Neil King

Background

About Neil King

A respectful and reputable career, and community commitments, are things that I am very proud of, and continue to value. Colleagues see me as collegial, friendly-but-firm, and as a facilitator. I thoroughly enjoy my work and my life interests, including several community and volunteer roles. My expertise and experiences in academia and life have allowed me to develop strong communication and mediating skills. Hard work and an eye for encouragement of others, whether in the front row of a rugby team or the quiet pride in a collective success, are the hallmarks of success and happiness. Effective working relationships and being collegial, while maintaining authority and respect, are values and skills that I have demonstrated and consider important. Good communication with peers, students and external partners is critical for establishing a culture of teamwork and continuous improvement. One of my key strengths is the ability to maintain effective communication and collegial working relationships. My experience as a player, captain and coach of several rugby union teams in the UK has provided me with an extra dimension of being part of a team and playing various roles. Indeed, some of the skills – integrity, agility, resilience, collegiality, leadership, openness – are skills and characteristics that are transferrable between work and sport. My volunteer roles have allowed me to apply my values and integrity in the community, which involves offering a range of services that assist disadvantaged people and men with mental health challenges. Being non-judgemental, respecting confidentiality, and offering mentoring support have provided me with valuable experiences to help others. I am fully committed to using my personal skills and life experiences to helping others. One of my values is to help others, especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged. This is exemplified by my volunteer roles as a Pyjama Angel with the Pyjama Foundation, a caretaker for SleepBus - buses for homeless people, and as a mentor for the suicide prevention and men’s mental health initiative, Marcus Mission. Neil is also the Chair of Directors of HYPAR.