So, this is kind of cool. One year and one month after I started working at the EU Policy Lab, I’ll start in a new role as its Deputy Head of Unit! From 1 September, rather than focusing on foresight, I will be working across the three areas of the team’s activities (so also Design and Behavioural Insights), plus all the admin type things that a deputy has to do.
I can’t say that I had any particular ambitions to become a deputy head of unit. When the role came free, though, I thought I would throw my hat in the ring. Largely because I absolutely love working in the EU Policy Lab and I feel a strong commitment to what it is trying to do. It feels like the culmination of so much of my working life to date. Not only everything I did in my pre-Australia career at the Commission, in terms of pushing boundaries, trying new things and promoting modern work practices, but also what I learnt while I was in Australia, from leadership and creativity studies during my Masters to the many engagement and facilitation trainings and certifications. So I thought I’d see if there was interest in that side of me – and happily there was!
Continuing the West Wing (best TV series ever, fact) analogy, then, I guess having been CJ and, briefly, Sam, I’m now Deputy Chief of Staff, Josh Lyman 😉