The RSS Professional Affairs Committee (PAC) oversees all aspects of the Society's work relating to professional membership and accreditation. However, most of it wouldn’t be possible without the huge contribution of RSS members volunteering their time and expertise.
While PAC members confer professional titles such as Data Analyst and Chartered Statistician status to qualified members and oversee the Society’s Code of Conduct, they are supported by a wider network of volunteers. This allows PAC to accredit university courses, review revalidation submissions, help develop the professional via the Professional Statisticians Network as well as mentor Graduate Statisticians.
We’d like to hear from members interested in continuing the important work of PAC. Exciting new developments we are currently working on are the development of the profession of Data Science, and as of this week, a new mentoring platform to help Graduate Statisticians get to Chartered status. We’re always looking for new ways to support all our professional members.
See below for a range of opportunities to work with PAC.
Join PAC
Open to CStat holders only. Register your interest to join the committee and help shape the future of professionalism with the RSS, statistics and data science. PAC consists of a chair and up to twelve members, all of whom must be CStats, elected by the professionally qualified members of the Society.
Become a mentor
Becoming a mentor has never been easier with our newly launched purpose-built mentoring platform that enables CStat holders to pass on valuable guidance and advice to Graduate Statisticians and registered Data Analysts. If you have ideas for other mentorship schemes, please complete this short survey and tell us what mentoring schemes you would like to see offered by the Society.
Become an Accreditation Assessor
One of the main tasks of PAC is to accredit qualifying courses from universities and other providers. CStat holders can register their interest in helping the Society assess these applications.
Join the Professional Statisticians’ Network
Led by a member of PAC, this opportunity is open to all members of the RSS to help spread advice and knowledge via webinars, podcasts, events, etc. Get in touch if there is something you would like to share, or even if you would like to help schedule a plan of events.
Please send expressions of interest to Beryl Curtis by the closing date of 4 June 2022.
Here’s what current members of PAC say they’ve gained from it:
‘As a member of PAC I’ve discovered the astonishing variety of work that professional statisticians do, the very different routes they’ve taken to get there, as well as the new challenges and opportunities coming our way with the rise of data science. It has helped me enormously to think strategically about my everyday work, and it has been genuinely fun to work with a great bunch of colleagues.’
John MacInnes FAcSS CStat, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Statistics, University of Edinburgh
‘I enjoy being a member of PAC (since Feb 2019) as it brings together statisticians from industry and academia, working to ensure that the skills and benefits that statisticians bring to organisations and research is recognised and supported. I learn a lot from being part of a collaborative forum focused on serving the current and future needs of our members and potential members.’
Claire Bhogal CStat, R&D Director, Abbott Diabetes Care
‘I have worked as a statistician for 25 years – first in the pharma industry and now running my own small statistical consultancy firm. Being part of PAC is a key step in ensuring I stay up to date with what’s happening in the wider world of statistics, and focused on keeping CPD and accreditation at the forefront of everyone’s minds.’
Gemma Hodgson CStat, Director, QI Statistics