The Outward Bound Trust appoints new Chief Executive
Having formerly held the position of Director of Scotland and Innovation, Martin Davidson officially takes the reins as CEO of The Outward Bound Trust on 13 February 2023.
He will succeed Nick Barrett whose successful tenure over the last 16 years has seen transformational change for the charity that inspires young people through adventure in the wild.
Martin’s appointment comes in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and a growing concern that young people’s mental health and wellbeing has reached crisis point.
Martin said: “I am honoured to become the next Chief Executive of The Outward Bound Trust, having experienced first-hand the impact we can have. By combining the unpredictability of the outdoors with learning and adventure in the wild, our instructors support young people to build self-belief and resilience, often transforming lives for the better.
In these uncertain times young people need Outward Bound more than ever, and I will work with our Board of Trustees and staff to ensure we place them at the heart of everything we do. Together, we will build on the success of the last decade to develop our work inspiring young people to achieve more than they ever thought possible.”
Charles Philipps, Chair of The Outward Bound Trust, added: “The need for Outward Bound has never been greater and Martin truly understands that – with a clearly articulated vision to level up the charity so we can continue inspiring young people for generations to come. Martin offers a strong understanding of the organisation from his successful tenure as Director of Scotland and Innovation in a period of substantial growth. We are excited for him to get to work and build on the tremendous work done by Nick Barrett and team.”
Outward Bound is currently part-way through its Outward ReBound Strategy, set out to guide the charity out of the Covid-19 pandemic and lay the groundwork for its next steps. Nick Barrett will remain with Outward Bound during a transition period and handover with Martin, before leaving the charity on 31 March 2023.
Header image: Martin Davidson CEO The Outward Bound Trust.
