Vice-presidents Nancy Rowland and John Cowley have spoken about their goals in their new roles with BACP.
Nancy Rowland, BACP’s former deputy CEO (external), and John Cowley, a BACP fellow and former member of the board of governors, were confirmed as new VPs at our annual general meeting.
They have been appointed to the role alongside Luciana Berger MP, who made the first keynote speech to our AGM last Friday (November 16) about the need for a mental health revolution.
“It’s a huge honour,” said Nancy, who has been a member of BACP for almost 40 years, said: “I started off as a student in BACP when I was 28 and now at 64, I can’t believe I would have ever offered this.
“I want to have conversations with people in power.
"I want to have conversations with politicians, policy makers and decision makers so that I can represent the voices of counsellors and psychotherapists, so that I can represent people who use counselling and psychotherapy, and so that I can argue strongly for counselling and psychotherapy to be part of mental health services.”
John made one of AGM’s keynote speeches at our AGM entitled ‘Who would I talk to a stranger?’. And he said: “I have had a long of time with a lot of experience with BACP in the past and I know it is an organisation that is evolving.
“I was really flattered to be asked to be a VP because, hopefully, it means I can be part of influencing some of that change.”
David Weaver, BACP president, said: “We are delighted to welcome Nancy and John as vice-presidents, alongside Luciana Berger MP.
“In Luciana, Nancy and John we have three powerful and passionate voices on mental health issues.
“Nancy and John each have a long association with BACP and are passionate about the work we do, our members and the potential for the future.
“We know that counselling changes lives, and they share our commitment to making talking therapies available and accessible to the people who need them.”