Member Profiles
Peter McLennan, Lecturer and Course Director in Facilities Management, University College London
|
What forms of BIFM-related CPD or personal development are you currently undertaking? |
I am London Region Events Coordinator, member of the Knowledge committee, and sit on CPD and Accreditation sub-committees. |
|
What motivated you to get involved in these activities? |
I want to promote life-long learning which I believe is fundamental to any professional competence. |
|
What benefits are you gaining from these activities? |
It gives me a broad exposure to advice and information and helps me to maintain my competence in the field. |
|
Are there any challenges in being involved in these activities? |
Understanding the limits of my own understanding and pushing against those boundaries so I can grow professionally. |
|
What aspects do you find most interesting or rewarding? |
Being able to help people achieve their goals. |
|
Do you have any tips for others who may be considering their personal/professional development? |
Don’t limit yourself – you can do whatever you set your mind to. |
Sunil Shah, Head of Sustainability at Jacobs Babtie
|
What forms of BIFM-related CPD or personal development are you currently undertaking? |
I sit on Members Council and chair the Sustainability Special Interest Group |
|
What motivated you to get involved with these activities? |
Interest in the area of sustainability and the need for the FM industry to change. |
|
What benefits are you gaining from these activities? |
Personal and company visibility is the main benefit. Also it gives me access to a number of corporate clients. |
|
Are there any challenges in being involved in these activities? |
Obtaining resourcing for the projects we want to push forward can be an issue, both in terms of time and financial support. |
|
What aspects do you find most interesting or rewarding? |
I find it rewarding in terms of visibility and career progression, but it is really about seeing the projects and tools we have developed being used. |
|
Do you have any tips for others who may be considering their personal/professional development? |
The work is time-consuming, so you need to be passionate about it and convinced of its value. |
|
Are you involved in any other voluntary activities? |
I sit on the Construction Industry Council Sustainability committee, on the Sustainability Forum funded by Constructing Excellence and am currently writing a book for Blackwells. |
Chris Wood, Senior Associate at Advanced Workplace Associates|
What forms of BIFM-related CPD or personal development are you currently undertaking? |
I sit on the BIFM Board and Members Council, I chair the Professional Standards & Education Committee and the Qualification Review Steering Group. |
|
What motivated you to get involved with these activities? |
Wanting to give something back to the Institute - having moved into semi-retirement. |
|
What benefits are you gaining from these activities? |
A much better understanding of the Institute’s activities, together with a feeling of commitment. |
|
Are there any challenges in being involved in these activities? |
Yes - time and cerebral challenge. |
|
What aspects do you find most interesting or rewarding? |
I get a sense of achieving something for the Institute, in addition to a broadening of my professional boundaries. |
|
Do you have any tips for others who may be considering their personal/professional development? |
Personal Development is coming of age within the FM industry. As things progress, live demonstration of CPD will be an essential component of career progression. |
|
Are you involved in any other voluntary activities? |
Not at the moment, though I was a school governor for many years. |
Jane Wiggins, BIFM Programme Manager and Tutor at BPP Malpas|
What forms of BIFM-related CPD or personal development are you currently undertaking? |
I sit on the Members Council and the Professional Standards & Education Committee and I chair the Education Sector Forum. |
|
What motivated you to get involved with these activities? |
To further the profession, raise my profile and get involved. |
|
What benefits are you gaining from these activities? |
Enhancing and widening my existing networks. I am enjoying the feeling that I am contributing to the future. Plus it helps me with my writing, teaching and supporting up-and-coming FMs. |
|
Are there any challenges in being involved in these activities? |
Time management; reading and retaining information from various committees; understanding how it all fits together in terms of committee structure. |
|
What aspects do you find most interesting or rewarding? |
The fact that there are so many new projects underway at the moment - it’s almost as if the FM industry is at a turning point. Lots of opportunities and development - the BIFM is coming of age. |
|
Do you have any tips for others who may be considering their personal/professional development? |
Don’t believe that CPD is just about training. It’s about getting involved, extending your experience, trying something new. |
|
Are you involved in any other voluntary activities? |
I used to be a Rotarian; I was the first female member in the UK and one of the first female presidents in the London area. After ten enjoyable years, I chose to leave this aside and concentrate on my BIFM activities instead. |
