I hope 2026 has started well for you.  And if it hasn’t – I hope it improves with haste.

A new year it is – reboot and refresh.  And for some, a look back.  Not always recommended but the internet IS looking back - to 2016.  Many people posting pictures and videos from a year that seems like 5 minutes ago but is actually a full decade ago.

But so timely for my blog! Thank you internet.

10 years ago, I left a great job in London to start what turned out to be a great job nearer to home.  It was a big decision.  I was leaving a job and company I loved.  But really, most importantly to me, I was leaving great friends.  People I saw every day.  That’s where I have to be grateful to Instagram and to brunch dates.  But it is impossible to keep up with everyone and there are those that I will always think of very fondly but that you just don’t manage to see.  There are those that I don’t see enough but that I wouldn’t be without.  I am very lucky.  We all just pick up where we left off.

So, 2016 – a career reset.  I am now working in Milton Keynes at BITZER UK Ltd.  From a head office to a subsidiary office.  It was quite an adjustment, for many reasons, but I made it and I am really starting to get a hang of it after 10 years.

2016 - this is when I met Steve Gill. 

Steve reminded the WIRACHP group, only this morning, that he and Will Hawkins (the then Editor of ACR Journal) in 2016, realised the need for an international women’s group.  Thankfully, they both took the bull by the horns and started something that means today I am here writing a blog as co-chair of the Women in RACHP committee.

Steve approached me and asked if I would be interested in Chairing the committee and although quite apprehensive in this ‘new to me’ industry – I went for it.  I had experience from my last company in this style of group, and he knew it would interest me.  And for 3 years I worked with IOR and WiRACHP to become something that continues to grow in numbers and initiatives today. 

I chaired for a couple of years, then passed on the lead to Karen Perry and then she passed it to Lisa-Jayne Cook and now me again alongside Astrid Prado.  One of the reasons that it took so long for a group like this to be established apparently, was because ‘there aren’t enough women in the industry’.  There were then and are more women in the industry now.  I agree on the point – there aren’t enough.  But a group like this makes us visible and brings us together.  Working alongside all our colleagues but meeting with each other for network connection, support, friendship and to devise industry training, podcasts, monthly blogs, webchats and much more.  I cannot believe that how much we have all done over the 10 years and we will be talking about that more in-depth on one of our podcasts this year with yours truly, Miriam Rodway, and Steve Gill.

So, as I look back on the last 10 years, I can think of all the things that we have achieved as a team.  What we bring to the industry and where we go next.  Volunteers, here for each other and our separate businesses.

And it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t mention that we are also award-winning.  Both for the WiRACHP committee and as individuals.  It isn’t about that, but it is fabulous when it happens!

Here’s to the next 10 years, dare I say.  Let’s see what the future holds.

Until February dear reader.  Be good.  Be cool.