BSAC Council

BSAC's Council members are a group of experienced divers with a passion for the sport and for helping their members get the most from their diving and snorkelling experiences.

If you are interested in getting involved visit the Get into governance section.

Chair - Edward Haynes

Edward joined BSAC in the late 1990s when on a military posting to Cyprus and gradually progressed through to become an Advanced Diver/Advanced Instructor. He initially worked in transport and logistics for the Ministry of Defence (MoD), before changing career and becoming an internal auditor first for the MoD and then privately, where he learned about business governance. Since 2013, Edward has been the Chief Internal Auditor for Allied Vehicles Ltd in Glasgow. He has been facilitating open water training sessions for BSAC members in South Scotland since 2007.

Vice-Chair - Rachel Quinn

Rachel is born and bred in Nottinghamshire and joined BSAC through Bingham SAC (2018 Heinke Trophy winners) in 1984.  Rachel has held various branch officer roles, including DO, over many years and has been a driving influence in-branch fundraising activities for capital expenditure and on the development of women in diving - advising BSAC policy, leading an all-woman expedition and actively pursuing 'This Girl Can' opportunities in the East Midlands.  Qualified to AD/OWI Rachel ceased diving in 2017 following a DCI but continues to support her branch and BSAC.

National Diving Officer - Dai Atkins

Dai has been an active member of BSAC for 12 years, being involved in club committees and the Wales coaching teams. Being so involved with the BSAC teams Dai gets to listen to other members and divers from all diving, instructing and general interest fields. "Listening to our members has kick-started the BSAC strategy enabling us to move with the times, embrace new technologies, and both develop and grow the organisation so that it suits our members’ needs. And we must continue to do so."
Email Dai

Honorary Secretary - Andy Shenstone

Andy is an Advanced Diver, diver coxswain and OWI in Vale Royal SAC based in Winsford, Cheshire. He’s the club treasurer and dives in the UK throughout the year. Andy is an active branch instructor and leads club expeditions both in the UK and overseas. In his professional life, he is a Director of Business Development for a UK Charity that is focused on developing the governance, leadership and management of Higher Education. "Diving is my passion and being a member of Council allows me to use my professional skills to support our sport’s continued development and success in the interests of all members."

Honorary Treasurer - Janos Suto

Janos is a member of the London Hellfins SAC and has held a number of positions including Diving Officer and Chairman. He gained his National Instructor qualification in 2012 and is an active member of the Instructor Training Scheme in the London and South East region. Janos has a particular love for diving in the UK, where he enjoys the sheer variety that it offers, be it a rebreather trip looking for wrecks or teaching in a quarry. Janos is a Chartered Management Accountant through CIMA, and has worked in a variety of finance roles across strategic, management, and financial accounting.

Davs Brander

Davs learnt to dive in 2006 with PADI and in 2011 he joined his university branch and continued his diving education. Since then he has been enthusiastic about diving and helped run the branch as well as learning to instruct all divers that ask to learn. Since joining Council in 2015 he has worked hard to promote student members around the Council table and ensuring student members get a vote at General Meetings. He has also taken on the challenge of BSACs digital offering, helping deliver a new website in 2016. Since joining Council six years ago, Davs has learnt what is important for members and tried to turn that into results.
If you want to contact Davs, you can do so on Facebook or email.

Rachael Brown

Rachael learned to dive with the Leeds University Union Sub-Aqua Club in 2017 and has very much been bitten by the diving bug. She is a qualified Dive Leader and Assistant Diving Instructor and is a keen advocate for all that University clubs bring to BSAC. Whilst new to the Council, Rachael has experience in governance and works within equality projects in Higher Education. She is an Associate Member of the CIPD and enjoys conversations about people, culture, leadership and management.

Geoffrey Duggan

Geoffrey joined Leicestershire Scouts Sub-Aqua Unit in 2002, progressing to Advanced Diver, Open Water Instructor and Diver Coxswain. Since 2016, he has been the Diving Officer. LSSAU provides snorkel experiences, Try Dives and Ocean Diver through to Advanced Diver training for Scouting and Guiding in Leicestershire and the surrounding counties, having over 200 youngsters through the unit in an average year. 

John Gibbons

Rob Mason

Since starting his BSAC journey in 2007 Rob has progressed to an Open Water Instructor and Advanced Diver. Rob was previously the local organiser for the Yorkshire Region Coaching Team and is a current member of the Barnsley BSAC Divers branch committee as well as a diving member of South Bay Scuba. With experience in member retention and recruitment Rob has made a significant impact on membership numbers in a number of clubs that have been featured as top recruiting BSAC clubs thanks to his efforts. 

Rob's background is in Cyber Security with over 25 years experience of working on large and complex technology programmes for UK Government and UK Policing.  "I believe I can contribute to the BSAC Strategic Plan by supporting its digital transformation to ensure that its systems are modern, secure and effective in enabling the organisations growth".

Lisa Shafe

Former Eastern Regional Coach, Lisa brings with her nearly 25 years of diving experience on both open- and closed-circuit, diving mostly on wrecks and reefs but also some cave diving experience as well. She is an OWI, CCR MOD 3 and FCD. As well as a passion for diving, Lisa also brings skills in strategy, budget planning, meeting planning, risk assessments, agile ways of working, coaching and other skills. She has already been involved with launching BSAC's improved equality, diversity and inclusion policy and eLearning awareness course, and is looking forward to being able to help drive BSAC and support its strategy over the next year.

Paul Tarn

Paul is a diver of 20 years, an instructor at two South Yorkshire branches, Dearne Valley Divers and Barnsley BSAC, and a member of the Yorkshire Regional Team. "BSAC data analysis is the key that will allow us to strategically intervene to support members and ultimately retain them. Branch support, especially where diver progression is slow, is essential. I also believe that we need to look at how we develop the next generation of instructors. Especially how we bridge that gap between IFC and full OWI status."

Yasmine Thorne

Yasmine has been a committee member of her local branch for 4 years and has previously supported many large-scale public engagement projects. Yasmine works in HR and recruitment and is passionate about ensuring compliance with legislation as well as inclusivity. As a young woman in diving, of mixed heritage, with a disability, Yasmine is keen to explore existing barriers to the sport for people of all backgrounds and attempt to break those down. 

Vice President - Prof. Brian Cumming

Brian has been a member for 48 years and has been actively involved in clubs holding a number of committee positions including Chairman and Diving Officer as well as being a founding member of the University of East London. Qualifying up to First Class Diver and National Instructor Brian has put those skills to good use as Eastern Regional coach, been an advisor to NDC and a member on the NDC board, has been on BSAC Council in past years and in 2009 became BSAC Vice President. Brian has also compiled and wrote the annual Diving Incident report since 1996.

Vice President - Jane Maddocks

Jane has been a BSAC member for many years and her main interest is in maritime archaeology and underwater heritage. She believes that recreational divers are an enormous force for good in exploring, finding and looking after our underwater heritage.

Vice President - Tony Marshall

Vice President - Prof. Clare Peddie

Life Vice President - Harry Gould