Candidate to International Representative (Board Member) for ICAPP 2025 Elections.

I am standing for the position of International Representative (Board Member at Large) with the International College of Advanced Practice Paramedics because I believe deeply in the value of a global paramedic voice—one that both represents our profession and advocates meaningfully for its advancement in all settings.

My career in paramedicine began within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, working on frontline ambulances in both urban and rural contexts. From those early years, I gained a foundational understanding of the core values of our profession: clinical excellence, integrity, and public trust.

Since then, I have taken on increasingly complex and diverse roles—across operational leadership, advanced clinical practice, and high-risk environments. I have served as a remote paramedic in austere locations, an operations manager and a clinical manager overseeing care delivery standards. I have worked in technical rescue, forensic health, and search and rescue paramedicine. My practice has extended to Emergency Care Practitioner roles in both primary and urgent care contexts, as well as protective and humanitarian operations with the United Nations and in complex security environments such as Libya and Iraq.

Alongside these professional responsibilities, I have pursued postgraduate studies in emergency medicine, remote healthcare, and risk management. This academic grounding has enhanced my capacity to lead, influence, and deliver high-quality care across systems. It has also enabled me to contribute to service development, mentoring, and the advancement of clinical standards.

These varied experiences have given me a unique vantage point—seeing firsthand the diverse forms paramedicine takes across systems, sectors, and continents. I have worked beside colleagues in nations where the profession is still emerging, and in others where paramedicine is highly developed but still struggling for recognition and integration at government or health-system levels.

This global perspective underscores the critical role that ICAPP can play in the years ahead. Across the world, new paramedic programs are being created at pace, with specialist tracks in critical care and flight medicine gaining ground. However, these developments often unfold in isolation—creating disparities in training, scope, and recognition. Without shared standards and advocacy, this fragmentation risks undermining both patient outcomes and the standing of our profession.

My vision for ICAPP is to strengthen its role as the global standard-bearer for advanced paramedicine. As a board member, I will advocate for a credible, inclusive minimum standard of practice—one that both respects national differences and ensures mutual recognition of skills and qualifications. ICAPP is uniquely positioned to serve as the badge of quality, but more importantly, as the voice of paramedics globally: in government consultations, policy formation, employer relations, and industry engagement.

As a non-US paramedic, I bring an international perspective shaped by practical experience. I understand the systemic challenges faced by clinicians working outside traditional health frameworks and across jurisdictions. I believe that representation on the Board must include voices from outside North America to reflect the true breadth and diversity of paramedic practice today.

If elected, I will work to ensure that ICAPP’s influence expands—not only as a certifying body, but as a global platform for collaboration, learning, and leadership. I will seek to build bridges between paramedics and policymakers, between educators and regulators, and most importantly, between our diverse communities of practice.

A vote for me is a vote for balanced, informed, and passionate representation. It is a vote to ensure that the needs and voices of all paramedics—wherever they work—are heard, valued, and championed.

Thank you for considering my candidacy.

Michael Templeton

MSc, DipROM RSCed, NQEMT-AP, FRGS, FP-C