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New board members appointed to AMSA

Dr Carla Boehl and Dr Devinder Grewal have been appointed to the Board of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for three-year terms.

Dr Carla Boehl is a lecturer and associate for WA School of Mines at Curtin University and is also an experienced Board Director and senior engineering leader with 25 years of experience across ports and rail, utilities and mining. She currently serves as Senior Manager, Global Engineering Operations at Pfizer, where she leads asset care and net zero initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region. Dr Boehl has extensive governance experience, including roles as Board Director at Water Corporation and Flat Rocks Wind Farm. She also previously served as Manager of Asset Strategy and Planning at Fremantle Ports. Dr Boehl holds a PhD in Environment and Water Decision Support Systems.

Dr Devinder Grewal joins after more than a decade of experience as a professor at both the Australian Maritime College and World Maritime University. He is an experienced consultant to the international transport logistics and supply chain industry. His career includes a variety of sectors in the international maritime industry, including operations in bulk, container, crude oil and petro-chemical trades. He was Director Maritime Capability Development, Office of Transport Security, DOTARS, during 2004 when the maritime security regime was implemented. He has held the role of General Manager of Esperance Port in WA and the General Manager Infrastructure for Cashmere Iron Ltd in the resources sector. He is a Master Mariner Class 1 (unlimited). He also holds a Master of Science and a PhD, both from the University of Cardiff in Wales, where he was one of the founding researchers of the Seafarers International Research Centre.

“These appointments create certainty and continuity of skills as AMSA delivers on its mission to ensure the safe operation of vessels, combat marine pollution, and provide lifesaving assistance to people in distress,” reads a statement from the office of the Hon. Catherine King MP, the Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. The Minister appoints the AMSA Board.

Daryl Quinlivan AO, an existing board member, has also been elevated to Deputy Chair for the remainder of his term. Daryl has served as a member of the AMSA Board since 2021, having previously served as Secretary of the then Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water. Mr Quinlivan was also Head of Office at the Productivity Commission 2012-2015 and has worked across a range of public policy areas including agriculture and trade, water, communications, transport and infrastructure, and competition policy.

About the AMSA Board

The current Chair of the Board is Captain Jeanine Drummond, who was appointed to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Board on 2 November 2020 for a three year term, and on 3 July 2023, was appointed as Board Chair for a four year term. Capt Drummond has an extensive background across the maritime industry sectors, at sea, offshore oil and gas, and in the ports sector, both in operations and development, in Australia and internationally. She is an experienced harbour master, master mariner and maritime industry professional.

Kaylene Dale was appointed as AMSA CEO on 1 October 2024 after joining the Australian Customs Service in 2000 and subsequently holding senior leadership roles in the Australian Border Force, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Ms Dale has worked extensively in a regulatory environment and has experience in civil maritime security, border operations and enforcement, strategy and capability, gender equality and emergency management. She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Studies in Applied Criminology.

Dean Summers was appointed to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Board on 3 July 2023, for a 5 year period. He is currently a Board director of Tas Bull Seafarers Foundation and is a former Board member of the Australian Merchant Navy Awards Council. Mr Summers has been the Australian National Coordinator for the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) from 2000 until 2021. Before this, he held a range of elected positions in the Seaman’s Union of Australia (SUA) and later the Maritime Union of Australia. Mr Summers is a former merchant seafarer who started his seagoing career in Fremantle, Western Australia, working for the WA State Shipping Service.

Ms Cha Jordanoski was appointed to the Board in an ex officio capacity on 18 October 2023. She is the First Assistant Secretary / Chief Financial Officer of the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.  Ms Jordanoski’s career spans more than 20 years across the Australian Government, professional services, and commerce, with an extensive background in finance, policy advice and program development, including the delivery of Federal Budgets.

Ms Kate Hughes was appointed to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Board on 11 February 2025 for a three-year period. Ms Hughes is a former executive leader of global teams across various sectors including telecommunications, agribusiness, financial services, fast moving consumer goods and education coupled with regulatory experience at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the NSW Treasury. She holds a wide range of qualifications in commerce, applied finance, and occupational health and safety.

Captain Warwick Norman AM was appointed to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Board on 11 February 2025, for a three-year period. He began his seagoing career with ASP Ship Management, sailing from cadet to master in the tanker fleet. He was the founding CEO of RightShip.

Further details of the AMSA board can be found here.

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