SOA Professional Officer appointed-Scottish Orienteering

SOA Professional Officer appointed

The SOA Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Colin Matheson as our new Professional Officer. The appointment is effective from 17th January 2011.

Colin was originally brought up in Fife and attended Dollar Academy. He started orienteering there in the early 70’s and ran for various clubs including BAOC, WAOC and now Newcastle and Tyneside Orienteers (NATO). Colin is a regular orienteer, who frequently competes in Scotland. He has undertaken many administration roles for NATO, NEOA and BOF, including Access Officer, Newsletter editor, Development Officer and Fixtures Secretary. He is also an experienced Grade II Controller who has organised, planned and controlled a diverse range of events including the Lakes 5 Day; White Rose; October Odyssey; RNLI tri-sport challenge; Army Championships; the Phoenix Long-O and JK 2009.

Colin studied at St. Andrews University and Sandhurst, and is a Chartered Geographer (GIS). He has served in the Royal Engineers; been a Land and Engineering Survey Consultant; a GIS Business Development / Project Manager; a Business Manager for renewal energy projects and is currently a self-employed GIS Consultant. He brings relevant experience of developing new business and arranging and setting up access agreements and policies.

Colin is married to Ro (Rosemary), and like the Royal Couple they also met at St Andrews University. Their son Rory is an occasional but very good orienteer who runs for CLYDE whilst his elder brother Lewis is a keen downhill mountain biker.

Colin describes himself as an “experienced manager and enthusiastic orienteer”, who has clearly demonstrated his passion and dedication for our sport, and is keen to be involved with Scottish Orienteering. His initial focus will be as Assistant Co-ordinator for Oban 2011 and assisting with JK 2012. However, he will also be overseeing the move to the new Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme, and renewing our Access Agreements. …And then there is WOC 2015 – if we submit a successful bid to IOF in January. So plenty to be going on with…

Please join me in welcoming Colin to his new role.

(For information… 11 people applied for the position. The interviewing panel representing SOA, the Scottish 6 Days Company and sportscotland selected four candidates to interview, before unanimously selecting Colin for the role.)

Photo of author Posted on 10th Dec 10
by Donald Grassie - President