Born in London but now an adopted Mancunian, Calum moved to the city to study at UMIST, graduating with a first-class honours degree. After university, he quickly transitioned from construction to technology, and has been working in software development and e-commerce since 2002.
A technologist by day, Calum dedicates a significant amount of his spare time to various causes, quickly developing a passion for giving back after a chance encounter with a neighbour led to him joining what became the Castlefield Forum.
He is now the Chair of the Castlefield Forum, a multi-award-winning neighbourhood charity dedicated to preserving and improving the historic city centre district of Castlefield. Under his leadership, the organisation continues to deliver multiple streams of work, most notably the Clean & Green Castlefield group, which has accrued over 4,000 volunteer hours in the last five years, as well as being the lead community partner for the Castlefield Viaduct project and community visioning process. The Forum’s teams have been recognised with numerous accolades, including the 2024 Pride of Manchester Award and multiple ‘Level 5 – Outstanding’ ratings from the RHS.
Calum is also personally involved with the National Trust Castlefield Viaduct project, serving on the delivery board. He is the only non-National Trust employee in the UK to hold such a position, ensuring the local community has a direct voice and representation as the project moves forward to deliver a permanent green space in the sky for Greater Manchester.
Additionally, Calum serves as a Trustee at the YMCA Manchester, an organisation focused on supporting children who have fallen out of mainstream education. He is also an Elected Member of the General Assembly at The University of Manchester, serving as a bridge between the University and the surrounding neighbourhoods, industry, and community groups.
Calum gives back to the tech community by serving on the programme panels for several leading UK software conferences, helping to spread best practices and innovative ideas. He is also scheduled to chair Agile Manchester 2026.
In his limited remaining time, Calum pursues creative and practical interests as a property renovator, baker, and exhibiting artist. He is currently renovating a Grade II listed structure, a project that will restore a small piece of Manchester’s history while complementing it with a contemporary new structure.
Calum was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2025.