This month former BMC Non Executive Director Fiona Sanders was presented with gifts to show our deep appreciation of her four years of commitment, passion and drive as a member of the Board. Fiona commenced her role on the BMC Board in March 2019 and resigned the post in October 2023. She has now taken up the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Mountain Training Trust, the charitable trust responsible for running the National Mountain Centre, Plas-y-Brenin, in Capel Curig, North Wales.

Fiona is a traditional and sport climber and mountaineer. She has been President of the Climbers’ Club (2010-2013) and chaired the BMC Clubs committee. She combines her passion for the outdoors with experience gained in her professional career in leadership developments, performance management and executive coaching. Fiona was one of the recipients of the George Band Award in 2019 which recognises people who have played a significant role in the BMC’s work over an extended period of time. She was also very active in the BMC Lakes area committee and played a key role as a rep on their Board - Council Nominated Director.

In her role at the BMC, Fiona took the lead on sector leadership, partnerships and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. She instigated the Partners Assembly which facilitated strategic alignment with our linked organisations, charities and companies and oversaw the biggest sector survey in diversity to date. Fiona was also a council member on behalf of the BMC for MTUKI (Mountain Training UK & Ireland), sat on the EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) committee, was a member of ORG (Organisational Review Group) and chaired the ODG (Organisational Development Group).

Partnerships Manager Cressida Allwood said, “It was fitting for Fiona to receive her leaving gifts during the Partner Assembly meeting because she was the one to instigate these. During her time on the Board, Fiona worked tirelessly, ensuring the BMC was at the heart of effective, strategic alignment in the sector and her ongoing work is hugely valued. 

 “Fiona and I are an effective team and I’m delighted that she has opted to remain working with the Partner Assembly group by chairing these four meetings each year.”

BMC president Andy Syme says, “Fiona's experience and knowledge of our community and activities were a key asset to the Board and her considered inputs were both valuable to her fellow Directors and greatly appreciated by myself.  While she will be greatly missed on the Board, her move to chair MTT (Mountain Training Trust) will be a boon for them and benefit our members for years to come.”

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