I have been a Police Superintendent and a senior executive with the British Red Cross. Typically, throughout my career, I would be assigned those “special” projects where resources were not the primary consideration and failure was not an option. My teams were usually hand picked and would do whatever it took to ensure a successful outcome.

My educational background, pertinent to this role, is a BA (Hons) in “Political Theory and Institutions” plus studies to Masters level in development politics.

My work in both the UK and abroad has given me an extensive background in successfully working in multi agency, multi cultural and multi lingual environments at both a grass roots and senior level. In addition, my career has allowed me to develop planning skills in handling not only pre planned major incidents and events but also in managing the chaos of the unexpected disaster or unplanned major incident scenario. I am someone who can think on his feet and have been commended in the past for my leadership skills.

I have had considerable experience of local capacity building and demonstrated the ability to link that into the wider policy process whilst remaining sensitive to sustainability and local ownership.

Between 1992 and 1996 I spent the majority of my time working in South Africa. In the first instance as an EU Peace Monitor under UN Security Council Resolution 772 (1992). This necessitated working with other international missions including the UN, The Commonwealth and The O.A.U. Following my first mission I was seconded as an Independent Observer of, and advisor to, the internationally renowned “Goldstone Commission”- working directly to Judge Richard Goldstone. Latterly, I ran my own consultancy dealing with training issues in respect of conflict resolution and structural change and, as such, was attached as a Consultant and Expert Police Advisor to “The Centre for Conflict Resolution” at The University of Cape Town.

Both my previous careers and my recent post as Director of a Red Cross Branch have given me extensive general management, budgetary and programme management skills. I have also demonstrated throughout my career well-developed verbal and written skills.

In my position as a senior police officer both in this country and in South Africa I represented my organisation and my country to the most senior diplomatic and governmental levels. The then Minister of State, Baroness Chalker, personally thanked me, on two occasions, for the way in which I had represented the UK and I was likewise thanked by Judge Richard Goldstone.

Although I do not speak another European language with any degree of fluency I have always managed to communicate successfully in my extensive travels abroad. I would, if necessary, be prepared to undertake a language course.

During my periods in and connected with South Africa I have developed a reasonably in depth understanding of South African politics and its fulcral relationship to the politics and economy of the region as a whole. This interest and area of study I have maintained via various means since returning to the UK. I also developed social, academic, political and professional networks throughout the region.

My previous overseas experience was as a police Inspector for a period of four years with The Royal Hong Kong Police. My period in Hong Kong coincided with the knock - on effects of the Cultural Revolution in China and, for more than nine months, gave me experience of working in a conflict situation. During my first two spells in South Africa my colleagues and I frequently faced armed and unarmed conflict situations, which we were often called upon to defuse.

Finally, I believe myself to be physically fit and able to travel at short notice to anywhere in the world. I am flexible regarding my working conditions and fully prepared to visit conflict zones. I have undertaken a Red Cross overseas delegates course and also qualified in First Aid for Overseas delegates.

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