Fiona Sanders

Since my appointment in September last year, I have supported the CEO in bringing about financial stability and helped raise the profile with strategic partnerships in the sector to prepare the organisation for growth.  I have also focused the Board on developing strategic intent, alongside good governance practise, reinstating committee structures and recruiting new trustees against a new skills matrix.

My concurrent roles comprise BMC – national governing body – Chair of the Partners Assembly which aims to enable membership and representative bodies to achieve more by acting together than they could achieve on their own. Outcomes include Your movement matters survey, agreement on safeguarding recording and the supporting of the mountain safety forum and Adventure Smart.  Also, Friends of the Lakes- membership organisation that works to protect and enhance the landscapes of Cumbria. Trustee –sitting on the strategic review group and finance committee.

My business/work experience has always been in developing strategic intent, change management with associated leadership development and executive coaching. This began at the National Grid when it was privatised and led me into running my own company, and in more recent years to senior volunteer roles.  My personal expertise was as a transformational organisational development consultant for over 20 years working with both profit and not for profit organisations to help them develop and implement strategies for making step changes in their organisations, dealing with difficult situations or creating new ways of delivering. Having been an employer/manager I understand the dynamics of human resource management, which is supported by a Degree in Business Studies and a Masters in HRM.

I’ve supported organisations such as: Lake District National Park, O2, Ventura, Basildon District Council, Gravesham Borough Council, Newsquest International, Cable & Wireless, Ministry of Defence, Emergency Planning College, Scottish Executive, Honeywell & Orange. I have also been a strong contributor as a consultant for the CIPD & Ashridge.

Since my retirement I have supported the outdoor sector through my work at the BMC which led me to obtain the George Band award for volunteer contribution to mountaineering.  My most recent role was Director oversight for delivering the organisational review recommendations, EDI and chairing the partners assembly.

My passion for the outdoors started at a young age when I sailed with my parents, then moved on to caving, undertaking many tricky pot holes in the UK and going on explorative trips, including the then Yugoslavia and bottoming some of France’s deepest pot holes e.g. Gouffre Bourger.

I have been a traditional rock climber for over 25 years, starting much of my climbing in North Wales, many of my climbing partners having been instructors with PyB or more widely in the sector. I am a member of both the Pinnacle Club and The Climbers’ Club. Over the years, I have undertaken extended trips to the USA and Europe.  I have also had a number of seasons in the Alps and progressed to climbing/scrambling higher mountains.  These experiences taught me two things, it’s tricky to be successful when you are a part of a minority (I was the second only President of the Climbers Club) and training and mentoring is critical to survival and advancement (my club membership provided me with much support).

My work experience showed that bringing out and developing communication; leadership and self-reliance qualities in people, teams and organisations, along with helping plan and implement strategies that actively help achieve organisational goals, can make a marked difference in what can be achieved.

Our national outdoor centre has been part of my community and its outcomes have enabled so many to deliver for the sector and as it is recognised as the go to place for excellence in outdoor development and assessment.   I want to ensure that the centre remains a national asset for anyone wanting to get outdoors.