Uwho

Deb Lewis

 ..... and the first 'volunteer' is me!  Uwho is about getting to know the people around us who we pass every day, stand in line with and trade a smile - what makes them tick? 

Name? Deborah Lewis.

Place of work? HR, in the Chancellery.  My job is primarily staff communications with a bit of web editing thrown in.  I put together In the Loop each fortnight, look after the staff web page and screensavers, coordinate new staff orientation and help out with general project communications.

What do you like about your work?  I love getting the staff newsletter out every fortnight.  It's a very tangible result and feels very satisfying to finally send it.  I like getting news out to staff, no matter where they are.  It's fulfilling to me to know that someone on the ground in Borneo opens the newsletter moments after I send it (and I have software that can track these things!).

What is your background?  I have a Bachelor of Communications, plus a Master of Letters.  I worked as an IT Trainer and Helpdesk Operator for many years before moving into writing vocational training such as the Diploma of Business, the Diploma of Training and Assessment and so on.  All of these things showed me I like helping people best of all - making their lives easier in some way -  so I've decided to keep that as my career focus.

What do you think others don't understand about your work?  I'm not sure people know that it is really mainly me putting the newsletter together.  I do have a fabulous assistant for one day a week, but otherwise, I do all of the writing, web design, newsletter publishing, and so on myself.  I also work part-time, so I'm always busy.  I don't have a great deal of time to chase stories: I need staff to send them through to me as soon as they possibly can.

One thing you like about UoN?  UoN is a flexible workplace.  I have had periods of illness in the past but the University has worked with me to get me back to work, which means a lot to me.

Any last words?  If you see me walking around with a camera, please be nice to me and give me a few moments of your time.  And thanks to Katrina Quinn for making me look reasonable in the photo above!