NXT Level Recruitment: Aligning Talent Acquisition with Onboard Reality
This brainstorm session is a call for industry leadership to strategically address the disconnect between current crew recruitment practices and the operational realities onboard. The goal is to identify the recruitment challenges and establish a higher bar for talent acquisition and retention.
Attendees will collaborate with key visionaries and expert insights from Raising the Bar Think Tank include Viking Crew, Bluewater Yachting, Crewdentials, Arrow Monaco, Crew Unlimited, and Hill Robinson to diagnose inconsistent processes across the ecosystem—from recruitment agents to yacht HR. We will define clear responsibilities for accurate job descriptions, effective onboarding, and probationary periods, focusing on the future of HR management and crew welfare.
The tangible outcome of this strategic session will be NXT-level solutions and actionable feedback that the working group will drive forward throughout the year, ensuring long-term success for the industry’s most vital asset: its people.
Speakers
Mandy Lee-Elliott
Director of Recruitment – Crew Unlimited, Antibes
Originally from Cape Town, Mandy began her yachting career in 2002. After many successful and well-travelled years working aboard both charter and private yachts, she transitioned into crew placement with Crew Unlimited in 2010.
In 2021, Mandy opened Crew Unlimited’s Antibes office as Director of Recruitment, continuing her passion for connecting exceptional crew with outstanding programmes. For Mandy, crew placement is not about filling a vacancy — it’s finding the right match that complements each vessel’s unique culture and operational needs.
In 2014 Crew Unlimited launched the “New to Yachting Workshop” an initiative that prepares aspiring crew for their careers at sea. Mandy remains a dedicated contributor to this programme, instilling both confidence and professionalism.
An active member of the “Raising the Bar” committee, Mandy is dedicated to driving the yachting industry forward through collaboration and continuous improvement.
Capitalising on her extensive knowledge, joie de vivre, and hands-on experience, Mandy offers a professional, friendly, and efficient service to clients and crew alike.
With 17 years of experience in recruitment at Bluewater, Sharon Rose has built a career defined by passion and purpose. She takes great pride in helping crew find their place within the yachting industry, believing that every placement has the power to change lives and open doors to extraordinary opportunities.
Honoured to work alongside a skilled and dedicated team at Bluewater, Sharon also serves as the ISS Antibes Ambassador and is an active member of the Recruitment Think Tank for Raising the Bar, where she continues to help drive the industry forward.
Deeply committed to educating and preparing new crew, Sharon focuses not just on helping them secure their first role, but on equipping them to build successful, lasting careers and truly thrive in yachting.
For Sharon, recruitment isn’t about filling positions it’s about helping people find where they truly belong.
With a master’s degree in human resource management and a member of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development, Alice brings over 15 years of experience in the yachting industry to crew HR operations, having worked for a leading yacht crew association, for yacht management companies, and in shoreside HR roles in France and the UK. She is committed to delivering seamless HR services and support to crew, addressing crew welfare and safety at sea, along with professional development and leadership requirements. She believes that the yachting industry can strongly benefit from insights and tools from a wider HR perspective.
We founded Crewdentials to help crew and maritime organisations solve the challenge of crew certification, compliance and verification.
Through our innovative technology we put crew in control of their documentation and career, enabling them to be onboarded in seconds and share information in a way that preserves their privacy. For organisations we solve compliance, onboarding and verification headaches. Leaving your employees able to focus on the things that only a human can.
With a background as a solicitor and data protection practitioner I combine expertise, knowledge and an ability to challenge the status quo
Kayleigh joined Hill Robinson four years ago brining nearly a decade of expertise in Human Resources, Education, and Recruitment to Hill Robinson. With a rich background in establishing HR frameworks for international startups, she has successfully shaped policies and welfare initiatives for employees. A dedicated advocate for gender equality, Kayleigh co-founded WorkmATe, a social enterprise supporting young women in STEM education. Through networking events and mentorship programs, she connected over 200 women with valuable opportunities in both employment and education.
In her transition to the yachting industry, Kayleigh seamlessly integrates her passion for fair employment and welfare culture from land to sea. As Crew Services Coordinator, she is dedicated to placing crew members at the forefront of the conversation, embodying Hill Robinson’s commitment to providing an exceptional crew experience.
With nearly 30 years of experience in the maritime insutry, Paul brings a wealth of operational and client-focused expertise to his role as Operations Director at Viking Crew. Responsible for overseeing all departments across the business, including employment, payroll, recruitment, crewing and deployment.
Paul began his maritime career with the P&O Group in 1997 and from 1999 to 2011 working extensively onboard travelling the globe with the boutique cruise company Swan Hellenic, culminating his onboard career as Cruise Director.
Since joining Viking Crew, Paul has held several roles, including Recruitment Manager and General Manager, before stepping ino his current position in 2020. Paul's in-depth understanding of both client and crew needs within the cruise and superyacht sectors contiunes to drive Viking Crew's committment to delivering exceptional global maritime recruitment and crew management services.