I am 42 years old, and live in the village of Sonning, Berkshire with wife Wahida, and our son and daughter.

I am a chartered surveyor specialising in commercial property, and a shareholder and company director of the firm I have worked for over 16 years.

My mother’s side of the family are Gloucestershire farmers of many generations, and I grew up rough shooting on the farm, which remains in the family to this day. Apart from my family and my work, my other passions are shooting, fitness, rugby and skiing.

The opportunity to put myself forward as a candidate to join the BASC Council is one that I could not resist. I am incredibly passionate about the UK countryside and shooting. To be able to apply the skills and experience I have gained so far in my professional career as part of a team of people working to conserve the UK countryside, and to advance the cause and contribution of rural pastimes and pursuits such as shooting, is something that I would relish. It is important, even vital work, and I believe I would bring a blend of experience, significant drive but also open-mindedness and a willingness to learn that would help to achieve the vision, mission and strategic outcomes of the BASC Council and of the entire membership body.

I am a person very comfortable operating in a team of clear-minded, capable and driven companions who have high expectations of one another. I consider myself extremely driven and I have spent all of my life working in, and being part of, teams who have the concept of high performance at their core.

Being valued in such teams over extended periods of time, and making specific, meaningful differences to them, is something that I work hard at and take pride in. I believe it means being clear about one’s role and remit, one’s strengths and weaknesses – and about the specific strengths and weaknesses of everyone else in the team. Thereafter, key attributes such as integrity, humility and energy are critical to achieving the goals of any team.

I am generally regarded as being quite highly numerate and adept at the role of finance, strategic planning, and governance in the organisation. I lead our business in each of these areas, having been placed in this role jointly by the board of directors and shareholders.

I can think of few things more engaging or important than the work and causes the BASC Council is engaged in, and to play even a small part in the necessary alchemy of skills and endeavour needed to leave the countryside and pursuits such as shooting in a better position than they are today would be a thrilling opportunity for me.