Kimberly Karlshoej is new head of ITF Seafarers’ Trust

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The ITF Seafarers’ Trust – the charity arm of the International Transport Workers’ Federation – has appointed leading shipping figure Kimberly Karlshoej as its new head.

Ms Karlshoej was recently director and programme officer of The TK Foundation, the trust named after her father, J Torben Karlshoej, who founded the Teekay Corporation. She has also worked as a consultant to a number of maritime charities and has been an executive board member of the World Maritime University.

“Shipping is a low-profile industry, and to the wider public, seafarers are practically invisible. There is a clear and pressing demand for programmes that can effectively alleviate their unique welfare needs. I am honoured by this appointment, and delighted by the opportunity to take the ITF Seafarers’ Trust’s important and ambitious work forward,” she said.

ITF Seafarers’ Trust chair David Heindel added: “This job attracted an incredible field of candidates. It is heartening that there are so many skilled and passionate people out there either working in this field, or hoping to. In the end we chose Kimberly because of her obvious passion for seafarers’ welfare and her record at The TK Foundation, which is rightly known for its pioneering work.”

ITF general secretary and trustee of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust Steve Cotton said, “We are proud of what the Seafarers’ Trust does and I know that we will be prouder still of what it will achieve under Kimberly’s highly experienced stewardship.”

The trust was established by the ITF in 1981 as a body with charitable status under UK law. It is dedicated to the welfare of seafarers, irrespective of nationality, race or creed. Its funding comes from the investment income of the ITF welfare fund, which is used to provide trade union services to seafarers. The trust is tasked with supporting projects which directly benefit individual seafarers’ spiritual, moral or physical welfare.