The Resilience Advisors Network (RAN) is a group of some 150 practitioners, all with a background in emergency and disaster management having extensive hands-on experience of disaster risk reduction in all its phases - prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.From its membership, RAN form specialist, subject-specific teams to support a large and diverse portfolio of projects with a focus on strengthening community, locality or infrastructure resilience from emergencies and disasters. Typical work includes policy development,operational excellence, training / evaluation and practitioner support for researchRAN is truly an international organisation. Advisors come from all over the world but with a higher density in Europe. This enables the network to understand local and specific needs whilst maintaining a current and global perspective.Formed in 2015, RAN operates through companies in the UK and Ireland. It is particularly active in the Middle East and Europe.

I am tasked with the organisational introduction and development of a national programme that seeks to improve community trust and confidence in police services. This initiative has been developed by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council in collaboration with Black communities and partners; resulting in an action plan for all UK policing services. I have set organisation wide direction to deliver timely tasking and compliance on all aspects of this project; influencing significantly to ensure all senior leaders meet nationally mandated requirements.

A member of a senior leadership team, I oversaw the delivery of the operational policing provision and 24-hour response policing across Merseyside. Working in collaboration with local partners, I drove crime reduction, targeted organised criminal networks and delivered effective safeguarding and counter terrorism initiatives ensuring exceptional service and value for money. Responsible for around 800 police officers, I ensured the successful response to diverse organisational demands and consistently delivered effective risk assessment and management.

I oversaw the delivery, resilience and modernisation of a wide range of police training from initial officer and operational skills training through to leadership skills. Achievements of note include:• Directing the refurbishment of the academy, I managed and resolved challenging logistical issues including the selection of suitable sites and resilient consultation with all staff impacted whilst meeting challenging time and budget requirements. With diplomacy and flexibility, I secured a smooth transition to a newly refurbished, future proofed, training school.• In collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University, developing and implementing police degree apprenticeships and degree entry programmes. This was a far ranging and often divisive initiative, managing differing priorities across partners. I ensured accountability across stakeholders; keeping the project on track and on time. Consulting widely, I ensured a coherent plan that successfully placed Merseyside as one of the first UK police organisations to meet the starting requirements for this national project. • I managed serious issues across the training provision generated by the COVID-19 pandemic; reviewing and assessing fast developing and critical information, intelligence and guidance to ensure a resilient response. This required bespoke safe service delivery and the design of strict risk management protocols to continue training in new and untested settings. These demands were exacerbated by a national police uplift programme and its requirement to identify, recruit and train new police officers. I drove the development of online learning packages, agile working, day and late shift and provision of adequate IT to limit numbers on site and support staff. Managing with reduced staffing due to required self-isolating and infections, I facilitated the continued delivery of excellent service during this challenging episode. Merseyside Academy went on to win the Training Team of the Year.

I managed 100 staff across four locations, leading on engagement and governance, directing local and response policing and overseeing coordination and performance. I led effective community engagement, leading on local issues across busy and diverse Merseyside areas; delivering exceptional service and organisational resilience. Driving partnership working, I drove a cohesive approach to community safety and crime prevention. I also served as a tactical firearms commander, managing armed deployments and responding to high threat incidents across Merseyside. I delivered clear, calm and measured reactions, ensured compliance with all legal requirements and delivered accurate risk assessments. My intrusive, yet supportive approach secured the successful resolution of numerous critical events.

I was selected to serve as a strategic policing advisor, within an international security and advisory team. This multi-agency mission sought to support and develop the security infrastructure of Sierra Leone following the devastation of the civil war. I worked closely with policing and internal affairs partners, developing community policing initiatives and secured funding from the United Nations Development Programme to provide critical law, order and stability.My role required dynamic determination to avoid a repetition of previous deaths and grievous injuries; focusing particularly on retraining of security forces in public order management. Securing funding, I petitioned to bring over UK police training staff to deliver training that emphasised duties under the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The programme was well received and secured a significant drop in deaths due to security force action.

Leading community engagement across the organisation, I managed a portfolio of community focused policing, overseeing planning, coordination and performance. I led resilient engagement, meeting exacting organisational demands and providing effective risk assessment and management.

I moved progressively through a range of operational and specialist roles affording me depth andexpertise to progress to senior management and leadership.

I was tasked with the immediate response to critical incidents; delivering a considered and constructive attitude to this diverse, fast time, and demanding role