School of Health & Wellbeing

Programme administrative assistant ih the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit Lorna Dick shares the highlights of her role, the fulfilling of a dream, and future ambitions... 

Tell us a bit about what you do in IHW

I joined the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (SPHSU) as a programme administrator three years ago working with Professor Kirstin Mitchell, Programme Lead in the Relationship and Health Programme and also administrator to Professor Peter Craig, Professor of Public Health Evaluation, Inequalities and Health.

My job includes a wide variety of admin duties including diary management, anonymising documents, uploading information to Research Fish, attending meetings and minute taking. Other duties can involve organising travel for colleagues and processing expenses to name but a few. Another side to my job is setting up workshops which involves liaising with the delegates and venues or setting up virtual workshops.

What do you enjoy about your role?

I love the variety in my job and the interaction with colleagues and getting to know external collaborators. I also enjoy organising workshops, where again you have the interaction with venues, delegates etc. I also enjoy helping others and have provided many helpful hints to colleagues for Microsoft package programmes.

What are the challenges?

Chasing people for information, responses to meeting requests etc.

What is the best thing about working in IHW?

Working with so many lovely people who are very supportive in what we do and IHW's commitment to Athena SWAN, especially the inclusivity.

Tell us something we might not know about you, or would surprise us

I honeymooned on the QE2 25 years ago. I saw her being launched and had always wanted to sail on her, so my dream came true.

When or where are you happiest?

Anyone who knows me, I am very much a people person, so love being around friends and family, enjoying good food and wine or perhaps a wee gin!

Any secret – or not so secret! – ambitions?

I absolutely adore koalas and would love to have one as a pet. I know this is not possible, but my ambition is to one day have a "koala experience", and to hold and feed them.

If you would like to appear in "Five minutes with...", do please get in touch (jane.goodfellow@glasgow.ac.uk)! We aim to alternate professional services and research/teaching staff profiles, and feature colleagues from across a wide range of roles and grades within our institute. 

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First published: 21 September 2020