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Spend even a few minutes with John Milsom and two things become clear: he cares deeply about the River Dart and he believes in teams. Since January 2025, John has chaired the board of the Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority (DHNA), the body responsible for stewarding one of the most beautiful and economically vital estuaries in the South West. The 53-year-old is a business psychologist who understands how organisations thrive when people feel valued and supported. Since taking over the helm he has helped guide the authority into a more settled, confident chapter. But his connection to the Dart began long before the boardroom.


GINNY FARRELL VISITED JOHN IN DARTMOUTH’S BUSY HARBOUR OFFICE TO LEARN MORE. F


or John, the River Dart is far more than a workplace. It is woven into his family life,


his sporting passions and his sense of community. “Te river is such a central part of the town and the community,” he says. “Te idea of getting involved in the Har- bour Authority - the organisation responsible for managing and stew- arding that - was just too good an opportunity to miss.” John joined the DHNA board at


the beginning of 2021. Aſter a year, he became vice chair, serving three years in that role before stepping up as chairman. His arrival coincided with extraor-


dinary circumstances. It was January 2021, the depths of lockdown, and the authority had just appointed a new harbour master. Board meetings were on Teams, he hadn’t met staff in person nor walked the offices. He hadn’t properly experienced the operational heartbeat of the harbour. “It was a strange induction,” he recalls. “You’re trying to feel


your way into a new responsibility without actually meeting anyone.” By the summer, when in-person


meetings resumed, it was clear not everything was settling as hoped. External stakeholders felt unheard. Internally, tensions were surfacing. Rather than standing back, John stepped forward. One of his first significant acts was to meet directly with the then


“I work with organisations to help them recruit and develop the leaders they need,”


new harbour master, Geoff Holland, to understand his perspective and offer guidance. When the harbour master later resigned, DHNA faced the urgent task of recruitment. John led the search that resulted in the appointment of the current harbour master and CEO, Paul Britton - a decision he considers one of his most


important contributions to date. “Tat’s arguably the biggest


thing I’ve been involved with since joining,” he says. Under Paul’s leadership, and with


the board’s support, the authority has entered a more settled and confident phase. Visibility on the river has increased. Relationships with stakeholders have strengthened. Stability has become a hallmark. John’s professional background


may not be maritime, but it is highly relevant. He is a business psychologist, specialising in recruitment, leadership development and executive coaching. Having met his wife Libby while studying occupational psychology at university, he spent years working in consulting before establishing himself independently in 2020. “I work with organisations to help


them recruit and develop the leaders they need,” he explains. “Sometimes that’s executive coaching. Sometimes it’s board selection or facilitation.” As his hair “turned greyer,” John


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