ABOUT

Board of Commissioners

Commissioners are appointed on merit through an open recruitment process to provide the Commission with the professional skills and experience to determine policy and guide business decisions of the organisation. The Commissioners are appointed for a term of three years and can usually serve two terms. A maximum of two additional Commissioners can be co-opted at any one time for specific purposes and serve for a period of 12 months.

The Chief Executive and the Commissioners carry out a periodic review of the professional skills and experience required to meet the changing demands of the Commission. This agreed list of skills and experience is compared against the existing balance of skills, experience, and portfolio responsibilities of the current Board before advertising for a new appointment.

Each Commissioner appointment is made after a competitive and open selection process. The Commissioner selection panel of four is led by the Chairman of Lymington Harbour Commission but includes a nominated member of the Lymington Harbour Advisory Group, an independent member, and a further Commissioner. Commissioner positions are voluntary, and they have agreed not to receive remuneration.

Commissioner Bios

CAPTAIN ALISON TOWLER

Chair (Legal / HR / Safety)

Brought up on the north coast of Cornwall, Alison has spent most of her life living on or near the water. She served for 30 years in the Royal Navy as a logistics and legal officer both at sea and ashore in diverse management, advisory and adjudication roles. As a barrister she developed particular expertise in criminal, administrative and employment law, assisted in the formulation of government policy, drafted legislation and became an advisor to the Navy and Army Boards. Living locally since 2009, Alison is an experienced sailor and RYA Yachtmaster (Coastal). She is also a dedicated chorister at St Thomas’ Church.

On mooring waiting list

November 2017

SARAH UNSWORTH

(Legal / HR)

Sarah has lived in central Lymington for over 30 years. She is the Senior Partner of a prominent local law firm and has been head of compliance for the firm, a training principal and HR partner. She works collaboratively as a family lawyer and is an accredited mediator. She is experienced in applying high standards, policies and procedures within an organisation.

Sarah has sailed on dinghies and on yachts for many years and enjoys club racing. She has owned a motorboat and Rib and enjoys being on the water as much as possible. Sarah is looking forward to help shape the future of the Lymington River for the benefit of the community.

Holder of annual mooring licence
Member of Lymington Town Sailing Club

June 2023

JEROME PELS

(Business Development / Finance / Personnel)

Jerome is an experienced executive and long-time resident of Lymington, having been a user of the river for over 25 years. He currently serves as CEO of England Boxing and previously held the role of Secretary General of the International Sailing Federation. With a strong background in governance, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, Jerome is excited to apply these skills as a Lymington Harbour Commissioner.

Married with two children, he is committed to ensuring the harbour thrives while balancing the needs of its diverse user community and preserving its unique character. Jerome is a very experienced sailor and past Olympic coach who likes sailing both dinghies and going further offshore in yachts.

None

October 2024

PAUL HARRISON

(IT / Business Development / Personnel)

Paul currently holds a senior sales position for Thule Group. Previously he was Sales Director for Garmin UK and IRE. His work background is mainly within Sales and General Management as well as time working overseas within the international yachting industry. Paul is passionate in ensuring the waters are open and accessible to all. This passion led him to be a member of the Salterns committee helping to maintaining opportunities for all local children.

Paul grew up in Lymington and now lives here with his wife and two children. Paul has been a regular user of the river from sailing with the 9th Lymington Scouts during the 80’s to regularly competing within the local keel boat events. Paul is proud to be also an active member of the Lymington Lifeboat crew. Paul is also a mooring holder and a member of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club.

Member of Royal Lymington Yacht Club
Volunteer at Lymington RNLI

May 2021

DARREN LONGLEY

(Finance)

Darren has been an audit partner at Deloitte LLP for more than 20 years and has worked in London and across the South, including a period as Managing Partner of the Southampton Office. His clients have included businesses across the marine industry including those involved in boatbuilding, marina development and operations, commercial shipping, cruise lines and fishery operations. He has also worked with a number of not for profit organisations.

Darren is a very experienced sailor, racing both dinghies and yachts. Darren is also a keen powerboater and enjoys nothing more than exploring the ports and creeks of The Solent. He keeps boats within Lymington Yacht Haven and is a member of Lymington Town Sailing Club.

Darren is keen to bring his financial and commercial experience and his passion for all things nautical, to help Lymington harbour thrive, for the benefit of both current users, as well as future generations of the harbour’s users.

