The British Motorcyclists Federation has announced that their new Government Relationship Executive (GRE) is Graeme Hay.
The news was announced at the BMF Show, May 17-18, held at the East Of England Showground in Peterborough and Graeme says he has big plans for the BMF .
At Right To Ride we wish Graeme all the best with his full time role within the voluntary organisation of the BMF.
WHAT DOES THE BMF’s Government Relations Executive do?
Lobbying: Executing reactive and pro-active lobbying for the BMF directly and in conjunction with other British, European and worldwide pressure groups.
Policy: Advising the BMF and its allied groups on policy and in developing and assisting in their campaigns.
Government: Maintaining close contact with members of the Devolved Parliaments, assemblies and their government departments, UK MPs, MEPs and UK Government departments and with the BMF membership.
Safety: Being responsible for monitoring and reporting on motorcycle safety issues.
Media: Use the BMF’s magazine, Motorcycle Rider and social media channels to communicate with the membership and media, current issues and what the BMF is doing.
GRAEME’S FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
“The BMF and I aim to make our motorcycle lobby work more visible to the wider motorcycling world. So much goes on behind the scenes that people are unaware of – we’re keen to tell people what we’re doing and that we ARE doing it. There will be regular web postings and you can follow the BMF and I on Twitter and Facebook. The BMF is a highly active organisation; now we will be telling people more about it.”
“I’m keen to join a number of the government consulting committees. In my previous role I was a regular attendee at PACT (Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Transport). I’m also a member of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation, so I already attend a number of relevant events but I have a network to build and I am looking to build it very quickly.
“The other half of my role is to be available to the clubs that affiliate and comprise the BMF. I was at the BMF Show in May meeting as many of the clubs and their members as I could. This was a great opportunity to gain an understanding of where and how we need to be represented.”
GRAEME ON THE EU:
“Europe’s raison d’être is to standardise things as much as possible, to unify the market. The BMF represents 80,000 people through its membership and affiliations. Now, that’s a big voice here in the UK but when it’s put into the pot with the other member states, our views won’t be heard. That’s why our work with FEMA is crucial. If we continue to work with and support FEMA, our voice will be heard.”
GREAME’S LONGTERM GOAL
“Chris achieved a lot more than many people are immediately aware of, and in a very difficult climate. I want to carry on his work. I also hope to bring my own energy, enthusiasm and experience to the BMF.
“I’m a Senior motorcycle Observer with the Institute of Advanced Motorists and I have thirty years of highways experience, so I’ve got a lot of applied road safety credibility. I hope to take that into negotiations, wherever they may be.
“I know that there will be things that don’t go so well but there’ll also be things that go better than you expected; it is important to recognise that you are in it for the long game.
“UK government has, historically been driven almost almost entirely by KSI (killed and seriously injured) figures; just knowing that means you know what sort of wicket you’re on before you go out on the pitch.
We know from history that if we see an economic boom over the next five years, it is very likely that motorcycle deaths will probably increase. Understanding that is a key concern and it drives government to act.
“We have to represent the fact that there are many training bodies and we have to then be in touch with those training bodies, helping to push forward that message that ‘yes there is a problem but we, in the responsible motorcycling groups can and will address it’. This is the strongest defence against unwanted and potentially harmful legislation, in the UK government. Europe is driven by similar data but this data is coming from very many places, some where the social attitudes and road conditions may be very different to our own.
The MCIA does a lot of this work as well so we’re not lobbying alone. Part of my role will be establishing myself with those bodies.”
What are you most looking forward to working on?
“I’ve met many of my friends through motorcycling. I’ve had so much fun motorcycling. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to really make a contribution to motorcycling. That’s it. That’s why I went for the job. I saw the ad and thought: ‘this is my chance to give something back to the activity that really matters to me and has given me so much.”
BMF Chairman Roger Ellis said:
“When the Management Team first met Graeme, we all said: ‘we couldn’t have designed someone better for this job’. He has such a wealth of varied experience that all feeds into the world of motorcycles and motorcycling. He also has an energy, enthusiasm and positive attitude that makes us excited about the future of the BMF and the motorcycle lobby.”
Original Source – BMF – www.ridermagazine.co.uk
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