Meet Your Colleagues - Calum Donaldson

Here at SERC we are keen to promote internal colleagues to allow staff the opportunity to get to know each other and put a face to the name, particularly due to the size and scope of SERC.

This week’s “Meet your Colleagues” features Calum Donaldson. Calum is an intern within the communications and marketing department here at SERC.

What does your role at SERC involve?

My role in SERC primarily revolves around different forms of media. One of my jobs is editing and uploading PR to SERCs website, as well as external websites that are interested in SERC related news and achievements. On top of this, I also help the marketing department create short ads for social media and special events. I work with the Creative Developers and Community Outreach departments as well.

Tell us a bit about your background?  

I’m originally from Crossgar and attended Blackwater Integrated College to do my GCSEs, changing school to Down High School for my A levels. Beyond that, I attended Queens University Belfast and graduated in Film Studies. I moved to Downpatrick shortly after beginning my University course. During my final year and for a time after graduating, I worked for Belfast City Council, in which I helped create a documentary promoting their new Language Act.  

What 3 words best describe you?

Creative, enthusiastic, easy-going

What do you like to do outside of work?  

Outside of work I enjoy playing guitar, I’m grade 6 right now and aim to get my grade 8 so I can teach. I mostly play rock and metal on electric guitar; they are also my two favourite genres of music to listen to. I also enjoy meeting up with friends, reading, watching films and exercising (when I can be bothered!).

If you could swap jobs for a day who would it be and why?  

I would swap jobs with a professional video editor at the BBC. Coming from a film background with a focus on editing and sound, I’d love to see how a media titan like the BBC handles video editing and music.

List 3 items you would want with you if you were stranded on a deserted island?  

• Helicopter Fuel
• Helicopter Pilot Manual
• Helicopter  

(Ok maybe I’m cheating)

What is your favourite film and why?  

Lord of the Rings (please don't make me pick a favourite, they're all my favourite). The story is incredible, the casting is perfect, its a faithful adaptation from the books, has one of the best soundtracks ever and has the best battles in any film of its genre.  

Where do you most want to travel, but have never been?  

I’d like to travel to Germany; it looks beautiful there, plus there is a huge heavy metal festival there every year that I am dying to go to (as well as Oktoberfest)!  

If you would like to partake in “Meet Your Colleagues” please contact Calum Donaldson (me!) at cdonaldson@serc.ac.uk for more details.