Harwich Haven Authority is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Shipperley as a Non-Executive Director. Ian brings a wealth of experience to the Board from a long career spent in the maritime, trust port and public sectors. Ian will be joining as a member of the Safety, Health, Environment and Security (SHES) Committee and will officially join the organisation on 1 April 2025. 

On his appointment, Ian said, “I am delighted to be joining Harwich Haven Authority as a Non-Executive Director. Born and raised in Essex, I’m excited to not only be giving back to my local community, but also sharing the knowledge and insights I’ve developed from my time in the Royal Navy and maritime sector with the team.” 

Ian spent his formative years sailing the waters of the East Coast before joining the Royal Navy to pursue a career as a professional engineer. From disaster relief to combat operations, Ian spent much of the first half of his 39-year career deployed globally, both at sea and ashore. In later years, 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 the port 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.

Commenting on the appointment, Debbie Francis OBE, Chair of the Board at Harwich Haven Authority, said, “We are delighted to welcome Ian Shipperley to our Board. His significant experience in the maritime sector, particularly his prior appointments which had a focus on corporate governance, risk management and the trust port model, will be instrumental in navigating the way forward at Harwich Haven Authority.” 

With a family base in Essex, Ian is looking forward to returning to his East Anglian roots and to joining the high performing team at Harwich Haven Authority.