BADGP Management Committee

BADGP is run by a volunteer member Committee assisted by two part time administrators. The Committee also has Sub-Groups, with defined, specific responsibilities. You can read more about these at BADGP Working-Groups.

Growing an organisation like BADGP is challenging and exciting, and you might find that being a BADGP Committee member to be a rewarding extension to your dangerous goods work. Committee meetings are held at the work-places of Committee members, or online, about four times per year. If you think you might be interested in becoming a Committee member please email us at enquiries@badgp.org in the first instance.

Each year, our members, at our Annual General Meeting (usually held around March) elect the members of our management Committee. 

Our current Committee, elected in March 2024, are as follows:

Mark Spence - Chair

Mark grew up in Leicestershire & Cheshire and then went to Aston University in Birmingham in the mid 80’s.

After graduating, he stayed in Birmingham and moved between several jobs and then got a position in the Traffic Office at Cadbury’s in Bournville running several different projects for them. He also worked for Severn Trent, Cummins Engines and several regional hauliers in a variety of roles, before ending up at Fortec Distribution Network and Geodis United Kingdom Ltd in 2007. Having qualified as a DGSA in his previous job, Mark took over training of staff and upgrading all the procedures while setting up and running the Compliance department looking after members of the Fortec pallet network.

Mark's DG specialism has always been Limited Quantities, Special Provisions and Exemptions as that was the only DG freight allowed through Fortec. He also qualified as an ISO Internal Auditor and got Geodis re-accredited for ISO 9001 and through their 9001:2015 transition. Once appointed as Company DGSA, Mark was also heavily involved on the Class 7 side of their operation with audits and internal training.

After nearly 13 years with Fortec & Geodis, he took redundancy in January 2020 to be able to set up a Dangerous Goods consultancy. Having been told “You like technical stuff Mark, I’m sending you on a DGSA course” nearly 15 years ago, he found a vocation and now has more time to do training, provide advice, and at a higher level, via BADGP, develop contacts in government and in industry to improve the level of knowledge in general business.

Mark is not known for being quiet and because he's happy to volunteer to help, often ends up running things. Fairly soon after graduating from Aston, he joined the governors at an Infant school in Small Heath (as he had studied the Education Reform Acts of the early 80’s) and spent 12 years there, the last 5 as Chair.

After moving to Daventry in Northamptonshire, Mark joined the governors at 2 local schools. When they became academies, he became involved with the Career Ready group in a local secondary school and then Northampton College where he became the Chair of the Local Advisory Board for 2 years helping to oversee the Logistics Academy there.

Mark is also part of the Northamptonshire Logistics Forum and has been involved since it started 5 years ago. There is an allotment he doesn’t get to visit as often as he would like and has been Chair of the local allotment association for the last 6 years.

Mark is married with 4 adult children, 1 grandchild, 1 foster child and 2 dogs (Labrador crosses), all of whom do their upmost to keep him busy.

Kevin Dougherty - Vice Chair

Kevin is a DGSA and has worked for over thirty years in multiple industry sectors including motor vehicle, food retail, construction, housing and commercial property.

Since 2004 he has worked for Air Sea Containers Ltd, a company who specialise in providing UN approved packaging solutions, overseeing their product development, sales and marketing, overseas agencies and the day-to-day operations.

He is experienced in the development of UN packaging, works closely with the VCA Dangerous Goods Office and regularly attends various Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Department for Transport (DfT) Dangerous Goods Division briefing meetings as a technical expert on packaging related matters.

As a member of the committee for the BADGP he actively supports the core principles to share knowledge with the wider community for those involved in the transport of dangerous goods.

Trevor Green - Treasurer

Originally from London, Trevor grew up in Poole with his seafaring family where he became a keen sailor. He says, ‘’I remember I was about 10 when dad let me have my first go at the helm. To me it was always about the adventure.’’

After qualifying in advanced Biology and Mathematics, his dream job of Marine Research was pulled before it got started and he found himself suddenly working for a freight forwarder and customs clearing agent in Poole shortly after.

This was the start of a very long and enjoyable career within the transport industry. He joined his current employer Wyvern Cargo Ltd in 1995 and, after various roles, qualified and became their Transport Manager in 2008. One year later he became their DGSA.

Speciality DG fields include LQ, EQ, Small Load Threshold and full ADR (in packages), Class 1 & 7… Oh, and keeping the BADGP Chair in check!

Trevor became a member of BADGP in 2012. The first event he attended was the Seminar for Transport Security in Birmingham that year and he was voted onto the committee the following year. Along with committee member Andy Holton, he represents BADGP’s interest with the International Association of dangerous goods Safety Advisors (IASA).

Other than BADGP, Trevor has a keen interest in transport law and road infrastructure. He is a member of many other committees including the Connected Dorset LEP Group and is Vice Chair of the regional Road Haulage Association.

