What are your goals and ambitions?
To keep learning! Every day is a school day and I enjoy testing myself, meeting people and developing new skills.
Why did you get involved with DRiNKLiNK?
I am in a position where I have the time to put something back into the local community and after hearing more about the charity and what it is trying to achieve decided to offer my support. We have a great team committed to a very worthy cause and I am proud and humble to be able to contribute.
What was your path to DRiNKLiNK?
I came across DRiNKLiNK through the Institute of Directors. I was working towards chartered status at the time and thought this was a perfect opportunity for me to put some of my new skills to the test. I have held Board positions in a number of organisations and I enjoy having the opportunity to pass on some objective insight into not only maintaining good governance but making the most of our finite resources. During my early career at sea I saw at first hand the damage alcohol can cause to individuals and their loved ones, so the aims of the charity resonate strongly.
What are you currently working on?
We are working towards achieving the Volunteer Friendly Award. I am delighted to lead the effort and enjoying working with some of Aberdeen’s finest QHSE and HR professionals to make sure our volunteers are supported at every turn. The scheme is a road map to creating a foundation which ensures compliance with legislation and implementing best practice support and care for our volunteers. The project has allowed me to work with some great organisations such as ACVO. From experience, we know that when we go to the community to ask for support that they rally round – quite quickly. To achieve the Volunteer Friendly Award is a clear signal to us that we are ready to scale up and will give us the best chance of success in providing the help and support to those that need it most.
What are you most passionate about?
My family – I have been incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive wife and children, which I appreciate and which makes me even more determined to help those less fortunate. It has been great to have a new challenge now that the kids have left the nest and almost off the payroll.
Where is your favourite place to live and visit?
I started my career as a seagoing marine engineer and latterly have worked in the oil and gas industry for over 25 years. Work has taken me all over the world and I have spent time in West Africa, North America, SE Asia and all across Europe –usually in some pretty unglamorous and stressful locations.
I currently work for Bibby Offshore and have recently returned from a stint in Houston Texas where I was the Managing Director of our US business. It was hard work but I really enjoyed the experience and will definitely go back at some point. However, for the time being I am trying to avoid airports and home is definitely best.
What’s on your bucket list for 2018:
Gaining Chartered Director status was a fair bit of work through 2017 and I’m looking forward to putting the books away for a while, spending time with the family and trying to fit in some quality time away.
Seeing DRiNKLiNK grow – from getting the Volunteer Friendly Award through to recruiting enthusiastic and talented volunteers to raising funds so that we can provide real help to those that need it.
What’s your fave quote?
I don’t know if it was ever a quote, but we need to keep reminding ourselves that this life isn’t a dress rehearsal – we get one shot at making it as good as it can be – I don’t want to have any regrets about what I did or didn’t do.
