Meet members of the management team and staff who, through their professionalism, dedication and passion, manage and operate one of the UK’s most diverse and successful Harbour operations.
Staff Profiles
Douglas’s marine career started over 30 years ago in the white fish and pelagic fishing industry. In 1997 he moved to the offshore industry working on oil and gas support vessels in the North Sea. Douglas joined Orkney Towage Company Limited in 2002 latterly sailing as Chief Officer and then came ashore in 2017 as Port Safety and Counter Pollution Manager with Marine Services, before becoming Towage Marine Superintendent and recently the present role as Deputy Harbour Master Operations. In this role he leads all the Marine operations within the Harbour.
Jessica Low joined Marine Services in March 2023 as Team Manager – Operational Support. Prior to this, she spent four years working within the Finance team at Orkney Islands Council, gaining valuable financial experience that now supports the strategic and operational aspects of her role.
Jessica studied International Tourism Management at Robert Gordon University, developing a strong foundation in customer service and stakeholder engagement. Having lived in Orkney for most of her life, she has a deep appreciation of the local marine industry and the vital role it plays within the community.
In her current position, Jessica provides operational support across all areas of Marine Services and oversees the Business Support Team, ensuring efficient processes and high‑quality service delivery.
David joined Orkney Islands Council as Ferry Services Manager in 2005 and was involved in the formation of the Marine Services department in 2009 becoming Head of Marine Services (Support).
Prior to this David worked at Portsmouth and Shetland councils in marine and harbour roles and served at sea on oil tankers. Currently the Deputy Harbour Master, Strategy and Support, he is lead for the Orkney Harbours Masterplan that will see a transformation of the Harbour Authority facilities including the construction of a new facility in Scapa Flow that will support the ScotWind round of leasing.
David is also responsible for the in-house Marine Environment Unit, Port Safety and Pollution and strategic projects such as the new towage vessels that joined the fleet in 2020.
Ankit embarked on a distinguished maritime career after graduating from a prestigious maritime university in Australia. With a solid educational foundation, Ankit spent 16 years at sea, rising to the rank of a management level officer on mega container vessels. In this role, Ankit demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise, contributing to the efficient operation and management of some of the world's largest shipping vessels. In 2023, Ankit transitioned from a life at sea to a shore-based career in the UK to leverage extensive maritime experience in a new capacity. This move marked the beginning of a new chapter, bringing a wealth of knowledge and practical insight to the maritime industry on land. In April 2024, Ankit joined Orkney Harbours, taking on a pivotal role in one of the UK's key maritime hubs. With a career spanning over two decades, Ankit's transition to Orkney Harbour underscores a commitment to advancing maritime operations and supporting the growth and sustainability of the port's activities.
Kyrylo was born in Odesa, Ukraine, where his love for maritime operations began. He started his career in construction management, overseeing a plant and honing his project management skills. Afterward, Kyrylo spent eight years at sea in various roles, gaining deep insights into ship operations and crew management.
In 2022, Kyrylo moved to London, UK, marking a milestone in his shore career. There, he joined a boat cruise company’s operations department, spending 1.5 years coordinating schedules and logistics to improve passenger experiences. In April 2024, Kyrylo started his new role as Assistant Harbour Master at Orkney Harbours, where he applies his extensive maritime knowledge to ensure efficient and safe port operations. His diverse experience makes him a key asset to the harbour community.
Jenni joined Marine Services, Marine Environmental Unit in March 2007 as a Biologist. In February 2012 she took on the daily management of the Marine Environmental Unit as a Senior Biologist.
Jenni is responsible for the marine ecological monitoring work carried out by the Unit. This includes marine non-native species monitoring, sandy and rocky shore monitoring, radiological monitoring, ballast water sampling and contract work carried out by the Unit.
Jenni has a BSc (Hons) degree in Zoology from University of Bristol, an MSc in Aquatic Ecosystems Management from Edinburgh Napier University and a PhD in Marine Biology from Heriot-Watt University.
Laura commenced employment at Orkney Islands Council after graduating in 2003.
After initially focusing on school transport within the education service, Laura took up the role of Transport Planner in 2009, Transportation Manager in 2013 and Service Manager – Transportation in 2022. Laura has a BA in Business Administration, Diploma in Management, PgCert in Transport Planning and Engineering and MSc in Transportation Studies and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (MCIHT).
The Transportation Service responsibilities include the public bus contract and day to day running of public bus services across the county, inter island air services contract, air, ferry and bus timetabling, concessionary travel and strategic transport policy.