The Crew Creator Awards is a new initiative launched by Dockwalk, designed to celebrate and recognize the exceptional achievements of yacht crew around the world. This annual awards program aims to highlight the outstanding contributions of current and former crew, both within their professional roles and beyond.
This year’s distinguished panel of judges features industry experts, each possessing in-depth knowledge in their respective fields and a strong passion for the marine sector.
Meet the Judges
Dean Harrison: Yacht Chef and Videographer
Edward Thomas: Founder and Director, Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors
Norma Trease: Board Member, The International SeaKeepers Society
Chairman of the Awards
Erik Petersen: Editor, Dockwalk
Dean Harrison: Yacht Chef and Videographer
Dean Harrison has been a chef for the past 21 years; 13 of those working on board yachts up to 88 meters all over the world. He has been documenting his career inside and outside of the galley through video and photos, showing exactly what it’s like to be a yacht chef since the beginning of his career. He’s also co-founder of the newly launched online video learning platform, The Yachtie Academy (TYA).
Edward Thomas: Founder and Director, Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors
Edward is the founder of Gym Marine — the superyacht industry’s first specialist gym designer. After growing up in Antigua, Edward spent six years as yacht crew before stepping ashore to found Gym Marine in 2014.
Gym Marine has designed and installed gyms on both the worlds’ largest motor and sailing yachts — Dilbar and Black Pearl — and is currently estimated to be working on more than 60 percent of new build yacht projects over 50 meters in Northern Europe.
Edward has also been part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Scheme at Oxford University, where he has developed a strategic growth plan to take Gym Marine to the next level.
Norma Trease: Board Member, The International SeaKeepers Society
Known worldwide for her passion for yachting, Norma Trease began her career as an award-winning charter chef. Moving ashore, she founded Crew Network, eventually selling to Fraser Yachts, which propelled her vibrant international business development career. Norma has enjoyed decades in yacht journalism, as a founding editor of Dockwalk and Crew Report, in addition to writing feature articles for numerous yachting and financial publications. She also serves as a board member of The International SeaKeepers Society and International Superyacht Society.
Erik Petersen: Editor, Dockwalk
As editor, Erik oversees the print publication as well as dockwalk.com and Dockwalk’s growing stable of events and initiatives. That includes the new Crew Creator Awards, which aims to celebrate industry creativity, altruism and entrepreneurialism.
A Fort Lauderdale native, Erik spent a decade editing Fort Lauderdale Magazine. Before that, he worked as a newspaper journalist in the most inland cities in the US and the UK, starting his career at The Kansas City Star before spending more than a decade at the Nottingham Post.
Nominations for the Crew Creator Awards 2025 have now closed and the winners will be announced in April 2025. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the events team.