Can you tell us about when you changed your career path and how this came about?
A significant change happened in 2023. I had been working as a research technician and laboratory manager in Life Sciences for over twenty years, gradually taking on greater challenges and responsibilities. This progression eventually led me to become Technical Manager in the Department of Genetics Evolution and Environment in the Division of Biosciences, a role I truly enjoyed and felt confident in.
Despite this, I began to feel the weight of having been in the same environment and professional space for so long. I realised I was becoming unsatisfied and increasingly restless. What opened the door to progressing in my career was the opportunity to apply for secondment positions at UCL.
A secondment allows you to step out of your current role for a fixed period, usually a year, while retaining the security of being able to return to your substantive post. It’s a brilliant system: you can leave your comfort zone, test your transferable skills, explore a new work environment and take on fresh challenges, without the risk of having to resign to try something new.
In my case, I was particularly fortunate. My secondment was extended, and I was eventually given the opportunity to express an interest in making it my permanent role. I wouldn’t describe this as a complete change of career path, but rather a progression along the same path as a Research Technical Professional in Higher Education. To many people, my current role as Head of Technical Services for a faculty appears to be a major career shift, this is mainly because senior roles for technical professionals have historically been extremely limited. Thankfully, this is now beginning to change, and I hope it continues in this direction.
Which project are you most proud of and why?
The project I am most proud of is the initiative to lay the foundations for a UCL wide Research Facility Network, which officially launched in February 2026. I am leading this work, and it has been an inspiring and energising experience. The initiative aims to connect Technical Managers of research facilities and platforms, creating a more visible, collaborative and strategically aligned community across the diverse landscape of UCL’s research facilities.
What makes this project particularly meaningful is the exceptional group of colleagues I have the privilege to work with. Our cross faculty working group brings together facility leads and technical managers from across UCL, all of whom contribute generously through their intellectual insight, experience and time. Their enthusiasm and commitment demonstrate a strong appetite for collaboration and a shared belief that this initiative is both valued and needed.
I am also deeply grateful for the support of the Research Culture Seed Funding initiative, which has made this work possible by enabling the creation of a dedicated space for developing this network.
It is truly rewarding to be involved in a project that not only elevates the visibility and recognition of technical professionals, but also contributes to building a connected, resilient and forward looking research environment for the whole UCL community.
What advice would you give to a colleague who hopes to follow a similar career path?
I have two pieces of advice to offer. The first is about confidence. One of the biggest challenges in technical roles is the feeling that we are too specialised to be suitable for anything outside our immediate environment. I certainly felt that for a long time, I believed that my competence came almost entirely from my deep knowledge of the specific scientific, social and operational context in which I had worked for so long. The truth is that many of us have far more transferable skills than we realise. I discovered that I could bring a great deal to a new role, and I also found genuine enjoyment in learning and upskilling where I needed to. So my advice is: dare to step outside your comfort zone. You may be surprised by how well your strengths translate.
My second piece of advice is to take real ownership and pride in what you do right now. When you genuinely engage with your current role, exploring new solutions, being curious, understanding how things work beyond your immediate remit, you naturally open doors for yourself. This broader perspective not only helps you do your job better, but also makes it much easier to spot and step into new opportunities when they arise.