THAMES FREEPORT BOARD

Rt Hon Ruth Kelly is Chair of Thames Freeport and also holds a number of other Board positions. She served as MP for Bolton West between 1997 and 2010, and was appointed minister in various departments in the Blair and Brown governments. After leaving politics, Ruth held positions at HSBC Global Asset Management and subsequently at St Mary’s University.

Alan Shaoul has been appointed UK Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at DP World, reporting to Ernst Schulze and is based at London Gateway. Alan has worked in the ports and terminal sector in a variety of financial and operational roles since 2003, most recently as Business Development Director in the European regional office of DP World. As Chief Financial Officer for DP World in the UK, Alan’s position on the Thames Freeport Board is to act as a stakeholder for the interests of London Gateway.

David Webster is Regional Director at the Port of Tilbury, where he is leading its transformation within Thames Freeport. He has over 18 years of experience across the ports, renewables, and global energy sectors. Prior to joining Tilbury, he held senior leadership roles at Forth Ports, overseeing major infrastructure investments and the redevelopment of the Ports of Dundee and Leith. He also founded Forth Projects, a heavy logistics business supporting offshore wind and decommissioning markets, and played a key role in securing Green Freeport status for the Firth of Forth. David began his career in the oil and gas industry, working internationally in engineering and business development positions across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. He holds an MBA in Oil & Gas and serves as Chair of the Forth & Tay Offshore Cluster.

Wendy oversees operations at Ford’s Dagenham engine plants, producing over one million units annually for global markets. With a career spanning engineering, manufacturing, and global strategy, she has led major transformation projects across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET, Wendy is also a multi-award-winning advocate for diversity and inclusion in the automotive industry.

Councillor Twomey has overall responsibility for setting the strategic direction of Barking and Dagenham council and for the political management of the Authority, including the delivery of agreed Council priorities and policies. He has strategic responsibility for the Council’s budget, customer services, organisational development and digital transformation. He is responsible for the development and implementation of the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and leads on the Investment and Acquisition Strategy. As part of this, Councillor Twomey leads the drive for the Council to be more commercial.  

Richard is born and bred in Thurrock. After beginning his career in IT and governmental communications, he served as the Executive Director at London First for Security and Policing. He joined Buckinghamshire New University as Senior Lecturer for Security and Resilience, tutoring UK Armed Forces, before becoming the University’s Business School Director. He served as Managing Director of the Global Banking School overseeing rapid partnership growth. Most recently, Richard drove the successful bid and launch of the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport as Council Leader before moving back to Thurrock and becoming unitary Thurrock Council Leader in May 2026. 

Robin joined the PLA as chief executive officer on 31 March 2014. Prior to joining the Port of London Authority he was Private Secretary to the Environment Secretary from 1996-97, Deputy Prime Minister from 1997-98 and to the Transport Secretary from 2001-03. He led the work on the UK Climate Change Bill in 2006 and in 2007, became a Director in Defra where he set up the UK’s Adapting to Climate Change programme, oversaw the creation of the Canal & River Trust and directed policy on air quality and the natural environment. Robin is currently the Deputy Chair of Maritime UK, a Member of the CBI’s London Council, a trustee of Thames 21 and Chair of Estuary Services Ltd, a JV subsidiary with Peel Ports.

Paul Livingston was appointed Chief Executive & Chair, Lockheed Martin UK, in April 2021 – he is responsible for all operations of Lockheed Martin UK and its subsidiaries Since joining Lockheed Martin, Paul has held a number of senior executive roles across the corporation in operations, program management and business development working across multiple global locations.

Joan MacNaughton has played an influential part in global energy and climate policy for twenty years in government, business, the not-for-profit sector and academia. She is currently an Independent Non-Executive Member of En+ Group, and of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, and is Chair of The Climate Group and of the Advisory. Board of the New Energy Coalition of Europe.

Cllr Keith Prince is the London Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge, representing communities across outer east London since 2016. Born in Elm Park and raised in Havering, Keith attended school and college locally before building a career in marketing and public affairs, including roles as Marketing Manager for LBC Radio and adviser to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.

Keith has extensive experience in local and regional government, having served as a councillor in both Havering and Redbridge, including five years as Leader of Redbridge Council. Throughout his public service career, he has championed issues affecting local residents, with a particular focus on public services, community safety, policing, and economic growth across Havering and Redbridge.