‘New CEO for the New Era of the BDA'

Two months ago, I wrote about the new era of the BDA, of the changes, the restructuring that has been taking place over the past year and of the recruitment process to appoint a new CEO to lead the organisation forward.

I am pleased to introduce Simon Wilkinson-Blake as our new CEO, who started in post on 1st July 2008, based at our Coventry office and as advertised previously it will initially be a part-time post until we have recovered our finances further.

The Board resoundingly approved of his appointment, as he has lots of experience in lobbying and campaigning, and importantly his understanding of membership based organisations such as the BDA. This means that he will be able to adapt well to the uniqueness of the Deaf Community's ownership of this organisation, through being a member based organisation rather than just a service provider in a voluntary sector.

The formal press release which went out at the beginning of July only announced the fact of his appointment, and we know that members and friends of the BDA will be looking forward to getting to know more about Simon. We certainly will want to give opportunities for members to meet the new CEO at BDA events, including the Conference at Cardiff this month on 8th/9th August. This is natural for the BDA, being historically important and also a public organisation. Though the Board is appointing Simon mainly for the job of taking the BDA forward from our long financial difficulties, Simon is committed to ensure that the BDA will be of more relevance to the Deaf Community through having more campaigning presence and making greater political impacts.

Simon is aware of the importance of BSL equality for the BDA and our members, and as part of the recruitment process, he produced the best proposal on the complicated issue of Human Fertilisation and Embryology and how the BDA would efficiently use its limited resources.

These are not the only important qualities, but to illustrate our confidence in Simon, the development of campaigning and lobbying are still the long term goal; the more immediate ones are the completion of the restructuring process, which would enable the BDA to become more financially stable and then increase and restore the capabilities and expenditures powers of the organisation.

Simon is the person appointed to the job; he is a person I find very warm, thoughtful and with enough presence and capabilities to do what is needed.

I am looking forward to working with Simon and the timing is indeed right as I step back to the role purely of Chair of the BDA, due to a new full time management position in my home town, and I am happy with the new CEO at the helm.

Simon made it clear that Deaf people own the BDA, and the Board of trustees, being elected representatives of BDA members; they are the ones who will have the role to approve new strategies and for new budgets. I ask that all members of the BDA give a very warm welcome to Simon and he will do his utmost best for the BDA.

Simon was not appointed for his signing skills but he has certainly given a lot of enthusiasm at the challenges of acquiring a new language and to understand more of our values, culture and the strong Deaf community.

There will be more information on Simon, on his thoughts and on who he is in the future issues of BDN. The Board will be delighted to introduce him to everyone at large BDA events where he is to be in attendance.
The new chapter in the new era is now open, and we need to keep up the good work undertaken so far.