Summary
Tom Karsten is a retired rear admiral and a recent chief executive officer (CEO) of the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), an executive agency of Defra. He spent 35 years in the Royal Navy, carrying out operations in all parts of the world and commanding three ships including the ice breaker HMS Endurance. His last naval appointment (2012 to 2015) was as the UK National Hydrographer and deputy CEO of the UK Hydrographic Office. At CEFAS, he spent five years (2015 to 2020) helping guide the organisation through a period of international and commercial expansion. This included leading the Blue Belt programme, aimed at enhancing marine protection for the UK Overseas Territories.