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Home » Meet the ASTO Team

Office Staff

Kerry McMillan

Chief Executive

Contact Kerry for questions about Sail Training, compliance with membership, Trinity House bursaries, coding queries, Small Ships Races, and the UK Sail Training Conference.

Shannon Salisbury

Administrator

Contact Shannon for any enquiries about the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Educare/Online courses, updates to our UK Sail Training member directory, flags, forms, and posting jobs online.

Rear Admiral John Lang, John H. Hamilton, OBE
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, GCVO, GCStJ, CD

Royal Patron

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HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh, GCVO, GCStJ, CD

President

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Vice President for Life

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Rear Admiral John Lang

Vice President for Life

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John H. Hamilton, OBE

Trustees

Mark Todd at Mayflower race

Mark Todd

Chair

Mark joined the ASTO Board of Trustees as a representative of our member organisations in his role as Chief Executive of OYT South before becoming Chair in 2021. Mark is a Younger Brother of Trinity House, sits on the RYA Yachtmaster Qualifications Panel and is an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute. He also stays in touch with the realities of delivering sail training by skippering several trips a year for OYT South and says that creating the environment that allows young people to make positive changes to their life during a voyage is one of the best contributions you can make – and is also a lot of fun!

Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson, CBE

Vice Chair

Starting his working life as an engineer in the chemical industry, Brian then led a number of organisations in various sectors through turnarounds. Since finishing four years as Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2022, he has been an advocate for the positive impact of sail training.

Ray Cockrem

Ray Cockrem

Treasurer

Ray is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and has had a long career in the financial services industry.  He currently heads up the Internal Audit function at State Street Bank and Trust in London.

Ray is a keen sailor, and an enthusiastic supporter of sail training and became an ASTO Trustee in 2020.

Amanda Butcher- Speaker v2

Amanda Butcher, MBE

Trustee

Amanda started a career in the RAF after gaining a degree in Mathematics and Chemistry from the University of Exeter. She represented the RAF in offshore sailing and tennis. After leaving the RAF she moved to the Charity sector and was CEO and Director of several UK charities. Her involvement with Sail Training started during her time with the Jubilee Sailing Trust.  She has been a Trustee of ASTO since 2009.  She is also a Trustee of GirlGuiding South West England and an Ambassador of the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Tim James

Tim James

Trustee

Tim James is an experienced business owner and entrepreneur having built and sold a number of successful businesses following a successful career in retail. He continues to be a main board Director of H&G, an investment fund listed on the Sydney stock exchange. Tim brings an understanding of marketing and commercial acumen to the ASTO board. Tim now chairs the Investment Committee.

A keen sailor, Tim is a Yachtmaster and member of the Royal Southern Yacht Club. He has cruised extensively in Northern Europe and Co-owns Banter, IRC6 Cowes week winner in 2023 and consistent top 20 finisher in the RTIR.

David Snelson updated photo

David Snelson, CB

Trustee

Rear Admiral David Snelson served in the Royal Navy and then worked in the Ports industry. He is an Elder Brother of Trinity House which is where he encountered sail training, helping interview impressive young people for bursaries. As a result, he became an enthusiastic supporter of sail training and an ASTO Trustee in 2020.

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Craig Burton

Trustee

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Hilary Maywood

Trustee

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Neil Northmore

Trustee

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