Sad passing of Thomas Liebert

It is with heartfelt sadness that the Director must announce the sad passing of long-serving staff member Thomas Liebert.

Thomas had been battling cancer since late 2021 and after initially responding well to surgery and ongoing treatment, actively returned to work until September 2024, when his condition sadly deteriorated. He passed away peacefully at the Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, with his family at his side.

Thomas joined the IOPC Funds as the Head of External Relations and Conference Department in September 2010, managing the delivery of over 25 meetings of the IOPC Funds’ governing bodies during that period, overseeing communications with Member States and observer organisations, conference planning, document production, translation and interpretation.  A strong communicator in all three of the Funds’ official languages, he regularly represented the Funds at conferences and events worldwide and was deeply committed to the work of the organisation and the oil spill community, having previously worked at both IMO and OSRL.  He continued to show his dedication to the marine environment when in 2021 he achieved a Master’s Degree in Environmental law.

He was particularly passionate about the promotion of the 2010 HNS Convention and worked tirelessly to encourage further States to ratify the 2010 HNS Protocol throughout his time at the Funds.  In his last two years he transitioned to focusing entirely on the task of preparing for the entry into force of the Convention in a new role as HNS Project Officer.

Thomas was well known and respected amongst the Funds’ Member State representatives and the wider maritime community. He will be sorely missed by all, in particular his close colleagues at the Secretariat, where he will be fondly remembered for many things, not least his dedication to his work, his sociable and fun-loving manner, his love of all things orange and his exquisite tarte-tatin.

Our thoughts are with his family at this extremely difficult time. Those wishing to send messages of condolence and support, please note, time will be set aside during the April 2025 sessions of the governing bodies to pay respects and remember Thomas. A book of condolences will also be open for signature at that time.