The April member spotlight is on Loretta Gibson, Director of Administration for the Faculty of Engineering and Design at the University of Bath. Loretta is a Fellow Representative on the AUA’s Board of Studies and is a mentor on the PgCert programme.

Why do you do it?

The AUA as an organisation and as a collective of like-minded colleagues has played such a significant role in my career development I believe it is important to give back to the AUA community as much as possible. For me, recognition of how I have supported others in their career journeys through being awarded an AUA Fellowship was a privilege and definitely a career highlight.

When the opportunity to be a Fellow representative on the PGCert Board of Studies came up I jumped at the chance to be involved even further. By being on the Board I hope I can have make a positive impact as well as gain a much better understanding of the academic elements of the programme and its governance.  

Similarly I was delighted to volunteer to be a PGCert mentor as I have a wealth of professional experiences to share, and supporting students within the programme on a one-to-one basis sits really well with how I work at my best – there is no doubt that I learn as much (if not more!) from the mentoring experience as the mentees.

What has been the best bit so far?

Growing my networks and making personal connections are by far the most rewarding aspects of being a Fellow and a PGCert mentor. I am inspired by what the PGCert students are learning and how they are integrating this into their everyday working lives. It brings the programme to life and I enjoy seeing how it is making a difference.

Would you recommend the role?

I would definitely recommend applying for an AUA Fellowship or Accredited Membership as it is a great opportunity to reflect on your development experiences and receive external validation of the time and effort put into professional development, whether that is for yourself or for others. It looks great on your CV too!

I would also recommend the PGCert mentoring scheme to anyone who enjoys building networks and connections, sharing their experiences and supporting others with confidence and commitment. It is very rewarding