What’s your job title and how long have you been at Loughborough?

My job title is Senior Web Designer / Developer, but I’m also the LGBT+ Staff Network Chair and I take great pride in both roles. I still can’t believe I’ve been at Loughborough University for over 26 years but as I have a long service award it must be true.

Tell us what a typical day in your job looks like?

I love the fact that from one day to the next I can be engaged in very different types of work – from sitting quietly with headphones on and staring at HTML or CSS code, to representing all of the University Staff Networks at an EDI Operational Board meeting. I thrive on variety and the opportunity to solve problems, whether that’s a technical challenge of making a web page look or behave the way it should, or a logistical challenge of how we take a research project that might have partial information and difficult timescales then producing a clear and focused solution for the target audience, through to deciding whether we have enough flags for the LGBT+ Pride March.

As a lot of people do these days, I find I have a lot of meetings, but I actually really enjoy these. Following the pandemic where we were all forced into isolation, I discovered that I actually do like spending time with people.

What’s your favourite project you’ve worked on?

I’ve worked on so many projects at Loughborough, from webcasting literally hundreds of graduation ceremonies to attaching a video camera to my car and doing a virtual drive around campus, to realising I have built five generations of the University Library website! But I think my favourite project has been looking after the University Research Projects hosting and delivery. I realise most projects are referring to something short term that has a clear start and finish, whereas this is something that has been ongoing for many years and will hopefully continue for many more years, but I take pride in the fact that (with support from IT colleagues) it runs smoothly and that we’re able to deliver websites for so many varied and fascinating research projects. I love that no two are the same and that for each instance we need to be able to find the focus and reach the right audience.

What is your proudest moment at Loughborough?

Again, having worked here for so long I have a lot of proud moments – within the Web and Digital team and within the LGBT+ Staff Network. But I think I have to say that the moment that sticks in my mind, was leading the LGBT+ Pride March earlier this year on a glorious sunny day, with so much positivity in the air and walking with friends and colleagues. The point that stuck in my mind particularly was walking in front of the Hasslegrave building and looking back to see so many people accompanying us that they were still emerging from behind the Hazlerigg building. At that moment I felt a particular emotional connection to the reason we were there. That’s going to stay with me for a very long time.

Tell us something you do outside of work that we might not know about?

I realise I can’t sit still for very long, as I have an interest in painting and digital art as well as writing and publishing short stories. But whilst these things come and go depending on my mood, I absolutely couldn’t do without playing badminton. I started playing when I was young, but following a back injury in my mid-twenties I decided to take it more seriously, getting coaching and joining multiple clubs, eventually getting to play in the Leicestershire League and played matches as high as division three. Having a family changes priorities not to mention time available. I’ve never stopped playing but now I play at a more casual level. My claim to fame is that once during a staff badminton session I played doubles, paired with a visiting player – who never made a mistake – only to discover afterwards that it had been a previous world champion visiting the University.

What is your favourite quote?

“Do one thing every day that scares you” – Eleanor Roosevelt (possibly). This quote has really stuck with me and inspires me to really try and live life to the fullest.

If you would like to feature in ‘5 Minutes With’, or you work with someone who you think would be great to include, please email Lilia Boukikova at L.Boukikova@lboro.ac.uk