Safe, seen, supported – seafaring in a changing world 

Pertunia Banda 2nd Navigational Officer (Africa only)

South African 2^nd Navigational Officer – Pertunia Ayanda Banda works aboard international cargo ships. She has developed her career navigating the world’s busiest sea routes while maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational excellence at sea. She has a deep enthusiasm for the maritime industry; her involvement is a reflection of both her personal aspirations and her desire to make a significant contribution to the progress of women in maritime leadership and sailing.

Pertunia offers first-hand knowledge on the potential in the international maritime environment, the difficulties experienced by female officers on board, trainees, cadets and general life at sea. She is devoted to encouraging the upcoming generation of seafarers, to seek professions in the industry by demonstrating how tenacity, self-control, and passion can shatter stereotypes and create new opportunities.

Pertunia is currently furthering her studies in Nautical studies and in progress with her Class II Chief Mate Licence.

Dr Michael C Morales, President, MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy (South East Asia only)

Dr. Michael C. Morales, Ph.D is the second president of MOL Magsaysay Maritime Academy. His term officially started in November 2019. 

Dr Morales was commissioned as a naval officer in 1983 and served with the Philippine Coast Guard. In 1986, he volunteered for instructor duty at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and joined its permanent military faculty.  

As a computer scientist, he developed a network-based marine radar simulator in the 1990s that was used to teach naval and maritime cadets how to navigate by radar. 

As an educator, he spearheaded educational reforms.  

As a senior research fellow of the Japan Foundation, he studied training at the military academies of Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. He later continued his study as a Fulbright visiting scholar at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. 

President Morales retired from the military in 2007 with the rank of Colonel. He continues to provide leadership training and consultancy for the Philippine Military Academy, Philippine National Police Academy and other government agencies. 

He was awarded as one of the country’s outstanding teachers by the Metrobank Foundation. He is also a recipient of The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers (TOPS) award. 

Andrew Roberts, Head of EMEA, RightShip (UK and Europe only)

Andrew has over 20 years’ experience in the maritime industry, is a qualified Master Mariner, holds an MBA and a BSC(Hons) in Marine Navigation and Maritime Law 

He offers extensive experience in operational, commercial, business development and technical shipping roles, and led commercial and safety transformational change whilst holding senior leadership positions with Teekay Shipping and Anglo International Shipping Operations Limited. 

As Head of EMEA, Andrews oversees RightShip’s business across the EMEA Region. This includes delivering growth in line with RightShip’s group strategy and stewardship of RightShip’s EMEA customers and colleagues.  

In addition, he is an advocate for RightShip’s vision of a maritime industry that causes zero harm, seeking to play a pivotal role in engaging with the maritime community to drive safety, social and environmental transformation of the maritime industry. 

Andrew is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a Freeman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners and has previously held industry appointments within Intertanko, SIGTTO, and North P & I Club Members Board.

Johan Smith, Head of Wellness, Sailors’ Society

Johan joined international maritime welfare charity Sailors’ Society in 2014 to develop and lead its Wellness at Sea programme, a pioneering initiative which empowers seafarers to prepare and keep physically and mentally fit for life at sea.

The Wellness at Sea programme has since grown to become one of the leading wellness interventions for the shipping industry, benefitting thousands of seafarers every year and winning a Safety at Sea award for Best Crew Welfare Programme and a Seatrade Award for Investment in People.

Johan has worked with seafarers for many years, previously serving as a port chaplain for six years in Cape Town, South Africa. It was during this time that he became aware of the challenges many seafarers face as a result of life at sea and in 2011 started developing his work on a wellness programme to meet their needs. Johan studied theology and is also a qualified social worker.

Heather Enness MNM

Heather is a university graduate, holding a Master Mariners (Unlimited) British Certificate of Competency and Full Dynamic Positioning qualification with 14+ years deck officer experience within the Offshore Oil and Gas sector, working alongside project personnel and clients.  

In September 2022 she was awarded a Merchant Navy Medal for her services to the promotion of diversity and well-being within the maritime sector. 

As a working mother at sea, she up the mummy.at.sea Instagram account. 

Heather regularly posts across the social media channels, charting her ups and downs in the maritime world. 

She is also a Careers at sea Ambassador. 

