People say I smile when I talk about my job. That is probably because I feel very fortunate to be doing something I love, while helping to motivate others to do something good and donate money to good causes.
After many years working in higher education marketing and student recruitment, I started my career in fundraising at Middlesex University six years ago and never looked back. Fundraising was a new concept to many people across the institution and there were a lot of sceptics. Simon Pennington was my consultant at the time. He inspired and encouraged me to start by getting out there to meet alumni, friends and supporters of the University – and prove it could work.
And it did. Many students at Middlesex are the first generation in their family to go to university. They come from culturally and internationally diverse backgrounds. Watching a student graduate after the gift of a scholarship has allowed them the opportunity to go to University, seeing a piece of equipment that someone has donated play a crucial role in groundbreaking research, watching a faculty member supported by fundraising inspire learning… all this helps to reinforce in my mind that the work we do truly makes a difference. And that makes me smile again.
