David is Director of Operations within the Brookfield Infrastrucure European team and PD Ports Chairman. Following his appointment as Regional Ambassador to HRH the Prince of Wales in 2012, David’s vision and drive to raise aspirations and improve employment prospects for young people in the maritime industry led to the creation of the High Tide Foundation in the same year. Due to his passionate commitment to the maritime sector, David was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List in 2015 for services to international trade and the UK economy.

Lauren is our General Manager and she is responsible for the foundations development, programme delivery and membership engagement. Lauren’s passion for supporting young people on Teesside is infectious and she has been instrumental in the development and growth of High Tide since it’s conception in 2012.

Michael is the Managing Director of Casper Shipping, a leading port agency and marine services business in the UK and one of the founding partners of High Tide. Michael is also a board member of International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC), the world’s leading mutual insurer for the transport industry. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, has an MBA from the University of Teesside and is a non-practicing solicitor in England and Wales.

Jerry is Chief Operating Officer of PD Ports and simultaneously serves as PD Ports Vice Chairman. Jerry is also a Director of the Tees Valley Combined Authority LEP and the United Kingdom Major Ports Group while also, as his role as Trustee of High Tide, focuses on raising aspiration and career prospects for young people in the Tees Valley.

Dave was previously Operations Superintendant for ConoccoPhillips based at Teesport. Dave has extensive knowledge of the River Tees and the surrounding industry and is extremely passionate about showcasing the unique career opportunities across the Teesside region. While supporting the strategic development of High Tide through his role as trustee, Dave is also heavily involved in supporting the programmes including the Port to Port experience as well as hosting the Teesport Industry Experience.

Joanna is CEO of the Tees Valley Collaborative Trust and Executive Principal of Prior Pursglove and Stockton Sixth Form College. Joanna boasts a life-long career in post-16 education, working in a number of different sixth form colleges over the last twenty-five years. With absolute commitment to social mobility Joanna is extremely passionate about enhancing the life chances of young people and raising their aspirations. Joanna is also currently the sixth form representative for the Sutton Trust’s education advisory group – another charity which seeks to improve social mobility for young people through research and intervention.

In her position as head of PR, Marketing and communications at PD Ports, Kirsten is responsible for directing and overseeing the implementation of the Company’s group-wide communications strategy, brand management and CSR Policy. Aside from design, all marketing and PR activities are handled in-house and centrally managed at PD Ports’ Middlesbrough based headquarters. Kirsten is engaged with a number of groups and organisations in support of the delivery of PD Ports’ business strategy including an active role within the Cabinet Office’s Communications Steering Group to promote the Northern Powerhouse.