SMC is led by an eleven-strong team of Non-Executive Directors, one Executive Director and one Business Support Officer. Kevin Hobbs, Chief Executive at Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, taking on the role of Chair, is supported by: Patrick Carnie, Maritime business growth consultant, Strategic Direction Maritime; Chloe Oakshett, Managing Associate at Addleshaw Goddard; Paul Little, Principal & CEO at City of Glasgow College; Mike Bullock, Chief Executive of Northern Lighthouse Board; Andy Muddiman, Naval Regional Commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland; Diane Burke, Commercial Director and Operational Director, CalMac Ferries Ltd; Angela Hughes, Managing Director at Clark; Blair Jamieson, Business Development Director for West & Central Europe at Babcock International; James Horton, President of the Scottish Shipping and Benevolent Association; Brian Fulton, SMC Consultant and Executive Director and Blair Moglia, SMC Business Support Officer.
Kevin Hobbs is Chief Executive Officer of Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).
Kevin was appointed in April 2016 as CEO of CMAL. He owned a port, marine logistics and shipping consultancy, and has held a number of senior management positions during his 30 year career the maritime industry.
Kevin was Director at the UK’s third biggest port, Milford Haven port, and was responsible for all operations at Pembroke Port and Milford Docks.
His early career saw him operate at a senior level, founding Seatruck Ferries, and provided consultancy and interim management to clients in the UK and Ireland.
Kevin has experience working with both vessels and ports.
Kevin Hobbs
Kevin Hobbs
Kevin Hobbs is Chief Executive Officer of Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).
Kevin was appointed in April 2016 as CEO of CMAL. He owned a port, marine logistics and shipping consultancy, and has held a number of senior management positions during his 30 year career the maritime industry.
Kevin was Director at the UK’s third biggest port, Milford Haven port, and was responsible for all operations at Pembroke Port and Milford Docks.
His early career saw him operate at a senior level, founding Seatruck Ferries, and provided consultancy and interim management to clients in the UK and Ireland.
Kevin has experience working with both vessels and ports.
Patrick Carnie
Patrick Carnie is a maritime business growth consultant, helping leaders set the course ahead. Motivated to grow sustainable high value jobs in the UK maritime sector, Patrick is interested in long term value development. He delivers strategic analysis & plans, advice on new market offerings, and acquisition, change and communications programs. He values credibility, respect and cooperation.
Patrick previously worked at Babcock in Scotland for over ten years, leading long term maritime business growth initiatives. He drove the establishment of Maritime Research & Innovation UK (MarRI-UK), the Arrol Gibb Innovation Campus and the Scottish Maritime Cluster, through personal initiative, leadership and persistence. He also contributed to a Scottish Enterprise industry leadership group and to UKNEST (Naval Engineering Science & Technology).
Patrick previously led maritime sector marketing and business planning for QinetiQ, during which time he established the UK’s first Marine Industries Growth Strategy, and was a co-author of “Global Marine Trends 2030”.
A Naval Architect (University of Strathclyde, 1992) and Chartered Engineer, his technical career was with YARD, the UK Ministry of Defence and Canada’s Department of National Defence. He is a Life Fellow of the RSA, a member of the Institute of Directors and a Liveryman in London’s Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.
Chloe is a solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard LLP working as a maritime lawyer and a specialist in the firm’s shipping team.
Chloe is involved with all aspects of maritime transactions, providing legal advice for a wide range of clients including ship owners and charterers, financial institutions, energy suppliers, insurance providers and public bodies.
Chloe’s practice is domestic and international. Day-to-day work is largely focused vessel procurement and ship finance; ocean freight work and chartering; and supporting offshore renewable energy and oilfield services.
Chloe is also a Foreign and Commonwealth Office accredited Notary Public.
Chloe Oakshett
Chloe Oakshett
Chloe is a solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard LLP working as a maritime lawyer and a specialist in the firm’s shipping team.
Chloe is involved with all aspects of maritime transactions, providing legal advice for a wide range of clients including ship owners and charterers, financial institutions, energy suppliers, insurance providers and public bodies.
Chloe’s practice is domestic and international. Day-to-day work is largely focused vessel procurement and ship finance; ocean freight work and chartering; and supporting offshore renewable energy and oilfield services.
