Care charity appoints Dr Pete Inkpen as CEO

A charity providing care to retired seafarers has appointed Dr Pete Inkpen as its chief executive officer.

Dr Inkpen, who begins his role at Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society today (31 July), takes over from Capt. David Dominy, who steps down after two years leading the organisation.

Before his career in senior leadership positions across the NHS, charitable organisations and international health and care systems, Dr Inkpen served for 22 years in the Royal Navy. His operational service included both Gulf Wars, a NATO appointment in Naples with subsequent deployment to Bosnia, and service aboard HMS Illustrious during operations in Sierra Leone.

After leaving the navy, he held CEO, chief operating officer, director of operations and transformation leadership positions across a range of healthcare settings, including acute hospitals, mental health services, community healthcare, hospices and veteran support organisations, both in the UK and internationally.

‘Having spent more than two decades at sea and a further two decades working across health and care, joining The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society feels like a natural coming together of everything I care about most. This is an organisation with an extraordinary heritage and a clear purpose to provide outstanding care to those who have given so much,’ he said.

‘My focus will be on working alongside colleagues, partners and the wider community to make sure our services continue to meet the needs of the people we serve. I am delighted to be joining Royal Alfred at such an exciting time and look forward to supporting the seafaring community both now and in the future.’

Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society operates Belvedere House, which provides nursing, respite and specialist dementia care near Banstead in Surrey. On the same site it operates Weston Acres Sheltered Housing, offering independent living.

Capt. Dominy said: ‘It has been a privilege to lead this remarkable organisation, and I am proud of what the team has achieved over the past two years. Pete brings a combination of first-hand maritime experience and deep healthcare leadership expertise, and I have every confidence that he will be an outstanding chief executive. I look forward to seeing the society go from strength to strength under his leadership.’