Adrian's career in children's play began as a playworker before joining the influential adventure playground charity HAPA in 1995. In 1998, Adrian was appointed as the first director of London Play. After serving first as chair of the Children's Play Council at NCB, Adrian was appointed as director in 2004. He then worked behind the scenes to help secure and design the Big Lottery Fund's £155m Children's Play Initiative in England.
This led to the establishment of Play England as part of NCB in 2006. In 2008, largely as a result of Play England campaigning activity and the success of the Big initiative, the government launched the national Play Strategy, making Play England its delivery partner. These combined programmes saw Play England, at its peak, employing more than 75 staff as the country underwent what The Times called "the play revolution".
Adrian said: "I am very proud to have been recognised in this way but the honour is really for Play England: our partners, members, supporters and especially our staff – past and present – who have been simply magnificent."
