Drew is an excellent collaborator, bringing together diverse groups of people to work towards common goals. He possesses knowledge, passion, diplomacy, and innovation. His approach is inclusive, valuing different voices and opinions. He has also sought to increase opportunities for women and younger people to be more involved. Drew is generous with his time and expertise, driven by a love of rural issues rather than self-interest, as evidenced by the extensive amount of voluntary work he has done.
Drew has had a significant impact on rural Scotland, particularly in the Highlands. Some specific contributions include helping to establish the Land Management Conference for UHI students, wherein students spend time on an estate and receive insights directly from practitioners. He has also forged connections between the UHI and land managers, extending the reach of academic studies and offering opportunities for practitioners to influence research. Drew has played a pivotal role in resolving conflicts within deer management groups and forming effective DMGs that are now collaborating on landscape-scale projects, including peatland restoration.
Drew serves as a board member of the Cairngorms Trust. His biography indicates Drew's experience with Leader LAGs in Lochaber, Moray, and the Cairngorms since 1992, including transnational projects in Holland, Sweden, and Poland. He has also been a board member of the EU mountain lobby group Euromontana. Drew has chaired private and public sector boards of Lochaber Enterprise, the Highland Housing Alliance, Lochaber Citizen's Advice Bureau, the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service, and the Monadhliath Deer Management Group. In his previous role as Highland Manager for Scottish Land & Estates, he held responsibility for six local authority areas and the Cairngorm National Park, safeguarding the interests of his members. The Cairngorms Trust collaborates with communities and visitors to support landscapes, wildlife, local culture, and economic health. It promotes sustainable and community-led local development within the Cairngorms National Park.