FOUNDER & CHAIR

Throughout Gustavo’s professional career, he has excelled in vital sectors such as maritime, public administration and education. His contributions have played a pivotal role in advancing his nation's development, as evidenced by his roles at prestigious institutions such as the Panama Maritime Authority, the International Maritime University of Panama, and Universidad del Istmo. Gustavo holds a diverse array of master's degrees, including Sociology and Social Research from Newcastle University (UK), Public Administration from Cornell University (USA), and both Business Administration and Business Logistics from Universidad Interamericana de Panamá.

He also earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Newcastle University, with a research focus on the LGBTIQ+ community within the maritime sector. 

VICE CHAIR

Professor Carballo Piñeiro teaches at the University of Vigo and is the Dean of the Faculty of International Relations. She previously worked at the World Maritime University as the Nippon Foundation Chair of Maritime Labour Law and Policy.

She has cooperated with different agencies including the International Labour Organization, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and the Agency for Food and Agriculture. Her areas of expertise include private international law, international litigation, international insolvency and maritime law.

MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGY

Christopher is Head of Marketing Operations at Lloyd’s Register, leading global initiatives across marketing technology, digital strategy, and revenue performance. With over 20 years of experience spanning maritime, e-commerce, and not-for-profit sectors, he specialises in aligning marketing strategy with commercial outcomes, driving growth through data, technology, and integrated campaigns.

Alongside his role, Christopher is Chair of Unity, Lloyd’s Register’s global LGBTQ+ colleague network, where he advances inclusion across the maritime industry. His work focuses on improving visibility, safety, and wellbeing for LGBTQ+ seafarers, combining lived experience, industry insight, and collaboration to influence meaningful change. He advocates for mental health and inclusive leadership, bridging the gap between technology and humanity to ensure progress in maritime is both commercially driven and socially responsible.

TREASURER

Keir is a naval architect and works as the Commercial Marine Business Manager for Frazer-Nash Consultancy in London, UK. Keir has over 18 years of experience in the maritime industry, starting as an engineer cadet, then gaining his Engineer Class III/1 certificate of competency, and working on chemical tankers and container ships.

Keir graduated from Newcastle University with a Master's of Engineering degree in naval architecture. Keir has worked on maritime projects in the UK, Australia, Singapore, and Japan across various maritime fields, including design, surveying, and salvage.

TRUSTEE

Dr. Seth Stein LeJacq is an award-winning teacher and historian. As a researcher, he specializes in the history of medicine, gender, and sexuality, and he has published and presented widely on queer maritime history. He is the editor of the historical sourcebook Gender and Sexual Difference in the British Navy, 1690-1900 (Routledge, 2024). Dr. LeJacq is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Hunter College, the City University of New York.  

TRUSTEE

GWILYM STONE is Deputy Director for Regulations & Standards at the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency. Gwilym leads the MCA’s regulatory policy teams covering Ship Standards, Navigation, and Seafarer Training. He joined the MCA in 2007 and has had a mix of roles mainly dealing with regulatory matters, including engagement with the International Maritime Organisation. He has been closely involved in the MCA’s responses to autonomous vessels and the challenge of decarbonisation, with a particular focus on how the MCA adapts and enhances its regulations to enable the safe uptake of new technologies and operating models. He has also been Chair of the MCA’s LGBT+ staff network since 2019 and is active in promoting inclusion both within work and beyond.