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Our core team, Trustees, Presidents and Royal Patron work together to strengthen the UK sail training sector and extend its impact.
Core Team
A small, dedicated team supporting our members, connecting the sector and turning ASTO’s priorities into action.
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Kerry McMillan
Chief Executive
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Michelle Moorman
Project and Operations Coordinator
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Shannon Salisbury
Membership and Administration Officer
Kerry leads ASTO’s work to support, represent and strengthen the UK sail training sector. Following a successful career in human resources, she took up sailing as an adult and discovered a passion for sail training, going on to work with several organisations in sailing and leadership roles before becoming ASTO’s Chief Executive in 2023.
Since her appointment, Kerry has improved processes for ASTO and its member organisations, encouraged the sector to look outwards and developed a communications and marketing strategy to bring the impact of sail training to wider audiences. She has also represented the sector through major legislative change affecting vessel operations.
Michelle brings over 12 years of experience within the sailing sector to her role at ASTO. With expertise spanning event management, fundraising, communications and stakeholder engagement, she leads the delivery of many of the projects that bring the UK sail training community together. Her work includes the Small Ships Races, ASTO’s annual UK Sail Training Conference, the ASTO Impact Review and a range of projects that support collaboration, share best practice and strengthen the sail training sector.
Shannon provides the day-to-day administration that helps ASTO’s member organisations access the support they need. She coordinates a wide range of services to ensure the behind the scenes activity runs smoothly, including DBS checks, online training, member directory updates, member declarations and the administration of the Hammond Innes Bursary. She also processes entries and coordinates administration for the Cowes Small Ships Race and the UK Sail Training Conference.
Patron and Presidents
Our Royal Patron and Presidents champion sail training, build valuable connections and help ASTO extend our impact.
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HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO
Royal Patron
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Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Kyd KBE
President
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The Hon Nusrat Ghani MP
Vice President
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Rear Admiral John Lang
Vice President for Life
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John H Hamilton OBE
Vice President for Life
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh has been ASTO’s Royal Patron since 2011. During that time, she has regularly visited member organisations and met young people taking part in residential adventures at sea. These visits have given Her Royal Highness first-hand insight into how sail training can help young people build confidence, develop skills and discover what they are capable of.
Sir Jerry became President of ASTO in 2025. During a distinguished 37-year career in the Royal Navy, he commanded HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest warship built for the Royal Navy, and later served as Fleet Commander. Since 2022, he has served as Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, representing His Majesty The King on the island. A lifelong sailor and RYA Yachtmaster, Sir Jerry has also volunteered as a skipper, taking young naval personnel on introductory voyages. He is a Younger Brother of Trinity House and a Distinguished Fellow of RUSI, and strongly believes in the value of challenging, well-supported experiences in helping young people build confidence, develop life skills and fulfil their potential.
Nusrat became Vice President of ASTO in 2025, bringing extensive parliamentary and maritime experience to the role. She is Chair of Ways and Means and serves as the Senior Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. As a former Shipping and Maritime Minister, she helped shape long-term policy for the sector, including the UK’s Maritime 2050 strategy. She is a committed advocate for young people and people with disabilities, and supports ASTO in championing access to the benefits of sail training.
John served as ASTO’s President from 2003 to 2025, following a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and as Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents. Throughout his 22-year presidency, he championed the value of sail training, supported ASTO’s trustees and staff, and attended almost every ASTO event and meeting. His contribution also included securing The Duchess of Edinburgh as ASTO’s Royal Patron.
John’s involvement in sail training began in the early 1960s with the Rona Sailing Project. He joined the Sail Training Association (STA) in 1975, becoming Race Director the following year. His work helped shape the development of the Tall Ships Races, and he later became an International Goodwill Ambassador.
His 1988 book, Sail Training: The Message of the Tall Ships, remains widely cited in discussions of sail training’s role in youth development. In 1999, John was awarded an OBE for services to sail training for young people.
Within ASTO, John became Vice-Chair in 1980, then Chair from 1986 to 2001during which time he oversaw the Hammond Innes bequest. He was a Trustee until 2005 and was appointed Vice President for Life in 2006.
Trustees
Our team of Trustees provide oversight, expertise and strategic guidance, ensuring ASTO is run efficiently and stays focussed on its mission.
