A former president of Junior Chamber International Aberdeen is in the running to become one of just four global directors of the organisation.
Steven Wilson was elected last year as one of vice-presidents at the annual JCI World Congress in Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first young person from Aberdeen to do so. The qualified accountant also previously served as National President for Scotland for JCI.
He has now been nominated to join the executive board of JCI, which would see him take responsibility for one region – Europe, Asia and the Pacific, the Americas or Africa and the Middle East – for a year. Members will vote later this year.
Established almost 100 years ago, JCI is a not-for-profit organisation of 200,000 young people aged between 18 and 40. Today it operates in 5,000 communities across more than 100 countries.
Members aim to create positive change by taking collective action, from sustainable development to international projects, while developing their own skills in participation, leadership and action.
Steven has been a member of JCI Aberdeen since 2008 and was local president in 2011.
He said: “I am extremely proud to have been nominated and look forward to the result of the vote in November. Just to be put forward is a great honour.
“I originally became a member of Junior Chamber International so I could use my experience in business to make a difference to the local community in Aberdeen.
“My role as a global vice-president of JCI is allowing me to help members in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe to develop and continue to make sustainable, positive impacts in their own communities.
“If I am successful in being appointed to the board, this would give me the opportunity to utilise the skills I have learnt in Scotland to help my colleagues in other countries, which is testament to the support I have received from JCI Aberdeen and the local business community.”
JCI Aberdeen President, Euan Gillies, said: “Steven has given considerable time and commitment to the organisation and is tremendously passionate about it.
“His nomination is a fantastic example of the opportunities that are available to our members and of the regard in which he and Aberdeen are held in at an international level. I wish him the best of luck for the election process.”
Steven was awarded the Senate Award, the highest accolade given by JCI to recognise work done across the organisation which is way beyond that expected of a member. He was also selected to carry the Queen’s Baton when it came to Aberdeen recently.
He currently has responsibility for eight countries – Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden – with a remit to act as a link between the JCI headquarters in St Louis, USA, and each of the countries.
The vote will be held at the JCI World Congress in Leipzig, Germany, in November.