Meet Your Colleagues - Gillian Auld

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 Gillian Auld. Gillian is a Lecturer in Business and a Learning Academy Mentor, working within the School of Hospitality, Management, Tourism and Languages here at SERC.

What does your role at SERC involve?  

Delivering variety of modules for business such as Starting Small Business and Website Strategies and helping to support a variety of new student companies. Currently co-ordinating two first year groups and one second year group which keeps me very busy. In addition I have been a Mentor for many years and had the pleasure to work with many other members of staff.

Tell us a bit about your background? 

Varied career prior to joining SERC where I worked for an Independent TV company as a Production Assistant on various projects like a Simple Minds pop video and Dispatches programmes. Was Personal Assistant to the Managing Director of Capita Management Consultants. Involved in the family Antiques & Collectables businesses, Ballinderry Antiques and Oakland Antiques. I used to write a monthly Antiques article for the Ulster Tatler and Hothouse Magazine.

What 3 words best describe you?  

Can’t say no

What do you like to do outside of work?  

I love animals and have one tabby cat, two ginger cats, a black Labrador, a cocker spaniel and a King Charles spaniel. I love going to car boot sales and auctions hoping to find a bargain. I enjoy decorating from furnishings to up-skilling furniture. I am an avid reader and especially like those sagas that jump from the past to the present such as by authors Kate Morton and Rachel Hore. I am a pro online scrabble player and there is always a jigsaw on the go (have to keep those grey cells active).

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

I would swap jobs with Fiona Bruce on her ‘Fake or Fortune’ television programme on a day when she discovered a piece of work was a genuine masterpiece. (Think of that famous Only Fools and Horses moment). I enjoy the mystery around artworks and enjoy the aspect of science and of course the travel involved.

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

• My cats
• Box of books
• Endless supply of fresh drinking water

What is your favourite film and why?  

The Time Machine (original 1960 version) Love the whole Victorian theme with the changes through time and have to say those Morlocks used to terrify me. The remake was so disappointing.

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

Would love to travel to the Amalfi Coast in Italy. Think of the original Jason and The Argonauts film which was filmed south of their coast.

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