Education and entrepreneurship have been celebrated in an event hosted by the Chief Executive and Commandant of the Defence Academy, Major General Peter Rowell.
In partnership with livery companies the Worshipful Company of Educators and the Company of Entrepreneurs, three members of personnel have been recognised for outstanding work in their respective fields.
The Worshipful Company of Educators’ Award for Best Educator 2023, was presented to Squadron Leader Mike Kelman, Intermediate Officer Development (IOD) Course Manager, RAF Division.
Sqn Ldr Kelman was recognised as being “committed to developing and delivering the best education opportunities across the RAF Division IOD Programme”.
As a course manager for the IOD 3 course (pre-requisite for promotion to Squadron Leader), Sqn Ldr Kelman re-shaped the course to maximise the RAF Senior Leadership team intent, introducing breadth and depth around wider political and military strategic challenges. He also proactively engaged with external stakeholders and academic providers to contribute towards new critical space and cyber learning.
Sqn Ldr Kelman said:
Speaking at the ceremony, Master Educator Catherine McGuinness, of the Worshipful Company of Educators said:
Last month Jacqueline Seviour of the Defence Leadership and Business Group (DLaB) was presented with a highly commended award from the Worshipful Company of Educators by Deputy Commandant, Commodore Matt Solly. Miss Seviour’s commendation cited her as an “inspirational educator, and highly innovative learning designer who has conceived, designed and delivered a range of hugely successful courses.”
Jacqueline draws extensively from her own experience with dyslexia to ensure learning opportunities are fully open to those who are neurodiverse. She has recently designed, developed, and delivered a hugely successful ‘Mentoring in Defence’ course, and during the covid crisis she supported the NHS by designing, developing, and delivering an online ‘Mentoring through Crisis Scheme’, for which she was recognised as making an outstanding contribution.
The event also recognised the achievements of Mr Liam Easton from the Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (WOME) Engineering School’s Light Weapons Wing. Mr Easton was awarded this year’s Best Entrepreneur Award for his “passion, knowledge, and professionalism that has significantly contributed to operations, not just for defence, but with partners across government as well.”
Mr Easton has been instrumental in the testing of the next generation of airside security with the Department for Transport, and Defence Science and Technical Laboratories (Dstl). He has provided valuable contribution to the Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU) which helped facilitate the selection of future Special Forces weapon systems, as revealed at last year’s Defence Security and Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI).
On receiving his award, Mr Easton credited his full team. He said:
Maj Gen Rowell concluded the ceremony by thanking all those attending and supporting the awards, noting the impact that staff at the Defence Academy were making. He said:
The Worshipful Company of Educators is the 109th Livery Company of the City of London. The Company was founded in 2001 as a Guild to represent both the education and training profession, and for charitable purposes. It was given livery status in 2013. It has been a partner of the Defence Academy since 2018.
The Company of Entrepreneurs has been a Defence Academy partner since 2019. It is a membership and charitable organization formed by individuals connected with the City of London who have invested their own time and financial resources in establishing and running successful businesses and enterprises. The Company of Entrepreneurs attained guild status in 2014 with ambitions to become a full livery company.