The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is a world-leading centre for hydrography, providing marine geospatial data, products and expertise that support a safe, secure and thriving ocean.

As the UK government’s official hydrographic authority and a global leader in marine navigation, we collect, process and use data that underpins safe navigation, maritime operations, marine innovation, and marine environmental management.

We also help commercial partners harness the value of marine geospatial data in areas such as offshore energy, shipping, and coastal infrastructure.

If you would like to understand the value of hydrography or how the UK’s seabed mapping industry works and how you could support it, then please get in touch.

Rory leads on establishing UKHO’s relationships across the public sector, with the purpose of improving the quantity and quality of data available. Â If you want to engage with government, Rory’s awareness of the government organisational and policy landscape will be beneficial.

Rory has over 10 years’ experience in the public sector at the interface of science and policy. He is a Fellow and Chartered Scientist of IMarEST, a Fellow & Charted Manager of CMI, and has a Masters in Business Administration [MBA] and a BA in Geography. He is also a qualified marine cartographer.

Rory was part of the team that designed and established the UK Centre for Seabed Mapping, bringing together the seabed mapping community across government. Made up of over 30 organisations, it’s a great example of positive engagement and optimisation, and received the Ministry of Defence’s award for excellence in policy delivery.

He also worked on supporting the development of Government strategies covering economic, societal, environmental and national security themes. These included Maritime 2050, the UK Geospatial Strategy, and the National Strategy for Maritime Security. They championed the relevance and importance of the ocean, and the importance of geospatial data to understanding it.

For more information on our work with government and private sector partners, visit our website or Youtube channel.

Advice will be free, but also limited to what is reasonable and within the remit of a civil servant to provide.