The maritime past inspiring a safer future

Ruth is convinced everyone has a maritime story to tell.

“When I joined the Foundation eight years ago, it struck me that there are so many inspiring and important stories to tell about the shipping industry, and that many people have personal connections. My great grandfather was a chief engineer for the White Star Line, my in-laws were French polishers on the cruise liners in Southampton and my grandfather used to work his passage around the world as a ship's doctor.”

Portrait photo of Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Chief Executive Ruth Boumphrey.Appointed as CEO in July 2022, Ruth has a background in research, development and regulation, primarily in the space and environmental sectors. She is also a trustee of the National Oceanography Centre and a non-executive Director of Cefas – the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences – a UK Government appointment. Her interest in the environment was ignited at school by her English teacher Jonathan Porritt who was also the leader of the green party at the time.

“It was during Jonathan’s classes that I had my first ‘aha’ moment. I realised this planet keeps us alive. You have to protect the planet in order to protect the people,” said Ruth. “When I went to university, Environmental Science was a very niche subject in the UK with very few people taking the study of the environment seriously.Society now has a much greater understanding and appreciation of our blue planet. I felt my degree equipped me with knowledge and skills to change the world for the better.”

Ruth is convinced everyone has a maritime story to tell.

“When I joined the Foundation eight years ago, it struck me that there are so many inspiring and important stories to tell about the shipping industry, and that many people have personal connections. My great grandfather was a chief engineer for the White Star Line, my in-laws were French polishers on the cruise liners in Southampton and my grandfather used to work his passage around the world as a ship's doctor.”

Portrait photo of Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Chief Executive Ruth Boumphrey.Appointed as CEO in July 2022, Ruth has a background in research, development and regulation, primarily in the space and environmental sectors. She is also a trustee of the National Oceanography Centre and a non-executive Director of Cefas – the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences – a UK Government appointment. Her interest in the environment was ignited at school by her English teacher Jonathan Porritt who was also the leader of the green party at the time.

“It was during Jonathan’s classes that I had my first ‘aha’ moment. I realised this planet keeps us alive. You have to protect the planet in order to protect the people,” said Ruth. “When I went to university, Environmental Science was a very niche subject in the UK with very few people taking the study of the environment seriously.Society now has a much greater understanding and appreciation of our blue planet. I felt my degree equipped me with knowledge and skills to change the world for the better.”

Ruth has always been passionate about supporting people, instilled in her from an early age by a family very much involved in social activism and change. This drive to give unheard people a voice and to create projects and programmes that protect both people and the planet we inhabit has continued throughout her career, featuring prominently in the various roles she has held. Today, as Chief Executive of the Foundation, she is committed to continuing the charity’s mission to engineer a safer world in a challenging, complex, and dynamic landscape.

“We are seeing catastrophic change which will be exacerbated through population growth and further climate impact. We will support the maritime industry, helping to tell its story and bring stakeholders together to collaborate and develop new technologies, approaches and ways of working to ensure people around the world stay safe,” Ruth commented.

LR’s structure, with the Foundation as sole shareholder of Lloyd’s Register, provides a unique opportunity to gain insight from across the maritime sector. The Foundation in partnership with Lloyd’s Register Group can build evidence and insight and take a longer-term view through the Foundation’s Foresight work. All of this helps ensure LR can help shape solutions for the industry whether in relation to technology, innovation, engineering, infrastructure or skills.

Going forward, Ruth’s ambition is to work with and support organisations on the ground in geographies which need it most, increasing capacity and knowledge and in doing so, ensure safety is on the agenda around the world to protect people and communities. A just transition to a low carbon, sustainable ocean economy necessitates investment, education, infrastructure, innovation and decent, safe jobs – all without causing harm elsewhere and without propagating existing inequalities or creating new ones – something the Foundation is very much focused on.

She concludes: “It is vital that we build capability in different parts of the world, working with others to embed safety and increase capacity on a local level. Our mission is to serve areas of society that really need it and make a real difference in engineering a safer world.”