The BMC is pleased to announce the appointment of Roger Murray as the new chair of the Board of Directors.

Roger brings to the BMC a diverse and high-level portfolio that will undoubtedly help him support and strengthen the BMC. Not only does Roger have experience of senior-level leadership and management from his time at BP plc, he also benefits from his portfolio career over the last five years, which includes: a three-year term as a Governor and Trustee to Heriot Watt University Court (Equivalent to a Non-Executive Director position on the Board of a private company), being a member of the University Audit and Risk Committee, working as a volunteer within the BMC as an independent member on ODG, chairing the Review of the Specialist Committees and Working Groups, and in 2019 advising the Board on the shaping of the 2020 – 2025 strategy.

After graduating in Geology at Durham University followed by Petroleum Engineering at Heriot Watt University, Roger started his professional career by joining BP where he practiced Reservoir and Petroleum Engineering in the UK and overseas. Over 10 years, Roger gained training and experience in senior leadership whilst developing the North Sea Magnus and Bruce Fields. The leadership teams were accountable for the fields as a whole – the overall strategy, offshore operation, future development, performance and people management. The Joint Venture on the Bruce Field comprised five nationalities with different cultures which proved constructive and challenging, especially at major decisions.

His final role at BP was Technical Director during which he led BP’s $500 million Subsurface Change Programme from concept through to successful delivery of new work processes, clear expectations and associated hardware, data and software toolkits that are used today by BP’s Subsurface professionals in 15 countries.

Roger’s love for the outdoors blossomed from an early age, as his father introduced him to hill walking over 50 years ago and his school encouraged and coached him in hill walking, scrambling and rock climbing.  At university he joined the mountaineering club, where he was secretary, and it was during these years that he was introduced to winter climbing. His work took him to Scotland and his mountaineering career developed with visits to the Alps and development of his real passion today – ski mountaineering. This passion has taken him all over the world. Throughout his life mountaineering has kept him sane at great times of stress and he has developed strong friendships as a result of his time in the mountains.

What is the Chair of the BMC Board?

The Chair provides leadership to the Board and guidance, support and mentorship to the CEO. The Chair is the business head for the organisation and is key to setting the tone and culture as well as ensuring delivery against the vision and strategic direction. The Chair is pivotal to creating the conditions for overall Board and Director effectiveness. The Chair is ultimately responsible for ensuring the Board has the right composition, skills, knowledge and understanding, and most importantly works as an effective team to fulfil its duties.  

The role has numerous responsibilities, including:

• Monitoring and evaluating the BMC’s overall performance against agreed measures and undertaking regular evaluations of Board performance together with acting on the results of performance evaluations to promote improvements across the organisation.

• Managing board meetings to ensure sufficient time for discussion of complex issues. In conjunction with the CEO setting the agenda for meetings. Agendas should take full account of the issues and the concerns of all Directors and should be forward looking and concentrate on strategic matters.

• Facilitating change and addressing any areas of conflict within the Board and the organisation, liaising with the CEO and others to achieve this.

• Building consensus with the Members’ Council, President, key stakeholders and across the wider membership to ensure the smooth running of the BMC and to work with the Members’ Council to develop strategic aim, providing vision and leadership within a framework of policy, financial and risk controls.

We want to say a big thanks to every BMC member who continues to support us through the Coronavirus crisis.

From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we couldn’t do it without you.

Did you know that we've launched a U27 membership offer for just £1.50 / month? And with full membership from £2.50 / month, it's never been easier to join and support our work: 

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/join-the-bmc-for-1-month-U27-membership

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