I’m a wildfowler and pigeon shooter from the South East. I grew up beating on a pheasant shoot and using my father’s airgun. I’ve always been passionate about shooting and conservation, and I believe I possess the experience and skills required to become a council member.

In my professional life, I’m a senior academic leading teams across England delivering educational programmes. I have strategic accountability within this role and have developed my skills within governance and quality assurance, risk management, policy-making, partner relations, staffing and finance. I’m also a paramedic, an external examiner, and a school governor. These roles have shaped me into a well-rounded person who is able to demonstrate the skills and qualities needed to be a council member.

As a senior academic, I work alongside other senior leaders to set our departmental strategic objectives. Not only do I lead teams to deliver these, but I hold myself and others accountable in doing so, demonstrating high levels of professionalism and integrity. I work alongside colleagues to set our departmental budget and I’m accountable for my own budget of circa £4m which I position effectively so my teams can deliver upon our priorities. I work with various stakeholders to execute our strategy effectively while adhering to key policies and legislation. Most recently I’ve supported a review of our governance structure ensuring it’s robust and fit for purpose. I regularly engage with governance processes, providing clear challenges and support to ensure quality and mitigate risk. Similarly, as an external examiner and school governor I work closely with education institutes, quality-assuring their processes and output through a policy, regulatory and legislative lens, providing challenge and support while exerting my judgement. In addition, as a paramedic and now a senior leader, I can make tough, complex decisions in sometimes resource-limiting environments, often under significant pressure. Likewise, as an academic and active researcher, I can critically explore literature to be able to make evidenced informed decisions that shape the direction of our department and my teams.

My experiences and skills will allow me to operate effectively as a council member to contribute to BASC achieving its vision, mission and strategic outcomes. I’m excited to represent members’ voices, ensuring BASC practices are ethical and add real value to our community. I’m passionate about sustainable shooting and conservation, and importantly, I role model these practices when engaging in my chosen field sports. I’m keen to ensure BASC is a leading voice here. I’m acutely aware of the vital impact shooting and conservation have within the UK, from health and wellbeing to economic benefits, and I’m driven to promote and protect it, advocating the interests of BASC members. Never has there been a time when the shooting community needed an organisation like BASC to spearhead a united front to the multifaceted threats our sport faces and to lead us into the future. I hope I can support the delivery of this as a council member.