Chloe is also a Foreign and Commonwealth Office accredited Notary Public.
Mike Bullock
Mike Bullock joined the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) as Chief Executive in 2014. NLB is the General Lighthouse Authority for Scotland and the Isle of Man and is a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) answerable to the UK Department for Transport.
Prior to taking up his current appointment he was in the Royal Navy for 34 years serving in a total of six ships and submarines, as well as working ashore in the Ministry of Defence, NATO, the UK Embassy in Washington DC and in the Pentagon.
His final appointment, in the rank of Commodore, was in Navy Command Headquarters, Portsmouth where he had responsibility for Logistics and Infrastructure for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, holds a Masters of Art in International Security and Strategy from King’s College London (2011) and is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies.
“I joined SMC’s Board to help fulfil the Northern Lighthouse Board’s strategic objective of supporting the sustainable economic development of Scotland. As a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) with our headquarters in Edinburgh, but working to the Department for Transport in London, we have strong relationships both within UK and Scottish Governments. I am able to use this network to facilitate the Cluster’s work, that’s everything from directly engaging with Ministers and making introductions to identifying emerging opportunities through policy change.”
Paul is Principal and Chief Executive of City of Glasgow College.
Preceding the merger he was Principal and Chief Executive of Central College Glasgow from 2007.
Prior to this, he was Acting Director & Chief Executive of Southern Regional College in Northern Ireland, Principal & Chief Executive of the Queen’s Award winning Armagh College of Further & Higher Education and Principal of Limavady College.
He has 30 years’ experience in Further Education and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Member of the Institute of Public Relations, a Member of the Nautical Institute. As Ambassador for World Skills UK for Scotland, he has overseen the creation of a World Skills Academy and the City of Glasgow College’s current No.1 ranking in the Worldskills UK league.
Paul is a retired veteran HM Coastguard Officer and is a Fellow of The Nautical Institute.
Paul Little
Richard Ballantyne
Richard Ballantyne joined the British Ports Association in 2007 and became the Chief Executive in 2016.
Richard has in-depth expertise in ports, transport, trade and environmental policy matters as well as a wide experience of the legislative process around the UK. He is a champion of sustainable development and is also a passionate advocate of the value of the UK ports industry both to the regions in which they are based but also as national gateways.
He is a Director of Maritime UK, a Trustee of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board charity and was previously a Director of Port Skills and Safety Ltd.
Before joining the BPA Richard spent five years at a Westminster political consultancy and was previously an MP’s researcher in the House of Commons.
Richard was also awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours for his services to the maritime sector.
Brian brings more than 30 years’ experience in the Maritime Sector to the Cluster having started his career with Caledonian MacBrayne in the late 1980s while working towards his degree in Accountancy at the University of Glasgow. Following graduation, he worked in a variety of roles in the sector including Operations Director and Regional Management.
Most recently Brian has undertaken the roles of Port Director and non-Executive Director with Solent Gateway Ltd, based in Marchwood port, the UK’s main military logistics supply port, successfully overseeing the transition from a military port to a commercially focussed port.
Brian also created the role of Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement for CalMac Ferries Ltd, setting up the CalMac Community Board. He led the operations team in the successful bid for the latest west coast ferry contract and, as Operations Director, he has represented CalMac internationally at conferences and on the Board of the Interferry Operators Policy Committee.
Brian has recently completed an MBA with distinction from the University of Strathclyde Business School specialising in Leadership Studies.
Brian Fulton
Brian Fulton
Brian brings more than 30 years’ experience in the Maritime Sector to the Cluster having started his career with Caledonian MacBrayne in the late 1980s while working towards his degree in Accountancy at the University of Glasgow. Following graduation, he worked in a variety of roles in the sector including Operations Director and Regional Management.
Most recently Brian has undertaken the roles of Port Director and non-Executive Director with Solent Gateway Ltd, based in Marchwood port, the UK’s main military logistics supply port, successfully overseeing the transition from a military port to a commercially focussed port.
Brian also created the role of Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement for CalMac Ferries Ltd, setting up the CalMac Community Board. He led the operations team in the successful bid for the latest west coast ferry contract and, as Operations Director, he has represented CalMac internationally at conferences and on the Board of the Interferry Operators Policy Committee.
