Norway-based maritime technology firm, Shipnet, has announced the appointment of two new female directors, enhancing its senior leadership team. The newly appointed HR Director, Paula Summers, and Finance Director, Niamh Burns, bring a wealth of experience and diverse backgrounds to the company.
Leadership Appointments
Paula Summers, the newly appointed HR Director, has over 15 years of experience in human resources, having held positions in various sectors, including retail, manufacturing, and nuclear energy. Her previous roles include key positions at Ethel Austin, Glen Dimplex Consumer Appliances (which encompasses well-known brands like Stoves, Belling, Morphy Richards, and Roberts Radios), and Cavendish Nuclear. After departing from Cavendish Nuclear in September 2023 to relocate to Queensland, Australia, Paula returned to the UK earlier this year and joined Shipnet.
Expressing her enthusiasm about her new role, Paula said, “I am thrilled and proud to be a part of the incredible and talented team here at Shipnet. Our newly developed people strategy and initiatives will support growth, capability, engagement, and colleague experience, so we can keep the world afloat. I am thankful for the fantastic support and enthusiasm from all Shipnet colleagues on our journey so far and look forward to what we are going to achieve together in the future.”
Niamh Burns has been appointed as Shipnet’s Finance Director. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Ireland before relocating to the Caribbean with EY. After transitioning into industry, she took on various finance roles within the telecommunications sector across the Caribbean, overseeing the financial aspects of startups and scale-ups in Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, and the British Virgin Islands. Upon returning home to Belfast, Niamh continued to hold various Finance Director positions in the tech industry, most recently contributing to the successful exit of private equity-backed managed service provider NewCMI to BCN.
Niamh commented on her new position, stating, “I am delighted to bring my years of experience overseas to this truly global and vital industry. With Terje’s deep knowledge of the shipping industry, he is an inspirational leader, as evidenced by the trust that customers place in him and the fantastic team he has built around him. I am proud to be a part of it. I look forward to assisting the team in building on its success as it launches its innovative new products and continues to grow its geographical reach. It is also great to know it has the solid backing of Volaris/CSI, with their buy-and-hold acquisition strategy, and its support in helping the business, and the team, grow.”
Vision for the Future
Shipnet’s CEO, Terje Kristiansen, expressed his excitement about the new appointments, stating, “We’re delighted to welcome Paula and Niamh to the Shipnet family as we look forward to further growth as a team and as a business. They have joined us at an exciting time as we further our mission to drive transparency and innovation in the maritime industry following the launch of Helix by Shipnet, a groundbreaking data analysis solution.”
Terje highlighted that Helix represents a significant leap forward in empowering shipping companies with actionable insights. “By creating a digital representation of your shipping business, Helix seamlessly integrates data from diverse sources, such as safety records, freight rates, and procurement data,” he explained.
About Shipnet
Shipnet is a leading maritime software solution provider, built by the industry for the industry. With five decades of experience in shipping, Shipnet specializes in addressing the challenges faced by modern shipping businesses. Their software facilitates efficient fleet operations, business compliance, and profitability.
The company’s solutions cover a comprehensive range of operations, from organizing fleets and analyzing cargo to chartering voyages and maintaining compliance. By providing essential data and insights, Shipnet empowers shipping companies to make informed decisions that enhance efficiency throughout the entire voyage.
Through its commitment to innovation and excellence, Shipnet continues to be a trusted partner for shipping businesses, helping them navigate the complexities of the maritime industry and ensuring they stay informed at every step of their operations.
Source Shipnet