Mercy Ships UK appoints New Executive Director, Shelley Pigott

Mercy Ships UK is delighted to announce that Shelley Pigott has joined the international healthcare charity as the new Executive Director.   

Shelley brings a wealth of experience in international development, having worked with organisations such as VSO, UNICEF, Medair, and Save the Children in both staff and trustee roles.  

“It’s a privilege to be taking on this role and working alongside a strong team of dedicated staff, volunteers and partners,” says Shelley. “I’ve been incredibly moved by seeing the work of Mercy Ships and I look forward to bringing my experience to the team.”  

Shelley has worked at an executive level for many years and brings experience of developing people, developing teams and driving organisational strategy. With academic qualifications in Youth Work, Theology and Executive Coaching, plus a successful career in global fundraising, Mercy Ships UK is delighted to be bringing Shelley on board.  

Shelley’s Christian faith is central to her work and vision for moving Mercy Ships UK forward.  

“I believe God has created each of us as individuals – highly valued and unique,” says Shelley. “So I am motivated to give people across Africa equitable access to quality healthcare,  But my mission is to also bring out the best in teams, so that they feel a sense of purpose in what they’re doing and can thrive in the work that they do, with the gifts and talents that God has given them, towards this wider purpose.”   

Shelley is looking forward to building on the work of interim Executive Director, Clive Mitchell, who has taken over the running of Mercy Ships UK since Joanne Balaam, former Executive Director, moved on to a role with Mercy Ships International in 2024.     

“I love how Mercy Ships is about long-term sustainability, it’s about building and developing partnerships,” says Shelley. “I’ve had the huge privilege to shape development programmes in partnership with Ministers of Health in the Global South. They are driven to see change, and to be able to work alongside them in partnership to see development is critical.” 

Mercy Ships is a pioneering international health charity which deploys hospital ships to some of the poorest countries in the world, delivering vital, free healthcare to people in desperate need.  

The Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy are the world’s largest non-governmental floating hospitals, complete with state-of-the-art facilities including operating theatres, recovery wards, intensive care, a pharmacy, and low-dependency wards. The vessels are also home to volunteer crew who give their time to serve on board the two ships.  

To find out more about Mercy Ships, visit mercyships.org.uk