As part of our 30 Under 30 initiative, we’re celebrating the next generation of leaders shaping the future of the maritime industry. Next up is Max Downton, Sustainability Manager at Navigator Gas, and a standout emerging talent driving practical, data-led change in maritime sustainability.

Max is helping redefine how sustainability is delivered in a commercial shipping environment. In his role, he acts as a central coordinator for sustainability data, reporting, and decarbonisation, working across technical, commercial, and corporate teams to ensure that sustainability is not just a reporting exercise, but a core part of how decisions are made.

Over the past 12 months, Max has played a key role in transforming Navigator’s approach from narrative-led reporting to a more structured, data-driven model. He has helped establish full Scope 1–3 emissions reporting and strengthened ESG data governance, ensuring disclosures are not only more comprehensive, but genuinely useful in guiding business strategy. Alongside this, he has developed analytical tools, including marginal abatement cost models, to identify practical and cost-effective decarbonisation opportunities across the fleet.

One of his most notable contributions has been the development of a fleet decarbonisation model, built from scratch using emerging AI tools. The model assesses long-term scenarios across fleet renewal, fuel choices, and regulatory frameworks, helping the business understand both the financial and operational implications of decarbonisation through to 2050. This work has provided valuable insight into future investment decisions and strengthened the company’s ability to set credible, achievable targets.

What sets Max apart is not just his technical capability, but his approach. He is focused on making sustainability practical, measurable, and aligned with sound business principles. By bridging the gap between data, regulation, and real-world operations, he has helped embed sustainability into day-to-day decision-making across the organisation.

Balancing the demands of his role alongside completing his master’s, and stepping into increased responsibility during a period of organisational change, Max has demonstrated resilience, initiative, and a strong ability to adapt. In a complex and evolving area of the industry, he stands out as someone not only progressing quickly, but actively shaping how maritime approaches sustainability in a meaningful and commercially viable way.

Take a look at our full 30 here.