Sam is a facilitator, trainer and consultant for voluntary and public sector organisations in areas such as strategic planning, collaboration, capacity building and governance.

He has worked for many years in local authority social services departments, up to area director level and has a wide experience of managing services, policy development at national level and multi-agency working.

He has been chief executive of two national charities, Norwood, a leading charity for people with learning disability and Kids, a charity for disabled children. He has extensive first-hand experience of the issues facing the voluntary sector.

Sam has a Masters degree in public and social administration and a doctorate in strategic decision-making, both entailing research projects in the voluntary sector.