Alasdair Babber Shah
Alasdair Babber Shah has a keen interest in conservation, fostered by going on safaris from a young age. He went on his first safari with his family at just nine weeks old. Alasdair recently adopted a male baby elephant named Pardamat via the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust after reading his tragic story. The trust operates the world’s most successful orphan elephant rescue and rehabilitation programme, has raised 320 orphans to date and has attended over 11,000 veterinary cases. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust embraces all measures possible to preserve and protect wildlife, including safeguarding the natural environment, preventing poaching and enhancing community awareness.
Education and Career
Alasdair grew up in Uganda and attended Pembroke House School in Kenya, subsequently attending Culford School in Suffolk, UK. During his time studying at the former he climbed Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain, and represented his school in field hockey.
Currently pursuing a career in the yachting and maritime industry, Alasdair Shah has experience working as a deckhand, gained through his time working at Boomshaka Lagos in Portugal in 2023. In this role, he was responsible for assisting with the preparation of the boat, including the loading of supplies, setting up of DJ booths, managing the onboard bar, dealing with client relations, and promoting and selling party cruise tickets. Alasdair’s ability to work quickly and calmly and stay focused under pressure, as well as his interpersonal skills in handling difficult clients, stood him in good stead during his time at sea.
Alasdair has several maritime certifications and qualifications, including the AEC 1, awarded by Allabroad Maritime Academy, which covers the basics of how a diesel engine works, engine maintenance, and how to diagnose and troubleshoot diesel engine problems. He also holds the RYA Dayskipper license, which ensures competency in a range of skills including pilotage, deck work, handling emergency situations, VHF radio handling, night cruising, preparation for sea, passage planning, yacht handling under sail and crew management.
Hobbies and Interests
As well as traveling, Alasdair enjoys many diverse hobbies and interests including photography, drumming and scuba diving – he holds a PADI Open Water Diver certificate, issued in 2017. The latter denotes that he is a competent and skilled diver, able to assemble and use scuba gear, manage buoyancy, handle common problems and respectfully approach marine life.
Alasdair enjoys listening to music; his favourite band is the Red Hot Chili Peppers and his favourite musician is the band’s drummer, Chad Smith. He likes to relax by watching Formula One racing, tennis, professional surfing and football, and he is a long-time supporter of Arsenal FC.
