- Simon Gillespie and Guy Platten join the board at one of the world’s leading funders of maritime welfare organisations.
- Former Royal Navy Commander Simon Gillespie spent 7 years as CEO of British Heart Foundation.
- Guy Platten served in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and recently stepped down as Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping.
The Seafarers’ Charity has announced that two highly influential figures from across the charity and maritime sectors have joined its board of trustees.
Simon Gillespie OBE and Guy Platten, recipient of the Merchant Navy Medal, were co-opted onto the board last week. They will be officially appointed at The Seafarers’ Charity’s 2026 annual meeting.
Simon Gillespie is a former Royal Navy Commander who commanded the frigate HMS Sheffield. He went on to hold senior positions across the charity sector, including four years as director of operations at the Charity Commission, eight years as chief executive of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, and seven years as chief executive of the British Heart Foundation.
Guy Platten began his career as a seafarer with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. He was later a boat inspector with the RNLI before becoming director of operations at the Northern Lighthouse Board. He spent five years as chief executive of the UK Chamber of Shipping and recently served seven years as secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).
Both will join existing trustees who oversee the governance of The Seafarers’ Charity, an international fundraising grant funder for maritime welfare and safety charities.
The charity holds a Royal Charter and grants more than £2m each year to frontline maritime welfare charities. It advocates on a range of seafarer wellbeing issues such as exploitative working practices, financial insecurity, and mental and physical wellbeing.
Deborah Layde, Chief Executive of The Seafarers’ Charity, said:
‘Our new trustees bring with them an outstanding record of service and leadership. Between them they have unparalleled expertise in charity governance, fundraising, maritime operations and life as a seafarer. I know that we will benefit hugely from their invaluable insight and experience.”
Commenting on their appointments:
Guy Platten said:
“As a former merchant seafarer, I have experienced firsthand the work of maritime charities and the difference that they make. It is vitally important that we continue to advocate for the welfare of seafarers, and I am delighted to contribute as a trustee to the work of The Seafarers’ Charity, an organisation I have long admired, on a broad range of issues.”
Simon Gillespie said:
“It is an honour and a privilege to join the board of The Seafarers’ Charity. I am looking forward to working with colleagues and partners to further the interests of seafarers across the world when their health, well-being, security and safety is under significant threat in times of challenge and uncertainty.”
Both Guy and Simon have extensive non-executive experience:
Guy Platten was recently selected as a founding Non-Executive Director of the ICS Foundation and is also a non-executive director at the Maersk McKinney Moller Centre for Zero Carbon Shipping. He was awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for services to the maritime and shipping industry.
Simon Gillespie has worked at oversight level in UK charities and international non-profit organisations, including as President of the European Heart Network and as an advisor to the World Health Organization. He was made an OBE for services to patients and to medical research.
The Seafarers’ Charity supports anyone who works, or has worked, at sea, whatever their seafaring profession. It fundraises for, and awards grants to, work tackling issues such as the global shore leave crisis for seafarers, alternative fuels and seafarer safety, and sexual violence at sea.
Paul Butterworth, Chair of The Seafarers’ Charity, said:
“Simon and Guy deserve their reputations as some of the most influential figures in the maritime and charity spaces. I know that they will bring a huge contribution to the charity, and I very much look forward to welcoming them as part of our team”.
