Meet the Team
Diane Gilpin
CEO/Founder
Diane Gilpin leads Smart Green Shipping. She has 30+ years of experience developing and leading dynamic innovative business systems solutions in F1 motor racing, yacht racing, financial information and renewables.
Diane sits on UK Department for Transport Clean Maritime Council; is a European Green Shipping Expert for EU Waterborne Transport Platform; a BBC ‘Woman of Power’ 2020; a recipient of InnovateUK’s ‘Women in Innovation’ Award; winner of the 2021 International Windship Association’s ‘Outstanding Contribution’ Award.
James Mason
Data Scientist
James is a ship routing expert and develops the FastRoute software at Smart Green Shipping, which harnesses cutting-edge optimisation technology to quantify fuel savings from FastRig wing sails. James earned his master’s degree in physics from The University of Manchester and later furthered his academic journey with a PhD at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. During his PhD, James specialised in weather routing for wind-assisted ships and created the first FastRoute prototype.
James is committed to revolutionising maritime efficiency and sustainability, combining his passion for physics and climate change to create a greener future for global shipping.
Isla Valenti
Organisational Services Manager
Isla brings a wealth of business knowledge and experience from over 30 years working in the private, public, charity and community sectors. Having joined Smart Green Shipping in July 2022 she is responsible for the day-to-day operational activities of the Organisational Services function ranging from People Policies, PR/Media/Marketing to supporting the senior management team and Board.
In her spare time, Isla likes to create mosaic art. She passionately believes in using materials that may be seen as waste to allow them to live on in another guise. Isla also enjoys growing vegetables and using them to feed friends and family.
Ian Haugh
Director/CFO
Ian brings 40 years of experience of management in organisations in industries as diverse as a coach tour operator and the information services division of a major US bank. His focus for the last decade has been on renewable and regenerative technologies, as MD of companies making the step from R&D to commercialisation. At Smart Green Shipping he focuses on financial management and planning, and oversight of the Company’s major, part public funded, R&D projects.
Ian is an overly avid supporter of Liverpool FC and at weekends (when they’re not playing) can be found chopping wood and cleaning chicken houses.
Frankie Haugh
Project Coordinator
Frankie is Project Coordinator at Smart Green Shipping, where he assists with the smooth running of the Winds of Change Project. Having previously worked as a Project Management Assistant for Smart Green Shipping in 2019, he then moved into the software industry before returning. Prior to this, Frankie completed a Master’s Degree at Lancaster University with a thesis in the implementation of renewable technologies in the shipping industry.
In his spare time, Frankie is a keen player and watcher of football, and is a Liverpool fan.
Nadine Miller
Organisational Services Administrator
As Organisational Services Administrator, Nadine is responsible for a variety of administrative duties and maintaining a social media presence for Smart Green Shipping. Nadine graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and has a background working in interior styling, creative design, administrative, and financial services roles.
She enjoys exploring all things creative, dancing, taking nature walks, and finding the patience to feed wild birds from her hand.
John Stott
Project Manager
After university and varied work in and around boats, John began his career as a Naval Architect in 1995, working for a well-known yacht designer as a project lead.
He continued naval architecture in the UK, France, Holland, and New Zealand, notably on the world’s largest single-masted sailing yacht and, more recently, the largest Dutch-built yacht at 118m.
A change to project management came in 2020 with BMT.
Sailing vessels still spark the greatest interest, and John joined Smart Green Shipping in late summer 2023.
John lives in Suffolk with his partner and two teenage children. Sailing and maintaining a boat is still a favourite way to spend precious time off.
Sam Bourne
Technical Operations Manager
With a degree in Naval Architecture and Small Craft Engineering, Sam spent over two decades in the yachting industry. Various technical roles in global hardware sales and the America’s Cup Grand Prix yachting team led Sam to train as a non-destructive testing inspector. He joined Smart Green Shipping in May 2022 bringing his wealth of technical and sailing performance knowledge to bring the FastRig concept to life.
Family life is on the Isle of Arran where Sam is a Helm at his local lifeboat station. When not focussed on the FastRig, he can be found messing around in boats.
Thomas Basham
Site Technician / Supervisor
Qualifying as a Land surveyor from university, an opportunity arose to work in one of the most picturesque places on earth, in Queenstown New Zealand.
Whilst there, time spent in the hospitality and tourism industry opened a door to work for one of the largest tourism operators in New Zealand, operating Americas Cup and Whitbread round-the-world yachts for tourism and youth development trips.
Having moved to Scotland and worked in the superyacht industry over the past two years, an opportunity to join Smart Green Shipping has arisen at the start of this year.
