Sarah Green, our Membership and Operations Manager, celebrated a major milestone in August: 30 years working for the BSI! We caught up with her to find out about the changes she has seen and her highlights from three decades with the Society.
How does it feel to be celebrating 30 years with the BSI?
When I first came to interview for a role at the BSI it was for a three-month trial! The idea was that if I liked them and they liked me, there was the prospect of a permanent role. It’s bizarre to think a three-month trial could turn into 30 years.
What are some of the changes that you’ve seen during your time at the BSI?
There are so many memories! There have been lots of changes in different teams, of course. New CEOs have come on board, done what they set out to do, and then moved on to pastures new. I feel the Society now has a very clear idea of the direction we want to head in, and we have been listening hard to our members and taking their views on board.
One positive development has been the introduction of the five-year strategies. These give us a clear focus, by setting out what we want to achieve and how. It’s important that our members – and the general public – can see our activities, and that we have a clear purpose. I personally feel that the changes driving us forward are positive, and have left the Society in a strong position, both for our members and for staff.
How has your own role evolved over the years?
I’ve gone from working on events to dealing with the corporate side of things, to working on Immunology News, and on the journals for a time. But it was when I was asked to help out with the membership side of things that I really found my niche. While I’ve loved all my roles, I’m a very logistics and data-driven person, and so looking after the membership naturally became my thing. Each day is different, and I love the work I do.
What would you say to someone thinking of applying for a job at the BSI?
I would welcome them with open arms! I would say be yourself and speak your mind, because we value your opinion. I’ve always found the BSI to be a very supportive place to work. We are a small team that listens and advises, and you never feel you’re on your own – people look after each other. You’re not just someone doing a job, you are appreciated and valued. It’s a good organisation to work for.
And what’s next? What are you looking forward to?
I really enjoy what I do so I wouldn’t want to see any big changes to my role. It would be great to see the membership continue to grow. When I started it was very small and we’re now over the 5,000 mark, so it’s now about building retention and reaching the people who perhaps aren’t aware of us. The merger with UKPIN last year saw us gain lots of clinical immunologists as members, and now we need to demonstrate what we can do for them, and how they can benefit. There will be more change to come and that’s a good thing – we should never be standing still.
Thirty years is a long time for anyone to be in one job. I don’t think I would still be here in this role if I wasn’t in the right organisation, working with the right people, getting the right support. Everyone I’ve worked with, past and present, has been a part of that. In a way, they have brought me to where I am now.