Don Millar

Managing Director

MBA, BSc (Hons)

As our Managing Director, Don has responsibility for the management of all aspects of Just Be Maritime’s operations.  This ranges from initial client proposals, ongoing contact with colleges and sponsors, and overseeing the company’s account management.

Having joined P&O SN Co in 1978 as an Engineer Cadet, Don enjoyed an extensive career at sea with P&O/Princess Cruises, serving in all ranks of the Electro-Technical department before leaving the sea in 2004.

He continued his maritime career in the P&O/Princess Cruises head office, with responsibility for training and recruiting of Deck, Technical and Medical Officers/crew, including Officer Cadets for P&O/Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia.

In 2008 he joined Viking Recruitment/Chiltern Maritime as General Manager, later to be appointed Operations Director of the Viking Maritime Group (VMG).

In 2021, Don left VMG and set up Just Be Maritime Ltd with a group of like-minded senior maritime consultants.

Over recent years, Don has been instrumental in the development of the Electro-Technical Certificate of Competency (CoC) and continues the work to finalise a Senior CoC pathway for ETO Officers.

Don is passionate about improving the training and welfare for Officer Cadets and promoting the wider maritime career opportunities in the UK maritime industry.  He takes great pride and satisfaction when cadets he has been involved with achieve their goals and are following a successful career at sea or ashore in the wider maritime industry.

Stuart Benge

Operations Director

BA (Hons)

As our Operations Director, Stuart is responsible for the management of all Officer Cadet operations at Just Be Maritime.  This ranges from initial promotional events through recruitment/selection activities and on to day-to-day management of Officer Cadets for the duration of their training programmes.

Having joined Carnival UK in 2007 as a Recruitment Specialist, Stuart had responsibility for recruiting Deck and Technical Officers/crew, including Officer Cadets for Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia.

He then gained seagoing experience with Royal Caribbean International, working as the Crew Administrator aboard a vessel operating in US and Canadian waters during the Alaskan cruising season.

In 2013, Stuart joined an Officer Cadet training management company and gained over 8 years’ experience of all aspects of this cadet management business.

After several years as a Senior Training Officer with the company, he was promoted to Operations Manager in 2019 with responsibility for the management of over 400 trainees on behalf of several shipping companies and marine-based charities.

Stuart is passionate about promoting the variety of career options available in the UK maritime industry and gains immense satisfaction from seeing his trainees achieve their initial professional certification before progressing their careers in the maritime world.

Holly Hewitt

Operations Manager

BA (Hons), CIPD Level 5

As our Operations Manager, Holly is integrally involved in all elements of JBM’s operational activities from initial recruitment and selection of Officer Cadets to their eventual qualification as a Junior Officer, engaging closely with both the cadets and their sponsoring companies.

After gaining her BA(Hons) Degree in English & History (Humanities) in 2002, Holly has continued to progress her professional qualifications and achieved CIPD Level 5 (Post Graduate Diploma: Personnel & Development) in 2010.

Holly first joined the maritime industry in 2002, having roles as an HR Officer with Cunard & Seabourn Cruise Line and then as an HR Adviser (Fleet Recruitment) with Carnival UK.

From 2011 Holly worked for Chiltern Maritime Ltd in both Senior Training Coordinator and Marine Training Manager positions, gaining invaluable and wide-ranging experience in all aspects of Officer Cadet management on behalf of various marine-based charities and shipping companies.

With over 21 years of experience in maritime recruitment and training, Holly embraces a whole-hearted and enthusiastic approach to both cadet management and the ongoing interaction with her trainees and clients.

Andrew Hair

Management Consultant

MBA, Master Mariner, FInstLM

Andrew is delighted to be working closely with Just Be Maritime’s management team, with Azimuth Nautical Solutions providing a range of consultancy services in support of JBM’s business operations.

After enjoying 20 years at sea as a Navigation Officer on a variety of vessel types with the P&O Steam Navigation Company and P&O/Princess Cruises, Andrew moved ashore and spent several years as the company’s recruitment and training manager for Officer Cadets and technical officers.

Joining Warsash Maritime Academy in 2002, Andrew initially managed the professional education and training of Officer Cadets and certificated officers in the merchant navy and commercial yacht sectors before taking responsibility in 2007 for the Academy’s business operations.

In 2011 Andrew became Director of Warsash Maritime Academy with overall responsibility for the Academy and its course operations, also progressing the Warsash Superyacht Academy project from initial concept stage to operational launch.

This was followed in 2016 with a role as Director of ChartCo, with responsibility for the company’s Southampton office operations.

Since establishing Azimuth Nautical Solutions Ltd. in November 2017, his priority has been the advancement of the company’s training course and consultancy service portfolios to better serve customer needs and expectations, with an associated expansion in the team of ship management consultants.

Andrew is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management and continues to be actively involved with many industry and professional body committees, including the International Association of Maritime Institutions and the UK’s Merchant Navy Training Board.

Kathryn Millar

Training Officer

BA (Hons)

Following completion of her degree in Business Studies in 1986, Kathryn joined Burton Group Financial Services as Market Research Officer, undertaking both qualitative and quantitative research within the financial and retail markets.

In 1991 Kathryn moved to York City Council as Market Research Manager, with responsibility for all market research concerning council services within the city before then moving to Southampton in 1995 to work as a freelance market research analyst.

In 2009 Kathryn joined Chiltern Maritime Ltd. as a Senior Officer Trainee Coordinator, with responsibility for the recruitment and management of Officer Cadets, as well as liaising with nautical colleges, shipping companies and clients to ensure efficient and professional training provision.

In her new role as a Training Officer with Just Be Maritime Ltd, Kathryn looks forward to continuing to provide these key support services to our Officer Cadets and business clients.

Lorena Oestreich

Senior Training Officer

BA (Hons)

As one of our Senior Training Officers, Lorena is actively involved in all operational activities related to our Officer Cadets under training, liaising and working closely with both the cadets and their sponsoring companies.

After gaining a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Political Science in 2006, Lorena first joined the hospitality industry where she worked for companies around the world such as Walt Disney World, Hilton Hotels and Princess Cruises.

In 2015 Lorena then joined the travel insurance industry as Network and Cost Containment Assistant at CEGA Group where she processed and negotiated invoices for international Health Providers, while making use of her multilingual skills.

From 2019 Lorena worked for Chiltern Maritime Ltd as a Training Officer and over the next three years she gained experience in all aspects of Officer Cadet management, with responsibility for managing over 100 cadets on behalf of several Merchant Navy companies.

Lorena is a passionate and self-driven individual who takes pride in being part of her cadets’ initial development as they progress to become UK Merchant Navy Officers.