MDE Profiles: John Mitchell

Personal Profile

Islander and oceanography grad with a passion for renewable energy, and restoring our seas.

Favourite hobbies: snorkelling, quadball, football manager, running

Favourite marine creature: Octopus

2 truths & a lie:

• I consider winning Serie A in Football Manager to be my greatest ever achievement
• My living room was in a youtube video with over 1 million views
• I once caught a haribo in my mouth from 20 yards away

Career Profile

I went to University of Southampton, doing an MSci Oceanography. Graduating in 2020, I worked building fences before joing The Crown Estate as a Marine Data Adviso. My role was to act as the link between the Marine Data Exchange, and our customers, helping get data uploaded and published on the site. In 2024 I got promoted to Data Manager, taking broader responsiblity in a number of areas, while still getting to work on the Marine Data Exchange!

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mitchell-8a4080139

Responsibilities:

I focus on the development of the Marine Data Exchange and OWEKH, owning strategic relationships with our customers and stakeholders, along with linking data flows and identifying data gaps across the Marine Team. I continue to support on getting data in from a range of sectors, as well as how we can improve and standardise the Marine Data Exchange's holding.

Why did you choose this career?:

I loved my degree and wanted to apply some of what I had learnt and drive meaningful impact in the UK marine space.

What do you love about your job?:

The variety! And the knowledge that I’m genuinely helping the climate and biodiversity crisis’s through what I am doing.

What do you find challenging about your work?:

Improving our data in relation to the Q-FAIR principles! We have so much multi-disciplinary data!

Skills:

• Oceanographic background (solid understanding of ocean/coastal systems, and survey techniques).
• Key offshore sector knowledge.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills.
• Data/Metadata Management.
• Strong understanding of agile development techniques and product management.

Career Pathway:

• Marine Data Advisor, The Crown Estate.
• MSci Oceanography, University of Southampton –First Class Honours.
• (Independent Research Project for Masters: The Drivers of an Anomalous Chlorophyll and Nutrient Distribution in a Tidal Mixing Front in the Western English Channel.)
• Fencer and Decorator (Self Employed)
• Sailing Instructor (Seasonal),
• Bar Staff

Advise to someone looking to move into the marine/digital/design sector:

Make sure you’ve got the ‘soft skills’ to go with your degree – I got my role on the basis that I combined a strong background understanding of marine data collection, strong relationship management skills from working as a sailing instructor and a frankly unreasonable level of enthusiasm (honestly enthusiasm for the job does help!).

Your previous experience on a C.V. is important, but of equal importance is how you spin those stories and show what you’ve learnt from it. In my case of being a sailing instructor, I strongly highlighted the communication/teamwork/relationship/difficult situation management side of it. Draw on experience from both unviersity and any jobs you've had, having a combination of examples is really useful!