For those who knew me before I swapped my uniform for an office job, you probably thought I was joking when I said I wanted to move into a more corporate and professional role. I had a reputation for operating on the fringes of the rules, comfortable in chaos, working far from structure and stability, yet somehow always in command.
That unorthodox approach to leadership wasn’t recklessness; it was adaptability. It helped me thrive in unpredictable environments across the world. But stepping into the corporate sphere was always going to be a leap into the unknown.
My RAF journey began when I was barely out of my teens. It wasn’t just a career choice; it was the only thing I’d ever wanted to do. I joined at a time of relentless operational tempo, which meant I didn’t get the luxury of easing in. From the start, I was thrown into the deployment cycle, learning fast and earning responsibility under pressure. Graduating as top student from my training, I was posted to II Squadron RAF Regiment, my home for over 13 years. That squadron shaped me. It gave me lifelong friends, unforgettable experiences, and lessons I’ll never unlearn.
Along the way, I:
It was intense, relentless, often unforgiving – but it was also the greatest privilege.
Leaving the RAF after 15 years felt like walking out of the family home you’d grown up in: familiar, noisy, disciplined, and full of purpose. The military is built on rhythm: mission, briefing, execution, debrief. Everyone knows their role. Acronyms are its own dialect, and you carry your unit identity with you everywhere you go. Civvy (Civilian) life? A different world. Suddenly, “roger” turned into “let’s circle back.” Mission-critical operations were replaced with client deliverables. Deadlines and budgets mattered, of course—but moving from “evacuation of a failing state” to “budget review meeting” takes a mental reset.
The first weeks were humbling. I had to learn:
And yet, slowly, I found my footing.
Any doubts I had about whether I would fit in vanished the moment I joined Ubique Risk Management. From the very first day, it became clear that this wasn’t just a workplace. It was a team. Not a squadron this time, but a unit that moved with the same heartbeat, a rhythm I recognised instantly.
At the centre of it all was Richard Ross, the Managing Director. Calm and decisive, he had that rare quality of leadership where you instinctively place your trust in him. His ability to cut through noise and guide the team set the tone for everything that followed. Working alongside him was Kate, the Business Director, whose sharp mind and strategic outlook meant she could see solutions where others only saw roadblocks. Her knack for identifying opportunities gave our projects momentum when we needed it most.
Then there was Jack, the Senior Project Manager, who became my unofficial mentor. Where I sometimes saw tangled complexity, Jack saw patterns and pathways. He had a way of breaking things down with patience and clarity, ensuring I never felt out of my depth. Chloe, our Assistant Project Manager, seemed to exist in three places at once, somehow managing to keep the pulse of every project steady and consistent. Her presence gave the team confidence that things were always under control.
Molly, our Business Admin Assistant, was the glue that held us together. She made sure processes ran smoothly, details weren’t forgotten, and that I had finally remembered to clock out on the app. Rachael’s incredible capability within the business function has helped me translate my management and planning experience to a civilian tone, ensuring I can translate my capabilities into an efficient structure.
Over at the Training Academy, Jo and Darren showed me another side of the organisation. They embodied the belief that learning never stops, not only shaping the next generation but also guiding experienced professionals with the same energy and passion. Hildana is the studious, quiet professional, creating substance and depth to the Ubique knowledge bank, leveraging a strong academic background.
It was a different setting from what I had known before, and the goals were different too, but the essence felt the same. Teamwork, trust, and shared responsibility were still the foundations, and I quickly realised that Ubique was not just where I worked, it was where I wanted to be.
