Captain Walker Takes Helm of Mission to Seafarers

Press release - Captain Lee Wai Pong hands over the baton to his successor; to take the Mission forward, as it continues to build on the great steps taken towards local determination and financial self-sustainability.

The Mission to Seafarers global maritime welfare charity has announced that a new Chairman of Singapore has been appointed. Captain Robert Walker takes over from Captain Lee Wai Pong, who stands down after four years exemplary service. Under Wai Pong’s talented and charismatic leadership, the Mission in Singapore has flourished and has taken positive steps to tackle the recent challenges of a significant regional restructure of the historic charity worldwide, with his characteristic skill and dedication.

Captain Walker said, “Throughout Wai Pong’s distinguished period of chairmanship, he has guided us to a greater understanding of the vision and purpose of the global Mission, which has led to a strengthening in partnerships with the local Mission and the maritime industry, as well as sharing a greater understanding of the issues facing today’s seafarers with our highly esteemed supporters; he has also forged a dynamic partnership with our new Regional Director for East Asia, The Revd Canon Stephen Miller, who is based regionally in Hong Kong.”

Many key milestones have been reached during Wai Pong’s leadership:

• The move to a refurbished and re-launched Seafarers’ International Drop-in Center in Jurong Port Singapore.
• Large scale Mission fundraising initiatives have been undertaken, including the successful ‘Row Around Singapore Island’ (Mission RASI) endurance rowing challenge, undertaken by supporters in April 2015, which raised over S$500,000 and was featured on national TV.
• Stewardship of greater cohesiveness between the Mission’s International Headquarters in London UK and MtS Singapore.
• Better funding and accountability through clearer and defined roles.

Captain Wlaker  was a seafarer for 20 years before coming ashore in 1995 and is a long serving member of The Mission to Seafarers Singapore Committee. He has laid out his initial plans for the next phase of Mission Branch Committee development. He aims to:

• Ensure a smooth transition and to maintain the momentum achieved by the previous Chairman’s considerable success in raising the Mission’s profile both regionally and internationally.
• Continue to work closely with the Mission’s global Director of Development Nicky Wynne in Singapore on vital marketing and fundraising initiatives.
• Work closely with the Diocese of Singapore in to ensure that the primary objectives of the Mission in providing spiritual and pastoral care to all seafarers in the Port of Singapore are met and indeed enhanced through efforts to heighten awareness of the Mission’s work amongst seafarers, no matter what rank, race, creed or colour.
• Undertake a review of the Mission’s administrative and financial affairs, to work towards achieving recognized status with the Institutions of a Public Character (IPC) in Singapore.

With these objectives laid out, there will be plenty of work to do, and although Walker  has taken up the task of Chairman, Wai Pong will remain as Vice Chairman, and will lend support to the Singapore Fundraising Sub-Committee.

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