Get to know us:
Spirit has extensive knowledge of the offshore energy industry, with the vision and capability to develop strong strategies and drive business growth. Passionate about assisting and enabling the energy transition through the growth of capacity, capability and skills in the renewables supply chains.
🔹 Chris Jones, Director at Spirit AEG🔹
With 15 years of hands-on experience across the offshore energy and subsea industries, Chris brings an exceptional mix of strategic thinking, business development expertise, and technical knowledge to Spirit Advisory.
A Board-Level Executive and experienced Business Development professional, Chris has a proven track record of driving business growth by bringing new products to market and expanding into new territories and regions. His entrepreneurial spirit and ability to develop and execute impactful strategies have enabled him to navigate complex routes to market, while breaking down barriers to entry.
With a strong engineering and manufacturing background across multiple industries, Chris is passionate about solving problems, innovating, and enhancing capabilities to support business growth.
Having worked with leading offshore equipment providers, Chris brings deep expertise in offshore wind, cable lay, burial, and repair operations to Spirit Advisory. His extensive industry connections with developers, subsea contractors, and EPCI teams further enhance his impact and vision for the future of the subsea markets and offshore energy transition.
At Spirit Advisory, Chris is dedicated to driving and growing the capabilities within the energy transition supply chain, supporting the development of new technologies, and helping to enable the future of offshore infrastructure.
🔹 Dustin Varnell, Director at Spirit AEG 🔹
With 20 years of hands-on experience in offshore energy and vessel operations, Dustin brings an exceptional mix of creative vision, passion, business development expertise, and technical knowledge to Spirit Advisory.
As an experienced ship officer with deep expertise in vessel operations and offshore energy, Dustin has led numerous successful projects in shipyards and construction projects around the globe. His work has significantly advanced technology in the energy transition and marine safety. This experience and his passion for the industry make him a valuable asset at Spirit Advisory.
Dustin is deeply committed to sharing his experiences and expertise with others, particularly in the ocean industries. His career in the blue economy has not only provided him with a fulfilling career and excellent life experience, but also a strong belief in the importance of giving back to the community that has supported him. Dustin's commitment to fostering the next generation of professionals, particularly in offshore careers, where opportunities are vast and rewarding, is truly inspiring. He is eager to work closely with young people and educational institutions to guide and inspire future talent. Through his dedication, Dustin aims to share his passion for the ocean and the many possibilities it holds for those willing to explore it, instilling hope and inspiration for the future of the offshore energy sector.
Having worked with leading firms in offshore construction and marine operations, Dustin brings not only deep expertise around vessels and ports to Spirit Advisory but also a wealth of industry connections. His extensive network with developers, vessel owners, and EPCI teams further bolsters his impact and vision for the future of Marine Technology and Offshore Energy. This network, built on trust and collaboration, instils confidence in Dustin's ability to drive change and innovation in the offshore energy sector.
At Spirit Advisory, Dustin is not just a Director, but a dedicated leader with a clear vision for the future of the offshore energy sector. He is committed to driving engagement within the offshore wind supply chain, supporting the development of new technologies, and enabling the future of offshore infrastructure. His dedication and vision for the future of offshore energy are sure to excite and inspire all those involved in the sector.
🔹Lee Silvestre, Senior Associate🔹
Lee Silvestre has joined Spirit Advisory as a Senior Associate, where she will directly support our clients and strategic initiatives.
Lee brings decades of experience supporting both commercial and defense markets through technology transition and strategic planning. By joining Spirit in an advisory capacity to support our clients, Lee, with a background and leadership in regional technology hubs and managing ocean innovation programs and efforts, adds valuable depth to our work across the maritime and "blue tech" supply chain.
This partnership strengthens our capacity to serve customers across the US and UK. By integrating Lee’s knowledge of technology pathways with our established expertise in offshore energy, Spirit Advisory is better positioned to meet the increasing demand to navigate the evolving dual-use landscape and rapid market shifts.
This initiative is driven by our commitment to helping our customers adapt to new industry drivers. From established industry leaders in energy to agile startups, this shared expertise provides the knowledge needed to scale and succeed across complex global sectors.
🔹Jessica (Jess) Heesom, Business Advisor and Outreach Manager 🔹
Jess Heesom recently joined the team as a Business Advisor & Outreach Manager, bringing curiosity, energy, and a strong analytical mindset to her first professional role. A natural communicator and team player, Jess developed her leadership skills as captain of the Newcastle University Swimming Club, an experience that demonstrates her ability to motivate others, take on responsibility, and deliver under pressure.
