Team Humber Marine Alliance

An energetic team working to promote and develop Team Humber Marine Alliance

Team Humber Marine Alliance is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee run by six member directors:

Graham Billany, former project manager, THMA
Frank Butterfield, managing director, Best Service
Iain Butterworth, associate director and solicitor, Myton Law
Andrew Fairburn, former managing director, Fairburns
Mark O.Reilly, director, Square 5
Jonathan Rollison, finance and sales director, Point Engineering

The directors are supported by office manager Mary Green, who is also in charge of the day-to-day running of the business. Their energy, commitment and enthusiasm is ensuring a bright future for the Alliance.

Director Profiles

Graham Billany, director, THMA

Graham has been at the heart of Team Humber Marine Alliance, which he was fundamental in setting up in 1993, and was previously THMA.s project manager.

In his roles at Team Humber, he has helped membership to its current level, promoted collaborative tendering with competitors, and was one of the driving forces behind securing the grant from Yorkshire Forward, which required the lobbying of MPs and councillors.

Graham worked for many years at Richard Dunston Ltd, which he joined in 1974 from Vickers Shipbuilding as a senior leading draughtsman, becoming production and planning manager, and then managing director.

He set up Dunston UK Ship Repair & Conversion Company in 1992, bought the company out of Dutch control in 2002 and increased sales from £2 million to £7 million. He also started the company.s move to more diversified markets, including defence, governmental, offshore, towage and inland waterways.

Graham is on the committee of the local IMarEST and the EEF (Humber Marine Branch) offshore wind energy training and skills group, is a Liveryman of The Worship Company of Shipwrights and a Freeman of the City of London, positions which he uses to advocate the marine engineering industries in the Humber region.

Professional interests include the development of an expert Humber marine engineering skills base through training and apprenticeships.

Frank Butterfield, managing director, Best Service

Frank has more than 40 years professional experience including electronic servicing, management and teaching.

Frank is the owner and managing director of Best Service (Europe) Ltd., which specialises in the design, sales and support of maritime satellite TV, broadband internet and distribution systems.

He says his goals for his business, which he set up in 2002, are to offer the best sales and service throughout Europe. His company is the UK main dealer for SeaTel antennas and the service specialists in KVH and Orbit Satellite TV and VSAT systems.

Prior to setting up Best Service, Frank was commercial manager at Yorkshire Electronic Services.

Iain Butterworth, associate director and solicitor, Myton Law

Iain has been a qualified lawyer since 2003 and is an associate director at the Hull shipping, transport law firm, Myton Law.

Prior to starting a legal career, Iain was an engineering officer in the Merchant Navy, which now gives him a unique position in shipping and transport law. He began as a cadet, rising through the ranks to qualify as a chief engineer in 1996, working on container ships, tankers and ro-ro/passenger ferries.

Iain has also worked in the power generation manufacturing sector for a number of years.

At Myton Law, he undertakes a wide range of shipping casualty related cases and assists other members of the team on practical and technical issues. His experience also lends itself to ship repair and mechanical damage claims, where Iain acts for insurers, owners and ship repair companies.

He frequently attends shipping casualties around the world and shadows surveyors during vessels. technical investigations to ensure there is sufficient evidence and information.

Iain has also gained extensive experience in renewable energy and acts for a number of key companies, particularly in offshore wind.

Andrew Fairburn, former managing director, Fairburns

Andrew, former managing director of Fairburn Engineering, is THMA.s chairman and has been a prominent member of the Hull and Humber business community since the late 1960s.

During his 42 years with the family electrical engineering business, he was involved in the electrical work in a large number of landmark Hull and Humber buildings, including local schools, hospitals and all of the electrical installation on the Humber bridge.

Andrew drove the company.s consolidation in the key marine industries sector as well as overseeing its expansion into new industries such as oil and gas, and defence.

Now retired from Fairburns following a management buyout, Andrew still plays a part in the industry as a director of the national trade body, the Electrical Contractors Association, which sets UK commercial and technical standards.

As a passionate believer in the success of the region.s industry, he has worked with Team Humber Marine Alliance since its formation, helping to steer the organisation through its early years and subsequent growth.

He is also a member of local business groups, including the Association of ex-Round Tablers, the 41 Club.

Mark O.Reilly, director, Square 5

Mark is a seasoned industrialist with over twenty years. experience in the industrial and engineering sector. He has significant UK and international expertise of business development, marketing and export including several years as a director and general manager.

Mark oversees the delivery of business development services to Team Humber Marine Alliance and assists SMEs and networks on collaborative bids for projects beyond their individual capability.

He has an affinity to the metal fabrication and electronics industry working closely with the automotive sector including Aston Martin, Bentley, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan and Saab as well as global electronics giants Ericsson, Flextronics, Motorola, Nokia and Sanmina.

Mark.s recent focus has been on the marine, defence, nuclear and renewables industries, with the latter providing huge potential opportunities to the region.

Jonathan Rollison, finance and sales director, Point Engineering

Jonathan.s career in engineering started in 1980 as a marine engineering cadet with Esso Petroleum. After additional qualifications and career changes in the late 1980s and 1990s, Jonathan started Point Engineering with a business partner in 2001.

After acquiring a marine door manufacturing business in 2004 Jonathan was introduced to THMA. Since then he has been involved with local business development at various levels and believes strongly in the excellent export potential of the Humber and Yorkshire region.

Jonathan is Yorkshire born and bred, has worked and lived nationally and internationally, and now concentrates his efforts in his home region. He believes that a team approach in business, as in sport, provides a winning formula.