About Us

Find out more
Home/ About Us/ Who we are

Who we are

TSA Board

Richard Everitt

Richard Everitt

Chair

Click to read bio

Chair of the Board of Directors

Richard was the Chief Executive of the Port of London Authority from 2004 until March 2014 during which time he focused on a series of objectives including the development of skills of people who operate on the river. He also encouraged a wider range of people to take up careers on the Thames to increase diversity. He believes that the employer-led Thames Skills Academy is vital to meet these aims.

Since his retirement Richard has maintained his links with the maritime world as Chair of the TSA’s Board and as a non-Executive Chairman at the Port of Dover and a member of Belfast Harbour Board. 

Katherine Riggs

Katherine Riggs

Chief Executive

Click to read bio

Chief Executive

Katherine Riggs has been the Chief Executive of the Thames Skills Academy since February 2018.  Prior to taking over the role, Katherine was the Director of Thames Vision at the Port of London Authority, leading from inception to delivery, a 20-year plan for the development of the UK’s most famous and busiest river, the first of its kind. 

Earlier in her career, Katherine worked in the UK Civil Service for twenty years.  Most recently, she was Head of Strategy to the Secretary of State leading the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair’s growth and biosecurity programmes as well as preparations for the 2015 general election. 

Previous roles included leadership of Government’s most complex UK/EU environmental programme and she spent four years at the UK Representation to the European Union in Brussels, negotiating the accession of ten countries into the EU and representing the UK’s interests in common agricultural reform and WTO negotiations.

Katherine is Chair of Thames21, a member of the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s Freight Steering Group and Vice Chair of the Maritime Skills Alliance.

Robin Mortimer

Robin Mortimer

Director

Click to read bio

Director

Robin joined the PLA as chief executive officer on 31 March 2014. Prior to joining the PLA, Robin had 20 years’ experience in the UK Government civil service across a range of Government Departments. He was Private Secretary to the Environment Secretary from 1996-97, to the Deputy Prime Minister from 1997-98 and to the Transport Secretary from 2001-03. He led the work on the UK Climate Change Bill in 2006 and in 2007, became a Director in Defra where he set up the UK’s Adapting to Climate Change programme, oversaw the creation of the Canal & River Trust and directed policy on air quality and the natural environment.

Robin is currently the Deputy Chair of Maritime UK, a Member of the CBI’s London Council and a trustee of Thames 21.

Roger Bailey

Roger Bailey

Director

Click to read bio

Director - Founding Member

Roger is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and has held a number of board level positions in construction companies and in engineering and planning consultancies. He spent the first 20 years of his career in the geotechnical contracting sector before moving into transportation consultancy for organisations including Crossrail, Network Rail, TfL, Highways Agency and Department for Transport.  

Roger is the Asset Management Director for Tideway, delivering the £4.2 billion Thames Tideway Tunnel through London.  Roger is responsible for integrated assurance, technical oversight of project delivery (including design assurance, compliance with planning permission, innovation, environmental sustainability, skills and employment) and the operational integration of the completed Thames Tideway Tunnel asset into the existing London sewer network.  Roger has been with the Thames Tideway Tunnel since 2012 and has been instrumental in driving the marine logistics strategy which will see 6 million tonnes of construction materials and excavated spoil moved by river on the Tideway project.

Danny Price

Danny Price

Director

Click to read bio

General Manager of Sponsored Services, DLR and Woolwich Ferry at Transport for London (TfL).

Danny Price joined TfL in 2011 and is currently General Manager for Sponsored Services, accountable for the management and development of London River Services, Santander Cycles and the Emirates Air Line cable car.

Earlier in his career, Danny was part of a small management team that set up the London Eye (Millennium Wheel), where he became accountable for all aspects of its operation and commercial development.

Chris Blair

Chris Blair

Director

Click to read bio

Chris Blair is a Freeman of the City of London and a Freeman of the River Thames.

With over 30 years at a senior level in private and public sector organisations, Chris brings senior leadership experience on the Thames through his current role as Strategy Director of GRS, Walsh and Walsh Marine, including in relation to decarbonisation of the fleets’ activity and marine terminals and delivery of the Frog Island marine terminal Development.  In addition, he brings the experience from his Chairpersonship of Westminster Commission (Thames Renaissance) to encourage more construction materials and waste to be transported on the Thames.

Chris represents the Company of Watermen and Lightermen on the TSA Board.

Sean Collins

Sean Collins

Director

Click to read bio

Director - Employer representative

As the CEO and Co-Founder of Uber Boats by Thames Clippers, Sean has been at the helm of the company since its inception in 1999.

At that time they operated one boat, served three piers and employed two crew. Today they have an annual turnover of over £20 million, operate 17 vessels, employ almost 340 people and carry over four million people each year. As well as commuter and visitor services throughout London, the business also offers corporate hire and express services.

Sean is keen to increase safety standards and to bring a more diverse work force on the River Thames.

