Red Funnel has added a third female director to its board.

Master mariner Leanna Lakes has got on board as operations director, joining CEO Fran Collins and HR director Debbie Reed, giving give the company board a 50-50 male-female split.

Leanna has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry at both a national and international level.

She joins Red Funnel from Condor Ferries where she held the position of head of safety and compliance for the last three years, working closely to drive cultural improvement and bring practical solutions to reduce operational risk.

As a member of the Chamber of Shipping’s task force for bridge team management, and as a seafarer herself, Leanna is committed to serving the British shipping industry and championing the maritime industry as a professional career choice for all.

Fran Collins commented, “We are delighted to welcome Leanna as operations director to Red Funnel.

"Leanna brings a wealth of experience with a proven track record for building strong teams and improving standards, and I am delighted that we will benefit from her industry expertise.”

"As an unintended consequence of Leanna’s appointment, I am also very proud that Red Funnel Group will achieve gender equality on its executive board. "

This is fantastic news for both Red Funnel and aspiring female seafarers in what is historically a male-dominated industry.”

Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.