Gemma Griffin

Gemma Griffin is Vice President, and Head of Global Crewing for pan-European ferry company DFDS. She is also Chair of the Chamber of Shipping UK Employment Committee, leads the industry’s Trailblazer Apprenticeship scheme, and is a board member of the UK Chamber of Shipping, the Merchant Navy Training Board and the Merchant Navy Medal Committee.

In these roles, Gemma helps to shape how UK employment law applies to shipping; manages the relationships between shipping companies, unions and government; and shares best practice across the industry. She has previously led campaigns on seafarers’ mental wellbeing, encouraging more women into the Merchant Navy, and improving internet access for ships’ crews to enable them to connect with family and friends whilst at sea.

Gemma is an Irish native and is based in Dover. She has worked at DFDS for 29 years, having started her career in shipping in a front-line role in the port of Dublin. She has a degree in Industrial Relations and a degree in English and History.

In 2019, Gemma was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her outstanding contribution to employment and training for seafarers in the UK.

In 2024 she was named as Maritime UK’s Woman of the Year.