Mike has served as a volunteer in different initiatives and positions since 1988 when he joined the YMCA as a young man. He has been strongly involved in governance at the local, national and international levels. Mike has served as Chairman of YMCA Aberdeen since 1997 and also as Chairman of YMCA Scotland in the period 2008-2016. He was elected to the Executive Committee of the World Alliance in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. Within YMCA Europe, Mike was our Treasurer between 2012 and 2016.
In his acceptance speech, our new President shared his vision and priorities for the next years in the frame of the newly adopted Strategy 2016-2020. Mike focused on Youth Empowerment providing the space to young people as potential change makers in Europe. He also spoke about strengthening National Movements to deliver socially relevant programmes in Europe, communicating and advocating the YMCA message at all levels. Mike also stressed the importance of financial sustainability and the need of responding to the challenges in Europe today as we approach the 175th anniversary of the YMCA in 2019.
YMCA Europe and the whole European YMCA movement wishes Mike all the best and the Lord´s blessings in his new responsibilities as President together with the Executive Committee, the Secretary General, the Staff Team and all our member and co-operating YMCAs across the continent.
