 As the first Chief Scout of the association, his term of office has been both ground-breaking and controversial.Burbridge had previously been the National Treasurer of Scouting Ireland (CSI) and one of the steering forces behind the formation of Scouting Ireland.Once the wheels had been set in motion in May 2003, Burbridge's appointment was seen by many Scouters as a "fait accompli", with neither Peter Dixon nor Donald Harvey (the outgoing Chief Scouts of Scouting Ireland (CSI) and Scouting Ireland S.A.I.