What is your role and what are you responsible for?

I am the Academic Partnerships Officer working in EPQ, and my main responsibilities centre around our validation partnership with University College Birmingham.

How long have you worked at Warwick, and what did you do before that?

I have almost worked at Warwick for a full year; I started in December 2021. I previously worked for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). I worked with over 200 universities around the world to blend academic and professional learning, travelling across the UK and internationally to meet with our academic partners and students.

What projects are you currently working on, and what's coming up?

I am currently working on creating a new Link Tutor role, which will assign Warwick academics to a group of UCB programmes or departments relevant to their subject knowledge. The role will enhance the partnership by supporting quality assurance of programme-level design, delivery and assessment. Coming up before Christmas is EPQ's ITLR Self-Evaluation Document (SED) deadline - I'm currently working on this alongside several other colleagues from EPQ.

What does a typical day look like?

A typical day would be coffee, emails, to-day list, focus time, coffee, emails, and a review of my to-do list. I write a very short list every day which I refer to as my to-day list, I start by looking at all my tasks, circling the top 20% that will have the most impact and prioritise those for the day. It helps me to keep work more manageable and focused.

What's your favourite thing about your role?

My favourite thing about my role is getting to work with such fantastic and interesting people. EPQ is full of friendly and supportive colleagues, happy to help and make time for each other. I also look forward to travelling to Birmingham for meetings with our colleagues at UCB. I am involved in an inter-university project looking at Inclusive Education across UCB and Warwick and it is great being able to work directly with our amazing student co-creators.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I studied music at university, so I love listening to and playing music. I also love surfing and my favourite place to surf is Saunton Sands in North Devon. I'm a big video gamer, reader, and wildlife enthusiast. I enjoy a pint, usually a Guinness, and I have also always had an interest in collecting watches.

What is your favourite book, and your favourite film?

My favourite book is 1984; it's a book that stays with you long after you've put it down. My favourite film is The Matrix, it's a shame about the sequels. I haven't even seen the latest instalment, as, to quote Cypher, "ignorance is bliss".

If you could teleport anywhere right now, where would you go?

I have always wanted to go surfing in Hawaii, so I would teleport there, maybe to the North Shore to watch the pros. I've also heard that because of the volcanic soil, the coffee is great too!

Cats or dogs? Tea or coffee? City or countryside?

I grew up with both cats and dogs, so can I say both? I currently have two cats, so if saying dogs would mean I have to give them up, I'll say cats. Please don't take away my cats. I am a big coffee drinker, and I don't think I could give up espresso. I am definitely a countryside person; I love the quiet and being out in nature. The Highlands in Scotland are one of my favourite places for this reason.

What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?

My advice to my 18-year-old self would be to prioritise sleep and make time and space for reflection. The trouble is, I know my 18-year-old self, and he would not have taken this advice.