Revd Steve Wallis. BA (Hons), PG Dip, Dip RSA.

Steve has been a Baptist Minister since 1987, serving firstly in a church in an area of urban deprivation and latterly in a village church in Warwickshire. He presently serves a village church in rural Mid Wales.

From 1999 Steve took a seven year sabbatical from full time ministry and worked for a national charity, initially as part of the management team in a project for the resettlement of offenders, followed by a stint as the manager of a residential drug rehabilitation centre. He spent a few years as an acting operations support manager and acting operation manager.

After returning to ministry in 2006, he continued his links with the charity, offering management support in difficult situations. And working as an interim operations manager during a period of re-organisation.

Steve served as a local councillor on the now defunct Rochester City Council, during this service he specialized in the field of human resources and the chairing of quasi-judicial bodies such as: Housing Benefit Review Board, Human Resources Appeals and Hackney Carriages appeals.

After the abolition of Rochester City Council, Steve served as the Deputy Leader of the newly created Medway Unitary Authority, where again he specialized in the field of Human Resources. Steve was responsible for the oversight of all the staffing implications of setting up a new authority, agreeing a new management structure, liaising with recruitment consultants and chairing the interview panels for the appointment of all senior officers of the new council.

As well as serving on the local education committee, Steve has served as a governor on four schools, including a period of more than a decade as chair of governors of a Junior School.

Steve was also a member of the Kent Police Authority and the chair of the Medway SACRE (Statutory Advisory Committee for Religious Education).

Steve has a degree in theological studies, a post graduate diploma in applied theology and a diploma in care management.

Having worked in an area of urban deprivation where the life prospects of young people were blighted by the educational opportunities available to them, Steve is passionate about raising standards and ensuring that as many young people as possible have the opportunity of a high quality education. Steve brings considerable experience in the field of Human Resources and his experience in chairing quasi-judicial bodies is invaluable.