Advocating for the Armed Forces all year round  

Earlier this year I was thrilled to be awarded ‘highly commended’ for Advocate of the Year at the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards.  Driving advocacy in this space is a passion of mine both professionally and at a personal level - strengthening the connections between businesses like Sodexo UK and Ireland and the Armed Forces is crucial to helping the military community thrive in civilian careers.

Engaging with the military community

My connection to the Armed Forces runs deep – my grandad was a civil engineer who worked with the military and my uncle served in the RAF. It’s where I’ve built my career, having been immersed in the world of defence for more than 15 years, starting with HR leadership roles on military bases and now in my role as HR Director for Sodexo UK and Ireland's Government and Energy & Resources business.

I spent four years supporting the UK’s five military bases in Cyprus and have gained a huge respect for the Armed Forces as individuals and the military as a whole. To dedicate yourself to serving your country is a phenomenal thing.

Working inside the wire, you see the life first hand, and quickly become part of it; you come to understand the roles that parents, spouses and children all play in creating military communities.

You come to understand the roles that parents, spouses and children all play in creating military communities.