British APCO Welcomes Five New Trustees
29th Feb 2024
British APCO warmly welcomes five new trustees onto our Board - Rhiannon Beeson, Jeremy Habberley, Teressa Latimer, Matt Leat, and Tracy Pemberton – following our recent Trustee Recruitment initiative.
This is an exciting time for the Association and having Trustees who can bring new ideas and views will help us to continue developing and growing British APCO. Chris Lucas, British APCO Chair put the new appointments in perspective in commenting that,
“Our strategic plans are ambitious, ensuring that our impact across Public Safety IT & Communications continues moving forward. These appointments further strengthen our governance and help to ensure that British APCO is best meeting our charitable aims.”
Chris added, “As a Board we were heartened by both the quality and volume of applications and would like to thank all whom made the time and effort to apply.”
Rhiannon brings 20 years of experience in Marketing and Events, invaluable in helping with the growth of the Association. With a passion for the technology and immense admiration for the individuals within Critical Control Rooms - as well as experience as the Chair of the Humber Voluntary Board and as a Trustee at Sailor’s Children’s Society - Rhiannon is keen to bring her skills and experience in the sector to help British APCO develop.
Jeremy has also been involved with technology and public safety for over 20 years. Throughout this time, he has seen British APCO perform the vital role of bringing together end users and suppliers ensuring there is an independent voice and forum where stakeholders have access to the right information and guidance. As the challenges for blue light organisations grow year on year - Jeremy sees the role of British APCO becoming even more relevant and important. Becoming a Trustee allows him to be part of the challenge to make sure emergency responders get access to and the full benefits of the latest solutions to enable them to carry out their vital work, safely and efficiently.
Until September 2023 Teressa was Head of Business Relationship Management at Airwave where she managed the customer relationship with all Emergency Service and Public Safety Organisations that use the Airwave Radio Service, and their respective stakeholders. Her working life started as a BT telephone operator handling 999 emergency calls from members of the public at times of personal crisis. Her 22 years with Airwave ensuring that the mission critical radio service is available to respond to those 999 calls, as well as planning and building requirements for a multitude of major special events, has cemented her appreciation of the importance of secure mission critical communications to user organisations and the communities they serve. A keen supporter of British APCO for many years, and as she is not ready for full retirement just yet, Teressa looks forward to bringing her experience, commitment, and energy to the team and wider British APCO community.
Matt is an Assistant Chief Coastguard and has worked and volunteered in the public safety sector for over 22 years holding operational, tactical, and strategic command positions. His knowledge of operational requirements critical to the UK meeting its international obligations under the Safety Of Life At Sea convention is second to none. Matt has supported the British APCO leadership for several years through the Executive Committee/Advisory Group and he’s very much looking to continue to provide a voice for Search and Rescue services in line with other blue light services, as well as advocating the work of British APCO across public safety organisations within the UK and Ireland.
Tracy retired as Senior Officer in Hertfordshire Constabulary in 2023 where she worked predominantly in Serious and Organised Crime throughout her career. She ended her career working across the seven forces in the eastern region where she established a successful track record of leading and delivering highly complex, strategic change programmes, effectively managing risk to drive business transformation and digital innovation. Tracy has now embarked on a new career within the Police Digital Services (PDS) where she has responsibility for the Digital Landscape Reform Programme which is overseeing the delivery of transition, control, and ownership of National Police IT Systems to the sector where PDS are the agreed delivery partner for Policing.
Current Board members – Chris Lucas, John Anthony, Becca Jones and Darryl Keen - are very much looking forward to working with our new members and to formally introducing them to the British APCO community at the Annual Event in Coventry.