An Unlimited Master Mariner, ice navigator and maritime educator
Having attended school and spent her formative years in Portsmouth, Philippa Ann Bowden entered the Merchant Navy via a cadetship at the age of nineteen. She rose through the ranks to become a Captain.
Her career spans operations on cargo, research, and passenger vessels, culminating in commanding expedition ships exploring remote destinations worldwide, and specialising in polar regions.
On shore, she delivers advanced maritime simulation training and mentors international female mariners.
An Associate Fellow of both The Nautical Institute and the Royal Institute of Navigation, she was awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service in 2025 for her outstanding contributions to maritime education and safety.