Trevor has always been a person to venture way outside of his comfort zone. Over the last 20 years, he and his partner have been on multiple solo and group overlanding expeditions to North Africa and the Sahara, including Libya, Algeria, Western Sahara and Morocco. Spending weeks away from civilisation at a time is not for the faint of heart. There are challenges around every corner in the Sahara and both he and his partner must rely on each other as well as Trevor’s many other skills including field mechanics, first aid and old-style navigation.

Other interests include music, playing guitar, fast cars and powerful motorcycles.

Christopher Abrahams

Christopher is a member of the team of DGSA’s at Peter East Associates Ltd - a leading provider of Dangerous Goods Training and Consultancy services in the UK. When not on DGSA assignments, Christopher manages the administration, logistics, IT infrastructure of the business. He is also air & sea qualified and is also a member of the Dangerous Goods Training Advisory Panel.

Bill Atkinson

Bill Atkinson is the Chief Scientific Advisor at Adler and Allan Group, leading a team of Incident Advisors providing the 24-7 Emergency Advice service to callers ranging from the public to the emergency services, world-wide and in multiple languages. He supports the chemical incident response and pollution management response services provided by Adler and Allan and now chairs their Pollutants Advisory Group, assessing the threat from emerging pollutants like PFAS.

Bill is also employed as a Scientific Advisor to West Midlands Fire Service, providing advice and attending hazardous material and CBRNe incidents across six counties in the Midlands. He has helped author a number of policy documents to update and inform policy within the UK fire services in respect of hazardous materials.

After studied Chemistry at the University of Bristol, he worked briefly in the chemical industry and then in waste recycling. He now has over 25 years of experience in providing chemical advice. He is a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor (DGSA) by road. He joined the BADGP committee in 2023.

Ken Bickell

Ken Bickell has 25 years’ experience as a commercial vehicle specialist having recently retired after 30 years in the Police Service (2024). He spent 25 years on Roads Policing of which 13 years were as a commercial vehicle specialist law trainer. During this time attained many qualifications including DGSA which he has held since 2014, a Certificate in Education through the University of Plymouth and Ken is a qualified assessor and IQA. He is an award-winning trainer and was the national training lead for dangerous goods through the NCDGPF.

Ken was the author of the national police dangerous goods Tier 3 course which was adopted by the College of Policing for use by all 43 Police Services in the UK for dangerous goods enforcement training. He was also the author of the two-day Class 7 Radioactive course which was again adopted by the College of Policing and is a qualified Radiation Protection Supervisor.

Ken is now turning his hand to multimodal DG training having qualified in DG by sea and air and set up Hazken Training Ltd to work as a freelance trainer within the DG industry. Ken has been a member of BADGP since 2018 and started on the Events group committee in 2023 and has been an active member since joining the committee.

Ken lives on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon with his wife Mel and their spaniel Buddie and loves the quiet country life.

Ken joined the BADGP committee in 2024.

Bill Evans

Bill Evans initial experience with Dangerous Goods came within his career within the Army where he drove fuel tankers on operations, taught and worked with explosives. After 16 years’ service his career was curtailed due a back injury, he continued his exposure during his following employment in Transport Operations. Later becoming a Training Manager at FTA. He also provided training and advice to Sussex Police.

Qualified as a DGSA since 2005 Bill's DG expertise covers the Road and Sea aspects of transport and he is a qualified Radiation Protection Supervisor. A BADGP member for a number of year, Bill joined the committee in March 2023. Bill brings to the committee a range of skills and knowledge which are being channelled into appropriate areas. He lives in Heathfield in East Sussex and has recently passed a Master in Law.

Adam Field

Adam Joined the BADGP committee in November 2021, and has over 20 years of experience in multimodal dangerous goods and is a qualified DGSA in both Road and Rail, as well as an IATA dangerous goods instructor. Adam has extensive operational expertise, gained from working in hostile environments and humanitarian settings around the world.

Andy Holton

Andy is a Brummie and proud of it. After graduating in chemistry from Oxford University he did a Ph.D. at Birmingham University. This involved handling chlorine, fluorine, hydrofluoric acid and pyridine for three years, and the appetite for dangerous goods has never left him.

Between 1974 and 2011, he worked for ExxonMobil Chemical successively as research chemist, salesman, manufacturer, contract sales manager, technical sales manager, and product stewardship manager, but always seeking jobs with a high level of product knowledge. He has chaired several H&S committees in the CIA and the SIA.

In July 2010 he started BADGP as the inaugural chairman, holding this post until 2015, and has remained on the committee ever since. On retirement In April 2011 he formed Hazand Ltd, his dangerous goods consultancy.

Andy is married with three children and six grandchildren. Music is his principal pastime, singing and playing guitar in a folk/swing band.

