The story behind the work

I spent more than a decade as a professional rugby official, working at the highest levels of the game across club, international and World Cup competition.

That career culminated in 2023, when I served as Television Match Official for the Rugby World Cup final in Paris. I was central to one of the most consequential moments in the history of the sport: the decision to show the first red card ever issued in a men's Rugby World Cup final, in front of a global television audience of over 100 million, in a match that turned on the outcome.

The decision was right. It was also contested, irreversible and widely debated. The reaction it drew from players, coaches, media and supporters crystallised something I had been thinking about for years: what makes a hard call hold, even when the people most affected do not agree with it.

Since leaving elite officiating, I have brought that question into the world of leadership. I work with boards, executive teams and senior leaders who face the same underlying challenge: making contested decisions that stick, maintaining legitimacy under pressure, and leading with composure when the room is watching.

My work draws on the science of procedural justice, psychological safety and decision-making under pressure. My first book, You're Not Here to Be Popular, is due for publication in spring 2027.

I am based in South West England and work internationally.