Society of Maritime Industries Management and Staff Team

Tom Chant

Chief Executive Officer

Tom has a long association with the marine industry having been an active sailor and student of boatbuilding in Southampton. His career has encompassed a wide range of market sectors and he has gathered experience of business development, marketing and distribution in an international business environment. A nine year period at the trade body for the leisure and superyacht sector was committed to developing the members’ export business. This included running UK pavilions at overseas shows, management of inward and outward missions including Meet-the-Buyer events, plus the creation of market reports and representation on government committees. Recent career experience included distributor management for a marine equipment company before he joined SMI in February 2017 as the Business Development Director and Secretary to the Commercial Marine Group and Marine Science & Technology Group. Tom was appointed Chief Executive of the SMI in August 2020.

Captain Tim Currass BEng(Hons) MSc MA Royal Navy

Programme Director, Secretary to the Maritime Defence & Security Group (MDSG) Council and Digital Technology Group (DTG) Council

Tim, a Royal Navy Engineer for 33 years, has had a long and varied career serving in Her Majesty’s Ships INVINCIBLE, COVENTRY, KENT, YORK and OCEAN as well as a variety of shore appointments including the Government Communication Headquarters, Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support and Navy Command Headquarters. As a Captain he was programme manager for the Common Support Model programme in Defence Equipment and Support, transforming support for the Royal Navy’s complex warships including integrating the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers and Type 45 Destroyers into the Surface Ship Support Alliance and most recently as Navy Command’s lead for the National Shipbuilding Strategy.  He started in the Society of Maritime Industries in November 2019 as Programme Director and Secretary to the Maritime Defence & Security Group (MDSG) Council and Maritime Autonomous Systems Group (MASG) Council. 

Emma Johnson MSc

Business Development Director, Secretary to the Marine Science and Technology Group (MSTG) Council and Maritime Autonomous Systems Group (MASG) Council

Emma has a BSc in Marine Biology and an MSc in Marine and Aquatic Biology from the University of Portsmouth. During the MSc a range of topics from Aquaculture to Subtidal Marine Ecology were covered. For her dissertation she worked with MDL Marinas and Blue Marine Foundation on the native oyster restoration project. For the last 3 years she has specialised in sales and marketing of Maritime products in particular compliance monitoring of wash water from exhaust gas scrubber systems and ballast water discharge. During this time, she worked closely with international agents and customers as well as representing the company at conferences, exhibitions and in presentations and panel debates. 

Helen Stephen

Business Development Director, Secretary to the Commercial Marine Group (CMG) Council and Ports & Terminals Group (PTG) Council

As a business development specialist within maritime publishing and events, Helen has a 15-year background in the international tug, towage, salvage and OSV sector.  In her previous role, Helen held board level responsibilities at a globally renowned event organiser and publisher focused on bringing the major tug and salvage players together via industry leading conventions and technical conferences.  Helen has represented her company at industry association level and attended more than 110 industry events at major maritime hubs and some of the busiest container shipping port locations around the world. Helen has developed an extensive network across the international supply chain and specialises in cultivating long term relationships, creating opportunities to collaborate and build valuable partnerships that fuel growth and trade.  Helen was appointed to Society of Maritime Industries in June 2021 as Business Development Director and Secretary to the Commercial Marine Group (CMG) Council and Ports & Terminals Group (PTG) Council.

Samantha Hayer 

Office Manager & Finance Administrator

Samantha is responsible for the day to day running of SMI. She works closely with the CEO and the Company Accountant. She joined SMI in 2021 having worked in the legal sector  for over 3 years, at a top set of barrister chambers, as an Operations Executive.

She is a member at the Institute of Directors and The College of Psychic Studies.

Chen Li Ming

China Manager (Based in Shanghai)

Chen Li Ming is a naval architect and for 13 years worked for Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) before moving to Shanghai Edward Shipbuilding Co Ltd.  In 1995 Chen (as he is known to his friends) became an independent consultant and has been associated with the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) and its predecessor organisation since that time.  He has an excellent track record in introducing companies to the Chinese market and the credentials to be able to “open doors” with Chinese companies and government organisations in the maritime sector.