Meet the council - PFS Representative, Charities Officer & Past President

Q. How long have you been in the insurance/personal finance profession?

A. If I told you that it would give away my age so lets stick with more than 3 decades! I started straight from school at the Phoenix Central London Life Office in Fleet Street as a Clerk and the moved my way up the country via Watford and Luton with Friends Provident and Norwich Union and finally arriving in Leicester with my current employer Fairstone Financial Management Ltd, where I am a Chartered Financial Planner and Office Manager.

Q. What is your favourite thing about your job/the profession?

A. Every day is different and brings a new challenge or opportunity to learn. You have the opportunity to get a relevant qualification; I didn’t go to University but embarked on my ACII when I started my career and achieved FCII, FPFS and Chartered Status. You also get to work with amazing people and I have made life long friends along the way.

Q. How long have you been involved with your local institute?

A. I started as a volunteer invigilator for the CII exams as there were no women invigilating and I am a firm believer that if you want to change something, then get involved. I joined council in 2011 and became the first PFS representative and President in the same year.

Q. What is the best thing about volunteering on your local institute?

A. Making a difference and supporting new people joining our profession, whether that is as a PFS or a CII member.

Q. What would you say to anyone considering joining their local institute?

A. Do it, you won’t regret it. You will meet people working in different areas of insurance and learn from them along the way.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. I love to dance and have tried everything- from tap, ballet, ballroom to belly dancing!

Q. If you were trapped on a desert island what 3 things would you take with you?

A. A mirror (to signal for help, check the tan and start a fire), a friend - so I don't get lonely and a radio to play music so that I can dance.