Our Judges are tailored and matched for their areas of expertise to each award category, ensuring our judging is of the highest possible standard.

Richard Clayton (Chairman)

Chairman, Maritime Foundation and former Chief Correspondent, Informa/Lloyd's List.

David Botwinik

American-based photographer.

Debbie Cavaldoro

Chief Executive, Port Skills and Safety.

Ella du Breuil

Bio to follow.

David Hall

Secretary, Maritime Foundation.

Captain Jon Holroyd RN (ex officio RN)

Strategic Communications, MOD.

Glenys Jackson OBE

Former Director, Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB).

John Johnson-Allen

Maritime Historian and Writer. Chair at the Institute of Seamanship and The Wellington Trust.

Julia Jones

Writer, Publisher, and Campaigner, Golden Duck

Andrew Linington

Former Director of Communications, Nautilus International.

Kathy Mansfield

Kathy sails in Scotland, photographs in Europe, America and beyond, and writes for magazines such as Watercraft, Country Life, Classic Boat in the UK; Cruising World and WoodenBoat in the U.S. plus magazines in France and Italy. Her photographs have been used as book and magazine covers, in exhibitions and posters.

Julian Parker OBE (Past Chairman)

Julian joined the Blue Funnel Line as a Midshipman in 1958. He gained his Master Mariner’s Certificate in 1967 and a BSc in Nautical Science in 1970. Following further study, he was appointed Group Training Manager of the Ocean Group a year later. In 1973 he became Secretary of the newly formed Nautical Institute, a post which he held for thirty years before taking partial retirement and taking on the responsibility of the director of publishing. Julian retired in 2008 and was awarded an OBE for services to shipping in 2001.

Dr David Parry

Bio to follow.

Andy Poulastides

Filmmaker, Producer and 3D Modeller, Three-Edged Productions.

Alison Rayden

Freelance Journalist.

TBC (ex officio CoS)

Director of Communications, UK Chamber of Shipping.

Rob White

Rob is a well-known figure in broadcasting firstly at the BBC and then for over 20 years at ITN where he was part of the production team reporting from around the globe covering major news stories such as the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the Rwandan Massacre and 9/11. He was, in particular, an award-winning producer of scientific news and has worked with all the major names in British Television news. Rob now freelances in all forms of production.