BAFF's Executive Council

The Executive Council includes both serving and ex-service personnel ranging in present or former rank from JNCO to one-star (Brigadier or equivalent). The Federation welcomes enquiries from members (especially but not limited to junior serving personnel) about serving as an Executive Council member or co-opted 'expert'. BAFF also wishes to increase representation on the Executive Council of RN, RM and RAF. Sometimes individual members take a lead role on specific issues without necessarily serving on the Executive Council.

BAFF is an independent all-ranks professional staff association comprising serving and former members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army, and Royal Air Force, including the reserves. This is reflected in the composition of the Executive Council.

Some members of BAFF's Executive Council* 

Richard Bartle was a British Army officer for 25 years. In his second career as an academic he worked for Cranfield University at the Royal Military College of Science for ten years, before becoming a visiting professor at the University of Western Sydney. He has been campaigning for an armed forces federation for over twelve years and has written and presented papers on this subject around the world. He has co-edited four books on human resource management in the armed forces and is now a freelance lecturer and writer.

Dave Howels served as an JNCO in the Parachute Regiment then went on to assist the late Thomas Reah solicitor in a number of high profile cases for members of the armed forces and their dependants, involving TOS, Manning Control, the Service Redress procedure and pensions. Also assisted on a number of factual news programs on the same issues. Dave is one of BAFF's 'troubleshooters' who is available to assist members with any internal complaints or disputes.

Henrik Kiertzner left the Army in 2000 after 22 years service. He is married, with one grown-up stepson and lives in the South West of England. He works as a consultant for a large international company.

Mark Perryman has served in the Territorial Army as a soldier, and the Royal Air Force and Royal Auxiliary Air Force as an NCO.

Les Preston joined as a Junior Leader, worked his way through the ranks, and retired as a Major. During his infantry service he served in most parts of the world. On leaving the Army he joined a large Local Authority as their contracts manager and was also a director of a national franchise company. Les is currently retired and spends much of his time helping with the management of national charities.

Trudi Stevens served a Short Service Commission with the Royal Signals in the mid-80s. She is divorced with three children and lives in the South West of England. She is a Director of two companies, providing training, consultancy and auditing services in the Leisure and Hospitality sector. Trudi is another BAFF 'troubleshooter'.

Adrian Weale has served in the Regular Army and the TA and currently holds the rank of Major.

Michael Webb has also served in the Regular Army and the TA and currently holds the rank of Major.

Douglas Young was the first Chairman of the British Armed Forces Federation and is currently Executive Chairman. He qualified as a Scottish Solicitor and now works as a self-employed consultant. He joined the Territorial Army at the age of 17 and was commissioned at 21. After service in the First Gulf War, Bosnia and Kosovo he left the TA as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2002. He has served in various charitable and community organisations, including several years as County Secretary for a leading armed forces charity. He is the author of Silence in the Ranks, an analysis of difficulties encountered by members of the British Armed Forces and their families in participating in the 2005 General Election. He is also a member of the EUROMIL delegation to the Council of Europe Working Group on the human rights of members of the armed forces.

The BAFF Constitution allows individuals to be elected to the 15-strong Executive Council without necessarily being identified in the public domain. This makes it easier for serving personnel, especially junior personnel, to contribute to the Federation's work. With growing acceptance of the Federation the trend has been for an increasing proportion of the Executive Council to agree to be named in the public domain, which the majority now are. The Executive Council with co-opted 'experts' also comprises:

A serving Regular Army Major in sub-unit command, who has recently returned from operations.

A serving member of the Royal Naval Reserve.

A Warrant Officer Class 1.

A Staff Sergeant who while serving was active in the 2005 Service Voting campaign, was a founder BAFF member and has recently left the Regular Army.

A former Regular QARANC Sergeant, who is the daughter of a Regular Colour Sergeant. After leaving the Regular Army, she served as a Captain in the QARANC(V). Now a nurse consultant in the NHS, she has worked with service personnel and families as a trained volunteer caseworker, and has kept the home fires burning while her husband has been deployed.

A former Regular officer in the Royal Air Force, who previously served as an Other Rank in the Territorial Army.

A Warrant Officer who recently left the Regular Army.

A Warrant Officer who recently left the Territorial Army. Served in Iraq 2003. Active in the campaign on behalf of former Iraqi local staff who are now in extra danger because of their work for the British Army.

* The BAFF Constitution contains provision for the co-option of 'experts' who may contribute in an advisory role to the deliberations of the Executive Council but have no voting rights.

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