I am delighted to have joined Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT) and the fantastic team of staff and volunteers. I have been a Devon resident for 20 years and we raised our three children here. They have all fled the nest now (one lives and works in South Korea!) but my passion for our county and community remains as strong as ever.
Words by Greg Allen
I’ve been fortunate to have worked in a wide variety of sectors, across the UK and internationally over the last 30 years or so.
I am motivated by the prospect of leading a much-loved and successful organisation, with great foundations, into the future and discovering things that we don’t yet know are possible, to help us deliver better outcomes for our patients. Service and social impact are at the heart of who I am and what I like doing, and DAAT embodies those values.
Our organisation has a great reputation across our community and beyond Devon. Our county and community mean a great deal to me – this is my home, and I care about the emergency and critical care services and capacity that we have. Three of my friends have had their lives saved by DAAT in recent years and I am forever grateful for that. I knew that if this job came up, I would want to go for it!
At the heart of everything for me, though, are people. I love working with all kinds of different people and helping to lead, guide, and support them to be the best they can be.
As a CEO, you need to maintain a good balance between external and internal focus. I enjoy engaging with people across teams and organisations and my style is to do that through whichever means help increase visibility and impact.
The economic and environmental context is ever-changing and the demand for our services is increasing. There is a need for me, and other leaders at DAAT, to keep abreast of threats and opportunities and to keep building good relationships with potential partners and looking for ways we can collaborate and innovate. Maintaining an adaptable approach is therefore important, whilst staying true to our organisational vision and mission.