My Detailed CV

David James Bailey MBE (born 1953) is a British broadcaster, media trainer, digital media consultant, podcaster, and writer. He is known for his international career in military and civilian broadcasting, his contributions to media development, and his storytelling about life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bailey previously had a distinguished career in the British Army and the Territorial Army.

Bailey was born in the United Kingdom in 1953. In 1968, at age 15, he joined the British Army as an apprentice tradesman in the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).

He trained initially as a Vehicle Mechanic repairing Tanks and Heavy Self Propelled Artillery. Latterly he re-roled as a Military Training Instructor.

His regular service included postings in:

• Germany (British Army of the Rhine) in 1971; 1972–1978; 1982–1984; and 1988–1990.
• Northern Ireland in 1971.
• United Kingdom from 1978–1982, 1984–1988, and 1990–1993.

After leaving regular service in 1993, Bailey joined the Territorial Army in 1995, commissioning as a captain in the Media Operations Group (Volunteers).

From September 1998 to March 2005, he was deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina with the British multinational division as part of NATO’s Stabilisation Force (SFOR), serving in media operations and public affairs during post-war reconstruction.

He was responsible for creating a successful, multi-cultural, youth orientated FM radio station (Oksigen FM) from improvised studios located in the SFOR base near Banja Luka.

For his service, Bailey was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS) in 1999 and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) (Military Division) in 2001.

Following his service in Bosnia, Bailey managed several major international military information operations radio projects:

• From 2005 to 2008, he managed Rana FM, an information operations station supporting the Canadian Forces mission in Afghanistan.
• From 2008 to 2010, he managed Radio KFOR in Priština, Kosovo, for NATO’s KFOR mission, promoting peace and stability messaging.
• From 2010 to 2011, he managed Radio Bayan, the NATO ISAF information operations station in Kabul, Afghanistan.
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From 2011 to 2015, Bailey worked as a digital media consultant, leading projects in Ethiopia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. During this period, he focused on developing media strategies, providing training to local journalists and media organisations, and supporting independent media and digital storytelling.

Bailey has contributed extensively as an educator and lecturer on digital media and communications. He has presented lectures at courses run at the NATO School Oberammergau, covering digital media, strategic communications, and information operations.

Since 2018, he has been an in-house lecturer on social media topics at the Public Affairs Regional Centre (PARC) in Skopje, North Macedonia, delivering training for public affairs officers and communication professionals across the region.

Bailey’s broadcasting passion began as a teenager, inspired by the British offshore radio revolution of the mid 1960’s.  While serving in the military he volunteered with the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), who he joined full-time in 1993, as a presenter and producer for military audiences worldwide.

In the mid-1990s, he also worked with 2-TEN FM in the Thames Valley and with BBC Radio Surrey, expanding his civilian broadcasting experience.

After his international roles, Bailey decided to settle permanently in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has supported local media development, mentored journalists, and promoted professional standards. He fully embraced rural life and integrated deeply into the local community.

Bailey is the founder of An Englishman in the Balkans, a blog and podcast series sharing stories about daily life, culture, food, and travel in Bosnia and Herzegovina from an expatriate perspective.

He also produces Coffee and Rakija, a podcast and newsletter exploring slow living, regional traditions, and life in Bosnia and Herzegovina for English-speaking audiences.

In recent years, he has launched additional projects such as Postcards from Bosnia, focusing on retirement, aging abroad, and personal reinvention in later life.

• Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS), awarded in 1999 for distinguished service in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Military Division, awarded in 2001 for services to broadcasting and media operations in support of NATO SFOR.

Bailey lives in a rural village in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina with his wife, Tamara.

He continues to write, produce podcasts, and mentor aspiring content creators, and regularly offers workshops and presentations on storytelling, podcasting, and media skills both locally and internationally.