Tell us about your career path since graduation. How did you end up where you are? 

After graduation I spent five years working at the Imperial War Museum, mainly as a curator in their Sound Archive. I moved to The National Archives in 2003 where I worked in a number of roles, including facilitating the cataloguing and transfer of UK government records to the archive, and providing policy, guidance and training to government departments on the management of digital records. In 2018, I took on my first Head of Knowledge and Information Management role at the Department for Transport where I led work to ensure that DfT had the right process to manage its information and records. In 2024, I moved to DEFRA where I lead a large team which includes the Library Service, Digital Information and Records Management and the Information Appraisal team (historical records). After over 22 years in the Government Knowledge and Information Management profession, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience, promoting the profession and helping others on their career journeys. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I left University, other than I wanted to use my history degree in some way, in a museum or similar. The work I do now helps to ensure that government records are preserved for future generations.  

What was it about your time at Royal Holloway that has most benefitted your career or influenced your path since graduation? 

Studying at Royal Holloway cemented my lifelong love of history, which I am now sharing with my two teenaged daughters. I found university quite an overwhelming experience at times, especially as I was quite shy at that age. I had some inspirational lecturers who helped me to start to gain more confidence in myself and my abilities.  

What would you say to potential students considering studying at Royal Holloway? / What advice would you give to students thinking about a career in your sector? 

Royal Holloway is a quite unique place with a fascinating history. I have met many alumni during my working life, so it clearly helps to lay the foundation for a great career. Whenever I drive past today, I feel proud to have been part of it. There is never a dull day in government knowledge and information management. In this fast-paced digital landscape, we constantly have to stay on top of new digital tools to ensure that information remains complete, available and usable for as long as it is needed. The profession needs people with an appreciation of history and politics and information legislation, but also technology, including data science and AI.  

What did you love most about your time at Royal Holloway? / What's your favourite memory of Royal Holloway? 

I loved the view of the Founders Building, taking exams in the Picture Gallery, and the feeling that I was part of an institution with a really rich history.