Nigel served as a police officer for 31 years. He spent most of his career as a Detective serving for 11 years as a Detective Superintendent leading and managing the investigation of Homicide and Serious and Organised Crime enquiries. He worked extensively in the UK and abroad. He spent the final three years of his service as the Head of Crime and Operations for a police command area spanning two local authorities. It was during this period that he designed and delivered the original concept of Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs, or MASH as it is widely known, the true design of which draws on his experiences dealing with risk assessment and decision making in relation to extremely sensitive intelligence. The model and concept is now used widely in the UK and in various locations across the world. Since finishing service, he has run his own consulting company and associates network specialising in the design and delivery of true Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs, which together with his social work partner he has continued to develop and evolve. He is also partner in a safeguarding company that provides safeguarding expertise across the social work, policing and health sectors including the provision of social work practice improvement through a unique 'live learning' model. The organisation also works alongside the internationally renowned inclusive theatre company Chicken Shed, to raise the voice of the child by way of performing and creative art. This has allowed the child's voice and the lived experiences of children to be researched, which has in turn influenced national policy considerations for social work practice. During his policing service he worked at the national level in relation to investigative interviewing, and during this time he created the 'Significant Witness' interview strategy and led the development of the interview advisor role. As well as providing consulting services through his company and the partnership, he has supported the Local Government Association peer review process as a specialist peer in relation to safeguarding. Russell has been an Independent Chair of various Safeguarding Children and Adult Boards for the last nine years. He has strong operational and strategic understanding of public protection having worked in the field for over 25 years; the first five of these were working jointly in operational settings with social care and other partners. While working for central government he was a member of the team that produced