Barb Lowden Email & Phone Number

United Kingdom

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

The Partnerships team focuses on identifying, developing and managing relationships with the potential to contribute most to the university’s strategic (research and enterprise) ambitions, but are also tasked with establishing and overseeing university-wide processes that support the development and growth of partnerships generally. I am responsible for supporting the management of the partnerships portfolio with the maintenance of the Partnerships Database, admin support for the key account management of the individual key partnerships, and maintaining the Team's resources & comms.

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Executive support to Prof Dimitra Simeonidou (Director, Smart Internet Lab & Co-director, Bristol Digital Futures Institute) including diary management; arranging meetings and teaching schedules; forward planning in respect of meetings, travel, documents and correspondence; and dissemination of information to relevant staff, students and external contacts on behalf of Prof Simeonidou. Flexibility, use of initiative and a willingness to take on new tasks is essential in order to provide continuous support for Prof Simeonidou's variable research and teaching activities. This involves sole-working, multi-tasking and using initiative to solve problems quickly and professionally, with minimal guidance.Management of the facilities of the HPN Group, including forward planning for space allocation, anticipating and resolving issues, and co-ordinating resources (e.g. desks and equipment) ensuring new starters have the resources appropriate to their needs; authorising door access requests; maintaining user lists for the offices and laboratory space; acting as first point of contact on security issues, and management of the booking systems for the Group's meeting rooms and other equipment. This requires liaison with several departments to ensure that the fabric and facilities of the Group are maintained at the highest standard. From June 2015-December 2020, I was involved in forward planning the administration of the EPSRC-funded TOUCAN Programme Grant (TOwards Ultimate Convergence of All Networks), including organising high-profile events, publicity and press releases and liaising with other relevant stakeholders. This required a range of skills in event management such as liaising with venues, caterers, speakers, delegates, sponsors and media contacts; maintaining financial records and managing a system for registrations.

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Supporting the work of the HPRU, I had a key role in organising the HRPU research collaboration and monitoring arrangements, as well as a role as the PA to the HPRU Director and 3 Professors at the University (including general administrative duties in the areas of office management and finance). I also took on administrative tasks relating to the new NIHR School for Public Health Research, of which Bristol is one of eight members.I served as the nominated point of contact for all enquiries to the HPRU, communicating effectively with the Public Health England Lead and HPRU Co-Directors, plus various work stream leads at collaborating Universities (UCL, the MRC Biostatistics Unit in Cambridge and UWE). I ensured that enquiries were dealt with efficiently and effectively, using sensitivity and discretion, and that correspondence which needed to be disseminated was done in a timely fashion by using my own initiative. I also provided local co-ordination of the HPRU website, reviewing and liaising with the Web and Media Officers in the University and with other colleagues to ensure accurate content and a compliant and effective web presence was readily available for the HPRU.

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Project-specific administrative support to the ALSPAC Executive Committee, working closely with the other members of the admin team. Lead responsibility for the administration and ongoing development of the project management database.Logging availability of genetics data on the ALSPAC research database.Managing the administration of applications to access the ALSPAC resource. General administrative support to the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and other senior staff.

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Responsible for general administrative support to the West Hub and its associated research projects to include effective communication across collaborating sites, liaising closely with all staff involved in West Hub and projects within the Hub and the UK MHRN. General administration included preparing and arranging meetings including teleconferences, minute taking and distribution, diary management, and arranging travel needs including organising tickets and currency for international travel.Responsible for preparing, writing and sending letters on own initiative and on instruction from the Hub Manager to internal and external West Hub contacts, word processing from written and audio originals, and re-formatting files prepared elsewhere, eg. grant applications, articles and letters.Responsible for maintaining filing systems for both paper and electronic materials relating to West Hub and associated projects.Responsible for helping and arranging West Hub events on and off site.Responsible for developing, updating and maintaining a contact database, and monitoring records to ensure West Hub staff had up to date information to carry out Hub-related activities.Collated information needed for research governance and ethics applications.

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

During this period, I covered various secretarial and administrative positions as a 'temp' whilst trying to secure permanent employment. These roles included high-level PA support to a Director, and office management to a team of 5 people (as examples).

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Screening clients involved in personal injury accidents to determine level of injuries sustained (ranging from minor whiplash to head injuries) and allocating to the most suitably experienced Case Manager. I was able to use a calm, sympathetic, tactful and discretionary manner, especially when dealing with clients where their accidents had been very recent.Creating new files with all relevant documentation included to ensure all was ready for the Case Manager to take on assessments.Answering queries or problems from clients, Solicitors, Insurers and treatment providers via phone or email, and escalating where necessary.Processing/formatting case management reports and distributing to all relevant parties.Ensuring all procedures and service level agreements were met at all times.Office management duties including booking meeting rooms, travel, plus ordering stationery and petty cash responsibilities.

Processed and peer-reviewed initial, mid-treatment and final assessment reports, and being confident enough to raise any queries with the treatment providers to ensure the reports were as accurate as possible before sending on to insurers or Solicitors.Taking incoming calls as part of the ‘Query Team’ from patients, insurers, Solicitors or treatment providers and dealing with any queries or problems e.g. the treatment process. Responsible for the arrangements of all the company’s diagnostic scanning (MRIs/x-rays), dealing with approximately 10 new referrals a week, plus other procedures including Nerve Conduction and Electromyographical Studies. I also collated monthly reports with regards to these referrals, providing me with the opportunity to chase any outstanding payments.

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Arranged rehabilitation treatment and/or Case Management for clients, ranging from adults requiring psychological treatment or children with spinal injuries needing 24-hour professional care. I had full involvement from when a referral was received from a Paralegal, Solicitor or Partner within the firm, right through to when a client’s treatment was undertaken (approximately 375 cases). Excellent communication skills were required at all times, using tact and discretion especially when speaking to clients and/or their families.Supervision of one member of staff ensuring all the above was managed smoothly and efficiently, and dealing with any problems/queries when required.Management of a £40k budget; this was closely monitored to make sure monies were paid back to the firm from other side’s insurers/solicitors as promptly as possible, plus produced monthly reports for the Senior Partner and Projects Partner showing the incomings and outgoings of this budget, plus the amount of referrals received in this period.Provided cover for the PA of 3 Partners in the event of leave/sickness, including typing of correspondence and other required duties.

Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Helped set up the Mattress Store in the Bristol Royal Infirmary alongside the Tissue Viability Clinical Nurse Supervisor in 2003 with regards to having available and suitable pressure relieving mattresses for patients' needs. This included creating the necessary procedures to ensure that requests for mattresses were made in line with clinical guidelines.Received and actioned mattress requests from the Hospital's wards, ensuring the correct type of mattress was provided to the patient. Weekly visits to the Wards to check that the mattresses were working and meeting the patients' needs accordingly. If not, escalated to the Clinical Nurse Supervisor for actioning.Provided lectures to nursing staff (plus doctors) to ensure that all policies and procedures for requesting mattresses were adhered to.Provided PA assistance to the Clinical Nurse Supervisor when required, including diary management and travel to conferences.

Nvq Level Iii Administration

NVQ Level 3 Administration (with distinction) RSA Business Communications (with distinction)

9 Gcses From A-D Including Maths And English