Page 39 - Gi flipbook June/July 2018

IGEM NEWS | National Volunteers’ Week

Meet our volunteers

National Volunteers’ Week takes place from the 1-7 industry experience and learning
June, so Gi is taking this opportunity to celebrate is shared. It is also fundamental to
volunteering in all its diversity and say thank you to our producing IGEM standards.
“Personally, much of my career
volunteers for all the time they give. Here three IGEM was influenced by the experience and
volunteers describe why they donate their time. learning gained from being involved with
my peers on various IGEM committees.
“It can also be a major part of
ALTHOUGH MANY of our members Chris Gorman is retired, but he’s your CPD if, like me, you are no
who donate their time do not been a Chartered member since longer involved in the main stream
consider themselves to be volunteers 1990. An IGEM volunteer for over of the industry.
in the traditional sense, they are 30 years, he currently chairs the “I think it’s important for new
providing their skills and expertise for institution’s Technical Coordinating members to get involved with this
the benefit of the organisation and Committee learned society so they can not only
the industry. Chris said: “I bring new ideas, but also benefit from
This might be undertaking activities have never the existing knowledge base.”
in their own time, or their company seen myself
may support them as part of their as a volunteer Student member Stacy Griffiths is an
organisation’s corporate social but as a Asset Support Assistant in
responsibility (CSR). However they member of Intervention Records at Wales &
give their time, our volunteers provide IGEM, which West Utilities (WWU). She is
an invaluable service to the industry, is first and studying for a degree in Engineering
our members and the general public. foremost a with the Open University
learned society “I first joined the South West Section
Engineering Associate Kathryn as defined in the royal charter. committee
Brown is a Senior Consultant in “Being a member of a learned society in April 2016
Strategy and Planning for DNV GL means that, by participating in working and have been
Kathryn said: groups, committees and council, the Section
“I joined Secretary since
IGEM as an June 2017.
Engineering WHY VOLUNTEER: “I’ve been
Associate attending
in 2013 and ■ Develop yourself further IGEM events
applied to ■ Give back to the sector since 2013 and
volunteer have always gained a lot from them.
in 2017. I ■ Network with like-minded An opportunity came up to join the
undertake professionals committee and I jumped at the chance
a dual role where I act as a ■ Support professional to give something back. The technical
representative on both the Young excellence in engineering evenings we host focus on the future
Persons Network (YPN) Committee of our energy network and it’s great to
and Midlands Section Committee. be a part of that.
“I originally volunteered as a young “Volunteering allows me to
person because I felt there was a VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES interact with a wider variety of
disconnect between IGEM and young AVAILABLE: people who I otherwise wouldn’t
people in the industry today. I felt that ■ Join your local Section have the opportunity to meet. I’ve
I was able to be both more involved committee and support events acquired invaluable skills through the
with the organisation to understand the and activities in your region committee that I’ve been able to apply
events that were being held and why, to my current role within WWU and
and bring a young perspective to the ■ Be a part of our specialist will no doubt further assist with my
committee by volunteering for this role. committees and influence the career advancement.
“Volunteering gives me a great insight future of the industry “Most importantly, everyone I’ve met
into the work that IGEM does and all ■ Provide input to technical through IGEM has been really great,
the different people that are involved. panels especially those on the South West
There are lots of opportunities to committee, and it’s been a wonderful
network and bring different people ■ Mentor someone else and experience working alongside them. ■
together to help the industry grow. It develop their career
also allows me to be involved in the ■ Become an interviewer or ■ If you’re interested in volunteering
planning of events to ensure that the assessor for Membership and would like to find out more
events are interesting to me and others Services please email volunteer@igem.org.uk
with similar interests.” or call +44(0)1509 678 150.

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