John May is Vice Chairman of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

John started Scouting when he was 11, in Gloucestershire, with what is now the Stroud Valley Scout Group.   As an adult, he has worked with every Section (and been a District Commissioner), has been a Trustee of The Scout Association, International Commissioner and the national Chairman of Programme and Development.   He has worked on a number of World Scout Jamborees, including The Netherlands where he led the UK contingent; and the Centenary World Scout Jamboree in Essex, where he was one of the organisers.

Professionally, John is the Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award International Association, responsible for leading the development and co-ordination of the Award worldwide.   The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is an exciting self-development programme available to all 14 to 25 year olds.

John is a former non-executive director of UNICEF, has been one of the judges of the National Teaching Awards and was one of the founders of both ‘Teach First’ and 'Career Academies UK'.  He writes, speaks and broadcasts on a number of education related matters.   In 2008, John received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion in recognition of his long-standing dedication to enterprise education.  He received the Freedom of the City of London in 2009.

John's spare time interests, apart from Scouting, include long-distance running (he has completed five marathons), hill-walking, theatre, choral singing, and attempting, usually unsuccessfully, to visit the gym regularly.