Clayton Strong
CEO
A global citizen whose corporate career has included living in five nations, Clayton first became engaged with the needs of seafarers during his time in Japan in the 1990s.
He delights in empowering teams who can meet needs effectively and with gentle care. A servant leader, he is passionate both about building effective relationships and robust systems while helping out at all levels as needed.
Rev Un Tay
Principal Chaplain
Rev Tay has been passionately providing holistic care at the Mission since 2008. He has the gift of relating well to people at all levels and moves easily between public presentations to inspiring volunteers to liaising on behalf of seafarers with Captains, to translating seafarer’s medical needs during late night hospital visits.
Originally from Malaysia, he is fluent in six languages. Rev Tay is an active member of the Anglican Chinese Ministry and his home church is St Annes Anglican Church Ryde.
Jim Watt
Counsellor and Chaplain
Retchie Salvador
Chaplain
Chaplain Retchie’s warmth, Filipino upbringing
and fluency in four native Filipino languages help
him to connect brilliantly with seafarers. He also
speaks Korean. Seafarers love it when he joins in
singalongs at the Centre and he drives for miles
to find their favourite snacks. They often
continue to ask for his advice long after they
have left Sydney. He worships at Life Anglican
Church Quakers Hill.
David Wong
Reverend Canon - Chaplain
Chaplain David speaks five languages including Mandarin and Cantonese and joined us thanks to the first round of funding from the NSW Seafarers Welfare Fund in 2024. From his first ship visit, Chaplain David’s ability to connect well with seafarers from a wide range of backgrounds was obvious. As well as enjoying hearing about seafarers’ lives and concerns, he’s also a skilled singer and plays the guitar and harmonica – perfect for our Centre sing-a-longs!
An experienced church Minister, he has also established children’s homes in Malaysia and Indonesia and worked as an advisor to many faith-based and counselling organisations. Before joining us, Rev David served as Minister of several churches in Sydney and Adelaide and held a wide variety of pastoral advisory roles in Sydney including as a Member of the Chinese Advisory Group to the Archbishop of Sydney, Vice-Chairman of the Sydney Chinese Christian Churches Association and President of, and then Advisor to, the First Light Care (Counselling Centre). He is also on the Board of Directors of the Chinese Christian Mission Australia, where he first learned about the Mission to Seafarers.
Jack Starmans
Chaplain - Volunteer
Nadja Leffler
Communication and Supporter Manager
A former newspaper journalist, Nadja delights in using stories to build bridges of understanding to help people in need. She has an MA in International Communication and experience in marketing for Christian aid agencies, politicians and higher education institutions. Nadja’s part-time at the Mission so also works freelance helping non-digital natives with their branding and marketing. Born in Slovenia, she has an ecumenical background and her home church is now St Andrews, Roseville.
Mariam Low
Team and Seafarers Service
Mariam Low leverages her diverse linguistic skills, unwavering faith and resilience forged through personal challenges to foster deep connections with seafarers. She also uses her marketing and wellbeing training to support our small team, including on weekends.
Her experience as a migrant from Malaysia adjusting to life in Australia gives her added empathy with seafarers. “Seafarers are so far from h9me and can feel overwhelmed. But they can often work issues out for themselves when they find someone who truly listens. In these moments we can truly make a meaningful impact in their lives.”
