Shirley Coleman, Chair of Discussion Meetings Committee

Shirley Coleman is Technical Director of Newcastle University Solve in the School of Maths, Statistics and Physics

What is your volunteer role at the RSS? 
Currently I am Chair of the Discussion Meetings Committee and also of the Quality Improvement Section. As Chair of the Discussion Meetings Committee, I am an Honorary Officer on RSS Council. 

What does the role involve? 
Being on Council involves advocating the interests of my various committees and also serving as the Council representative for another section. I chose the History of Statistics Section as this was completely new to me and a different area to my usual work. I attend the History of Statistics Section meetings and am finding them very interesting. 

Why did you choose this role? 
I like to involve myself in the development of statistics as a profession and RSS has been at the heart of things since 1834. I decided that it would be satisfying to chair a committee meeting rather than attend it and so when the opportunity arose, I accepted the challenge.  

Has the experience been valuable for your professional development? 
Yes, I now understand more about getting things done and realise that if I can do it, so can anyone. It also adds to my continuing professional development for CStat status. 

What have you enjoyed most about volunteering with the RSS? 
I like mixing with my statistical friends and colleagues and hearing about their fascinating lives as statisticians in all sorts of roles and applications. 

What advice would you give to anyone interested in volunteering with the RSS?  
Definitely volunteer, it gives a chance to really share what you know and what you have learnt and to learn from the experience of others. 

What’s next – do you plan to carry on in this role or are you tempted to try other volunteer roles? 
Volunteering at the RSS has given me confidence to try different roles and now I am happy to consider whatever comes along.