What was your first job and what did your responsibilities include?

My first job on leaving Oxford Brookes was to work in telesales in the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times’ advertising department. At that time the new sex discrimination law had only recently been introduced and the department was composed entirely of women so I became the first male and spent two happy years at Osney Mead. I still keep in touch with friends from that time.

How much was in your first pay packet and what did you spend it on?

My very first pay packet was five shillings which I received at the age of 14. I was paid for helping during harvest by a local farmer and I bought a racing saddle for my bike.

Describe how you career developed to the present day.

It has been a mixture of (some) planning, lots of luck and a great deal of kindness from those for whom I have worked. With the benefit of hindsight it’s been a steady progression culminating in the important job that I do today.

What are the key responsibilities in your position?

My responsibility lies in dealing with our UK and global commercial relationships and with fundraising for the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF), a not-for-profit charitable foundation set up 43 years ago.

We are essentially the ‘guardians’ of public dental health with a global remit and part of that is to operate probably the largest dental product approvals scheme in the world covering everything from sugar-free foods to mouthwash and pastes. We also run, organise and fund campaigns such as UK Mouth Cancer Action Month and UK National Smile Month.

Describe a typical day The Foundation is very much part of my life so most days, including weekends, I work one way or another.For example, I am leading a project to establish UAE (United Arab Emirates) National Smile Month.

We launch from the British Embassy in Dubai on May 29.

Who/what have been the biggest influences on your career?

It is people who influence careers and I have been very lucky but the single most important influence has been my wife Julie — always kind, supportive and never demanding in both good and bad times.

What has been your best decision?

Agreeing to become a founder of dental education website www.smile-on.com 15 years ago and finding myself in London in the middle of the dotcom boom surrounded by very bright people. After four rollercoaster years this led me to me being invited to apply for my current role at the British Dental Health Foundation. My father was a dentist but died when I was in my 20s and emotionally this all felt like ‘coming-home.’ And your worst?

Life of course has its ups and downs but overall everything happens for a reason and even the bad often turns out to be positive.

Do you run an apprenticeship scheme and, if so, why?

No — as a registered charity operating in a specialised field it would be impossible. But we regularly work with local schools to offer work experience.

What is the secret of good management?

US bank robber Willie Sutton was incredibly successful but never actually shot anyone. He was once asked how he had become so successful and answered: “Because I found out early that you can accomplish more with a smile and a gun — than with just a gun.” Good management stems from inclusion and co-operation and not from domination.

Do you have a good work/life balance?

Yes. Family and friends are massively important to me and I have a secret weapon — a sailing boat named Jaunty moored at Topsham in Devon. A weekend away recharges even the flattest of batteries.

What are the biggest challenges facing your business today?

As a registered charity we are ultimately reliant on funding and whilst we ‘own’ some of our own funding streams, life in a post-recession economy is tough.

Is there anything in business that really irritates you?

People using mobile telephones and iPads in meetings. if you weren’t free to commit to the meeting in the first place, why come?

How do you see your company developing over the next five years?

Our international work continues to increase as the foundation becomes more global. We are about to run our first Middle East campaign and are already being asked to run similar campaigns in Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran What has been your most satisfying moment?

Seeing my chief executive Dr Nigel Carter receive an OBE for services to public dental care.

How much do you use social media and how effective is it?

Social media has been highly effective as it allows us to convert arid subject matter into a fun topic and reach a younger audience.

What is your attitude to the environment and do you have any green policies in place?

The Foundation has always been green and for many years we have practised recycling. As a business the paperwork element of what we do has decreased massively in recent years. It isn an important subject and actually even little things like switching off lights can make a massive difference.

Is there any other job you would like to have done and why?

I would like to have been an actor. I did masses of school productions but on leaving acting as a profession was never mentioned. To an extent I have to ‘perform’ in my work with a great deal of public speaking but I still sometimes wonder if missed my vocation.

What would you like to do when you retire?

With the permission of my trustees I plan to gradually step-down to working four days, then three, then two a week over a two-year period. Full retirement looks fun so there will be more sailing, travel and just being with friends and family alongside the woman I have loved for 35 years. Director of campaigns, British Dental Health Foundation. Lives in North Leigh Contact: 01993 880 579 Time in job: 10 years Web: www.dentalhealth.org