Yesterday, I had the privilege of leading a session with senior leaders from youth organisations across Oxfordshire, exploring the role of compassionate leadership in driving meaningful change. As we discussed our shared challenges and aspirations, I was asked to reflect on my own leadership journey and the ways in which compassion has been a guiding force throughout my career.
What Does Compassionate Leadership Mean?
I believe that the term ‘compassionate leadership’ is often misunderstood as simply being ‘nice’ or avoiding difficult decisions. In reality, I think it requires a deep commitment to empathy, fairness, and courage. It means:
- Listening and valuing others’ experiences, even when they challenge our own perspectives.
- Making difficult decisions with humanity, ensuring that strategy and compassion go hand in hand.
- Creating spaces for diverse voices to be heard, particularly those who have historically been ignored or excluded.
A Leadership Journey Rooted in Compassion
As I shared my experiences with fellow leaders, I mapped out my own career—one shaped by a belief in empowering others and standing up for what is right.
Starting in Education
I began as a teacher, where I learned that leadership is not about authority, but about creating an environment where every individual can thrive. Ensuring that all students felt included and supported became a foundation of my approach to leadership. However, working under the shadow of Section 28 presented profound challenges—not only for me as a gay man but also for the children in my care. The legislation prevented schools from ‘promoting’ homosexuality, which in reality meant that young LGBTQ+ students saw no role models, no representation, and no validation of their identities. It was a policy that fostered silence and fear rather than support and inclusion. Despite these constraints, I sought ways to create a safe and accepting environment within my classroom, ensuring that every child felt seen and valued, even if the broader system denied them that right. And in my private life, with the full knowledge of a very supportive headteacher, I joined the campaign to change the law.
Transforming Youth Leadership & Inclusion in Scouting
During my time as a senior volunteer in Scouting, I was part of a cultural shift that moved the movement from exclusion to inclusion. In the 1990s, I helped instigate the Equal Opportunities Policy, challenging the organisation to embrace diversity. Later, as a member of the World Scout Committee, I continued to advocate for young people worldwide, ensuring that Scouting became a movement that truly welcomes and empowers all.
Empowering Young People on a Global Scale
Leading The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was a humbling opportunity to shape a global youth development programme that gives young people the tools to reach their full potential. I worked to ensure that the Award was accessible to all, embedding inclusivity at every level and fostering international partnerships that extended opportunities to marginalised communities.
Leading with Compassion in Animal Welfare
Now, as Chief Executive of Cats Protection, I lead an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of cats and the people who care for them. Compassionate leadership here means ensuring that our strategic goals align with both animal welfare and human engagement, supporting our volunteers and staff as much as we do the cats in our care.
Public Service & Hearing the Unheard
As High Sheriff in Nomination, my focus for my upcoming Shrieval year will be on Hearing the Young Unheard—bringing the voices of young people into discussions about early intervention and crime prevention. Compassionate leadership is central to this: young people need to feel that their experiences and perspectives matter, and those in power must make space for their voices to shape solutions.
What Can Youth Leaders Take Away?
Reflecting on this discussion, I shared a few key takeaways for fellow youth sector leaders:
- Compassionate leadership is not passive—it requires action, strategy, and sometimes difficult conversations.
- Visibility matters—leaders must model inclusion and openness to create environments where others feel they belong.
- Sustainable change requires policy and cultural transformation—a true commitment to inclusion is embedded in both structure and storytelling.
- We measure success not just in numbers, but in the well-being and empowerment of those we serve.
Compassionate leadership has been the foundation of my work—from classrooms to global youth movements, from voluntary service to executive leadership. It is about making space for others, challenging injustice, and ensuring that leadership is not just about power, but about impact and service.
I left the session with youth leaders in Oxfordshire feeling inspired by their commitment to leading with both head and heart. Leadership is not about us as individuals, but about the communities we serve—and compassion is the force that brings real change.
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