Board of Directors

Paul has an extensive 36-year history of senior management positions, both in the private and public sectors and within small business and multi-national corporations. Paul joined CMN in 2005, and since becoming CEO in July 2008, Paul has led the business through a period of growth and on-going sustainability, with CMN hugely respected for its significant achievements within Cornwall, nationally and across Europe.

In 2015 Paul was awarded an MBE for services to the marine industry and the community in Falmouth, Cornwall.

Paul is Chairman and / or Director of a wide range of Partnership and Board positions across Cornwall, including being the longest serving private sector representative on the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership Employment and Skills Board. In 2020, Paul was appointed as a Director of Maritime UK, the representative organisation for the Maritime Sector, and in 2021, Paul became Chair of the Maritime UK Regional Cluster Council.

Outside of CMN, Paul is a voluntary sector fund-raiser, having led local groups to raise more than £300,000 in the last 25 years, including a current role as Chair of RNLI South and West Cornwall Fundraising Events Groups. Paul likes fundraising challenges and in 2019 ran the London Marathon, in 2020 completed a 10 mile raft row and in 2021 cycled 215 miles from Bristol to St Austell.

Peter runs a successful consultancy business in Marine, Renewables and Management and joined Waves4Power, the Swedish Marine Renewable Developer, in 2015 as their UK representative. Prior to this Peter was Managing Director of A&P Falmouth Ltd, better known locally as Falmouth Docks, one of the largest ship repairers in Europe and was also on the A&P Group main board.

Richard Parkinson is a highly-skilled Master Mariner and entrepreneur specializing in complex offshore and subsea operations. Richard owns Inyanga-Tech Ltd and specialises in the project management of marine energy projects.

Rachel is the founder and director of Whiskerstay, a company offering naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy. She is a Chartered Engineer with extensive experience in the marine renewable energy and yacht design sectors. As a result, she is an author of over 40 publications in both international conferences and journals covering aspects of composite technology, offshore renewables and novel vessel design.

Rob Thurston is the owner of Falmouth Marine Solutions, Falmouth Powerboat School and Falmouth School of Sailing, a long-established friendly family run group of businesses offering high quality leisure and professional services in sailing, powerboating, offshore safety and boat chartering.

Hugh Mattos is the owner and Technical Manager of Explorer Marine, which specialises in the manufacture of custom RIBs and the servicing, storage and support of customers boats and engines of all types. Hugh is also an Associate Lecturer for Bridgwater College where he has taught University level courses in Sustainable Engineering, Engineering Dynamics, Aerodynamics, Composites, Science and Maths.

Drystan joined the group in 2007 as business development manager and more recently has been heading up Marine Designs Ltd. Drystan brings a range of experience to the Cornwall Marine Network board, having worked in ports and marinas for over 20 years.