Lauren Marks

Experience

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  Red Lion Inn

  Mar 2007 - Aug 2012

  Kitchen, Waiting and Bar Staff
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  Lord Beeching (Brains)

  Mar 2013 - Jun 2015

  Bar and Floor Staff
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  Aberystwyth University Students' Union

  Jun 2015 - Jul 2017

  Elected sabbatical officer of AberSU, representing 9,000 students at Aberystwyth University. Political lead for AberSU; researching and implementing campaigns and lobbying activities directed at both the university, national organisations and wider higher education sector on issues relevant to student interests. Examples include lobbying the university to remove all upfront costs to students to participate in sports and societies and securing £50k ring-fenced funding for sports, volunteering and wellbeing, as well as undertaking a hidden course fees research campaign and surveying students on experiences of health and mental health services locally and presenting outcomes to Hywel Dda Health Board. Member of University Council, Finance and Strategy Committees, Senate, and Academic Board, consulting and representing on student experience amongst other key university issues. Researching, writing and co-developing policy for Aberystwyth University and AberSU. Examples of policy developed include the first ever sexual harassment policy for AberSU and an accompanying online reporting tool. Chair of AberSU Board of Trustees, responsible for the financial, charitable and operational administration of AberSU, including strategic planning and meeting the business needs of the organisation. Chairing board meetings and sub-committees. Managing and implementing staff recruitment for key roles in AberSU. Undertaking an Officer Role Review and the research, development and production of a 3 year strategic plan. Successfully secured a block grant increase for AberSU for the first time in 3 years.AberSU was awarded Higher Education Students' Union of the Year and Student Opportunities Award by NUS Wales. Committee Member of NUS Wales National Executive Committee, representing students across Wales and working collaboratively with other elected officers across Wales to shape policy on education, welfare and student rights, as well as holding NUS Wales officers to account. Show less Elected sabbatical officer representing 9,000 students at Aberystwyth University. Specific remit for educational experience, responsible for researching, writing and co-developing education policy for Aberystwyth University and AberSU. Examples of policy developed include a university-wide policy on feedback and assessment regulations and implementation of a postgraduate student employment charter. Researching and implementing campaigns and lobbying activities directed at both the university and national organisations on issues relevant to student interests, including lobbying Welsh Government on the Diamond Review. Undertaking research into aspects of the student experience and representing students to the wider higher education sector, including giving student input on the Teaching Excellence Framework and Diamond Review. Project managing and hosting the annual Student Led Teaching Awards awards, including the nominations process, judging process, production of written and graphics event materials and event management. Co-ordination of the Academic Representation system, responsible for development, training and embedding of academic representatives throughout all levels of the university to ensure the student voice is fully represented. Member of AberSU Board of Trustees. Member of University Senate, Academic Board and other key sub committees.AberSU Officer Team was shortlisted by NUS UK for Officer Team of the Year, for exceptional commitment to student representation and experience, mental health and wellbeing support, and team work to effect change that benefits students in Aberystwyth and across the UK.Lead Student Representative (QAA Higher Education Review), ensuring students were represented by researching for and authoring the student written submission to rigorous deadlines, engaging students throughout the review in a variety of ways and ensuring that action plans were followed through in the student interest after the review. Show less

  • President & Chair of Board of Trustees

    Jul 2016 - Jul 2017

  • Education Officer

    Jun 2015 - Jul 2016
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  Office for Students

  Jun 2017 - Jan 2021

  2016-2017 - TEF2 Assessor2018 - TEF Subject Pilot Natural Sciences Panel Member2019 - TEF Subject Pilot Natural Sciences Panel Deputy Chair Reviewing individual applications from UK higher education institutions, including understanding and analysing complex metrics data sets and institution written submissions, providing recommendations to the full TEF panel on the outcomes of the assessments of each institution. Presented as a speaker at the launch conference for the Office for Students in conjunction with my role as a TEF Assessor and Subject Panel Member, for the "What is Teaching Excellence?" session, focusing on student perspectives and student roles in the future of teaching excellence. Speech can be viewed here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-and-events/events/office-for-students-launch-conference/ Show less

  • Deputy Chair & Assessor - Teaching Excellence Framework

    Oct 2016 - Jan 2021

  • Student Member - UK Student Information Advisory Group

    Jun 2017 - Sept 2019
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  Personal Genome Project UK

  Jan 2018 - Jan 2020

  Media & Communications
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  NHS England

  Sept 2018 - Aug 2022

  • Genomics Policy & Strategy Manager

    Oct 2020 - Aug 2022

  • Genomics Policy Support Officer

    Sept 2018 - Oct 2020
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  Young Lives vs Cancer

  Aug 2022 - now

  Policy and Public Affairs Manager