Meet the Judges at the Scottish Veterans Awards 2025

Leanne Boner,Ex-Forces Programme Manager, Forces Employment Charity

Paul Stead – Maintenance Focal Point

Paul is a proud veteran who served 23 years with the Royal Air Force as a Mechanical Aircraft Engineer supporting Canberra, Hawk, Tornado, Nimrod and Sentry types and undertook numerous out of area deployments including Germany, the Middle East and the Falkland Islands.  Paul left the military in 2014 joining Petrofac where he has held various Contract Manager positions supporting offshore Operators undertake maintenance activity. He is now seconded to oil and gas operator Serica Energy as a maintenance Focal Point and is a member of their Armed Forces Support Group whose mission is to support their veterans, reservists and forces families, whilst also raising industry awareness of the great benefits of employing veterans. The Group also provide funding and fundraising for various military charities and are a founding member and co-chair of the Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) Armed Forces Working Group.

Buster Bown, Customer Support Manger and Armed Forces Network Chairman, Thales Group 

Buster has been with Thales since 2006 and is currently the Product Support Team Lead for Naval Systems in OME Glasgow, He is also one of the two Co-Chairs for the Thales UK Armed Forces Network.

Buster is a Royal Navy Veteran, with 2 years’ service on ships and 25 years’ service in Submarines.  He routinely involves himself in the promotion of service-life skills within the civilian workplace and conducts work with the Thales UK Military Insight Events.  He also collaborates in recruitment events with the Officers Association (Scotland).

Buster is a member of the West of Scotland Submarine Association committee and serves as a governor on the board of the Community Veterans Support Charity, based in Glasgow.

Duncan Evans – regional Employer Engagement Director (RRED) – Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets Association.

My role predominantly involves encouraging employers to show their support for the Armed Forces Community by signing the Armed Forces Covenant and starting their journey on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. Many of these employers employ veterans and I see at first hand, not only their invaluable work but also the first class contribution they make to Society in general.

I look forward to playing my part on the Judging Panel and appreciate the selfless and significant impact veterans make. This is a perfect opportunity to recognise and showcase the successes that former military personnel have achieved since leaving the armed forces.

Natalie Lewis, Scotland and North East Engagement Officer, Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity 

Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) is the principal charity of the Royal Navy and exists to support every sailor, marine and their families, for life. As the Engagements Officer for Scotland with the RNRMC, I work within the Fundraising team. My role focuses on maximising engagement with the Charity’s key stakeholder groups in Scotland. This includes raising awareness of the support services available to beneficiary groups and promoting ways to get involved in our charity projects and campaigns, such as The Submarine Family (TSF).

Being the daughter of an RAF veteran, I have been connected to the military community from birth. I went on to serve proudly in the Royal Navy for 16 and a half years as a Writer, continuing my family’s legacy of service. I am married to Kris, a fellow Royal Navy veteran who completed an impressive 25 years of service before retiring from the service in July last year. Together, we have two wonderful children: Addison, who is 13 and Sonny who is 8.

I am deeply honoured to have been invited to join this year’s Veterans Scotland Awards judging panel. It is a privilege to help celebrate the remarkable achievements of veterans who continue to inspire and make a lasting difference in their communities, embodying the values of service, dedication, and resilience that define the armed forces.

Gordon Michie, Head of Fundriasing Poppy Scotland

Gordon has been the Head of Fundraising and Learning at Poppyscotland since July 2016. He leads the fundraising team, including the Scottish Poppy Appeal, and oversees Education & Learning and Volunteering. He managed major commemorations like the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, D-Day 75, and VE Day 75, and led a multi-million-pound project funded by HLF and Libor. Before Poppyscotland, Gordon spent 16 years in fundraising agencies, developing individual giving programmes for UK and international charities. He also worked as a fundraiser for Worldwide Cancer Research and served in the RAF from 1988 to 1995.  In his “spare” time he is Treasurer of Veterans Housing Scotland, a board director of Sight Scotland Veterans and a member of the MOD sponsored Veterans Pension Advisory Committee for Scotland.  He still finds some time to be the compere of the Dundee Festival of Remembrance as part of his volunteering with the Royal British Legion Scotland.   He was a Silver Winner in the role model category for these awards in 2022. Gordon is married with two grown-up daughters and three granddaughters.

Iain Davidson MBA MSc, Cyber Security Portfolio Deputy Lead 

Iain Davidson is a Cyber Risk manager with DXC Technology, managing a team of Security Engineers and Security Delivery Leaders across multiple accounts in the Public & Private Sector.  He is also a member of the Leadership Team of DXC’s Armed Forces Network supporting existing Veterans, Reservists, Cadet Force Volunteers and Service Family members and helping to support  others to join and transition into the Civilian workforce.

Iain is also a Reservist and is currently Deputy Commander (Reserves) in 1 (UK) Signal Brigade.  He also helps NATO Reserves develop their Cyber Reserve Capability as Chair of the Confederation of Interallied Reserve Officers Cyber Committee.

In any spare time he is a Scuba Diving Instructor, member of Abertay University Court and enjoys watching Scotland play Rugby, Hillwalking, Skiing and Swimming.

John Gillie – Engagement Officer, ABF

The role encompasses briefing a wide range of audiences both military and civilian on the work of the Charity to encourage support to regional fundraising, provision of fundraising support to the Regional Office and Events, including organising events, establishing and maintaining key relationships with Army units both Regular and Reserve and continual development of our volunteer fundraising team.As an army veteran himself, John completed a 39 year exemplary career in 2020. He feels so privileged and honoured having the opportunity to once again read over all the wonderful stories that make our veterans so special in Scotland. He looks forward to the SVA’s annually, listening to how successful our veterans have been throughout the year.He is married to his wife of 37 years Sherrilyn with 3 sons, Liam (35), Danny (33) &  Ewen (28) all currently living life to the full both home & abroad. A close family who enjoy socialising together.“I was very pleased once again to be asked to be a judging panel member. As a veteran, this event is always one of many highlights I’m lucky enough to attend on an annual basis. It fills me with pride & emotion watching as the finalists get their deserved recognition on the night highlighting what improvements they make within their local community & nationally. Once again, I’ll look forward to celebrating the success of our Scottish Military Veteran Community in April along with those companies that support us”