Athena Swan in SHW

Career journeys of professional services staff

The SHW Athena Swan professional services working group has compiled a series of case studies outlining the career journeys of SHW colleagues, past and present.

These highlight examples of:

  • successful (and unsuccessful) regrading applications
  • secondments
  • how working in a variety of roles can help to prepare us for future advancement
  • the important contribution that pursuing training/learning opportunities can make to our long term development and progression
  • navigating setbacks and disappointments
  • gaining promotion by successfully applying for different jobs

Athena SWAN gold logo

Photo of Rachel Allan in the highlands

"The learning during my secondment was extremely beneficial to bring back to my permanent role"

Long-time staff member in Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment and Public Health, RACHEL ALLAN, describes a 13-year journey from UofG temp to a recent return to full time education, and the variety of roles and experiences along the way that have helped to shape her future

Photo of person completing an application form

"All of these changes meant I felt there was now a mismatch between my job description and the actual job I was doing"

Engagement and Communications Manager in the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, GILLIAN BELL, reflects on the experience of successfully applying for a regrading of her post

Photo of Asha Costigan with her parsons russell dog Rudy

"I didn’t 'love' all my posts but I was learning different things in each one"

SHW Head of Professional Services, ASHA COSTIGAN, shares her 26-year career journey within UofG, and the experiences and opportunities that have enabled her to steadily progress

Photo of Louise Manson

"I'm glad I pushed myself in a lot of areas"

Former SHW colleague LOUISE MANSON looks back over a range of posts within our school, the skills, experience and knowledge gained, and how these helped to prepare her for a significant change of direction in her working life

If you are a professional services staff member in SHW whose career journey might be interesting or encouraging for others to hear about, and you would be willing to write a short piece about your experience, please contact our Athena Swan professional services working group chairs to discuss.