Neil Rothwell (Chair)
Why being on the Board is important to me
This is an opportunity to be around and work with with gay men. In this caring community, which is emerging and evolving from the workshop’s it’s important for me to keep in the conversation be alive, be loving and this is my next step.
What I bring to the Board
Curiosity, love, transparency authenticity, fearlessness playful & pithy observation.
Peter Collins (Vice-Chair)
Why being on the Board is important to me
The Quest has made a deep and significant difference to my growth as a human being and as a gay man, and I want the same opportunity to be available to as many gay men as possible. Secondly, I really value the the quality and essence of the community of Quest graduates and friends. Meeting gay men in a non commercial setting, where getting laid isn’t the primary purpose, has been like a breath of fresh air for me. It is my intention to work with the founders and the Board to constantly expand and improve everything the Quest has to offer.
What I bring to the Board
As a professional manager and leader who has worked in large corporate businesses, and as an entrepreneur who has founded and developed new businesses, I feel I have a broad range of skills and experience that will benefit the onward growth of the Quest as an organisation. I also have extensive experience as a coach, facilitator and trainer of transformational programmes, which I believe could also be of benefit to the Board and the Quest more generally.
Mark Stroud
Why being on the Board is important to me
For me being on the Board is an extension of the ’12 day challenge’. It is one way I can show up in service of others within the Quest community. Each time I do something for Quest it is a reminder that I am stepping up and making myself fully available. If not now, when? I also believe it is important to have the voice graduates heard within the organisation as we develop and respond to the needs of both graduates and those yet to have taken the first step.
What I bring to the Board
Due to my work-life experiences I believe I have some of the skills/qualities required to support the Quest Community as we move forward into the next stage of our development. I have worked in the private, public and third sectors and have experience of sitting on Boards and working with Management teams. With proven project management skills I think I also have something in particular to offer with regards to Fundraising. I enjoy connection and I like to believe I work in a collaborative way. I am working for the Quest as a volunteer and although I take this role and the Quest mission seriously I want to ensure that we fun too.
Rod Reeken
Why being on the Board is important to me
I am a 60 year old gay man who has a male partner and I have 2 children. I qualfied as an accountant in New Zealand and I have lived in the United Kingdom since 1980. I am an equity partner in an established insolvency practice in London and I have been with the firm since 1996.
I have always had an active interest in progressive politics and my faith is in accordance with the Quaker tradition.
I have been fortunate to have experienced the processes epoused by The Quest and that experience totally informs the way in which I now live. As I know the difference that The Quest approach can make to a gay man’s wellbeing, I want to assist it deliver its methodologies to as many gay men as possible in order that they can lead more congruent lives.
What I bring to the Board
The disciplines of my professional life and a desire to help bring an awareness of what is being offered by The Quest to a wider domain, result in me being able to bring a strong commitment to taking forward its ethos on both a practical and emotional level.
Naveen Puri
Why being on the Board is important to me
The vision of The Quest is close to my heart and something I feel passionate about. I am interested in building on and strengthening the community of men who have completed the cornerstone Weekend Exploration Workshop. To this end I am keen to be a part of the development of an ‘infrastructure’ of both stimulating and social activities and networks to keep the evolving community connected to the process of authentic and congruent living, and sustaining changes to their lives through the transformational work of their workshop weekend.
What I bring to the Board
I would like to think I bring my passion, enthusiasm and solution-focused attitude to the graduate board. My clinical background gives me a good understanding in the varied physical and psychological issues that can affect gay men, and by extension those in The Quest community. To this end I also see it as a personal responsibility to ensure The Quest has a robust system in place for providing pastoral care and onward signposting (if required) for its most vulnerable participants. As a gay man from an ethnic minority community, I am keen for my place on the board to be seen as a reflection of the truly diverse and inclusive nature of The Quest project and community.
David Watson (Secretary)
Why being on the board is important to me
I really believe in the objectives of the Quest, especially building a more meaningful gay community. I wanted do something to be more involved and to help make it happen.
What I bring to the board
As secretary, I’m the guy in the background, writing everything down, organising the meetings, and maybe even throwing in the occasional idea.