We extend our thanks once again as we look back on another hugely successful, award-winning year of safeguarding Britain’s trade gateway for the benefit of all.
In 2025 we have retained our position as Britain’s premier choice for container trade – not only competing with other UK and European ports, but thriving with the arrival of valued new customers such as ONE and Yang Ming, alongside increased calls from major shipping lines, such as Evergreen and MSC.
Our team have worked incredibly hard in partnership with the team at the Port of Felixstowe to bring in these new customers, signalling an exciting new era for the Haven. Our channel deepening programme also continues to pay dividends, boosting the Haven’s reputation among global shipping lines by allowing us to welcome the world’s largest and deepest vessels.
In 2025 our colleagues got the recognition they deserve in a great year for awards – featuring at multiple finals and winning Inclusive Workplace of the Year at the British Ports Association Awards. Their brilliant efforts, day in, day out continue to make Harwich Haven Authority a great place to work.
Our social value delivery has also been another source of great pride. In 2025 we generated more than £6.7 million of social value to the local area through initiatives like our Coastal Discoveries sessions in partnership with Boskalis Westminster.
We also continue to make good progress towards our net zero target as we implement new, positive changes to the way we work. I am sure we will be sharing even more positive news on this front next year as our 2030 target nears.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow board members as we look back on another brilliant year – as well as our former CEO, Sarah West, for her incredible work in leading Harwich Haven Authority throughout her tenure, and departing Board member Flemming Dalgaard for his valuable input over the last seven years.
I hope you enjoy reading this year’s report and look forward to hearing your thoughts on a successful 2025.
Chair of the Board
Joined January 2021
Debbie 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 is currently Managing Director at Loram UK Ltd having previously held the role of Northern City Executive at 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 gender dynamics in the UK Rail Industry.
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.
Chief Executive, Executive Director
Joined January 2023
Sarah joined Harwich Haven Authority on the 1st January 2023, following a successful 20-year career with the Royal Navy, becoming the first woman to command a UK warship. Sarah has held numerous strategic leadership roles within the ports industry.
She was previously Chief Operations Officer at the Port of Dover, and prior to joining the Authority, she oversaw the operational implementation of the approx. £400 million new South Harbour at the Port of Aberdeen.
As a champion and promoter of diversity and inclusion, Sarah was an inaugural member of the highly successful Maritime UK’s Women in Maritime Network.
Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director
Joined August 2017
Jake joined Harwich Haven Authority in August 2017. He has over 25 years’ experience in the shipping industry and prior to joining the Authority he was a strategic advisor to the anti-bribery business TRACE International. Starting his career in the maritime industry working for Hill Samuel Merchant Bank, he worked for, and advised Wallems, Escombe Lambert, Gellaty, Lambert Brothers, Lavino Shipping and the Wescol group. Jake has also held senior positions with Gearbulk Group as their Chief Risk Officer and with Inchcape Shipping Services UK as Chief Financial Officer. He holds an MBA from Manchester Business School and is a chartered accountant and a qualified corporate treasurer. He also has a BA Hons in History and Politics from Keele University.
Non-Executive Director
Joined October 2024 | Chair: Safety, Health, Environment & 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 graduating from a crew member in his much younger years to his current roles as both Chairman of the Station and a Launch Authority.
Non-Executive Director
Joined November 2018 | Member of the Audit and Risk Committee
Flemming is an experienced Chief Executive and Non-Executive Director with over 30 years' of experience in the maritime industry and logistics sector. Flemming started his career with A.P.Moller-Maersk in 1986 and spent 21 years there in a variety of roles, including Deputy Managing Director Maersk Line Germany, Managing Director of Maersk Line UK & Ireland as well Group Vice President WOC. He spent a further eight years with DP World as CEO for the Europe and Russia region followed by the position as Group Senior Vice President responsible for Global Strategy. His last full time role was as Chief Executive of Gultainer, responsible for all port, trucking and logistics activities. He is a Chartered Fellow of the IOD and a Chartered Fellow of the UK Institute for Logistics and Transport. He is also an adviser to IFM Investors, an investment adviser to the APMC Africa infrastructure fund and a Non-Executive Director of Shipping SDK.
Non-Executive Director
Joined January 2022 | Member: Remuneration & Nominations Committee. Member: Safety, Health, Environment & Security Committee
Jon 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!
Non-Executive Director
Joined January 2019 to end March 2025 | Member: Remuneration and Nominations Committee
Lin Homer was the Former Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs, a role she undertook from January 2012 until her retirement in April 2016. Prior to this she was the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport and Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency at the Home Office. Lin also held roles as Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council (2002-2005) and Suffolk County Council (1998-2002). Lin is a qualified lawyer, and held a number of Non-Executive roles in the not for profit and charity sector. Lin was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath in the January 2016 New Year’s Honours for public services, particularly to public finance.
Non-Executive Director
Joined January 2022 | Chair, 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.
Non-Executive Director
Joined January 2021 | Chair: Remuneration & Nominations Committee. Member: 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.
Non-Executive Director (Associate)
Joined January 2025 | Member: Remuneration & 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 is currently Chair of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for England, 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.
Non-Executive Director
Joined April 2025 | Member: Safety, Health, Environment & 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.
