Who we are

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 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 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 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 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 London Cable Car. Other positions held include General Manager for the DLR and Lead for London Buses Growth Strategy.

Earlier in his career, Danny was part of a small management team that set up the London Eye (Millennium Wheel) operating business, taking various roles leading operational and commercial development.

Collins has been at the helm of Thames Clippers since the inception of the business in 1999.  At that time they operated one boat with a capacity of just 62 that served three piers and employed two people. Today, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers carries over 5.2 million passengers and employs over 500 people. The business operates 24 vessels, including three hybrids and has a further two fully electric vessels under construction (cross river passenger/cycle ferry and light freight vessel).

Under Collins’ leadership, the business has attracted external investment including AEG who held a majority shareholding from 2006 to 2022 and most recently Northleaf Capital Partners who are committed to help drive the business growth with a focus on improving environmental sustainability.  A commercial partnership was entered into with Uber in August 2020 for the naming rights to the brand.

With a keen focus on training and development, Collins has instilled a people-first vision at Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. The business has an in-house training academy and 76% of the Captains of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers vessels have worked their way up through the business.  Uber Boat by Thames Clippers have a female population of 31%.  By 2026 it is expected that Thames Clippers will have about 15% female captains, in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Collins began his career aged 16 in 1984 when he was apprenticed to the Company of Watermen and Lighterman and is a third-generation Waterman. This includes serving as a Royal Waterman since 2008.  During his career on the River Thames Collins has worked as a Captain on passenger vessels and tug boats. Collins has also been National Rowing Champion and represented Great Britain at an international level, including the World Rowing Championships.

Fran Comerford-Cole is the Managing Director – Operations and River Logistics for Cory, one of the UK’s leading waste management, recycling, and energy recovery companies located in London.  

Fran is responsible for Cory’s transfer, recycling and river logistics businesses and oversees their local authority and commercial and industrial contracts and recyclable commodity trading. Fran is passionate about increasing diversity and inclusion across the waste and recycling, energy and maritime sectors.

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.

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.

John Rowthorn, has been at City Cruises for 8 years.  A  CIMA Qualified Chartered Accountant, with over 20 years finance experience.  He spent his first 7 years at City Cruises as the Finance Director before his promotion to head up the UK Operations as Managing Director in 2024.  He brings with him a wealth of experience, mostly in Finance roles and predominantly within the Leisure and Attraction industry and most recently having spent time at Merlin Entertainments.

During his time at City Cruises, he has experienced significant growth and change within the Company.  He played a key part in the acquisition to diversify the City Cruises portfolio, which saw it expand outside of London to York along with the sale of the privately owned company to the private equity backed Hornblower Group in 2019. 

Outside of work John enjoys spending time watching and playing his favourite sports, golf and football.

Eric Reynolds has been involved in numerous urban regeneration schemes and the creation of visitor attractions since the early 1970’s, many including the practical re-use of historic buildings.  He acts as a regeneration advisor across the country, is former Chairman of the London Safer Cities initiative and is a director and member of several other voluntary bodies.  He was Chairman of Leeside Regeneration, responsible for over £20 million of SRB 4, 5 & 6 funding.

At Trinity Buoy Wharf, the site of London’s only lighthouse, he won the LDDC sponsored competition to take the vacant 3 acre site to develop a centre for arts and creative activity. This is where he pioneered the idea of converting shipping containers into buildings. Initially creating workspace, it soon became clear that this form of building was replicable across other sites and could be put to a wide variety of uses including housing, live/work, workspace, community buildings, children’s nurseries, health & education buildings and music studios. All these uses have been planned and/or implemented by Urban Space Management using the title “Container City”. Eric continues to develop the concept, design and implementation of this novel form of construction. He was instrumental in saving Smithfield Market in the City of London, devising an alternative business plan as part of the Planning Inquiry in 2007 and the Ministerial Call In in 2014 and devised the idea of moving the Museum of London into that space. In 2012 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Regeneration and Renewal Magazine.

He is a trustee of several charitable organisations including the Royal Museums Greenwich, an Honorary Member, RIBA and a Freeman of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen.  He is a Chairman of SAVE and a Trustee of Royal Rowbarge Gloriana.

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 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 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 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.