Whitecap Advisory Panel
Commander Chris Clay OBE RN: Company Secretary
During a career in the Royal Navy spanning 34 years Chris initially
specialised as a helicopter pilot and commanded 829 Naval Air
Squadron. He subsequently saw service in the Falklands war as
second in command of the Type 42 Destroyer HMS Exeter and later
commanded the Leander Class Frigate HMS Minerva. Chris also worked
in the Ministries of Defence both in London and Australia and for
NATO in the USA. He was awarded the OBE for meritorious
service in 1990.
On leaving the Royal Navy in 1997 Chris gained a Certified Diploma
in Accounting and Finance and was appointed Bursar of The Pilgrims
School, associated with Winchester Cathedral. At Pilgrims he was
responsible for the financial, business, personnel and
general administrative operations of the school and also
managed major building development projects.
Chris provides invaluable financial, organisational and strategic
support and general guidance in his capacity as Company Secretary
and an Advisory Board member.
Alun Cole LL.B, LL.M
At the end of April 2011, Alun retired as a senior Partner from
international law firm Eversheds LLP. He is retained by the firm as
a consultant, principally in relation to legal business with UK and
overseas Governments, and more generally to assist with the
development of the firm's practice in Africa. In the 6 years
immediately prior to his retirement, Alun led the firm's practice
with the UK Government, across all legal disciplines.
Alun's particular area of expertise rests primarily in large
commercial transactions, and in particular transactions involving a
strong commercial and corporate interface between the public and
private sectors. Alun led on a large number of projects of this
nature in the fields of health, education, defence, transport and
facilities, both at home and abroad.
Before entering private practice Alun spent 11 years as Government
lawyer, advising Ministers, preparing legislation, conducting
international human rights cases before the Commission and Court of
Human Rights in Strasbourg and before the European Court of the EU,
and ( WITH OTHERS ) negotiating the UK's position at international
conferences and conventions.
Alun's LL.M is in Public International Law, from the London School
of Economics.
Alun provides Whitecap with first class legal support and
advice on contract handling and business growth.
Dr. James M. Hart CBE QPM
Completed a distinguished police career as Commissioner of Police
for the City of London in June 2002, retiring in 2006 after a four
year term of office. James holds a Batchelor of Science degree in
Systems and Management and is a Doctor of Philosophy in Systems
Science from the City University Business School. He has completed
the Government Cabinet Office 'Top Management Programme' and is a
graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National
Executive Institute. In 2004 James was conferred with the degree of
Doctor of Science (HC) from the City University, London, where he
is a Visiting Professor, Chairman of the Alumni Association and a
member of the University's advisory board. He is a Companion of the
Chartered Management Institute.
James brings key operational and management direction to
Whitecap.
Charles Bailey
Project finance has been the focus of Charles's career in
banking. As Head of Project Finance at Nordea Bank, he was
active in financing the introduction of cellular telecommunications
across Europe, providing structured funding for the nascent mobile
phone operators. He also arranged finance for paper mills
with a combined annual capacity of 1,000,000 tonnes p.a., mainly
for newsprint and magazine grade paper.
Charles spent over 10 years of his working life abroad, and has
lived in Australia, Singapore and Finland.
Charles runs a charity looking after the psychological welfare of
people in Hampshire.
Charles offers Whitecap his international business experience and
advice on financial management of large projects.
Nick Wells
A
Financial Services Development and Marketing Practitioner with an
extensive record of launching investment led funds for the retail
investment market place. He was Product and communications director
at Artemis Fund Management until he retired in March 2010. He has
also worked at both ABN Amro Asset Management and Barings Asset
Management.
With a keen interest in sailing and having directed Artemis Fund
Management's sailing communications Nick is ideally suited to
direct Whitecap's communication strategy.