Sail Training International Appoints New Chairman of Trustees

James George, Chairman of Sail Training International © STI

Sail Training International (STI), a global charity committed to delivering experiential learning to young people aged between fifteen and twenty-five through sail training, as well as fostering international friendship and understanding, has announced its new chairman, James George.

James was voted in by the charity's international members at this year's annual conference in La Coruna and will officially take up his voluntary role in January 2025. He will be taking over from Jonathan Cheshire who has been Sail Training International's Chair since 2018.

James will head-up the organisation and working together with the board of trustees, The Tall Ships Races International Ltd board and the staff team, will ensure that the organisation will perform in line with the charity's core mission and values.

Speaking of his appointment, James George says; "I am truly honoured to have been selected as chairman of trustees and I am very much looking forward to getting to know everyone within this magnificent organisation. I recognise the amazing work that STI does as a global charity; delivering sail training experiences to our leaders of tomorrow and our youths of today and look forward to supporting this charity in meeting their objectives and making a positive difference to so many young people around the world. Having spent plenty of time at sea, during my career in the Royal Navy, I understand the challenges of being in such a harsh environment and the undeniable effects that it can have on an individual, as well as its impact on working within a team. I am delighted to take up this role and be part of this remarkable international team to drive its future success."

Throughout his career in the Royal Navy and then working at the Ellen Macarthur Foundation and Pyxera Global, James has worked with many different international stakeholder groups including not-for-profits, community leaders, start-ups, governments and multinational corporations, across various industries. His ability to conceptualise big ideas, bring the right people together and empower them to create the optimum conditions for success, is one of his biggest strengths.

Alan James, CEO of Sail Training International, comments; "James is joining us at an exciting time as we look ahead to the future, having now fully recovered our financial reserves to pre-Covid levels. This provides a stable platform for the organisation to meet and deliver on its charitable objectives. The decision to appoint a chairman from outside of the sail training industry, combined with his wealth of experience I'm sure, will prove very beneficial to Sail Training Internationals future growth and I very much looking forward to working with him."

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jonathan Cheshire for many years of unwavering dedication to STI and The Tall Ships Races. For the past six years under his leadership and guidance, the organisation has touched the lives of many young people from all around the world, as well as having successfully navigated a global pandemic; demonstrating the organisations resilience as well as its commitment to making a difference. We wish Jonathan all the best for future endeavours.

For more information visit sailtraininginternational.org