UK-based marine insurer and group club NorthStandard has appointed Helen Barden as Head of External Affairs. She was previously NorthStandard Director – External Affairs. Barden succeeds Mike Salthouse on his retirement from the Club after 34 years of service.
Barden joined the External Affairs team in 2024 soon after its creation. She had more than 11 years of FD&D experience with the Club, where assignments had included a pivotal role in setting up its Navigating Decarbonisation group.
She has since worked to increase understanding of the contribution P&I makes to keeping global trade moving, to foster collaborative relationships and to drive policy work; including on sanctions.
Barden contributed to BIMCO’s efforts to develop viable EEXI Transition, CII Operations and Emission Trading Scheme Allowances clauses. She is also a member of the WISTA UK Board.
“Our focus will continue to be shaped by the three major trends affecting shipowners and charterers — sanctions and geopolitics, the maritime energy transition, and the impact of new technology,” said Barden. She noted that “the shipping industry operates in an increasingly complex and geopolitical environment, where trusted and credible partnership with policymakers is essential to the development of well-informed regulation. Therefore, in the immediate term, our engagement with key policymakers is a priority to ensure Members’ commercial and operational perspectives are heard before and as policy is developed, particularly in areas such as sanctions and decarbonisation”.
“While to date our work in relation to new technologies has been understanding the evolving landscape, looking ahead, I expect our work to become more focused on the policy gaps emerging from new technologies such as autonomous vessels.”
“Next year we have LISW2027 and I am delighted to be on the LISW Steering Group and Chair of the Conference Working Group, to support delivery of a world-leading international maritime event bringing together key industry decision-makers and policy makers,” she added.
Paul Jennings, Managing Director, NorthStandard, said that “over the past three years, Helen and Mike have carved out a unique position for the Club as a resource of knowledge and experience, and as a positive influence working on behalf of Members with policymakers. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mike for his lasting contribution to the Club and wish him a fulfilling retirement. We also congratulate Helen and look forward to continuing our commitment as she brings her own impressive talents to this crucial role.”