Claire Castles
Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator at the Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland
Name: Claire Castles
Matriculation Year: 2009
Subject: Japanese
Occupation: Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator at the Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland
LinkedIn: Claire Castles
“I have such fond memories of my time at Hertford. Some of the people I met in fresher’s week are still my closest friends today.
Although I didn’t realise it at the time, the summer job I took in the International Programmes Office at Hertford after I graduated would be the catalyst for my future work life, and made me realise you could have a varied and interesting career in Higher Education. I’ve never really left university!
After a stint working in the (now gone and much missed) Boswells department store, my first graduate job was on a professional services graduate trainee scheme working for the University of Oxford. From there I have worked at a number of institutions in Student Support, Progression and Engagement, before landing my current role in International Partnerships.
Although I don’t use my Japanese as often as I’d like to these days, I think the transferable skills and critical perspectives my degree gave me; especially the understanding that no one culture or experience of the world is “neutral” or “the default”; have helped me grow in my personal and professional life.”
If you would like to get in touch with Claire, message her directly on LinkedIn or contact the Development Office who can forward on your email.