Meet the Director - Kevin Dawson

This month we met with Director Kevin Dawson to learn more about him and his role on the board!

How long have you been volunteering as a Director of Smart Money Cymru Community Bank?

Approximately 1 year

What is your role as a Director of SMC?

I am the Director of Organisational Development sitting on the HR Sub-Committee and Chair of the Marketing Sub-Committee

Why do you volunteer in the Credit Union sector?

I am passionate about the Credit Union movement and how credit unions can play a major role in Community Wealth Buding as Anchor Institutions – keeping wealth local for the benefit of local people, as opposed to private sector banks that pay shareholders and offshore hedge funds. I also value to credit union’s service to its members and in supporting people on the margins and unable to hold a bank account or have a loan.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am married with three children, two of whom are grown up and live in London. My youngest is eleven years old this May. For recreation my wife and I enjoy walking in the countryside. We can’t get our son off the sofa and out into the fresh air, so any thoughts will be gratefully received! My wife and I are both Radio Amateurs and are able to communicate with other radio amateurs all over the world. I am a qualified PADI Scuba Diver and also enjoy surfing occasionally. I play keyboards, guitar and bass and I am currently the keyboards player for The CSides Project – progressive rock band, as well as writing and recording my own music. I also enjoy scale modelling and keeping up to date with science and technology, especially psychology and neuroscience.

What is your career outside of the Smart Money Cymru board?

Between 1991 and 2003 I was an academic, firstly studying and then working as a research assistant at Cardiff University and Computing Statistics and Research Methods tutor at Cardiff Metropolitan University (formally UWIC). I left academia in 2003 to take up my first role with GAVO as Community Development Officer, supporting some of the poorest communities in Blaenau Gwent. I moved to Spain in 2006 and returned to Wales in 2008, taking up the role of Communities First Coordinator for the Pillgwenlly Communities First Partnership. I briefly returned to GAVO as Mental Health Development Officer in 2009 before going on to work for an Assembly Member as their Public Relations Officer. From 2016 until returning to GAVO in 2021, I was a self-employed Organisational Development consultant and Executive Coach. I am currently the Third Sector Learning and Development Lead for GAVO covering Gwent.

Besides my employment, I have been a volunteer since 1995. This included positions on community centre management committees, establishing a major community environmental project, which has been going for twenty-five years and helping to save two miner’s institutes. I am currently a Trustee of the Friends of the Ecopark, Secretary of the Cefn Fforest & Pengam Community Partnership and Director of Smart Money Cymru Community Bank.

What’s your proudest moment at SMC so far?

Having spoken to a number of staff, I am proud to be part of an organisation where staff are passionate about what Smart Money stands for, and their commitment to supporting our members by providing a good customer experience.

Tell me about your ambitions for your time at Smart Money Cymru

I want SMCCB to be a great place to work for all staff. Where staff at all levels within the organisation are recognised for their contribution and are encouraged to put their ideas forward for making SMCCB successful and providing an excellent customer experience.

Thank you to Kevin for the opportunity to learn more about one of our Board members!  If you would like to know more about any of our volunteer opportunities, please get in touch for an informal discussion about what skills you could bring to your local Credit Union.