SRI-T chair is Brian Orrell OBE. A marine engineer, Brian served as Secretary General of Nautilus UK and chairperson of the ITF Seafarers’ Section. As a spokesperson for the seafarers’ group, Brian led top level negotiations at the ILO and IMO. Brian was instrumental to negotiations which led to the adoption of the Guidelines on Fair Treatment of Seafarers, the Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention and the Maritime Labour Convention. Brian also oversaw the creation of the International Bargaining Forum, an industrial relations collective which facilitates dialogue between social partners on wages and employment conditions.

For his services to seafarers and the shipping industry, Brian received a number of awards. Brian was honoured with an Order of the British Empire in 2007 and is an Honorary Fellow of the Nautical Institute, UK. In 2008, he received the prestigious Lloyd’s List Lifetime Achievement Award; in 2009 he was awarded by Southampton Solent University (UK) an honorary doctoral degree of Maritime Studies. Now retired, Brian serves as chairperson of SRI-T Advisory Board.