Brian has recently completed an MBA with distinction from the University of Strathclyde Business School specialising in Leadership Studies.
Andy Muddiman
Andy has served in the Royal Marines since 1992 in a range of command and staff roles. Much of his career has been concerned with planning naval deployments, undertaking expeditionary operations, and later specialising in maritime security: he has frequently been based in Scotland and has worked with allies and partners worldwide. Andy is a fluent French speaker and a graduate of the French Staff College.
As Naval Regional Commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Andy is charged with official RN interaction with the Scottish Government, including the provision of resilience support. Under the Royal Navy’s Maritime Enterprise programme, he delivers assistance to the wider maritime sector, boosting Social Value and collaborations with education and training providers.
He has specific interests in improving STEM outreach and veterans’ career transitions. He also oversees plans to improve infrastructure sustainability and support to Naval families and their children in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Diane is an experienced and successful driver of big change, resulting in improved employee engagement, customer experience and commercial performance.
Diane has enjoyed leadership roles with a number of high-profile transport brands including Great North Eastern Railway and Heathrow Express, and she led the revival of the iconic Great Western Railway brand. She is passionate about customer experience and is able to engage and inspire colleagues through collaboration and building relationships across the organisation, in pursuit of a common vision.
In her role as Commercial Director at Caledonian MacBrayne, Diane has a deep understanding of the impact the maritime sector has on the lives and economies of our coastal communities.
Diane Burke
Angela Hughes
Angela is managing director at Clark, an integrated PR and communications agency, and brings more than 25 years’ experience in strategic communications to the Cluster. Her experience is drawn from PR and creative agencies, where she has supported organisations across the public, private and third sectors, and in-house roles with Scotland’s police and SSE plc.
Angela has advised boards and senior executive teams on corporate communications strategy, reputation management, crisis comms and issues management and stakeholder engagement. She has supported clients through periods of growth, change, scrutiny and crisis. Since 2013, Angela has provided strategic communications support to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), and she led communications for Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) for four years. She also provided oversight to the team that supported the Cluster with design and delivery of the Maritime Pathways programme.
Angela is a Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Accredited Practitioner.
Blair Jamieson is a seasoned maritime engineering and commercial strategy leader with over 30 years’ experience across the UK and internationally. Beginning his career as an apprentice at Rosyth in 1988, he has since delivered complex engineering and support programmes across submarines and surface ships, holding key roles in Faslane, Rosyth, Bath, and Bristol.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in Technology, a Diploma in Design and Innovation, and an MBA from Robert Gordon University. Blair’s academic foundation and professional experience span the defence, marine and energy sectors, including a six‑year period in Aberdeen and Singapore where he expanded Babcock’s presence in the energy industry. During this time, he was appointed Chairman of the Energy Industries Council, championing SME access to global markets.
Blair has held senior leadership roles at Rosyth, driving advanced manufacturing, digital shipbuilding innovation, and the development of the Arrol Gibb Skills and Innovation Campus—strengthening knowledge transfer and future industrial capability. In addition to this, he serves as Operating Director for the Forth Green Freeport, shaping industrial strategy, accelerating investment, and positioning the region as a hub for advanced manufacturing and maritime innovation.
He is currently Business Development Director for West & Central Europe at Babcock International, where he leads strategic growth across defence, nuclear and advanced manufacturing. Blair plays a key role in forging international partnerships and strengthening relationships with key allies including Poland, the Netherlands, and other European nations.
He brings deep expertise in collaborative engineering, industrial partnerships, and global market development. His appointment to the Scottish Maritime Cluster board reflects his commitment to advancing Scotland’s maritime competitiveness, supporting innovation, and building high‑value, export‑ready industrial capability for the future.
Blair Jamieson
James Horton
James Horton is the current President of the Scottish Shipping Benevolent Society.
James has extensive board experience and has held numerous strategic roles assisting organisations grow and develop. He is committed to showcasing Scotland on the UK and global maritime stage.
James is a consultant at the international law firm CMS and heads up the Scottish Shipping Team dealing with UK and cross border matters. The maritime world has always been close to home.
He is originally from Poole in Dorset and read shipping law at the University of Hull.
James is a member of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.