Kathleen Elizabeth Lund

Current Employer/Organisation Name

N/A

Can you give us an overview of what you have done since you completed your research degree?

I mentored students, was a school governor, and proof read my supervisor’s book.

How did you become interested in the area you work in?

Route through education to management.

How did you find opportunities in the area you work in and how did the recruitment process work?

Applied for jobs

What does your current role involve?

I am retired.

What skills are involved in your work and how did your research degree help develop them?

I became an excellent proof-reader.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Passing on my experience of the public sector to enthusiastic students.

Why are the challenges in your role?

Managing the politicians and working within tight financial constraints.

What has surprised you about your role?

Surviving political change and the behaviour of politicians.

Did you engage in any additional activities or roles (i.e. organising conferences, entering PGR showcase, being a PGR Rep etc.) during your research degree, and how did these help prepare you for a career beyond academia?

My doctorate came after a career as a chief officer in local government. I undertook a master’s while teaching. At the Trust we organised conferences for headteachers and training for governors.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

Thinking on my feet, mastering my brief, and confidence in public speaking.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Remain a-political, get as wide a grasp as you can of the public sector and how it is organised. Understand if you are a people or organisation person and are able to balance both. Understand how government budgets work.

What are your plans for the future?

Continuing to support the next generations of public servants and students.