What first drew you into dentistry and what kept you passionate as your career evolved?

I was interested in a career in medicine first and spent time doing work experience in A&E. A junior doctor I spoke to at the time said that, given the chance again, they would choose dentistry. I hadn’t even considered it before, but their comments made me look into it. I spent time shadowing my own dentist and loved it – the mix of science, hands-on work, and meaningful patient interaction suited me perfectly. I went on to study dentistry at the University of Sheffield. 

As my dental career developed, I loved the interaction with patients but didn’t have a natural flair for some of the more technical aspects of dentistry. It was apparent to me quite early on that I had more of a passion for the legal aspects of dentistry and that I preferred the higher-level strategy and big picture thinking that has become a large part of my role today.

In terms of keeping my passion for my career, I have always put a huge emphasis on personal development. I don’t think there is a year since I qualified that I haven’t been working towards a qualification of some kind and I am currently coming to the end of studying for the Bar. Always being close to education has helped me maintain that passion and interest throughout my career to date. 

Before joining Dental Protection formally, what experiences or interactions did you have with us, and how did they shape your perception of who we are?

My first interaction with Dental Protection was as a Foundation Dentist, when I wasn’t sure a patient could properly consent to treatment. I called for advice and was struck by two things. First, I was never made to feel foolish for asking what some might have considered a simple question, and secondly, the guidance I received was excellent. I spoke to an adviser on the phone, and a detailed summary letter arrived three days later. I still have that letter and have referred back to it many times, which says a lot about the quality of the advice.

A more significant interaction came a few years later, when I received a GDC complaint. 

The complaint followed an emergency appointment during which I’d helped a patient who was in a great deal of pain. I followed established clinical guidelines, provided safety-netting advice, and kept thorough records. When the tooth later flared up, the patient complained to the regulator. What followed was many months of anxiety, waiting for updates and imagining the worst.

I’d just bought my first home, my wife and I were expecting our first child, and I was worried about what it might mean for my career. Dental Protection guided me through what was an incredibly stressful period.

My Dental Protection adviser, Phil Shaw, was outstanding. He was incredibly supportive and helped me keep perspective and focused on developing professionally in case the complaint escalated. Fortunately, the case was closed with no further action and the impact Dr Shaw had on shaping my own non-judgemental approach to supporting colleagues can’t be overstated.

Ironically, the patient never received an explanation from the regulator. Had they come to the practice, I could have talked everything through, offered remedial care, and even refunded them as a goodwill gesture. No one benefited from the formal process, but it taught me a great deal about the role of the regulator, the value of Dental Protection, and the importance of indemnity. It was a real turning point in my career and looking back now, I don’t think I would be in this position today were it not for that experience.

Notwithstanding the outcome, I came out of the process feeling bruised, but it also sparked an interest in the legal side of dentistry. I’d always had an interest in the law, and I later attended a dentolegal study day where the then Dental Director, the late Kevin Lewis mentioned they were recruiting for associate advisers. I applied, was successful, and that’s where my journey working at Dental Protection began.

You’ve supported many members at Dental Protection. Are there any moments that have stayed with you or influenced how you approach your work today? 

I’ve been at Dental Protection for over ten years now and the cases that stay with me most are those where dentists face the risk of the greatest sanctions. I’ve seen members suspended and even erased from the register, and the impact is profound – on their identity, their professional and personal lives. It’s devastating, and it reminds me just how high-stakes our work is at times and why the support we provide matters so deeply.

Another element of my work that stands out is how differently members experience complaints. Some dentists with decades of practice may have several cases running at once and take it in their stride. Meanwhile, a newly qualified dentist facing their first concern might be losing sleep, fearing for their career and really feeling the impact on all aspects of their life. Those contrasts have shaped how I understand our role and that people respond differently to these pressures, so our support must flex to meet their individual needs.

Some members want only occasional updates and prefer us to work quietly in the background. Others want regular check-ins and closer support and guidance. Both approaches are valid, and both deserve the same level of care. 

On an international note, last year I had the opportunity to meet members in person across Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. It struck me how varied the pressures can be across regions – different regulatory systems, different models of care, different expectations. Yet one theme was universal – the personal and professional toll of a complaint. It affects relationships, confidence, enjoyment of dentistry, and how people practise afterwards. No matter where they are, our members are driven, capable clinicians who want to do right by their patients, and the emotional cost of a complaint is felt universally.

The international regions are a significant focus for me, and I’m looking forward to continuing to meet members and stakeholders across the globe, whilst working closely with our local teams and colleagues

As you step into the Dental Director position, what are your hopes for the role, and what impact do you most want to make for our dental members?

I want to continue being a visible ambassador for Dental Protection, meeting with members and stakeholders face-to-face. Understanding their concerns and feedback is important to me. 

In terms of impact, my focus is on feeding meaningful insight back into the organisation and ensuring the dental perspective remains a constant priority. I’ll be holding myself and others to account so that member needs are genuinely heard, understood, and acted upon across every department.

I also want to acknowledge the outstanding work of our outgoing Dental Director, Raj Rattan. I’m delighted he is staying with Dental Protection as our first Global Adviser, and that we retain his experience and expertise. With a relatively new CEO, strengthened executive and a new Medical Director, we have a real opportunity to take a fresh approach and shape the next chapter of Dental Protection.

From your time working closely with our dental members, what themes or challenges have stood out to you, and how do you hope to address them at a strategic level now?

A key theme emerging now is the increased use of artificial intelligence. Healthcare professionals are using it in their practice and patients are using it to draft increasingly long and detailed complaints. We need to stay alive to how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is shaping expectations and how we respond. Dental Protection has already made huge steps in developing frameworks to support members, and we will be keeping up the momentum to understand and keep pace with developments in AI. 

Alongside this, I want to build on the trust our members place in us and stay focused on what we do best – ensuring the needs of our members are central to our decisions. 

What excites you most about where the organisation is heading, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for us to grow or innovate in dental care?

I am more confident than ever in the capability of the people that we’ve got running the organisation as well as our member-facing colleagues busy supporting our members. There is a real sense of alignment in our purpose to innovate and develop to deliver an excellent service. 

I am also excited by the outputs we see from The MPS Foundation, which supports research, both dental and medical, looking at healthcare professionals’ wellbeing and patient safety. Many of these projects are starting to produce tangible outputs which is wonderful to see. 

Are there particular areas that you’re especially passionate about championing in this role?  

Wellbeing is a priority. There is so much we already do, and can continue to do, to support dentists and wider dental teams, particularly in preventing burnout.

Digital innovation and artificial intelligence are also key areas for me, as mentioned earlier. As artificial intelligence develops, we need to stay ahead of it, continue evolving our knowledge, and ensure our members are supported in how it affects both clinical work and complaints.

Education is another major passion. I’ve been an educational supervisor, a training programme director for the Performer List Validation by Experience scheme in Yorkshire and Humber, and most recently Senior Dental Educator in our risk prevention team.

I have personally experienced the transformative power of education throughout my career. It not only develops knowledge and skills, but also restores confidence, and provides fresh perspectives on practice. I am firmly convinced of the vital role education also plays in supporting wellbeing, fostering professional growth, and ultimately improving patient care.