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Mark Todd MBE
Chair
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Brian Johnson CBE
Vice Chair
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Ray Cockrem
Treasurer
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Lindsay Bridges
Trustee
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Amanda Butcher MBE
Trustee
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Martin Coles CBE
Trustee
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Tim James
Trustee
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Neil Northmore
Trustee
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Annant Shah
Trustee
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Rear Admiral David Snelson CB
Trustee
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Claire Thatcher
Trustee
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Craig Burton
Trustee
Mark joined ASTO’s Board as a representative of its member organisations, and became Chair in 2021. He currently serves as Chief Executive of Ocean Youth Trust South, is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute, and an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and Examiner. He also sits on the RYA Qualifications Panel. Mark continues to skipper sail training voyages for OYT South, keeping the Board closely connected to frontline delivery.
Brian began his career as an engineer in the chemical industry before leading organisations across several sectors through periods of change and turnaround. He served as Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) from 2018 to 2022. Brian brings senior leadership, governance and maritime experience to the Board, alongside a strong commitment to the positive impact of sail training.
Ray is a Chartered Accountant with a degree in mathematics and extensive experience in the financial services sector, including senior leadership positions in internal audit. He joined ASTO’s Board in 2020 and brings financial oversight, risk and governance expertise to his role as Treasurer. A keen sailor, Ray is also an enthusiastic supporter of the opportunities sail training creates.
Lindsay experienced the impact of sail training while growing up around sailing and later volunteering with Ocean Youth Club. She has continued to support youth development through extensive volunteering with Girlguiding in the UK and overseas. Drawing on her experience as the Global Head of HR for DHL Supply Chain, Lindsay brings expertise in people development, organisational culture, diversity and inclusion to the ASTO Board.
After studying mathematics and chemistry at the University of Exeter, Amanda began her career in the Royal Air Force, representing the RAF in offshore sailing and tennis. She later moved into the charity sector, serving as Chief Executive and Director of several UK charities. Amanda’s connection with sail training began at the Jubilee Sailing Trust, and she has served as an ASTO Trustee since 2009. She is also a Trustee of the Tetbury Malthouse Foundation and an Ambassador for the Royal International Air Tattoo.
Martin brings extensive leadership experience from the commercial property and youth sectors, including some 15 years as Chief Executive of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets. Awarded a CBE for services to youth development and seafarers, he continues to volunteer with Sea Cadets as an instructor and relief coxswain. Martin is a Trustee of UKSA and ANSS, a Younger Brother of Trinity House, a member of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and has been a Trustee with ASTO since 2025.
One of the longest serving Trustees, Tim is an experienced business owner and entrepreneur who has built and sold several successful businesses following a career in retail. He brings commercial, investment and marketing experience to the Board. A Yachtmaster and member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Tim has cruised extensively in Northern Europe and remains an active Solent racing sailor.
Neil has worked at senior management level in the marine industry for more than 20 years, specialising in the legal and commercial aspects of the superyacht sector. A former senior RYA Yachtmaster Examiner, he also has a long personal connection with sail training, including experience as an Ocean Youth Club skipper. Neil brings maritime, legal, commercial and governance expertise to the ASTO Board.
Annant is a senior executive and Board member with extensive commercial and strategy experience gained during a long career in the energy sector. He has a strong connection to frontline sail training having volunteered for over 20 years with Ocean Youth Trust South, and trained with Rona Sailing Project. Annant brings commercial insight and investment expertise to the ASTO Board and is Chair of ASTO’s Investment Committee.
David served in the Royal Navy before building a second career in the ports industry. As an Elder Brother of Trinity House, he became closely involved in interviewing candidates for sail training bursaries and saw the capability and potential of the young people applying. From this experience he became a strong advocate for sail training, and joined ASTO’s Board in 2020.
Claire brings more than 25 years of senior marketing and communications experience across global technology brands, government initiatives and the charity sector. She has led strategy across international markets, managed significant budgets and established marketing functions in growing organisations. Claire also served for 15 years as a trustee of The Pituitary Foundation and supports ASTO in communicating the impact of sail training to wider audiences.
Craig brings extensive experience of sailing, training and the UK sail training community. Currently Head of Operations at the RYA, Craig is a previous ASTO General Manager. Through his professional work, Craig contributes practical insight into seamanship, qualifications, legislative frameworks and safe delivery, helping the Board stay connected to the needs of member organisations.