She graduated with honours in Geography from Newcastle University and is now studying for a Master’s in Renewable Energy, Enterprise and Management, an interdisciplinary programme that aligns closely with her passion for sustainability, innovation, and strategic thinking.
In her role, Jess blends data analysis and research with a purposeful outreach mission to help bridge the growing skills gap in the offshore wind industry. Drawing on her academic insight and communication strengths, she is working to connect talent with opportunity - engaging with young people, educators, and stakeholders to raise awareness of the career pathways and skills needed to support the UK’s clean energy transition.
Her postgraduate studies will help her understand the energy sector, and she is eager to continue developing her knowledge of offshore wind and the wider renewables landscape. Jess is motivated by a desire to make a meaningful contribution, both by supporting informed decision-making through analysis and by inspiring the next generation to shape the future of sustainable energy.
🔹Louis Kemp, Business Development🔹
Louis Kemp is a recent Entrepreneurship graduate from Northumbria University and will be supporting Spirit Advisory through business development, youth engagement, and strategic outreach. His academic work and final-year project focused on engaging younger generations in offshore renewables, an experience that will directly inform his role at Spirit Advisory.
With experience in care work and hospitality, Louis brings strong communication skills, emotional intelligence, and a people-first mindset to his work. He thrives under responsibility, naturally steps into leadership roles, and is motivated by the chance to connect talent to opportunity.
A forward-thinker, Louis is driven by the sector’s potential to deliver meaningful change fuelled by a passion for innovation and purposeful work. He plays a key role in growing Spirit Advisory’s presence across education, digital platforms, and industry networks.
🔹 Emily Ballantyne, Part-Time PA / Marketing Support 🔹
Emily has a background as a versatile Corporate Communications Expert with extensive experience in PR, content creation, and brand development. Skilled in driving PR activities across local, regional, and national levels, Emily creates impactful content aligned with commercial objectives, including ESG initiatives, and collaborates with design and digital teams to deliver consistent messaging.
Emily has extensive experience in client liaison, account management, and overseeing creative projects from concept to finished production. In addition to her corporate role, Emily has previously worked as a PA, managing social media content, designing visuals and analysing data across platforms. Her freelance experience also includes market research, copywriting, diary and event management, and telesales and telemarketing.
Previously, Emily worked as a Researcher, managing both qualitative and quantitative research projects and delivering comprehensive reports based on market research data, including findings and recommendations.
🔹Ailsa Swift, Business Analyst 🔹
Ailsa joined Spirit Advisory following the completion of a First Class BA (Hons) Geography degree from Newcastle University. Her dissertation explored Just Transitions in sustainable housing developments in Sweden, reflecting her strong interest in economic development and creating positive societal change.
At Spirit Advisory, Ailsa supports the development of new products through research, data collection, analysis, report writing, and map development. She enjoys transforming complex information into meaningful insights and brings strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and evidence-based problem-solving to her work.
Ailsa is particularly interested in further developing her knowledge of the offshore wind sector and is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the transition towards a lower-carbon future. Prior to joining Spirit, she gained four years of experience in retail, most recently progressing into a Merchandising Administration Assistant role. Outside of work, she recently spent four months travelling across South East Asia.
🔹Summer Tesseyman, Web Content Intern🔹
Summer is a second year Journalism, Media and Culture student at Newcastle University and recently joined Spirit Advisory as part of the team. She brings experience in content creation, social media management, website creation and website maintenance, alongside a strong interest in digital communications and marketing.
Alongside her studies, Summer has previously managed her own website and social media platforms, where she developed valuable skills in audience engagement, branding, content planning and online communication. Through this experience, she gained a strong understanding of how creative and consistent digital content can help businesses strengthen their online presence and connect with wider audiences.
At Spirit Advisory, Summer is supporting the company’s marketing and digital activity, helping to create engaging content and contribute to the continued growth of the brand across its online platforms. She is particularly interested in developing her knowledge of the renewable energy and offshore sectors while continuing to expand her skills within a professional and fast-moving environment.
Summer is excited to be part of the Spirit Advisory team and looks forward to contributing fresh ideas, creativity and enthusiasm to future projects and campaigns.