Safer Waves is run by a dedicated team of volunteers and trustees. In addition to the management volunteers below, we have email support volunteers who staff our confidential email service. For enquiries or media requests, please make contact with one of the following team members.
Becky Newdick – Founder and CEO
e: info@saferwaves.org
Becky founded Safer Waves in 2019 in response to reading and hearing several accounts of sexual violence and gender-based discrimination at sea. She has worked at sea since 2006 on a range of vessels including general cargo/heavy lift, bulk carriers, dredgers and ferries. She currently works on Wightlink vehicle ferries as Chief Officer/Relief Master.
Dr Genevieve Waterhouse – Chair of Trustees
e: gennie.waterhouse@saferwaves.org
Dr Genevieve Waterhouse has a PhD in investigative forensic psychology and is a senior lecturer at the University of Winchester. Her area of expertise is vulnerable witnesses and she has published on a range of topics including rape offences in the United Kingdom. She is also codirector of the International Investigative Interviewing Research Group which runs annual international conferences that bring together practitioners and researchers in the area.
James Chalk – Trustee
e: james.chalk@saferwaves.org
Following his degree in History, James moved onto a career at sea, working for Holland America Line and Disney Cruise Lines as a Deck Officer. In 2018, he moved ashore to work in the office for Carnival UK and is currently in the role of Operations Manager. James also runs his own business that manufactures and sells educational resources for the maritime sector. In 2020 James started supporting Safer Waves as a volunteer and in 2021 we were delighted to welcome him onto the trustee board.
Davina Kelleher – Trustee
Davina Kelleher is a Recruitment and Attraction Lead for a Mental Health NHS Trust in Hampshire. She has previously worked with the You Trust delivering support in a refuge and in the community, to tackle issues around domestic abuse.
Simon Beechinor – Trustee
Simon is recently retired with experience as Non-Executive Director, CEO and COO in maritime transport-related businesses including shipping, ports and transport consultancy services. Simon has led or collaborated in the acquisition and turnaround of businesses, the sale and purchase of high-value assets and the development of international joint-ventures.
Simon was a Master Mariner and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Michael Ayres – Trustee
Mr Michael Ayres is an entrepreneur with 14 years experience developing companies in the clean technology sector. At those companies he has held board level positions with responsibility for operations, product development, sales and strategic relationships.
Caitlin Vaughan – Management Volunteer
Caitlin has worked for over 10 years in the not for profit sector and spent 7 years at ISWAN running projects to effect long term improvements to seafarers’ welfare and well-being. She recently joined the Lloyd’s Register Foundation and continues to be involved in maritime related projects.
Caitlin has seen the devastating effects of sexual violence and and gender-based discrimination of seafarers and is committed to helping ensure the right support is available to everyone working at sea.