Leanne Hunt works as a Senior Quality Assurance Officer at Brunel University. She did not follow a traditional academic path, originally training as a Paramedic. Through undertaking various training programs over 17 years working at Brunel in front-facing student roles, she has progressed in her career and now helps ensure Brunel's policies for educational quality. As the elected Staff Representative on Brunel's governing Council, her role involves helping set the university's strategic direction and accepting collective responsibility for Council decisions.

1. News
"As I was previously training for
a career as a Paramedic, I did
not follow what would be
considered a traditional
academic path."
Staff Profile - Leanne Hunt
CAMPUS HUMAN INTEREST
Leanne tells us about her job at Brunel, and her
elected role as Council Staff Rep.
Published: 09 Mar 2015
Leanne is Senior Quality
Assurance Officer in the
Registry department.
• Describe your role in
50 words.
My team and I support
Brunel's policies and
procedures for assuring and
enhancing educational quality.
This involves committee
support or External Examiner
administration, and specific
enhancement projects such as
updating policies.
Currently I am doing lots of
work on information improvement, e.g. for student handbooks,
webpages and Intranet sites.
• What three words best describe you in the workplace?
Practical
Adaptable
Amenable
• How did you get into your role?
As I was previously training for a career as a Paramedic, I did not
follow what would be considered a traditional academic path.
However, due to changes in circumstances I found myself actively
pursuing a career in higher education.
I have worked at Brunel for 17 years in predominantly front facing,
student service type roles, progressing from Office Junior to a
senior member of a school's administration management team.
In this time I have undertaken training such as NVQ, ILM and
ASPIRE to give me the relevant skills to be successful in my roles. I
am now undertaking an AUA PGCert in Professional Practice to
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2. gain a fuller understanding of the internal and external drivers that
impact HE as well as to achieve academic recognition for the
experience and knowledge I have gained during my time at Brunel.
Within TxP, my role was identified as one that came under the
function of Quality and Standards which is where I have been since
August 2014.
• What tip would you have for anyone looking to start
their career?
A broad knowledge of the different areas of the University and the
HE sector as a whole is invaluable. It helps you to understand why
certain decisions are made and the impact that your own work and
decision making can have on the University.
The best way to gain this knowledge is to get out there, meet
people from all areas of the university and get involved in as many
projects as you can manage. This builds your reputation and your
network and I can guarantee that you will get more from it than
you give.
Finally, find yourself a good mentor. I am lucky to have two people
at Brunel who have nurtured me through my career, building my
confidence and knowledge base as well as being wise and
inspirational leaders. It is therefore to Professor Rob Macredie and
Christine Payne that I owe so much and to whom I am truly
grateful.
• What's the most interesting job you have ever done in
your career?
When pursuing my career in the health service I worked in the
Special Care Baby Unit at Wycombe Hospital and spent time
training with and volunteering for the emergency ambulance
service. In both of these roles, and at a relatively young age, I had
the privilege of experiencing some of life's extreme events and was
able to develop a true appreciation of what was and was not
important, as well as a pretty calm character.
These life skills certainly helped in my work as a member of the
Department Personal Tutoring Team where I could support and
work with students who at times were experiencing quite traumatic
events and were at their most vulnerable.
Seeing a successful outcome for these students was beyond
rewarding and gave a real sense of achievement.
• Why do you think you were elected as staff rep for the
Council?
Over my 17 years at Brunel I have worked hard to build a large
network from all areas within the institution. I have been involved
with many initiatives over the years and, I believe, have gained a
reputation of someone who is trustworthy and dependable.

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• What does your role as staff rep involve?
Council is the governing body of the university and is responsible
for setting its strategic direction, and for its finance, property,
investments and general business.
In brief, Council members have three main responsibilities:
• Ensure the necessary business of Council is carried on efficiently,
effectively, and in a manner appropriate for the proper conduct of
public business.
• Ensure that the governing body acts in accordance with the
instruments of governance of the institution and with its internal
rules and regulations.
• Accept collective responsibility for the decisions reached by the
governing body.
As an elected member I may not act as a representative of my
peers and must maintain an independent view point. However, the
expectation is that I would bring specific and general knowledge
and understanding of the University's work and culture to ensure
these considerations are made when making decisions.
All Council members are also selected to sit on a variety of Council
and joint Senate and Council Committees of which I am currently a
member of the Student Equality and Diversity Committee.
Do you want to take part in Staff Profile and tell everyone a
bit about yourself? Contact Lauren Shiel, Campus
Communications Officer.
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Author
Lauren Shiel
Communications, Marketing and Student
Recruitment