SO1 Leadership
Lt Col David Falconer commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 2003. The early years of his service were spent as a Platoon Commander in Belfast, and at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick. He returned to the Fusiliers as Adjutant deploying to Musa Qala, Helmand, on Op HERRICK 10.
As a Major, he served with the General Staff in MOD main building before returning to Regimental duty in 2014 as a Company Commander with the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, deploying to Nigeria with a short-term training team for six months in support of operations to counter Boko Haram. Following a short spell back in the UK, he deployed with his Company as the Falkland Islands Resident Infantry Company for a period of six months. Thereafter, he served as Directing Staff on the Intermediate Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy and assumed the post of Second-in-Command of 1 R Anglian, deploying to Kabul on Op TORAL. He was later seconded to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as an advisor to the Afghanistan Ministry of Interior.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, he served as Military Assistant to the Director General Medical Services supporting the NHS and other Government Departments under Op RESCRIPT. Thereafter he attended Advanced Command, Staff Course and deployed to Iraq as Chief of Staff to the Joint Operational Command Advisory Team North, a multinational team advising and mentoring the Peshmerga in Erbil. In August 2023 he was appointed as Commanding Officer of Northumbria Universities’ Officer Training Corps returning to Newcastle his town of birth. He is currently SO1 Leadership in the Centre of Army Leadership, part of the Leadership, Education, Development Group.
As a keen sportsman, he has represented the Army at rugby, enjoys open water swimming, paddle boarding, cycling and all forms of mountaineering. His wider interests include playing the piano, international relations and exploring in his VW T6 campervan. As well as a Masters in Defence Studies from Kings College London, he has a Master of Business Administration from the Open University. He is married to Jessica with whom he has one son, Huw, aged six.
SO2 Leadership
Maj Bucknall commissioned into the Royal Military Police in 2011 and then completed the Military Police Officers Course and the Close Protection Course in quick succession. As a Junior Officer he conducted appointments as a Platoon Commander at 160 Provost Company, Operations Officer at 150 Provost Company, Training Officer at the Close Protection Unit, Adjutant of the Special Investigation Branch Regiment and Platoon Commander Instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. During this period he also deployed to Khartoum, Sudan as the Close Protection Team Leader to Her Majesty’s Ambassador.
On promotion to Major he completed the Intermediate Command and Staff Course in 2020 where he also deployed to London. His initial appointment was as SO2 Security at Regional Command before arriving to his next appointment as Deputy Commandant. During his time as deputy commandant, he also deployed on Operation Interflex, being responsible for providing mission risk management and production of orders as part of a multinational effort to provide training to over 20,000 trainees annually. Upon finishing there, he deployed on Operation Shader as UK embed to a US HQ and then across the Broader Middle East. He arrived at the Centre of Army Leadership (CAL) as SO2 Leadership in Jan 2025.
Maj Bucknall enjoys all aspects of physical training with his main passion being playing and chairing his Corps Basketball. He has also recently taken up golf and is striving towards finding his first fairway. He is an advocate for professional development and has recently completed a BA (Hons) in Leadership and Management and a Master’s in Business Administration. He lives with his wife Lauren and their two extremely needy Labradors Hunter (11) and Moose (one).
WO1 Leadership
Warrant Officer Class One (WO1) Donna Douglass joined the British Army in 1998 as a Private Soldier in the Adjutant General's Corps (Staff and Personnel Support). Having progressed through every rank to WO1, she brings over 25 years of experience gained across regimental duty, Brigade Headquarters, and Defence appointments. Throughout her career, she has remained passionate about developing people, strengthening leadership, and creating opportunities for others to realise their potential.
Donna has served with a wide variety of units and cap badges, predominantly in regimental duty appointments, supporting soldiers and commanders at every level. Her operational experience includes deployments on Op Agricola in Kosovo, Op Telic in Iraq, Op Herrick in Afghanistan, and Op Trenton in South Sudan. She has also participated in numerous overseas exercises worldwide, gaining valuable experience working in demanding and complex environments.
One of Donna's most notable achievements was becoming the first female soldier in the British Army to qualify in Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Extraction (SERE). She later served at the Defence SERE Training Organisation, a tri-service unit, as a Training Warrant Officer and Instructor, delivering specialist training designed to prepare personnel for the challenges of operating in hostile and high-risk environments.
