I put my name forward for election as a national candidate to the Member Services Advisory Board of the BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photography) a few months ago as I was inspired by the changes which were taking place within the organisation and by the vision of the CEO and his team for it's future. I wanted to be a part of that and to help make a difference. I didn't really think I would be elected as nobody would know me but I wrote a short manifesto, which was published in the Photographer magazine along with a few others and also sent to members via eNews and I am delighted to say that at the AGM, it was announced that I was amongst those who had been elected.

Fantastic - thank you to everyone who voted for me, I am absolutely thrilled and assure you I will do my best to ensure that I fulfill my duties and represent the views of the membership to the best of my ability. BIPP members - please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns or issues you would like to be raised at national level.

At the first meeting of the MSAB our first task was to elect the Board of Directors (BoD) for the Institute. Only one of the previous directors, Gary Hynes, stepped down so it looked like the existing board would simply be re-elected. In order to force a vote, I put myself forward and then so did Mike Gibbon so at least each of the directors would have to be voted onto the board. Each candidate had a minute to give a short 'elevator presentation' outlining their ideas and priorities for the BIPP plus their individual areas of expertise or interests before votes were cast.

To say I was surprised is an understatement - I was absolutely amazed to be elected as a Director of the Institute. I had never seriously expected anyone would vote for me, I was just simply trying to force a vote so that the existing board were not just re-elected by default. Having been made a member of the Board of Directors however, I am extremely proud and will do my best to serve the Institute and its members. Mike Gibbon was also elected so we are the two newbies on the board along with the other re-elected directors Alan Stone FBIPP, Russell Baston ABIPP and Malcolm Sales FBIPP.