From Summer Job to Crew Development

I’m a crew development manager at Fullers360. My role purpose is to lead our crew and to keep them happy. This includes me keeping an eye on their rosters, timesheets and training to ensure they are where they need to be, when they need to be there so that we can operate efficiently and also set them up for successful progression.

It’s in the name. I love to travel, to connect with people from all over the world, with different cultures, to hear their stories and adventures - and we get that here out on our vessels.

Travel has always been a part of my life. I started studying at International Travel College (ITC) and was aiming for the airlines initially as I wanted to travel that way, but Fullers came through the university at the time looking for summer crew, which I applied for. I started off in on-board services making coffees and fell in love with the marine industry. I worked my way up on the vessels, which lead to my current role.

Over my seven years with Fullers360 I have fulfilled every role on-board the vessels. I started off in the on-board service role, which was working in the café and was customer service based; I then moved to the on-board service deck role, which was an introduction to the marine side of the industry - handling lines and assisting passengers etc; I then moved to the deckhand / engineer role where I assisted the skipper in starting up the vessel and working in the engine room; I then progressed to the skipper role, which involved driving the vessels. I would hold briefings with my crew every morning and drive from A to B safely. And now I’ve moved off the vessels and into the office as a crew development manager. I’ve constantly been progressing and growing my skills and knowledge to get me where I am today and there’s only further to go... I’ll still be progressing forwards.

A typical day for me could be anything – it depends what the day wants to throw at me. It could be training, organising qualifications of crew, rostering, timesheets... But keeping crew happy is the main goal for me, so I'll do whatever I can do throughout the day to achieve that.

Hanging with the wildlife! You see dolphins and all the marine life. We actually have a friendly seal who assists us in the fueling process… he likes to hang out and supervise.

Just get your foot in the door and go for it! There are so many different avenues you can follow – it’s not like you’ll only work in marine and that’s it. There’s always an opportunity to progress.