Mrs Nadine Wood takes over from Dr Christopher Bushby as Chair of the Suffolk Employer Engagement Group (SEEG) on Wednesday 1st November 2023.
Dr Christopher Bushby has chaired the group for nine years, having joined East Anglia RFCA as an employer representative volunteer member in 2010. With an impressive CV in business and the wider community in Suffolk, he succeeded in raising the profile of the SEEG in the county. Today, Suffolk counts 7 organisations that hold a Gold Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award, and 21 organisations that hold a Silver ERS award, with many more Suffolk companies having signed the Armed Forces Covenant.
Col Anthony Fairbanks-Weston is the Chair of East Anglia RFCA Suffolk Forum. He applauded Dr Chris’s contribution: “A priority for Defence is the retention of its Reserve Forces and effective engagement with employers enhances Defence’s relationships with key stakeholders and is essential for the delivery of Defence People objectives. The SEEG, led by Dr Chris, has delivered Defence’s objective by the bucketful.”
As far back as November 2011, Dr Chris was effecting introductions to local employers, not least the senior management team at BT’s Adastral Park. Dr Chris was Executive Director of the Suffolk Agricultural Association for 30 years, where his influence was pivotal in securing the expansion of the military village at the annual Suffolk Show. He also secured a ringside table at a recent Suffolk Show to enable the SEEG to host the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award holders during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
He has been a frequent and exemplary host at employer engagement events, including at the Gold employer recognition scheme award event as we came out of lockdown, a permanent host of the silver awards. His wise counsel at the Regional Employer Engagement Group has been willingly accepted by employers and units alike.
Dr Chris Bushby was presented with a plaque by the new Chief Executive of East Anglia RFCA, Col Leona Barr-Jones. She said: “Chris, we are indebted to you for your commitment, enthusiasm, professionalism and friendship you have given so unstintingly during the 13 years that you’ve been a volunteer champion on behalf of East Anglia RFCA. On behalf of myself and the previous Chief Executive – thank you.”
The volunteer membership of East Anglia RFCA includes county groups of local employers to deliver employer engagement at the local level. They report into EA RFCA Regional Employer Engagement Group (chaired by Christopher Walkinshaw and includes the Commanding Officers of all Reserve units in the region), and then to the Regional Employer Engagement Board chaired by the 7th Brigade Commander. Their principal aim is to encourage employers to support reservists, veterans, military spouses and cadet force adult volunteers through the Armed Forces Covenant and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
Each RFCA county forum in East Anglia includes 8 to 14 volunteer members in the Employer Engagement Group, collectively supported by 4 RFCA staff members.
Mrs Nadine Wood is a seasoned professional and Operations Manager at RT Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. With a decade of experience within the company, Nadine has seamlessly navigated cross-functional roles, showcasing her commitment and expertise. Her passion for optimizing people practices has positioned her as a pivotal force within the company.
Over the past five years, Nadine has been instrumental in steering RT Infrastructure Solutions Ltd. towards active participation in the Armed Forces Covenant. Her dedication and efforts have played a key role in the company’s achievement of the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Employer Recognition Scheme awards—an accomplishment that the entire organization takes immense pride in. Nadine’s leadership underscores her commitment to fostering a workplace culture that values and supports its most precious asset: its people.
To find out more about the work of the RFCA Employer Engagement groups, contact ea-empsp@rfca.mod.uk.