Craig Millar - Media and Communications Lead

Case study

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Energetic, determined, bold

What inspired you to join ReportOUT?

I decided to make some personal and professional decisions that feel right as I hurtle towards my 40th birthday. One of those was to 'give back' to the community that I have navigated my way through in my adult life. I have been openly gay since I was a teenager. I have made some terrible decisions, but equally some very positive ones that have steered me along the path I have taken. I wanted to volunteer some time that could be used to make a positive impact. ReportOUT clearly has a really exciting future ahead of it, driven by a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers. I have been hands on for just over a month and quite astounded by how much has already been achieved in the last year through the passion and commitment of the existing volunteer team.

What was it about this particular role as Media and Communications Lead which appealed to you?

What are some of your other aims you hope to achieve as of your new role?

Strong external and internal communications are the backbone of any organisation! I hope that my input will support the organisation strategically to reach their ambitious vision for the next three year.

Additionally, I aim to inspire the communication volunteers and demonstrate how much of an impact they have. Perhaps they might learn a few things from me, and I will hopefully learn from them.

What are your other skills and responsibilities outside of ReportOUT?

I am an experienced Marketing Director with significant expertise in developing innovative, insight-driven, marketing strategies. I have over 15 years’ experience in leadership roles within the public, private and third sectors, with significant experience within education and the arts. I am a member of CIM, and also have a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and Bachelor’s Degree in IT from Newcastle University.

Combining all that together has led me to start-up my own company which aims to help marketing teams and organisations reach their potential through better use of systems and information. I was delighted to launch The Knowledge Layer in January 2021.

What are some of your hobbies and other interests?

As a new Beagle puppy Daddy, I think my life has now been taken over by my new best pal! Outside of a lockdown position I am a regular gym goer, not too old (I hope) to be seen partying, absolutely love a lazy beach holiday and a good film. Rioja is my wine of choice, and I enjoy cooking but I’m a terrible baker.

Who inspires you and why?

My Dad will always be my greatest inspiration. He was a man who was driven by honesty and who grew in character and humility throughout his life. His passing is one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with, but when I need confidence to make a difficult decision, I go straight to thinking about what he would tell me to do. If he would tell me not to, I would probably still do it, maybe just with a little more caution.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

"Slow down, breath and think!"

As someone who is driven by seeing the impact of positive change, I often try to take that journey too quickly and have been known to be a little overwhelming. In recent months I have learnt how to slow down, and yet I actually seemed to work at a quicker pace than ever before. I realised there must be something in that advice after all!

From your own experience, what advice would you give to a young LGBTQI+ person?

Be yourself but remember to respect other people along your journey. Don't worry about making mistakes, worry about how well you move past them!