Sara Baade, CEO, Sailors’ Society

Sara joined Sailors’ Society as CEO in September 2020, leading the global maritime charity’s work reaching out to 200,000 seafarers, their families and communities in need every year.

Sailors’ Society’s pioneering mental health and wellbeing training support programme has benefitted more than 34,000 seafarers to date and its ground-breaking Wellness at Sea Maritime Schools’ Conferences are empowering cadets with awareness and skills that will serve them throughout their seafaring careers.

Sara is also chair of The International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) and has extensive experience in leading an international welfare charity from her previous role as CEO of The Army Families Federation. Her career 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.

Arpit Gupta – Sailors Lens 

Arpit is an experienced Third Officer with a strong background in navigation, ship operations, and safety protocols. Proven track record of successfully conducting independent navigation watches, overseeing cargo operations, and ensuring compliance with international regulations. Skilled in ship handling, chartwork, and utilizing advanced navigation systems.  

Arpit graduated from the Indian Maritime University with a BS in nautical science. 

As well as a successful career at sea, Arpit is also the popular social media influencer, Sailor Lens, with nearly 300K followers on Instagram, creating content on his life at sea and at home. 

Dr Deepti Mankad, Client and Project Manager, Sailors’ Society and Founder, MINDSPEAK

Dr Deepti Mankad is an excellent communicator and well-informed expert in her field of professional development. She is the founder of Mindspeak and a professional development trainer and consultant and the Regional Head [India] for Sailors’ Society for the Wellness at Sea programme for seafarers.

Belonging to a seafarer’s family, she has been proving maritime training, coaching and assessment for seafarers and their companies for over 12 years now, and conducting sessions on mental health and wellbeing empowering seafarers to handle emotional disturbances. She also conducts psychological first aid training for seafarers with the objective to help troubled seafarers onboard and provides counselling services for seafarers and their families.

Deepti has a doctorate in Multiple Intelligence and is a certified Maritime Crew Resource Management [MCRM] trainer and certified as a psychometric assessor by Thomas International Management Systems Ltd.

She has received various awards including the 2022 Maritime Wellness Coach & Trainer of the Year by International Brilliance Awards (IBA), Maritime Wellness Coach & Trainer of the Year by National Education Brilliance Awards (NEBA) 2022 and The Real Super Woman Award 2022 by Forever Star India.

Dr Charles Watkins, CEO, MHSS 

Charles Watkins is the founder and CEO of Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS), established in 2018 to support the wellbeing of seafarers. With a long-standing interest in maritime psychology, he earned a master’s in clinical psychology (with distinction) and completed his clinical training at the University Medical Centre of Princeton. Charles combines his private practice with global lectures to inspire positive change and address stress and depression. His maritime research has also led to the creation of training videos, safety plans, and preventive measures for both crew and onshore personnel. 

Dr. Monique Rizza R. Mendoza, Cebu Branch and Telemedicine Manager, Nordic Medical Clinic 

Dr. Monique Mendoza is a certified Maritime Physician from various authorities such as Panama, Malaysia, Netherland Shipping Inspectorate and OEUK. She is currently underway in specializing on Lifestyle Medicine.  

She leads the team of doctors and allied health professional providing both medical and psychological assistance to seafarers and shore employees.  

Well- versed with various stakeholder requirements, and with comprehension that management provision prioritizes risk mitigation and prevailingly loss prevention for the crew and vessel operations. 

David Hammond, CEO, Human Rights at Sea 

David Hammond is a former military seafarer, veteran Royal Marines officer and qualified English barrister. He founded the charity Human Rights at Sea in 2014 after witnessing the sheer volume and scale of human rights abuses that take place at sea. 

He is now the Executive Director of the service provider, Human Rights at Sea International. David has practical maritime and legal experience, having served in the North and South Atlantic Oceans, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Gulf and the South China Seas. He has worked in challenging environments teaching human rights and international humanitarian law around the world at both state and EU levels and has been previously appointed to lead legal positions in and alongside EU Missions. Author and co-author of over 90 civil society publications, reports, and case studies concerning human rights abuse at sea, he conceived the Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea, launched in Switzerland in March 2022. David is a Member of the Honourable Society of Middle Temple and an Associate Fellow of The Nautical Institute.