Alongside her military career, Donna has developed a strong reputation for coaching, mentoring, and leadership development. She holds a Level 5 qualification in Coaching and Mentoring and is currently completing a Level 7 Executive and Senior Coaching and Mentoring qualification. She previously served as Head of Coaching for the AGC(SPS) Coaching, Mentoring and Leadership Development Network and now serves as the Network's Training and Development Lead. Prior to joining the Centre for Army Leadership, Donna was the 20X SPS Branch Visiting Warrant Officer, providing professional guidance, support, and development opportunities to soldiers across the branch.
In April 2026, Donna was selected for appointment as the WO1 at the Centre for Army Leadership. In this role, she acts as the soldier-focused voice within the organisation, helping shape leadership development across the Army and ensuring that leadership remains relevant, accessible, and meaningful for soldiers at every level.
While Donna is proud of her operational service, instructional experience, and coaching achievements, she believes the most important lessons from her career have come through personal reflection. She openly acknowledges that, like all leaders, she has made mistakes. Over time, she learned that meaningful development begins not by focusing on what others should change, but by first examining what she could improve in herself. This commitment to self-awareness, accountability, and continuous learning has shaped her approach to leadership, coaching, and mentoring.
Donna firmly believes that rank and experience should never mark the end of personal development. She is passionate about helping others recognise their own potential and creating environments where soldiers can thrive, contribute, and be seen for what they can achieve. Her leadership philosophy is founded on the belief that knowledge is only truly powerful when it is shared and that every leader has a responsibility to invest in the growth of others.
Outside the Army, Donna volunteers with the Scout movement, supporting the development of young people and future leaders. She considers it a privilege to help others grow and believes that if she can positively influence the leadership journey of even one soldier, then her career will have been worthwhile.
WO2 Leadership
Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Ben Page joined the British Army in September 2003, entering training at Bassingbourn Army Training Centre. On completion of training, he joined 13 Air Assault Regiment Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) , shortly after he deployed to Kandahar on Op Herrick 4 as a driver. He then completed a second tour forming part of a Psychological Operations team on Op Herrick 6.
In 2006 WO2 Page transferred to the 1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment (the Vikings) and completed the Junior NCO (JNCO) cadre and Close observation Operators course, promoting to Lance Corporal.
Whilst serving with the Vikings, WO2 Page’s further operational experience includes deployments to Afghanistan, on Op Herrick 11 and Op TORAL 1-m, serving as a rifle section 2IC and section commander. As well as numerous short term training teams to Nigeria and Kenya.
WO2 Page completed the Platoon Sergeants battle course in 2014 and was awarded a distinction, promoting into the Vikings as the Platoon Sergeant of the Machine Guns Platoon, then deployed to the Falklands, Kenya and America on Ex Rattlesnake. WO2 Page became an instructor at the Infantry Battle School, Brecon, where he was then selected for a 6-month secondment to the Centre for Army Leadership leading on “Leadership from a JNCOS perspective”. On return to the Battalion he then took over as Company Sergeant Major Support Coy, overseeing the Companies’ move to Cyprus and transition to a Security Force Assistance force role.
WO2 Page took on the role of Regimental Training Wing Warrant Officer of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Anglian Regiment in December 2023. During his tenure he deployed twice as part of his research to improve and modernise British Army trench warfare tactics. The culmination of his work has seen a rewrite of Trench warfare Doctrine which was published in Jul 2026.
WO2 Page is married to Amanda, Assistant Headteacher at Fort Pitt Grammar school, Rochester. They have two Children, Annabelle (15) and Florence (10).
In Dec 2024, WO2 Page was selected for assignment to the role of WO2 Leadership at the British Army’s Centre of Army Leadership which he began in Sept 2025. He has passion for soldiering a desire to deliver relevant change.
Director of Research
Professor Lloyd Clark is Director of Research at the CAL, and a Professorial Research Fellow in the Humanities Research Institute, University of Buckingham. Lloyd is also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, the Royal Geographical Society, and the British Commission for Military History, and sits on the advisory boards for several leading think tanks, academic journals and international research led organisations. He has worked with and for the British Army for over 30 years.
More information: Professor Lloyd Clark | University of Buckingham
Deputy Director of Research
Dr Linda Risso is Senior Researcher at the CAL. She is the Head of the Richard Holmes Library and the editor of the CAL Leadership Insights. Before joining the Ministry of Defence, Dr Risso worked as historian at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, in Mons (Belgium). She is an expert on European Security and Defence since 1945 with a particular focus on NATO. She is Senior Fellow of the Institute of Historical Research and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Contact the team
Email: [email protected]