Mark Hunsley

Mark’s introduction to Dangerous Goods came during his time at sea updating the old IMDG Blue Book pages in the early 1980’s, this exposure expanded when he came ashore and was working as a vessel stowage planner at OOCL, screening dangerous goods bookings and ensuring correct stowage and segregation on board the vessels; in the days when stowage planning was done with A3 paper sized bay plan layouts and felt tip pens. Since then he continued to work in the shipping industry; designing, installing and supporting IT systems in numerous global logistic companies, including integration of dangerous goods management to booking and documentation systems. A qualified DGSA since 2007, Mark is also one of the few in the UK to hold an ADN (Inland Waterways) DGSA qualification, although having no reason to use it! Mark and his fellow DGSA’s in the company, support a number of customers nationally. The company also provide an accredited training programme for roadside enforcement of the DG regulations for many UK police forces along with government agencies, along with IMDG training for many prominent shipping companies and agencies.

Dawn Kenyon

Dawn Kenyon was born in Wigan and growing up her father had his own Transport Consultancy business in which she worked. Her early career includes intense training in Tachograph Analysis and remembers well the old manual tachograph machines. After a varied career (including as a prison governor) Dawn had developed an extensive background in Health and Safety. The Family business however had never been far from her mind and after training in the field of Dangerous Goods, Dawn became a qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor and once more joined her father in RADCaT Ltd in 2010. By 2011 David, her father, had retired and Dawn had taken over and become the Managing Director of a steadily growing and expanding business. Bringing her experience of Health and Safety to the job, and being a fully qualified DGSA, Dawn was able to offer services across both sectors.

Dawn’s extensive knowledge, ability to network and willingness to travel has led to the expansion of RADCaT Ltd where she not only has clients across the country but internationally too. Dawn is able to give training on a wide variety of subjects which includes IMDG training, showing that not even the sea can stop Dawn thinking about safety!

Dan Lee

Dan Lee’s initial experience with Dangerous Goods came within his career as a Police Officer but when this was curtailed with an injury, he continued his exposure during his following employment as an Operations Training Manager for both United Airlines and TNT Express.

Qualified as a DGSA since 2005 Dan confesses that his DG expertise covers the Road, Sea and Air aspects of transport and is a qualified Radiation Protection Supervisor. Additionally he is a qualified Health and Safety professional and Lead Auditor in both H&S (18001) ISO9001 and Maritime Safety Systems. A BADGP member since 2015 Dan brings to the committee a vast range of skills and knowledge which are being channelled into appropriate areas. Dan lives in Devon, near the sea, with his wife and 2 daughters.

John O'Shea

John was born near Heathrow Airport and apart from an 18 month stint at Stansted and Luton in the mid 80’s and working in Tokyo for 2 years in the early 2000s, has always worked close to Heathrow.

John is a career “Air Cargo Man” and has worked in most aspects of the Air Cargo World including Freight Forwarders, Integrators, Air Cargo IT and Airlines (Cargo Sales and Cargo Operations including Load Control)

John has always been heavily involved in Training and has conducted multiple Air Cargo related training courses including Dangerous Goods by Air (All classes).

John joined BADGP in 2013 and joined the Committee in 2021. During the lockdown John passed his DGSA exams and now offers a DGSA service and conducts ADR training as well. John also undertook IMDG training during this time so can finally answer multi modal questions!

In his spare time John enjoys following Brentford FC and recently took up Bowls. John is also an FA qualified football referee and referee observer for Middlesex FA.

John is married with 2 grown up sons and 1 cockapoo called “Hurley”.

Les Richings

A director of the dangerous goods consultancy and training company LRT Ltd, Les has been involved in the transport of dangerous goods for over 30 years. He has a degree in education and training and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (FCILT), currently Chairman of the Ports, Maritime and Waterways Professional Sector of the Institute.

Les is currently a member of the Technical Panel of the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) and head of the Panel’s Dangerous Goods Working Group and has visited and worked in ports around the world.

Les is an active member of the UK Department for Transport (DfT) Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and Secretary of the Dangerous Goods Training Advisory Panel (TAP).

Beccy Ricketts

Beccy has been working in the transport industry for more than 25 years, starting her career in the Irish Freight market. In 2002, she set up her own light haulage transport company specialising in the express carriage of dangerous goods, servicing the commercial industry and public sectors. Initially transporting dangerous goods within the United Kingdom, this has expanded into the world-wide movement of dangerous goods.

Beccy became a DGSA in 2008 which enabled her to offer an additional service to her existing client base as well as expanding the consultancy services as a DGSA to new clients.

She joined BADGP in 2015 and was co-opted to the Committee in 2020.

Percy Thrower

Originally from East Anglia, Percy's first entry into dangerous goods was with the British Army, transporting explosives and munitions all over Europe. He then progressed on to fuel supply and managing the regiment's fuel points and stores. Upon leaving the Armed Forces he had several HGV driver roles carrying ADR products in and out of tanks.

He currently works within the members' advice centre for a large trade association dealing with all manner of haulage related queries. This gave him the urge for further education and he chose to sit the DGSA exam, where since he has taken the mantle of ADR specialist. This has led Percy to sit on working groups for government departments and update members on current legislation.