Back in late 2018, not long after I started working at Futureworks, I found myself at an IHE event chatting to a few members of the SROC committee. They mentioned they had some vacancies and encouraged me to apply, and I’m so glad they did. I officially joined later that year, and in 2019 I attended my first conference at Cranfield University. I took on the roles of Deputy Treasurer and Alternative Provider Representative, and so began a chapter that has been one of the highlights of my professional journey.
Over the years, I’ve had the chance to present sessions at every conference I attended, from the shift to online in 2021 during COVID, to the return of in-person events in Edinburgh (2023), Leeds (2024), and most recently Nottingham (2025). Some of my favourite memories are from the last two conferences, where I co-presented sessions on AI in Higher Education alongside a colleague from Edinburgh University. Those collaborations were not only a lot of fun but also a real highlight, and a great example of the connections that being part of SROC made possible.
Beyond the conferences and the formal roles, the real gift of SROC has been the sense of community. When I first joined Futureworks, I was the only person working with data, and it could feel a little isolating at times. Being part of the SROC committee, and the wider community, meant I was surrounded by people who understood the challenges of HESA returns, shared the frustrations about OfS developments, and were always happy to offer advice or just have a good moan when needed.
Professionally, SROC has opened doors I never even knew existed. I met someone from WonkHE at one of the conferences, which led to opportunities to write articles, speak on their podcast, and even sit as a delegate on panel sessions at their conference. None of that would have happened without SROC.
Unfortunately, at the end of 2024 I left Futureworks and, with that, my eligibility to be on the SROC committee came to an end. While I was sad to step down, I understood completely, and I’m so grateful that I’ll still be able to attend future conferences and keep in touch with the amazing people I’ve met along the way.
A huge thank you to the SROC committee for making me feel so welcome right from the start. The friendships, the late-night bus trips back from conference dinners, and all the shared moments, they’ll stay with me for a long time. I’m wishing everyone all the very best for the future, and I’m already looking forward to seeing familiar faces next year.