TEAM
Mark Williams, MA (Oxon), MSc, MISC
Managing Director
Mark founded Shipping Strategy in 2018 after more than two decades in the maritime industry. He advises investors and banks, ship owners and charterers, brokers, insurers, and industry associations. Widely acknowledged as one of the best shipping analysts in the world, he is also known for his eloquence and perceptive public speaking and market presentations. He has a growing reputation as an inspiring and innovative educator via our training courses and his work with our training partners. He is also Contributing Editor of the decarbonisation website ship.energy and presents the ship.energy podcast. Before founding Shipping Strategy Ltd, Mark was Managing Partner, Affinity Research LLP from 2015-18; Group Head of Research and Business Development Director, Braemar Shipping Services Plc 2010-2015; Director of Consultancy, MSI 2009-2010; Divisional Director, HSBC Shipping Services 2002-2009 and Head of Operational Research, MRC Business Information Group 1996-2002.
Nigel Clark
Non-Executive Chairman
Nigel brings to Shipping Strategy Ltd over 35 years of senior management and board level experience in the shipping and offshore consultancy sectors. Amongst other roles he was previously Managing Director of Braemar Salvage Association, Strategic Director for the Braemar Technical Services Division, and Group Finance Director of a private equity backed global shipping and offshore engineering consultancy. Nigel is also currently Chairman of Solis Marine Consultants.
Steven Jones, BSc, MA, FRSA
Principal Shipping Consultant
Adept at leveraging technology and ideas to drive positive change, Steven has experience integrating technology to enhance efficiency, productivity, safety and security in maritime operations. Steven joins us after a stint as CEO of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, prior to which he was founder of the Seafarers’ Happiness Index. He comes with extensive experience in communications and public relations. He has successfully crafted and executed strategic communications plans, managed crisis situations, and built strong relationships with key industry stakeholders, including government agencies, industry associations, and international organisations. He is skilled in delivering compelling messages to diverse audiences and comes with a track record of driving positive outcomes through effective communication strategies. Steven has Master's degrees in International Relations and Marketing and via his publications on ISPS, anti piracy and seafarer welfare, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Dr. Henriёtte van Niekerk
Principal Ports and Dry Bulk Shipping Consultant
HenriÑ‘tte is a successful senior maritime industry leader with deep knowledge of the ports and transport sectors, dry bulk shipping and commodities. She is the former Global Head of Dry Bulk Analysis at Clarksons ship brokers. Prior to joining Clarksons, HenriÑ‘tte was the Head of Maritime Studies at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. She holds the qualification of Doctor of Commerce from Johannesburg University, where her thesis addressed the question of "Restructuring of South Africa's port charges". She also holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in economics from the University of Stellenbosch. Based in Cape Town, HenriÑ‘tte offers a Southern Hemisphere perspective to our work.
Paul Stuart-Smith MA (Oxon)
Principal Sustainability Consultant
Paul brings a broad perspective of sustainability to our team together with a deep understanding of capital markets and green finance, as well as of the maritime industry. He is a former Executive Director at the Baltic Exchange where he led its regulated subsidiary from 2009-17. He previously held high-profile roles in Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley and Chemical Bank in London and New York. His experience includes managing Morgan Stanley’s financing and borrowing activity in Europe, as well as managing significant risk positions for both firms in bond, currency and derivatives markets. As a consultant he has advised the Climate Bonds Initiative on its Shipping Criteria and a UK bank on structuring and roll out of a ground-breaking green finance product based on Green Bond & Green Loan Principles and the EU Taxonomy. He is a qualified barrister and served as a Captain in the British Army.