Staff profiles

Rachel Hillman, Onsite Education Manager

About my role at The National Archives

I work as the Onsite Education Manager at The National Archives. My main responsibility is to develop and deliver the programme of workshops (both on-site and via videoconferencing and 'Virtual Classroom'), that we provide for schools. This involves managing the Onsite Education Team (two education officers and an education assistant), researching archival material for new workshops, evaluating and developing existing sessions, liaising with schools and education teams at other heritage institutions, and writing the marketing material for our service. I am also given the opportunity to write some teaching materials for the education website.

My professional background

Before working at the archives, I completed a History degree and then a PGCE in Primary teaching. I spent four years working as a teacher in the state sector, before joining the Education Team at The National Archives.

Why I enjoy working at The National Archives

I really enjoy working at the archives, as it enables me to work with original documents and to use them in my teaching to help inspire others. It is wonderful to have the vast resource of the archives to delve into, and to help students make sense of some of the history that The National Archives holds.

Shahalom Rahman - Trainee Archivist

About my role at The National Archives

As a trainee archivist, the main aim of my role is to gain pre-course experience prior to undertaking an MA in Archives and Record Management at University College London. My main responsibilities include getting involved in the daily running of departments across The National Archives by participating in departmental and team meetings, undertaking specific projects and getting as much exposure as possible through the 'in your shoes' work experience and work shadowing. I'm also working with a National Archives-wide team on  the Records of the Muslim World project and supporting a Records Specialist in creating a scoping document listing details of Foreign Office records that would be of interest to researchers and academic institutions, as well as understanding the computer system used by the Document Service Department.

My professional background

I graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science, having studied History and International Relations. Since September 2008 I've been working at The National Archives, completing placements in different departments.

Why I enjoy working at The National Archives

I don't spend my entire day sitting at the desk. There are plenty of opportunities to move about. I've spent time at the Camden Archives and Local Study Centre and have been lucky enough to participate in two very interesting conferences on information resources on Asia and digital preservation for repositories. 

Simon Boyd-Smith - Assistant Human Resources Adviser

About my role at The National Archives

As an Assistant Human Resources (HR) Adviser my main duties are administering new starters and leavers, which may involve contracts, pensions and pay.  I am currently studying for a professional qualification in human resources known as CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development). This has allowed me to broaden my knowledge and undertake sickness absence and grievance casework which is interesting and rewarding. My role includes advising various internal and external stakeholders on HR related issues including pay and general employee relation queries. I have recently been involved with the transition of the Statutory Publications Office to The National Archives.

My professional background

Before joining The National Archives in May 2007 I spent five years working for The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as a recruitment officer, and as an HR Adviser at Cabinet Office.

Why I enjoy working at The National Archives

I was attracted to The National Archives for various reasons.  Firstly, the organisation's values and work are critical to the preservation and education of history for everyone.  Secondly, the generous benefits package such as pension, annual leave, gym and its location were factors that I considered to be important. Thirdly, with IIP (Investor in People) status I knew that I would be joining an organisation that was caring and ambitious and valued its employees.

Angela Owusu - PR Executive Officer

About my role at The National Archives

I am the Public Relations Executive Officer at The National Archives for the Archive Awareness Campaign (AAC). AAC promotes local and national archives across the UK and Republic of Ireland and celebrates archives and their treasures through events and campaigns.

My professional background

I worked as a press officer at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) prior to working at The National Archives. Before that, I worked at the Treasury in the press office for two and a half years. My first civil service job was at the Department of Health where I worked in policy on the Drugs and Sexual Health team. Policy work is very different to a communications environment, but I've always wanted to work in the media and/or communications as I have a Degree and Masters in Communication. You could say I'm a career civil servant! I only intended to work at the Department of Health for a year…as they say, the rest is history.

Why I enjoy working at The National Archives

I loved history at school and coming here has renewed my love of the subject. I enjoy working on the AAC as it's interesting working with archive organisations. I enjoy generating PR for their events, but more so, it's great to delve into the past. There are so many people and groups that have done a lot for their communities and AAC enables and encourages archive organisations to bring their history to life through events and activities.

