Celebrating the International Maritime Organization’s first International Day for Women in Maritime

I am the joint Head of the European Division dealing with all of the Standard Club’s European business. Having worked for the club for about eight years now, I was appointed to this role in September last year.

What does your job involve?

I’m responsible for the running of the European Division. I work closely with the team, members and brokers to ensure service remains high as well as working on new business development, strategy for our division and overseeing the larger and trickier claims we handle. Our team comprises of 35 people spread across claims and underwriting. I am responsible for managing, looking after the team and ensuring their career development is on track, while working to shape the team culture, tying it to the overall company ethos.

How did you get here?

Originally, I trained as a shipping solicitor and worked in private practice, and then 8 years ago I joined the claims side of the Standard Club.

I threw myself into everything, I really enjoy the work, particularly the more complex cases, I enjoy the relationship with our members and working through problems to find solutions, while mentoring junior members of staff to enable them to build their careers too. I am now a Head of the Division and always knew I wanted to take on more responsibility and progress my career within the club. I’ve always wanted to take on more and have been keen to develop my skills and to seize any new opportunities to learn more, which ultimately led to my recent promotion.

I was a shipping solicitor in private practice with five years PQE (post qualified experience) and I frequently worked with P&I Clubs, I saw the type of work they were doing and got interested.  In P&I you’re dealing with the claim as it happens, there’s enormous variety in the work and you are very much on the front line. You also establish long term relationships with members which helps understand their commercial needs. Private practice served as an excellent foundation but working on the P&I side has given me a new confidence to deal with live issues and has played a key part in my own development. 

It’s both interesting and challenging, I thoroughly enjoy the variety. It can be a 24/7 job, having to react and solve problems. The work never stands still – every case and situation has new aspects and its very much a team effort, so good communication is key.

What would you say to a woman interested in pursuing a career in P&I?

I would say definitely go for it, the live cases I’ve worked on have really put me on the spot, it’s meant I’ve had to develop my confidence, far more than I was ever tested in private practice. Throughout my career in P&I, I have been treated as an equal, it’s very much a merit based culture, you’re recognised for doing a job well, and if you’re doing well, invariably opportunities will come up - it can be an incredibly rewarding career, so definitely don’t hesitate to put yourself forward for new types of work and challenges.

I am a Claims Director in the New York office. I primarily assist our Canadian and South American members with their P&I and FD&D claims and issues around the world. This could be a crew injury in China, a ship arrest in the UAE or a wreck removal claim in Chile. I also regularly review our members’ contracts to make sure that they have the correct P&I covers in place to respond to the liabilities.

What do you enjoy most or find most interesting about your job?

We deal with members, brokers, correspondents and claims in multiple jurisdictions. Understanding and navigating different approaches, cultures and legal systems, and factoring these into solving problems and servicing members, makes the job very interesting and enjoyable.

How did you get here?

I studied law at university. I qualified as a solicitor and worked at a law firm in Aberdeen specialising in marine and offshore litigation. I joined the Offshore Division at the Standard Club in London as a Claims Executive in 2013 and I’ve spent time in our offices in Greece and New York on secondment. New York lured me in, and I transferred to the New York office in 2019.

What would you say to a woman interested in pursuing a career in P&I?

There are so many opportunities available to us in P&I. Challenge yourself, have confidence and lean into opportunities that push you to expand your skillset and grow.