021

Debbie Francis has over 30 years of experience, both in the UK and overseas, across a range of industries from IT to infrastructure maintenance to rail. She previously held roles as Managing Director for Loram UK Ltd, Northern City Executive for Arcadis, Managing Director of DRS, a major rail freight business, and before that, four years as LNW Route Finance and Commercial Director with Network Rail.  As well as being Chair of the Harwich Haven Authority Board, Debbie holds several non-executive Director roles including that of Chair of the Halle Concerts Society. In 2020 she was awarded an OBE for services to women in the rail industry and is currently working on a professional doctorate to try to understand more about the gender dynamics in the UK Rail Industry.

Alan Dowokpor

Deputy Chair

Joined January 2022 | Member of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee and Audit and Risk Committee

Alan is a senior business, strategic, technical and operations leader with over 30 years international experience in the oil and gas industry. At BP and Tullow Oil, he led teams to deliver world class performance on financially and technically complex, large scale projects in challenging environments. He has held the positions of Global Head of Environment, Social Responsibility and External Affairs, Global Head of Well Engineering and Operations, and Business Manager for the North and West Africa region. Alan has worked in a variety of operational and management positions, including assignments in Ghana, Angola, Norway, Algeria, China, Vietnam, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the UK. He graduated with a Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering from Imperial College London. Alan is also a member of the board of directors for BW Energy (BWE). BWE is an exploration and production (E&P) company involved in the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas fields, and holds majority interests in hydrocarbon licenses in Gabon, Brazil, and Namibia.

Ian Shipperley CBE

Joined April 2025 | Member of the Safety, Health, Environment and Security Committee

Ian joined the Royal Navy to pursue a career as a professional engineer. From disaster relief to combat operations, he spent much of his 39-year career deployed globally, both at sea and ashore. Latterly, he specialised in the procurement and support of the Navy’s ships and submarines leading to his final appointment as Commanding Officer of the largest naval base in Western Europe at Devonport, Plymouth. Since leaving the Navy, Ian has followed a portfolio career as a Non-Executive Director, bringing his experience in risk management, port operations, infrastructure development, and governance to the trust and municipal ports sectors. He has recently completed a 6-year term as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Milford Haven Port Authority, the UK’s principal energy port, where he helped to diversify its revenue streams whilst maintaining a keen focus on core business. He sits as an independent member of Salcombe Harbour Board in Devon and takes a close interest in port management within sensitive wildlife habitats. Ian has strong family ties to Essex and spent his formative years sailing the waters of the East Coast.

Jerry Wedge

Joined January 2022 | Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee

After gaining an economics degree at Manchester University, Jerry went into business, firstly with a ready-mix concrete firm, before moving onto Kirklees Council as Finance Manager. After an MBA at Heriot Watt University he moved to Wigan Borough Council as Finance Director, before being appointed the Resources Director of the Disabilities Rights Commission, dealing with all areas of the Disability Discrimination Act. He joined Trinity House (lighthouses and navigational aids for shipping) in February 2002, as Director of Finance & Support Services. Since taking early retirement from Trinity House in 2016 he has worked part-time as the Town Clerk for Frinton and Walton Town Council. He has also held various non-executive roles with the NHS, Financial Reporting Council and the Bar Council as well as being the Treasurer of the Royal Alfred maritime charity. He lives in Frinton, Essex with his wife and two sons.

Nicola Hancock

Joined January 2021 | Chair of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee and Member of the Audit & Risk Committee

Nicola is a senior digital and technology leader with extensive experience across global organisations in the UK and internationally. She is currently Vice President of Technology, Corporate Functions at Haleon, where she leads technology strategy and delivery across Finance, HR, Business Services and Sustainability, driving modernisation, data capability and secure operations to support business performance. Previously, Nicola held senior leadership roles at Shell and Royal Mail Group and began her career at Ernst & Young. She brings strong expertise in digital transformation, technology, risk and organisational effectiveness.

Jonathan Gibbard

Joined January 2022 | Member of the Safety, Health, Environment and Security Committee and Remuneration and Nominations Committee

Jonathan is an environmental professional with 20 years’ experience. Jon runs his own company, Empowered2, providing leadership coaching, development and strategic support and was formally part of the senior leadership team for Ricardo, a leading international environmental and engineering consultancy. Jon was responsible for a team of ~200 people delivering a range of environmental solutions to public and private clients around the world – particularly in energy decarbonisation. He is dedicated to developing people and leadership, creating a high-performance culture and helping organisations become more sustainable. Jon is Chair of the Commercialisation Committee and has a BSc in Marine Geography from Cardiff University and an Exec MBA from Henley Business School. He is an enthusiastic amateur sailor and in 2007 completed 2 legs of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, taking responsibility as Watch leader for one of those legs, he loves being out at sea!

Mike McCartain OBE

Joined October 2024 | Chair of the Safety, Health, Environment and Security Committee

Mike has over 40 years of maritime experience from his formative years in the Royal Navy. From an impressive helicopter flying career in the Fleet Air Arm to commanding three warships and the Navy’s Sea Training organisation in Devonport he has also, since leaving the service in 2012, been responsible for the operational programme and safety of the Cunard and P&O cruise ship fleet. More recently, he has worked in the UK Port Industry as the Marine and Safety Director for Associated British Ports, leading ABP and its dredger fleet UKD, to become one of the safest port operators in the UK sector by implementing an innovative safety culture programme across the company, which has substantially improved outcomes and reduced accident rates. He is a ‘Younger Brother’ of Trinity House and a very strong supporter of the RNLI at his local lifeboat station on the south coast.

Paula Carter 

Joined January 2025 | Member of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee

Paula worked for 30 years in Broadcasting, and was Director of Planning and Board Secretary at Channel 4 where she was responsible for all corporate planning. Before joining Channel 4 in 2007 she held senior policy and management roles at the BBC and ITV and worked as an advisor to various government departments, regulators and agencies on communications matters including the Joint Parliamentary Committee that scrutinised the Communications Bill in 2002. Paula was a Non Executive Director of the Port of London Authority from 2018-2024 and Vice Chairman from 2023-2024, as well as Non Executive Director of the productivity movement “Be the Business” from 2017-2024. She was Chair of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for England from 2019-2025, Member of the British Transport Police Authority, Chair and Governance and Non Executive Director of the RFU, a member of the LTA’s Disciplinary Panel and a Council Member, as well as being a magistrate on the South East London Bench.