Our people

SENIOR TEAM

Sara Baade

Sara joined the Society as CEO in September 2020, bringing with her a strong background in management and strategic policy, as well as extensive experience in leading an international welfare charity from her previous role as CEO of The Army Families Federation. Sara also became chair of The International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) in September 2022. Her career also includes working as a senior civil servant for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, a directorship at the charity UK Skills and substantial experience in investment banking.

Andrew Pitcher

Andrew qualified as a chartered certified accountant with Ernst & Young in 1988 and later moved to a smaller local firm. He was a company auditor in public practice for 14 years specialising mainly in owner managed businesses. As Director of Finance & Administration, Andrew is responsible for financial governance, human resources and facilities management. Andrew is also Company Secretary for Sailors' Society's UK group companies. He joined the Society in 1998.

Melanie Warman

A journalist for most of her career, Melanie Warman joined the Society in October 2015 as Director of Media and Advocacy. Having worked in newspapers, television and radio, Melanie spent some time in Brussels as Media Officer for the Conservative Party in Europe before working with a number of national and international brands on PR, marketing and reputation management.

TRUSTEES

Sailors' Society's Trustees provide governance and oversight to the Christian maritime charity. They lend support and advice to the senior leadership team, who are responsible for executing the mission and vision of the Society. They are also legally responsible for ensuring compliance with the expectations of the Charity Commission.

Our Trustees voluntarily contribute their time and come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including business and legal. Some bring experience of seafaring and together they offer a diverse range of skills.

The Trustees regularly review and comment on plans and performance, review any major issues bearing on the well-being of the organisation and its endeavours and decide important new strategic directions.

It is the Trustees’ responsibility to formally approve our budget, annual report and accounts and report to the Charity Commission on annual achievements of the charity and delivery of public benefit to the community we set out to serve.

A copy of Sailors' Society's annual accounts can be found here.

peter swift

Peter Swift’s career includes senior management, commercial and technical roles in the maritime and other international industries, which followed research and lecturing positions in engineering, marine transportation and economics. Having worked extensively in all five continents, his charity involvement today spans, among others: seafarer welfare, piracy and crisis response, maritime knowledge awareness, and the promotion of quality in ships and their management. Peter recently received the 2023 SAFETY4SEA Leadership Award

catharine bacon

Catharine Bacon retired from Cargill in 2016, having been a dry cargo broker, principal, and office manager in London. She has also been a member of the Baltic Exchange, she served as a director, on the Council and was trustee of the Baltic Exchange Charitable Foundation until July 2023. Catharine lectures in dry cargo chartering and has assisted in an expert witness case. She joined the Sailors’ Society board in 2018 – 15 years after she first got involved with the charity, completing the three peaks challenge and helping at subsequent events.

peter goldberg

Peter Goldberg served at sea with Port Line, Shell and British Rail Ferries, he left in 1966 as Chief Officer with Masters Certificate. He founded a computer bureau, which he sold in 1979. Peter founded a garden products business, which he sold in 2009 to retire. He became a Trustee of Sailors’ Society in 2004 and currently chairs the development committee.

Kay Penney

Kay Penney has been an HR leader across a number of sectors and companies, and has operated in countries across the Far East, Europe, CIS countries and Africa. Kay is currently Group HR Director at NWG (Northumbrian Water Group), but she has worked in leadership roles at Associated British Ports, Premier Oil, AES Corporation and Invensys among others. Her board experience includes membership of the Berkshire Learning and Skills Council and the Port Authority for Milford Haven. Kay became a Sailors’ Society trustee in 2018.

Joshua Hutchinson

A former Royal Marine Commando, Joshua Hutchinson transitioned to the Ministry of Defence as a civilian in 2013 to cover technology and communications activities. Since 2014 Joshua has working in the maritime industry as a vessel owner, and operator and more recently focusing on maritime risk helping lead Ambrey’s risk strategy as the Managing Director for Intelligence and Risk.

Michele White

Michele is a UK qualified solicitor and company secretary. Her career in the maritime sector spans over 30 years including working in the marine litigation department of Norton Rose Fulbright and the UK P&I Club, where she was involved in both claims and senior management roles. From 2008 to 2022, she was the General Counsel and Company Secretary for INTERTANKO where she oversaw the corporate governance of the organisation. Michele was responsible for external advice and advocacy on all aspects of maritime law, including advising on the many challenges faced by seafarers. She became a Sailors' Society Trustee in June 2022.

Jon Holloway

Jon Holloway has over 35 years of experience in the shipping industry, including on board oil and gas carriers up to the rank of Chief Engineer. Since coming ashore in 2000, he has held various shipping technical, policy and regulatory affairs roles with two oil and gas majors, and within a shipping industry NGO with representation at the IMO. In January 2024 he became the Maritime Programme Manager for the Climate Champions Team, working on behalf of the United Nations High Level Climate Champions in support of the delivery of the Paris Agreement 1.5C goals. He is a Chartered Marine Engineer and engaged with the technical activities of the IMarEST, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, and an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute.

Patron and Presidents

Queen Elizabeth II was our Patron for 70 years.

We share the deep sadness at her passing with those in the maritime industry across the globe and extend our heartfelt sympathies to the entire Royal Family for the loss of a beloved mother and grandmother, and to the nation for the loss of their Queen.

Our Vice Presidents are The Free Churches’ Moderator for England, The Right Reverend the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, The Right Reverend and Right Honorable the Lord Bishop of London, The Right Reverend the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Alastair Fischbacher, Captain Reg Kelso MBE, Ross Sinclair FCA and Frank Taylor BA CA J DIP MA.

“Sailors’ Society is here today, as it has been for the past two centuries, to care for those who work on our seas, and upon whom we all rely.”

Her Majesty The Queen, Sailors’ Society Patron - 1926-2022

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