Paul Davies - Head of Estates and Facilities

About my role at The National Archives

As Head of Estates and Facilities I am responsible for The National Archives' estate and the safety of the people, documents and buildings. The Estates and Facilities department is responsible for providing a suitable infrastructure and pleasant environment for staff and visitors. Key areas include legal compliance, repository document environmental conditions, mechanical and electrical services, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, health and safety, catering, cleaning, and landscaping. I am also responsible for Business Continuity Planning (disaster recovery) and capital projects for the repair and replacement of plant, equipment and building fabric.

My professional background

I am a Facilities Manager and Building Services Engineer by profession.  My previous roles have included working as Head of Facilities Management at the Imperial War Museum in London and across its five main sites; working as Head of Building Services at The British Library in London and working as part of the Royal Engineers in the British Army

I joined the army as an apprentice mechanical engineer at 16 and had a successful and varied career, with jobs such as helicopter co-pilot, armoured vehicle operator, combat engineer and clerk of works.  I spent the last seven years of my military career in civilian clothes on secondment to Minstry of Defence contractors or managing military installations and housing.

Why I enjoy working at The National Archives

The two things I like most about working at The National Archives are the variety of the work and the people.

Darren Austin - Senior Project Manager

About my role at The National Archives

My key responsibility is to manage various projects across the organisation, most of which tend to be marketing and online focused.  Depending on the scale of a project, this can involve anything from carrying out simple feasibility studies to managing the design, development, testing and deployment of new systems. 

My role involves working with colleagues from across the organisation as well as selecting and managing external suppliers.

My professional background

My background is in tourism marketing and before joining The National Archives I worked in London for VisitBritain, the national tourism marketing agency, where I was responsible for project managing the development and delivery of a number of global marketing systems.  This was a very challenging role as each system had to cater for over a dozen languages and several hundred users across 27 countries.  Before this I spent around eight years working for VisitBritain in the USA and Singapore, where I was responsible for the organisation's business planning programmes across North America and Asia.  During this time, I was also involved in the development of a North American contact centre in New York.

Why I enjoy working at The National Archives

The National Archives has a great working environment.  Everyone is dedicated to their work and there is a real sense of co-operation across the various teams and departments.

Wendy Michaels - Estates and Facilities Admin

About my role at The National Archives

I cover a wide range of administrative work including budgets for both Estates and Facilities and Security, as well as invoicing, processing and purchasing.  I am also responsible for security clearances and generally a Jill of all Trades concerned with admin, including health and safety.

My professional background

I started as an IBM Compositor typist in a printing company, then as a Reprographic Artist in the print unit of London Borough of Hounslow. Following this I have worked within a Finance department and attended evening classes for book-keeping, as I progressed to becoming an Assistant to Accountant. When I came to The National Archives, I began as a word-processing typist. So I have extensive experience with admin, with a touch of accounts.

Why I enjoy working at The National Archives

I have been here for 13 and a half years and, looking back, I can see that I haven't really been in the same job - it has evolved over the years from typist to Admin with lots of responsibilities and I have enjoyed the challenges and experiences.  The National Archives offers excellent training and I have two NVQs and a Team Leadership degree with the help of sign language interpreters, as I am profoundly deaf.  Also many staff here are keen and enthusiastic on Deaf Awareness and we have had several training sessions with good attendance records.  The National Archives recognises issues with disabilities and we have a Disability Staff Forum which is extremely rare with other companies, so it's something we are proud of.

Melinda Haunton - Programmes Manager, Archives Sector Development

About my role at The National Archives

I support and advise the wider archives sector as part of The National Archives' broader remit. I undertake inspections and assessments of archive services against national standards; monitor sales of manuscript material and share the information with the sector; advise on grants and projects by other archive services and administer our own National Cataloguing Grants Programme for Archives, which is supported by a range of charitable funders. I also support our information resources on the holdings of the wider archive sector, especially the National Register of Archives.

My professional background

I have a PhD in history and I worked in the academic sector teaching undergraduate courses at several universities. Since joining The National Archives I have undertaken professional training and am now a qualified archivist.

Why I enjoy working at The National Archives

I love being at the centre of information and advice to the archives sector. This job is an unparalleled opportunity to explore and support the UK's archival provision. As a historian by training, it is incredibly satisfying to be working to preserve the nation's written heritage, without which we would know so little about our past.