March Glasgow Supper Club with Ian Cumming MBE of Erskine Veterans Charity

Our Supper Clubs are one of our most popular events and last year, every one sold out more than a week in advance of the event.  Due to demand, we added an additional 3 Supper Clubs which also sold out. Places are strictly limited to 14 people with tickets available for members on a first come first served basis.  By keeping these events intimate, we ensure there are plenty of opportunity to ask questions as well as an open forum where all attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the emerging themes from the speaker as well as their own experiences.  Shared experiences are at the heart of WeDO, ‘individually we can be successful, together we can be extraordinary’ and Supper Clubs give us the opportunity to do just that!

This month we’re delighted to be welcoming Ian Cumming MBE, CEO of Erskine Veterans Charity.  Ian will be sharing with us his journey leading from the front in diverse cultures and is well-known for his engaging and fascinating insights.  ABOUT IAN

Wing Commander Ian Cumming MBE served in the Royal Air Force Regiment for 27 years – providing safe homes and support to the deployed British Armed Forces, around the world. He left the military to become Director of Communications & Development for a mental health & social care charity.  He also served as a Director and Trustee of Vale House Oxford – a specialist dementia care home. He joined Erskine having been Deputy Managing Director of a large UK commercial care company.

Ian is a member of the Veterans Scotland Executive Committee and chairs the leads on all Health and Wellbeing provision related matters, to ensure that the Veterans community in Scotland is well informed on how to access care & support appropriate to individual needs. Their agenda includes working together with MOD and the Scottish Government in the field of Health and Wellbeing provision to veterans as well as reviewing Health and Wellbeing provision against Veterans needs – identifying both shortfalls and duplication.  They also lead on lobbying over adequate funding for Health and Wellbeing.

His RAF career spanning just shy of 18 years culminated in his role of Squadron Commander of No 51 Sqn RAF Regiment.  He was entrusted to train, deploy and control his team, held at extremely high readiness for global fly-away tasks. He coordinated the cross-functional activities of 200 security, medical, engineering, logistics & admin staff, during 2 x 6 month security & community protection deployments to Iraq.  

In 2008, he was appointed CEO of the RAF Operational Resilience & Security Centre where he assessed & developed the operational preparedness of all other RAF deployable units and personnel to Cabinet Office / MOD / UN standards. He provided global partnership & capacity building support to NATO & UK Government Counter-Terrorism policy.  He subsequently became Head of RAF Corporate Communication. 

Following on from this, he was appointed as UK Strategic Liaison Officer to Pentagon & White House where he was a trusted interlocutor in Washington DC whilst analysing & managing global security situations at the strategic & operational level. His role entailed protecting and enhancing the “special relationship” up to ministerial / 4 * level within all departments across the US Interagency, as well as offering decision support to UK political leaders in Whitehall. 

“My 27 year military career taught me to lead diverse and multi-skilled teams, in delivery of safe homes and support for deployed personnel and local communities, who found themselves in harm’s way. At Erskine, my multi-skilled colleagues and I deliver safe homes, nursing care & holistic support, for Veterans who’ve encountered other challenges, post-Service.

On a journey through the military, charity & commercial care sectors, I’ve used servant-leadership and an open, collaborative approach to guide, protect and support my colleagues, as we in turn protect and support other potentially vulnerable people.

I’m far from the ex-military stereotype. That said, I am experienced in driving and sustaining strategic change within complex, hi-tempo and safety/reputation critical environments.”

You can follow Ian on Twitter @IanCMBE by clicking HERE.

Click on the logo to find out more about Erskine

MORE ABOUT ERSKINE

With a £28M turnover and 1000 staff & volunteers – Erskine is Scotland’s foremost provider of military Veterans care & community support. Our Veterans Activity Centre, has been described as “life-changing and life-saving” – when tackling isolation and loneliness, amongst the wider Veteran community.   If you would like to make a donation to Erskine, please click HERE.

ABOUT OUR SUPPER CLUBS

Our Member Supper Clubs are participative, relaxing evenings enjoying good conversations, enabling members to get to know one another, hear from inspirational speaker or benefit from round table discussions.

The venue of the Kelvin Dining Room at The Western Club on Royal Exchange Square which is very handy for both Queen Street and Central stations so it’s very accessible for anyone travelling from outwith Glasgow.