My role is to manage and support the County to ensure it runs effectively and that Scouting within the County develops in accordance with POR. I also ensure that our Districts and Groups provide good quality Scouting for young people and proactively support and manage the adults who deliver it.

I have been involved in Scouting all my life having been a Cub Scout at 11th Edgware and Scout and Venture Scout at 16th Edgware. I have been a Leader in the Scout Section since I turned 18 and enjoyed that role for over 30 years. During that time I also spent 3 years as ADC Scouts in Stanmore District in GLMW and 3 years working as a National Volunteer in the Faith & Belief Support Team supporting the development of Interfaith projects and resources (I developed and delivered the Faith Walk at Gilwell Park) In September 2018 I set my sights on a new challenge and accepted the role of County Commissioner, which I have been enjoying to this very day.

I started Scouting as a Cub Scout, eventually becoming a Venture Scout in Wood Green and part of the Huskies Unit who met at Scout Park where we supported ongoing Scout Park conservation work, this period in my youth gave me the confidence and life skills to do anything. After taking a break from Scouting, I got involved again when my son started at our local Scout Group in Southgate. From there I continued to become District Commissioner for Southgate and since 2006 I have been in my current role as ACC 14-25s.

In my role as ACC 14-25 year olds, I provide support to Network member across the County and also support our County Explorer Leader.

As part of this role I support DESCs’ planning to ensure that there is a link between Scout Troops where there are 13-14 year olds to enable young people to have a smooth transition into Explorer Scouting;

I support the 14-25 age range to achieve their potential by supporting them to achieve their top awards, i.e. QSA, DofE, Explorer Belt, Scouts of the World Award and ensuring that the 14-25 age range has access to adventure, e.g. Southern 50 Challenge Hike.

I’m on the County team to support District Explorer Scout Commissioners, Explorer Leaders and most important of all, Explorer scouts across Greater London North.

I head up the County Communication team, who look after the website, social media, our North Circular newsletter and manage our Google environment.

I have been in Scouting for a very long time (I started as a Wolf Cub!) and have had many roles – currently I am Chair of North London Scout District and also Team Leader of the Scout Content National Media volunteer team, creating content for national and regional events.

My background is 40 years in IT, from programming to Enterprise Architecture and Digital Strategy.

I’m old enough to have been a Wolf Cub and a Boy Scout. I’m probably what is referred to as a career volunteer for although my dad had to drag me to my first Pack meeting and I really did not enjoy my first boy scout camp at Gilwell, something about Scouting has managed to keep me keen and committed for almost 60 years. For most of this time I’ve been connected with Southgate District and was part of the County Training team in the 80s and 90s. More recently I’ve worked at Gilwell in the Programme team – and for the past decade I’ve been a development officer in the South of England, focusing on management inductions and opening new provision. I’m currently GSL at 22nd Southgate but as I retire from the world of work in April, I readily agreed to take on the CTM role.

You’ll find much on this website about Adult Training and Support. The Movement’s plan of action, to deliver the Skills for Life initiative over the next five years, calls for more, well trained, better supported and motivated adult volunteers, so we need to start transforming the way we recruit and simplifying and enhancing the training we provide. I’m sure it will keep me busy.