Jon Fadely
Head of Enterprise Risk & Assurance, Mercy Ships
Jonathan (Jon) Fadely serves at Mercy Ships as Head of Enterprise Risk & Assurance.
Jon holds a B.S. in Marine Sciences from Texas A&M University at Galveston (1982) and an MBA with focus in nonprofit management from Regent University (2021). He maintains a certificate of competency as a Master of ocean-going motor ships of unlimited tonnage in the U.S. Merchant Marine.
Jon is also certified by the U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Malta as a marine safety instructor, and by Lloyds Register as an internal auditor of safety and security management systems.
Jon launched his professional career in 1982 as a ship’s navigation officer on research ships, which was followed by a season ashore with a shipping company in Houston. In 1992, he joined Mercy Ships with his wife Angie and their three children. The Fadelys lived on board the ships for eleven years, traveling to Africa, South and Central America, and Asia. They moved back ashore in 2003 and continued serving with Mercy Ships at the organization’s main office in Lindale, Texas. In 2026 Jon and Angie moved to Bellingham, Washington, where they now work remotely for Mercy Ships and enjoy time with their children and grandchildren exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Sessions
How Creative Mastery Inspires Effective Risk Leadership
In an era of unpredictable disruption, a ‘by the book’ approach to risk management is no longer enough. To navigate today’s complex landscape, nonprofit risk leaders must learn to see around corners, embrace ambiguity, and think outside the spreadsheet. This workshop explores how an artistic mindset and sensibilities can transform your approach to risk leadership. By examining the parallel worlds of creative expression and risk management, attendees will discover how the tools and approaches used by artists can be applied directly to risk management. From mastering ambiguity to sharpening perception and designing creative interventions, this workshop invites creativity in a discipline too often known for rigid rules. Whether you are a new or veteran risk leader, a compliance or finance professional, or an operations executive leading through disruption, this session will challenge you to put down the checklist and pick up the brush or portion of clay to champion a more resilient future for your organization.
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