Maritime Solent has appointed five new Non-Executive Directors to its Board, bringing exceptional expertise and senior leadership from across the breadth of the region’s maritime economy – including cruise, shipping, clean maritime, classification, technology, and skills.
The new Board members are:
- Caroline Smith – Group Chief Marketing Officer, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, leading global marketing strategy for the luxury cruise brands Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.
- Lucy Dibdin – External Communications & Strategic Content Director, Lloyd’s Register, with deep experience in global maritime communications and reputation.
- Charles Haskell – Senior Director – Decarbonisation, Carnival UK (P&O Cruises and Cunard), a recognised leader in maritime sustainability and the transition to net zero.
- Lauren Eatwell – Head of WindWings, BAR Technologies, driving innovation in wind-assisted propulsion and clean maritime technology.
- Helen Odhams – Principal and CEO, Brockenhurst College, bringing extensive leadership across further education, skills, and workforce development.
These appointments complement Maritime Solent’s existing Board, further strengthening its ability to lead, champion and grow the regional maritime sector.
Keith Greenfield, Chair of Maritime Solent
“I am delighted to welcome Caroline, Lucy, Charles, Lauren and Helen to the Board of Maritime Solent. Each brings outstanding expertise, deep sector knowledge and a strong commitment to the future of our region’s maritime economy. Their insight and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the Solent’s position as one of the UK’s most important maritime clusters.”
Stuart Baker, Chief Executive of Maritime Solent
“I am genuinely excited to be working with such talented maritime leaders. The quality of the Board we have assembled is exceptional, and their willingness to support our mission is inspiring. Meeting each of them has been a real privilege – I’ve been blown away by their understanding of the sector, their strategic insight, and their enthusiasm for helping us champion the regional maritime economy. For a small, hard-working team like ours, their guidance and support will make a huge difference.”