Member of Lymington Town Sailing Club
Berth holder at Lymington Yacht Haven

January 2022

MIKE BOWLES

(Port and Maritime Operations / Maritime Security)

Mike served in the Royal Corps of Transport/Royal Logistic Corps for 34 years. During this time in the Army he specialised in port and maritime operations and was based at Marchwood Military Port for over 15 years in total. He also saw service in Germany, USA, the Falkland Islands and Brazil.

After leaving the Army he worked first in maritime security and then for the last 12 years as a Project and Race Director with Sail Training International, organisers of the Tall Ships Races.

He lists among his pastimes dinghy and offshore sailing. Born in Bournemouth, he and his wife now live in Brockenhurst where they have had a house for the last 30 years. They are both very involved in local organisations and are also members of Keyhaven Yacht Club.

None

November 2020

JOHN MORROW

(Finance / Business)

John is from a Southampton family and has lived in a number of Solent towns.

He studied Naval Architecture and after some time living abroad he moved to Lymington with his family in 1995. He worked in the oil business both internationally and in the UK until he retired in 2019, although he remains a non Executive Director of a North Sea oil company and a senior advisor to a number of companies.

John has been on the water from an early age both as a sailor and power-boater. He is a RYA Yacht Master Offshore and has owned a number of dinghies and keel boats over the years. He is a member of both Lymington Town Sailing Club and the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and is strongly committed to contributing to the management of Lymington Harbour and its continued protection and development.

Holder of annual mooring licence
Berth holder at Lymington Yacht Haven
Member of Royal Lymington Yacht Club
Member of Lymington Town Sailing Club

August 2020

PHILIP NAYLOR

(Business / Safety)

Philip has worked in various sectors of the marine industry for over 45 years, initially serving at sea as a deck officer on passenger ships and then ashore where he was responsible for the safe and reliable operation of a fleet of cruise ships.

Philip was previously the Director of Maritime Safety & Standards for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency in Southampton. His role there included advising Ministers about the policy requirements for all areas of maritime safety, pursuing UK national interests through the International Maritime Organisation and promoting growth in the number of ships registered in the UK.

He has lived in the Hythe area for over 25 years and currently works for a leading yacht management company based in London.

In his spare time Philip can often be found walking in the Lymington nature reserve and around the Keyhaven Marshes, where he and his wife enjoy identifying the variety of birds which visit the area through the seasons.

None

January 2022

ROBERT WILLOWS

(Environment)

Robert has had a lifelong interest in natural history spending his early years pottering on the shores of N. Wales. During a career of 35 years, he has accumulated broad experience of the environment through research and supporting policy development and analysis.

He undertook a PhD in marine ecology in the early 1980’s before joining Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) Plymouth Marine Laboratory where he undertook research on mussel feeding, the effects of pollutants on their growth and the consequent impact on their avian predators (oystercatchers). As a Principal Investigator on NERC’s Land-Ocean Interaction Study he researched the impact of estuarine shellfish in the erodibility of muddy estuarine cohesive sediment.

In order to undertake work more directly benefitting the environment he joined the Environment Agency where he led a small, national team managing research and undertaking specialist risk assessments, statistical analysis and modelling of impacts affecting air, land and water quality with consequences for human welfare and ecological health. This work supported environmental policy and the development and implementation of legislation and regulations. He worked closely with colleagues in Government, the European Commission and wider research community. He was the lead author on the UK Government’s first (2003) guidance on assessing climate risk and managing adaptation to climate change.

Robert has recently moved to the New Forest area but can sometimes be found sailing dinghies in the waters around the Isles of Scilly. He is a member of the RYA’s Planning and Sustainability Policy Committee and a member of Lymington Town Sailing Club.

Member of RYA Sustainable Policy Committee (unpaid)
Member of Lymington Town Sailing Club

November 2022

RYAN WILLEGERS

(Chief Executive)

Before joining Lymington Harbour Commission as Chief Executive & Harbour Master in 2006, Ryan had 22 years’ experience in commercial shipping working for Wightlink Ltd, the Isle of Wight Ferry operator, including ten years as Operations Director. Ryan and his family have lived in Lymington since 1986.

On mooring waiting list

Further Information

Meeting Minutes

Policies

Job Vacancies