MEET THE BOARD

Meet the Board is our new feature, designed to help you get to know the AVS board a little more. Next up is.... (drum roll please:)

Clare Forster

Job title | Conference Office Manager, University of Salford (and Chair of the AVS Board!)

Date you joined the board | January 2016

Why you wanted to join the board?

To get involved with the direction of the association and work alongside peers from other universities.

What do you bring to the party?

A determination to keep AVS relevant to our members, our sector and our industry, also humour and a down to earth approach.

What do you hope to achieve in the next 12 months individually and collectively?

We’ve weathered a complete overhaul of the association and a pandemic in the last 5 years. we’ve now steadied the ship and I see the next 12 months being about consolidation, growth and maintaining the extraordinary levels of member engagement. AVS is the only organisation that solely represents academic venues and I want us to use our voice for the good of our sector.

What’s the best thing about being on the AVS board?

Working with peers from across the sector who are all passionate about the association. oh, and the biscuits at our meetings.

What advice would you give to others thinking of joining a board?

I really couldn’t recommend it highly enough. I have learned so much from other board members and the avs team; got an insight into how other universities operate and a sense of common challenges and opportunities.

What do you love about working in the industry?

The people: there is collaboration everywhere and genuine passion to deliver events that bring so much benefit.

What’s the biggest challenge facing the industry over the next 12 months? 

Financial uncertainty and ever- changing priorities within universities. that said, it was ever thus and we love the challenge!

What do you love to do when you’re not working? 

Morris dance!