Your Institute, Your Future
Our CEO, Chris Goldsworthy, outlines how setting a bold new course will take the IMarEST into a new era over the next three years.
As we head towards the end of the year, we are also at the threshold of new beginnings. I'm confident our new strategic approach will improve our global community’s ability to drive professional standards and use its trusted voice to help shape a united, safe, and sustainable future for the marine industry.
The plan is a bold vision for the IMarEST, which sets out how we will deliver greater value to members, strengthen our technical voice and increase our global reach across the marine sector. These priorities have been shaped by you, our members. We have listened carefully and are committed to delivering the services and support that the industry needs to thrive in a time of rapid change.
Our strategy has three clear objectives. Firstly, we are determined to deliver membership with real impact by offering services that elevate the careers of marine professionals worldwide. Over the next three years, we will refine our membership offerings, expand our mentoring and training programmes, and enhance our professional registers, making it easier for more marine professionals to access the advantages of chartered, incorporated, or technician status.
We are equally committed to ensuring that all marine professionals feel welcome and included at the IMarEST. We will be working to attract more diverse members, ensuring the future relevance of our Institute and widening access to the benefits that membership brings.
Secondly, we want to use our technical voice to create maximum impact as help drive a safe and sustainable future for the industry. The IMarEST has always been a trusted source of knowledge and expertise, but we recognise that we need to do more. Our new technical strategy will see us set clear sustainability goals, promote partnerships and collaboration across disciplines, champion thought leadership, and increase our presence at key international forums, such as the IMO and UN Ocean Decade. We will also help our members take key roles in shaping the future of the sector, while keeping our marine community up to date with our work.
Thirdly, we are committed to building a global network with local impact. The marine industry is truly international, and our community reflects this. We want to connect marine professionals from around the world to share knowledge, solve challenges, and shape the sector’s future. At the same time, we will expand our regional presence by empowering our volunteers and delivering culturally relevant content and services.
To create real change and shape the future of our industry, we need to work as one. To help achieve this, we have defined our organisational values – integrity, collaboration, community, and relevance – and developed a set of behaviours to bring each one to life. If we live and breathe these values and behaviours together, then 2026 will be our most impactful year yet.
So, please do get involved as we set out to achieve these goals. I truly believe our marine community can achieve great things, and I warmly invite you to join us on the journey.
