Global Seafarers’ Charity Enhanced With New Leadership

A barrister and a former ship’s captain turned diplomat has been appointed as new trustees of Apostleship of the Sea (AoS). Its new chair is Simon O’Toole, a barrister and a governing bencher of the Inner Temple in London, who has extensive experience of working with the voluntary sector in education and outreach. He is currently chair of the Ethical Advisory Committee of Charifaith, a common investment fund managed by BlackRock, which is the first fund in the UK to reflect the ethos and teachings of the Catholic Church.

He recently stepped down after six years as a member of the Advisory Board of the European Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals (HELP) of the Council of Europe, and will remain the HELP contact person for the UK. Simon is a reader at Mass in his local parish, and his hobbies include sailing, walking and the arts.

He said, “I am delighted to succeed Rev. Stephen Morgan, as chair. During Stephen’s time, AoS has become a stronger organisation, and many people have expressed to me their appreciation of Stephen’s service of AoS. “I look forward to helping AoS in the wonderful work it does in providing practical and pastoral care to the seafarers who bring us in the UK so many of the good we rely on.”

The new AoS vice chair is Esteban Pacha, a Spaniard, who began his career as a seafarer on merchant vessels and went on to serve as a captain before becoming a harbour master. Since then, he has served as director general of the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO); founder commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development; the representative of Spain to the International Maritime Organization (IMO): and governor of the World Maritime University.

A former regional director of the Spanish Department for Transport, he is currently the transport and infrastructures attaché at the Embassy of Spain in London. Esteban is married with three daughters and enjoys sailing on the Thames at weekends.

Press Release: apostleshipofthesea.org.uk