PML Applications’ Anna Yunnie has accepted the role of Manager of the Centre for Marine Biofouling and Corrosion (CMBC). Anna has been with PML Applications for over 11 years and is a key team member who has been part of our journey to grow and build our marine environmental consultancy. Anna will continue to work in her capacity as Principal Consultant but is also taking over leadership of our Centre for Marine Biofouling and Corrosion from Tom Vance, PML Applications’ C.E.
Tom Vance, PML Applications’ C.E. said –
“After over 11 years of working shoulder to shoulder with Anna on hundreds of commercial biofouling management projects, I am thrilled that Anna has taken over management of the Centre for Marine Biofouling and Corrosion.
As the IMO move towards a binding convention focusing on biofouling management, and at a time when it is critical to rapidly reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, Anna is the ideal person to take the helm of this core area of our business that improves ship efficiency and reduces negative marine environmental impacts.
The dedication that Anna shows to her work, coupled with her genuine passion and capability, is truly unique. Anna’s incredibly high standards of customer service and customer loyalty are well known throughout the biofouling management industry and are an excellent example of the standards that we aim to reach and maintain as a company.
What our clients don’t see is that, behind the scenes, Anna still finds time to support, encourage and nurture our own team members with care and consideration, which is a key part of what makes PML Applications such an incredible team and business.
I am genuinely proud and excited that Anna has taken on this new role and I very much look forward to learning from her and seeing the direction she takes the CMBC, at a time when its mission has never been more important.”
The team has been celebrating Anna’s well-deserved achievement and reflecting on her journey so far at PML Applications.
Anna said –
“It’s a privilege and an honour to take this over from Tom [Vance] after all his years of developing and shaping the centre. I’m very grateful for the faith he has in me, but equally it is a huge responsibility to maintain and develop it. The company has grown significantly in the last few years, and I think is ready for a new phase, with Tom as our Chief Executive and me stepping up to manage the CMBC. Together with Lloyd Rees, our Chief Engineer and Operations Manager, and our delivery team, we will continue to grow this centre and PML Applications as a whole.
I’m excited to lead this next chapter in the CMBC. I’ve seen lots of positive changes in marine science since I’ve been working in this sector and there is much more to come. Australia and New Zealand have led the way in biosecurity, but many other countries are rising to those levels now too, and that’s only going to increase with the anticipated IMO regulations. We are seeing a lot of companies starting to think about this, from smaller organisations up to militaries. They are focusing on ensuring they can move around the world, access ports, and that their vessels meet optimum speeds and fuel budgets while also ensuring systems such as seawater cooling are working efficiently. I think that awareness is really reaching multiple industries and sectors now. Everything that we do, yes, it will likely be financially beneficial to our clients, but it’s also environmentally beneficial as well. It genuinely is a win win situation and that’s a great world to be working in.”
Anna has turned her hand to lots of roles within marine science (and outside of it) and loves to get involved in fieldwork and laboratory work. Much of her previous experience informs her work in her current roles. Some of her past projects include:
- Non-native species surveys of vessels & infrastructure
- Biosecurity analysis, policy & planning
- Antifouling solutions for novel infrastructure
- Bespoke testing for antifouling technologies & in-water cleaning
- Expert evidence in legal disputes
- Taxonomic identification
- Ballast water testing
- Teaching
Anna said –
“I love collaborating with different companies, engineers and other scientists. I started small, working under Tom and learning the ropes, built up small clients to start with and got into in-water cleaning, which really complemented my biological background. The IWC [in-water cleaning] and biosecurity have built up over time, and now I largely work with the MoD on IWC and antifouling coating or prevention projects.
It’s a lovely atmosphere to work in here – the company is very flexible, adaptable and reactive; if somebody has an area that they’re really interested in and we can make it work for the business, we can go down that route and see if there is potential. We can change really quite rapidly, and that’s the way I like to work. I think everybody in the team at PML Applications wants to come to work and wants to feel that we’ve made a difference, whatever the scale. You don’t get people doing this job in marine science or engineering unless they really have a passion for it, so everyone’s got a very positive attitude. You want your clients to be happy, and you want to see a good result, and you want to see a project through and see the results of it.”
PML Applications’ Centre for Marine Biofouling and Corrosion
The Centre for Marine Biofouling and Corrosion offers a range of services to help clients find reliable and practical solutions to biofouling and corrosion, achieved through impartial independent testing in our bespoke facilities. PML Applications services cover:
- Biofouling management
- Biosecurity management and surveys
- In-water cleaning trials (small and full scale)
- Antifouling coating research and development, testing & cleaning
- Corrosion consultations and testing
- Training in biosecurity & biofouling
If you are interested in any of the services available from our Centre for Marine Biofouling and Corrosion, contact Anna at anyu@pml.ac.uk
