Board Members

Rob comes to Dart Harbour from a marine background having served in the Royal Navy between 1989 and 2007 leaving with a rank of Lieutenant Commander. Following his naval career Rob was employed as Asset Planning Officer by Devon County Council and then as Project Manager (Construction) with the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary.

Having spent 18 years in the Royal Navy, 3 of which were at Britannia Royal Naval College, Rob is well placed to understand and serve the needs of all users the River. One of our main objectives will be to preserve the balance of the river, serving the needs of local users whilst catering for visitors, maintaining the beautiful natural environment whilst promoting commerce.

Email: hm@dartharbour.org

Neil Hockaday was first appointed to the Board in late 2001 and became Chairman at the meeting held in April 2010. His career has been spent in the banking industry in London, Europe, the US and the Far East. More recently he was the Finance Director of a start up pharmaceutical company in Bristol, but retired in 2008. He was also a joint owner of a leisure business near Brixham. He is a member of the Royal Dart Yacht Club and he keeps a boat in Brixham. His expertise on the Authority is in financial matters and he has assisted the Authority with developing financial reporting mechanisms, the preparation of capital plans and with pension matters. He is a Trustee of the Authorities Pension Scheme.

John (Jan) was first appointed to the board in January 2009. He was born and brought up in Dartmouth and always had a close interest in the river in his early years. His career was spent in the shipping and he was Master with a diverse international shipping company and also Port Captain of a major freight terminal on the River Thames. Latterly he was involved in shipping management. He is a Younger Brother of Trinity House. In retirement he has been closely involved as a Trustee in an International NGO working for the prevention of disabilities. He is currently Vice Chairman of Blackawton Parish Council and has a particular interest in environmental matters.

Mike was appointed to the Board in December 2007. He first developed his interest in the sea when he attended the London Nautical School! He later spent 25 years in the information technology world, in various sales and marketing roles. In 1991 he founded his own company, and it was at this point that he entered the off-shore IT business, making over 100 trips to India. He developed the company into a £35 million business before it was acquired by a global software company. He continued to hold executive director responsibilities in the company until 2004 and still works as a consultant to the industry.

Mike and his family moved to Cornworthy, from Bristol, in 2003. Mike is totally at home on the river. He enjoys taking his boat out, and is an active member of the canoe section of Dartmouth Yacht Club.

Owen was appointed to the Board from January 2011. Owen trained as a solicitor with Allen & Overy in London. He was a Partner in the commercial law firm Eversheds and as also worked in industry as Legal Counsel and Director of the Wilson Bowden Developments business.

Owen now works as a Consultant on commercial law matters for Hooper & Wollen with an office over looking the boat float in Dartmouth. He also acts as Secretary to the Dartmouth Chamber of Trade and serves the Totnes Renewable Energy Society as Legal Director and Company Secretary.

Owen has recently completed a sabbatical sailing with friends and family from the Dart to cruise for a summer in the Med. He is now a qualified RYA Yacht Master and working towards the qualification to act as an Instructor. He keeps a boat on the Dart Marina.

Helen was appointed to the Board from January 2011. She was born in Guildford, Surrey and has spent most of her career in Health Care. After moving to the South West she joined Greenway Ferry and is now the General Manager of the company. One of her main roles is marketing the business and she is very proactive in this field. Helen enjoys working in the leisure and tourism industry and has built up her nautical skills over the past few years.
Helen has four children, two of whom also work at Greenway Ferry. Helen and her family enjoy their leisure time on the River Dart and are currently restoring a Captain’s Launch from WWII Aircraft Carrier HMS Eagle.

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Joe was first appointed to the Board in January 2010. A keen sailor he has kept a boat on the River Dart since 1996 and is currently living aboard his boat on the river while house hunting for a property in Dartmouth. Joe owns a local business, The Dartmouth Canvas Factory, and is also Vice Chairman of the Dartmouth Chamber of Trade and Businesses. Until recently Joe worked for the DHNA as a river officer specializing in the refurbishment and maintenance of the fleet of work boats.

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Trevor was appointed to the Board in December 2008. Originally from a naval family based in Portsmouth, he graduated from London University with a degree in Biology and after qualifying as a chartered accountant spent all of his working life with BP plc in a number of different financial roles. He was posted overseas to Abu Dhabi and Tanzania and for the last 4 years prior to retirement in 2007 was the general manager of a large corporate accounting team with varied global responsibilities. After many years of visiting the south west, Trevor and his wife moved to Dittisham in early 2008 to enjoy the coastal scenery and limitless walking potential of the region, together with the local golf courses.

Sue was first apointed to the Board in 2005. She was born and brought up in Scotland and represented both Scotland and the UK at fencing. After moving to the south west, she started sailing in a voluntary capacity helping out with Somerset Schools Sailing Association while working as a lecturer in further education. After holding several posts in charge of leisure, tourism, hospitality and catering, she worked in higher education writing a degree in health and fitness. She is a part owner of a Cobra 850 kept on the Dart and used for cruising.