My operational expertise was honed in the military, serving on operational tours in the Falkland Islands, on UN peace-keeping duties in Bosnia and in Sierra Leone. I also served throughout Africa, Australia, Cyprus and Germany. This translated into senior leadership and management positions in the RAF; Assistant Chief of Staff Training and Head of Ministry of Defence Personnel Strategy and Programmes. In 2009 I was promoted to Air-Vice Marshal and appointed Defence Services Secretary and Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel).
Outside of the military, I have led primary and secondary healthcare and statutory social services delivery organisations in 14 countries, supporting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals. I also led diverse delivery of direct services including addiction, relationship breakdown, debt, homelessness, post-traumatic stress, depression and disability.