THE MNWMF

Board of Directors

Sean Barrett, RNZN (Rtd)
*Chairman
*General Manager, Business Development – Asia Pacific & Australasia, DP World

Sean started his career as an officer of the Royal New Zealand Navy, serving for 8 years before moving to London to begin a new career in commercial shipping with Blue Star Line Ltd.

He worked as Projects Manager in London for 5 years, before transferring to Sydney as Line Manager of the newly acquired Bridge Line, operating between Australia, Japan, Korea and China. Following the acquisition of Blue Star Line by P&O Nedlloyd, Sean moved into stevedoring with P&O Ports, where he undertook assignments in China and Indonesia, before returning to Sydney as Commercial Director for P&O Ports Australia.

The acquisition of P&O Ports by DP World in 2006 took Sean to the USA as Commercial Director – Americas Region for DP World, covering a network of container terminals in both North and South America. Following his return to Australia in 2011, Sean worked for both Patrick Stevedores and later Swire Shipping, before re-joining DP World in 2019, where he is currently General Manager Business Development for DP World Asia Pacific & Australasia Region, based in Sydney.

Sean has an MBA from Macquarie University and is qualified as a Member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.

Capt. Ted van Bronswijk
*Director
*Retired as Senior Master Svitzer Australia in 2020 and continues as Casual Master for Smit Lamnalco.

Ted is a highly experienced Master who holds Master 1 unlimited Australian and British certificates of competence. He has local knowledge exemptions for Sydney Harbour, Port Botany and Port Kembla. After 18 years of blue water experience his recent seagoing experience includes significant maritime projects including:

Towage of HMS Nottingham after a serious grounding. International deliveries of tugs in Asian waters and between distant ports around Australia.

Estuarine navigation projects involving 300 tonne barges, long river transits and as Master of Sydney ferries Jetcat evacuated people from bushfire ravaged communities.

Key organizer in the inter agency safety exercises “What If’s”: a seminar focusing on hypothetical high risk situations in Sydney Ports.

Ted is also Sydney Branch Master of the Company of Master Mariners and is Federal Master of the Company. He is the Company representative for joint projects and the sole proprietor of Aspect Marine Services a consultancy specializing in shallow water navigation and maritime safety.

Ms. Catherine Linley, B. Engineering
*Director
* Senior Port Marine Surveyor, Marine Casualty Officer & Examiner of Masters & Mates, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), Adelaide.

Catherine started her life sailing in the UK on a boat her parents built. Her family graduated to the 36′ ketch and completed a 4-year partial circumnavigation of the world in 1987. This experience set the course for a career at sea. The Royal Navy didn’t accept women navigators, so Catherine joined the Merchant Navy.

 
Over 13 years Catherine worked as a Navigating Officer on a range of vessels including Container Ships, Tankers, Ferries, and Specialist Vessels. During this time, she qualified as a Master Mariner, completed a Bachelor of Engineering degree, and qualified as a private airplane pilot.
 
Whilst working for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (the civilian support branch of the Royal Navy, providing vital logistical & operational support to the RN military operations) she met her future husband and in 2002, they relocated to Canberra. Catherine fulfilled a goal of becoming a Senior Marine Surveyor with AMSA & taking up a policy role, as Principal Advisor – Cargo. This led to a two-year London appointment, as the Secretary of the Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC) Sub-committee at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
 
Returning to Australia in 2009 with her husband and a young son the family settled on the coast in Adelaide where Catherine’s family is based. A keen sailor, Catherine has competed in the Fastnet Yacht Race and two Sydney to Hobart races. In 1996 she won the Jane Tait Memorial Trophy as the top placed female skipper.
 
A passionate advocate of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Catherine committed to grass roots mentoring, role modelling and advocacy particularly for young woman and those who want to enter the Maritime Industry.

Paul Trangmar
*Director
*RNR (Rtd)
 

After early training as a RAN midshipman, Paul decided on a MN career, joining B&C Shipping (Clan Line, Scottish Shire Line, Union-Castle Line, et al) as an assistant purser, employed in passenger/cargo liners from UK to South African ports.

When B&C’s fleet was reduced, Paul joined British Airways as long-haul cabin crew, during which time he qualified in hospitality management.

He subsequently returned to sea, first with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, later with Cunard Line then Saga Cruises (UK).

Having transferred from the RAN Reserve to the RNR in 1999, Paul served in a number of full-time roles with the Royal Navy. A highlight being an operational tour to Oman in 2002, as deputy commander of a forward logistics site.

Returning to Australia in 2007, Paul gained employment at Government House Queensland, first on the household staff later as executive secretary.

For 10 years while in Britain, Paul served on the committee of London Legacy. Prior to a move last year to the Hunter region of NSW, he completed 5 years as a volunteer at Queensland Maritime Museum, Brisbane.

Paul first attended a Merchant Navy War Memorial Fund commemoration at Canberra in 2018, and accepted nomination to the MNWMF board in September 2024.

Denis Speyer

*Director
*BEc, MLLR, MBA, MAppLaw, MNI, AICLA

A qualified master mariner, holding a master’s degree in maritime law, Denis has worked in the marine industry for over forty years.

Commencing a seagoing career as a navigating cadet with The Eastern and Australian Steamship Company in 1978 on the Australia to Japan container run, through 2 years as second officer with Dilmun Navigation’s little Pacific Island tankers and then back to Australia with ASP’s tanker fleet and lastly service as C/O on AOS rig tenders. Denis came ashore in 1991 and has worked in various managerial positions within the shipping industry since, including 9 years with CP Ships and 10 years with Swire Shipping in insurance and operational regional management roles. For the last seven years Denis has been engaged as a marine loss adjuster/surveyor and consultant. 

Mick Kinley
*Director

 

Mick Kinley recently retired from a 30 year career at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), having had the honour of being Chief Executive Officer for the final 10 years.

During his time at AMSA he was extensively involved in seafarer safety and welfare.

Prior to joining AMSA he was a Marine Engineer with BHP serving on their ships and ashore including working on projects in shipyards.

He holds qualifications in engineering and law and is a member of the Institute of Marine Engineers, Scientists and Technicians and the Australian Institute of Company Directors

Stan Moriarty​Mr. Stan Moriarty
*Secretary

Stan commenced his employment as a trainee accountant in 1970 with a small firm of chartered accountants.  Following his qualification as a chartered accountant and registration as a company auditor in 1992 he became a partner of the firm.

In 1998 his partner retired, and Stan became the principal of the firm Pringle Moriarty & Co.  At this time John Pringle, his former partner, resigned as secretary of the MNWMF and the Sydney Bethel Union (SBU).  Stan was then appointed secretary of both organisations and has continued to occupy those positions since that time.  In 2006 he was appointed secretary of Australian Mariners Welfare Society (AMWS) a position he held until May 2025.

In 2018 Stan retired from practicing as a company auditor and in June 2021 passed his accounting and taxation practice to his daughter while continuing to maintain his positions as secretary with MNWMF and SBU.