Alastair has been the Chief Executive of The Sustainable Shipping Initiative since mid 2014. The SSI is an ambitious coalition of shipping leaders from around the world that is taking practical steps to tackle some of the sector's greatest opportunities and challenges. The group is working to achieve a vision of an industry in which sustainability equals success. The cross-industry SSI has members from 15 companies representing ship owners and charterers, shipbuilders, engineers and service providers, banking and classification societies. Alastair is also currently chairman of the Sailors Society, a charity that supports seafarers and their families at sea and at home.

Previously Alastair was General Manager - Fleet Management for Rio Tinto and was responsible for supervising the specification, construction, bringing into service and on-going operation of seventeen ships ranging from 70-205,000 deadweight bulk carriers. In 2011 Alastair joined the inaugural board of the World Ocean Council and was chairman 2013-14. He was a director of Rightship Pty. Ltd., the dry and wet ship vetting company, from 2008 and was chairman 2009-13. Alastair has been a member of the Class NK, Lloyds Register and DNV British Committees and remains a member of the Lloyds Register Classing Committee. He was also a director of the UK Chamber of Shipping from 2013 to 2014.

Alastair started his career as a deck cadet and qualified as Master Mariner. Coming ashore he had experience as cargo superintendent, ship operator and chartering before moving to coal marketing and coal projects, including coal processing, coal terminals and coal mine acquisition before joining Rio Tinto's shipping division.