Fran Comerford-Cole

Fran Comerford-Cole

Director

Click to read bio

Director and employer's representative

Fran Comerford-Cole is the Director of Logistics for Cory, one of the UK’s leading resource management, recycling, and energy recovery companies located along the River Thames.  Fran leads Cory’s river logistics, transfer stations and recycling services and also oversees their local authority and commercial contracts and commodity trading.  

Prior to working at Cory, Fran worked as a Senior Environmental Policy Advisor in New Zealand.

Cory has been operating on the River Thames for over 120 years and is proud to support the Thames Skills Academy to raise standards on the river.

John Spencer

John Spencer

Director

Click to read bio

John has been involved in the operation of coasters, tugs and barges for his whole working life and can trace his family’s connections with the Thames back to the 1600s.
 
John is Managing director of GPS Marine Holdings Ltd and is a board member of every GPS Marine Group company. GPS Marine owns over 60 vessels which trade locally on the Thames, around the UK and internationally. GPS Marine companies operate in sectors, including the transport of goods by barge, towage, marine project support, marine logistics, marine civils and precision engineering. John’s unwavering commitment to the development of GPS Marine has seen the business win numerous industry awards and develop an unrivalled reputation for delivery and performance.

In addition to heading GPS Marine, John’s commitment to seeing the regeneration of water freight across the UK has seen him become the leader of the Inland Waterways Association’s Freight Group.

Robert Dwan

Robert Dwan

Director

Click to read bio

Robert has worked on the River for 25 years, having grown up working with his father gaining experience onboard a variety of vessels. In 2015, he founded Thames Marine Services which provides a range of valuable services such as fuel, oils, lubricants and engineering for both commercial companies and private boat owners. He is also Director for Thames Luxury Charters and Oceandiva London, who operate luxury private charter vessels for both personal and corporate events. 

Robert is passionate about encouraging new talent onto the River, supporting new Watermen to develop a varied skillset, as well as ensure current operators continue to learn and expand their capability.

TSA Executive

Katherine Riggs

Katherine Riggs

Chief Executive

Click to read bio

Katherine Riggs has been the Chief Executive of the Thames Skills Academy since February 2018.  Prior to taking over the role, Katherine was the Director of Thames Vision at the Port of London Authority, leading from inception to delivery, a 20-year plan for the development of the UK’s most famous and busiest river, the first of its kind. 

Earlier in her career, Katherine worked in the UK Civil Service for twenty years.  Most recently, she was Head of Strategy to the Secretary of State leading the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair’s growth and biosecurity programmes as well as preparations for the 2015 general election. 

Previous roles included leadership of Government’s most complex UK/EU environmental programme and she spent four years at the UK Representation to the European Union in Brussels, negotiating the accession of ten countries into the EU and representing the UK’s interests in common agricultural reform and WTO negotiations.

Katherine is Chair of Thames21, a member of the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s Freight Steering Group and Vice Chair of the Maritime Skills Alliance.

Jean Stevens

Jean Stevens

Group Training Officer

Click to read bio

Jean is working two days a week at the TSA, leading on training.

Jean has more than thirty years’ experience across many sectors, cultures and industries and has a proven track record in delivering transformation programmes and a range of business operation strategies.

Jean is a London Ambassador for the National Apprenticeship Service and promotes apprenticeships across various professional sectors. She is also a Director of Women into Construction.

Jean holds the position of Chair on the Business Development Board at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) London and also sits on their Policy Board

Jean is also an Executive of the Construction Client Leadership Group (CCLG) and sits on the on the Mayor’s Construction Skills Advisory Group.

Blue Davies

Blue Davies

CPD

Click to read bio

Blue is working two days a week at the TSA to lead on the Thames CPD.

Blue is an Education Training Consultant with leadership skills and behaviours gained through service in the Army (Royal Engineers) and a further extensive period working within Private Training Providers, Colleges and a membership organisation (British Marine).

He has an in-depth knowledge of the current education sector ranging from FE, HE to continued professional development and Apprenticeships.

He has led on multiple projects for the design, development & delivery of curriculum within the Engineering, Construction and Marine sectors, including apprenticeship standards development and continued professional development of marina operators in the UK and throughout Europe.

Blue is a Trustee for CESSAC (Church of England Soldiers’, Sailors’ & Airmen's Clubs) and sits on the Welfare Amenities Committee.

In his spare time Blue enjoys going to the gym, parkrun (currently on #304) and a dedicated follower of cricket & football.

“I am looking forward to working for the Thames Skills Academy.  Training and skills development is an important factor to ensuring employers are keeping their staff up to date and providing their customers the best possible service”.

Gemma McKeady

Gemma McKeady

Executive Manager

Click to read bio

Gemma joined the TSA in October 2016 as the Office Manager. She was key to setting up the foundations of the Thames Skill’s Academy organisational structure.  Gemma has over 10 years’ experience working in the building and facilities industry at management level. Since returning from maternity leave in the spring of 2023, Gemma now works part-time as the TSA’s Executive Manager.

Supported by: