At the British Mountaineering Council's AGM on 12 June, Dominic Oughton ran unchallenged for the role of BMC President and was elected with 95% of the vote.

Based in Stockport, Dominic has been a BMC member for the past 30 years - including 15 years as a BMC volunteer - and is currently a trustee of Climbers Against Cancer. He is also a UKC user and started a forum thread to introduce himself and share his supporting statement ahead of the vote.

To find out more about the man behind the title, we sent Dominic some questions in his early days of the role. 

You've been heavily involved in the climbing community and the BMC in various ways to date. Tell us more about your climbing and working background? 

I was introduced to climbing over forty years ago by my (now) wife, and it quickly became a huge part of my life. I've enjoyed all aspects of climbing and mountaineering, but I'm at my happiest on a big wall or a sea cliff – environments where a bit of gnarly experience comes into its own, and where a sense of adventure and exploration are rewarded with ascents of El Cap, Naranjo de Bulnes and Moonlight Buttress. You can follow my adventures here.

I have been a BMC volunteer for fifteen years, serving nine years as a Trustee of the Access and Conservation Trust (delivering Mend Our Mountains) and more recently on Clubs Committee and the NW Area (leading on Find Your Adventure). These very successful programs show what can be achieved when volunteers and BMC staff and leadership work closely together. I'm also a Trustee of Climbers Against Cancer and a member and past President of The Rucksack Club.

In my working life, I've been MD/CEO of businesses up to £50m turnover, often in turnaround situations. More recently I've worked with IfM Engage, part of Cambridge University, to help governments and companies develop strategy, and support organisations to innovate collaboratively. 

What inspired you to take on the role of President at the BMC? 

Having climbed on four continents, returning home always reminds me of the precious and unique resource we share in this country and the vital role of the BMC in protecting and securing access to it. When it was first suggested that I might be interested in the role of President, the role description's central theme of 'Members' Champion' shone through and struck a chord with me. These are clearly challenging times for the organisation, and I was persuaded that my skills and experience might be of relevance in helping to secure the future that I feel we all aspire to. 

In your eyes, what are the BMC's strengths currently and what could it improve on, and how? 

The biggest strengths of the BMC are its diverse membership, especially the wonderful group of volunteers who contribute so much, and its dedicated staff. The 80,000 members cover the whole spectrum of activity which gives us a unique breadth of perspectives and a platform to campaign for all that we care about – be that access; protecting wild places; enhancing the environment or opening up participation.

Our volunteers are the unsung heroes of the BMC – there are approaching a thousand individuals who give a significant amount of their time for the benefit of the community as a whole, and that's not including the network of volunteers involved at club and competition level throughout England and Wales. Our staff bring huge experience and a passion for the organisation. Together they provide services such as: technical expertise to underpin the safety of our sport; maintaining access to our crags and wild places; leading walks and crag-clean-ups; liaising with local communities from walls to fells to crags; and coaching young people.  We should also not forget the members of the Board and Members' Council, who are all unpaid volunteers. 

The biggest scope for improvement is aligning all these three so that we 'turn the pyramid upside down' – The Board and leadership supporting staff, working with volunteers, to deliver for our members.

What are your top priorities for the organisation over the next few years? 

I've always believed that the role of leadership is about bringing together all stakeholders to develop shared visions and empowering those closest to the action to deliver. This is reflected in two of my priorities. Firstly, to reconnect with our members (including those who haven't joined yet) and ensure that we are delivering the support and services they value. This is particularly important for underrepresented groups. Secondly, to put the necessary resources behind our volunteers to enable them to make the most impact with the generous time they contribute; it's through our volunteering we can deliver on scale and make real impact. 

Of course, all this needs to be delivered on a sound financial footing. While that's the job of the staff leadership team and the Board, my role as President is to support and challenge those financial processes on behalf of the members.

How do you plan to balance the representative body (access) / governing body (GB Climbing) divide? 

I'm not sure 'divide' is the right frame for the question. If you were to try to carve up the overlapping communities within the BMC and the interests we represent you'd find it very difficult to draw sensible lines between them. There's so much more that unites us than separates us; and our ability to represent and influence is only strengthened when we speak with one voice. 

The whole representative / governing body question was the subject of a lengthy and sometimes divisive campaign almost ten years ago, resulting in an arguably imperfect but workable compromise. At a time when the BMC is under financial stress and needing to reconnect with members and focus on delivery, I really don't see reopening that debate as being a priority.

Membership growth has been identified as a target. How do you envisage achieving this? 

Statistics suggest there are over 350,000 regular climbers in the country, and over 3 million hill walkers, so there are plenty of people we haven't reached yet. By putting members at the centre of all our thinking, we will understand what would represent 'value' to the different parts of our diverse community, and more will join. What we won't do is spend money in the hope of such growth! There is already work in place to start on this and to communicate it effectively to potential members. Watch this space!

What strategies will you employ to ensure effective communication between the BMC leadership and its members? 

We need to make information available in all the different ways that people want to consume it, be that web, social media, video, email and of course Summit magazine. 

There's a revamp of the BMC website underway (already launched for the hill walking section), and a new digital platform for Summit making it much more user-friendly - and friendly to the environment too. 

There are so many good stories to tell, especially of all the great work that our volunteers do that often goes under the radar. Of course, communication isn't just about sharing the good news, and it becomes even more important in difficult times. Paul Ratcliffe, our new CEO, has been speedy and candid in his recent communications to members, which completely aligns with my ethos of openness and transparency. Regular BMC Open Forums are now a firmly established fixture in the BMC's communication with the next one on Wednesday 11 September.

The BMC Area Meetings form a vital connection with our membership and are the primary route for hearing their voices. These are held quarterly in each area (sometimes on Zoom) and are a great opportunity to meet new people; hear what's going on in your patch; and have your say. Between us, Paul and I will be attending each of these over the next month. Come along, have your say – it's OUR BMC. 

How can members get involved in BMC activities and have their say on BMC matters?

As well as these quarterly meetings, there are a whole host of activities which are organised at an Area level, including local hill walks, crag clean-ups and climbing festivals. Members can also 'Get Stuck In!' by undertaking conservation work; becoming an Access Rep for local crags; liaising with walls in the region; or by helping to coordinate the clubs in the area to share best practice. You'll find more information on local Area activities and volunteer opportunities here.

How do you stay connected to the climbing and mountaineering community on a personal level?

That's the least difficult part of my role, I spend much of my time travelling and climbing around the UK and beyond. During my first month in office, I've climbed in five of the BMC's ten Areas, and will be taking in more during my Area tour in July. In the last week alone, I visited Sirhowy, inspired by the recent successful crowdfunding campaign and stepped onto a live firing range to access the incredible adventure terrain of Pembroke Range West, both reminders of the amazing work done by our local access volunteers and the BMC staff team.

The wonderful people I meet through climbing and the great places it takes me are just as important as the routes I climb. I love a bit of crag banter and am regularly to be found at competitions and wall events manning a Climbers Against Cancer (CAC) stand - so if you happen to bump into me, don't be surprised if I'm asking your opinions of the BMC and don't be afraid to bend my ear! I can't be the Members' Champion if you don't tell me what matters to you.

What are your personal goals for the next few years? Any trips or routes on the list?

I've been gradually working my way through all the routes in Hard Rock and have just two routes to go. So I'm hoping to climb The Scoop on Strone Ulladale on Harris in August, then complete the set with South Ridge Direct on Arran with my wife Helen, who also shared my very first Hard Rock tick. Beyond that we will continue to explore off-the beaten-track destinations around Europe and further afield. I'm still getting plenty of big wall inspiration from another of my climbing bibles: Parois de Légende.

But despite all of the places I've travelled to, I still treasure the magical sea cliffs, wild mountains and familiar local haunts of British climbing. There really is no finer place to live as a climber on the planet.

How do you intend to encourage a more collaborative and inclusive culture within the organisation?

In my working life, I have always found that the more diverse a team, the more productive and effective it becomes, not to mention more fun! You'll have seen from my recent UKC Forum posts that we are actively working to ensure that the voices of all members are heard and responded to.   

If anyone reading this would like to get more involved or have their say, especially those from under-represented groups, please be assured that your input is more than welcome. And if there are barriers to your involvement, please help us to understand what they are, so we can either remove them or make it easier for you to overcome them. Contact me directly at president (AT) thebmc.co.uk. 

How do you plan to address the environmental and sustainability issues related to mountaineering, hill walking and climbing?

There has been some tremendous work by the BMC's ACES (Access, Conservation and Environmental Sustainability) Team which is aimed at delivering the environmental and sustainability aspirations that are so dear to our members and so vital for our planet and the wild places that we love. I can't take any credit for this, apart from offering my wholehearted support, and there are some exciting announcements due over the summer, so watch this space!

In what ways do you think the BMC/GB Climbing can better support young and emerging climbers following the issues highlighted within GB Climbing?

My BMC volunteering career started as a 'comp Dad', joining the Training, Youth and Walls Committee alongside my son who was invited as a youth representative. I've experienced the highs and lows of the young competition climber, the tension of the long drive to Ratho and both the elation and despair of contrasting journeys home. Since then, The BMC has helped to channel significant government investment into this part of our sport, funding elite athletes and the talent pathway. It is clear that today's 'comp Mums and Dads' haven't been satisfied with the way this support has been delivered and there is a consultation underway to better understand concerns and deliver a new structure. There's no doubting the tremendous talent that exists in this country, and the success of our athletes in qualifying for Paris will undoubtedly inspire a new generation, so it is vital that we're there to support them.

Who do you think will win the Olympics?!

I'm going to dodge that question with a cheesy answer: the whole climbing community is going to win, and indeed already has. If Paris inspires new people, especially those from under-represented groups, to explore the climbing world then it will be a great success – and we all need to play our part in welcoming them. 

I'm hugely proud of our four qualified athletes: Toby, Erin, Hamish and Molly. Their success is a tribute to their individual talent, application and determination, and also a huge credit to their families and supporters and the back-room staff and coaches that have been with them throughout their journeys. I wish them every success and especially to enjoy the tremendous experience. Good luck!

Looking beyond Paris, I am hugely excited to see para climbing as part of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, and the platform it will give to the incredible adaptive athletes who are an inspiration and example to us all.

You're only a month into your Presidency, but what are your longer-term ambitions for the BMC: What initiatives do you have in mind to promote diversity and inclusion in the outdoors? How will you ensure that the BMC remains relevant and valuable to its members in an ever-changing and growing outdoor activity landscape?

Beyond the immediate priorities of re-engaging with our members; rebuilding trust; and delivering and communicating better, I've arrived in post when a refresh of the BMC's strategy is overdue. Opening up the opportunity for everyone, from all backgrounds, to enjoy the life-changing experience of the pursuits we all take for granted has to be at the centre of this, alongside balancing the pressures on the wild places and natural resources that we all hold so dear. As the members' champion, I will be reaching out through our Areas, through Forums and on an individual basis to listen to and the represent the diverse voices of our membership. You can approach me at the crag, down the wall, here on UKC or by e-mail at president (AT) thebmc.co.uk. Get in touch, have your say: it's OUR BMC.