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

Director of Maritime Defence & Security Group (MDSG) and Digital Technology Group (DTG)

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

Director of Marine Science & Technology Group (MSTG) and Maritime Autonomous Systems Group (MASG)

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

Director of Commercial Marine Group (CMG) and Ports & Terminals Group (PTG) 

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.

Giorgio Buttironi

Policy and Research Manager at SMI and Maritime UK 

Giorgio first came to the UK in 2007 and graduated with a BA in Medieval History from the University of Winchester three years later. After his undergrad he received an MA in International Relations from Durham University in 2011 and an MSc in European Politics at the London School of Economics. Giorgio has been working as a policy and public affairs specialist for trade federations across a number of industries, ranging from construction through to further education and financial services, since 2015. During this time, he has worked closely with government departments, parliamentarians, and members of various sector bodies to influence decision-making and policy in an effective manner.

Samantha Hayer 

Office Manager and Finance Administrator

Samantha is responsible for preparing and presenting financial reports while managing ad-hoc administrative controls, including supplier contract renewals and invoicing members. She works closely with the CEO and the outsourced  accountants/ auditors. She joined SMI in 2021 having worked at a  top set of barrister chambers, as an Operations Executive,  for over 3 years.

Samantha is a Reiki practitioner, a member of  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.