Being a PD Network member

The people are extraordinary

At first, it was daunting.

PD is full of brilliant people, and most inspiringly, brilliant women. It is overwhelming to see so many of the great and good of digital transformation in one place. Almost intimidating. It took a deep breath and some grit to push the imposter phenomenon aside and recognise that I can add value.

As with all freelance work, it takes a leap of faith to say yes to an engagement that might start tomorrow or might start in 3 weeks. Pinning down the exact start is hard when large organisation procurement machinery is grinding through contracts.

Then as soon as the contract is signed, you find you’re suddenly starting on a project and you realise you don’t really know anything about it, but you have to pick it up fast in order to start delivering value early. For me, that’s part of the fun. The uncertainty, followed by the rapid learning and team building necessary to get your teeth into a piece of work.

As a Network member, I have choice and flexibility. I can say no to an engagement, I choose the days and times that I work and I can put my name forward for work that interests me. As a parent of four (yup, four) and with the other clients I have, that’s important to me.

The work is meaningful

The projects I have worked on have involved working in excellent multi-disciplinary teams, including both my colleagues in PD and the clients. People are motivated, highly skilled, thoughtful and eager for change - ingredients for impactful work.
As a one-person independent consultant I would be unlikely to win a contract to develop a data strategy for the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia, but with Public Digital I get to do that kind of thing. For my career development and my exposure to interesting and varied opportunities, being a PD Network member has been fantastic.

I have worked with different people across different parts of PD - from health and care, public services in the UK, through to international engagements with global governments. This means that I’ve worked with lots of different PD people, lots of different clients in lots of different settings. In the last 6 months I have been part of small teams that have:

• Reviewed the digital strategy of the London Borough of Greenwich.
• Redesigned how the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership work together to better meet the needs of children and families in Nottinghamshire.
• Supported Nova Scotia to start developing a Data Strategy.
• Facilitated the Data Leadership Team of the NHS Business Services Authority to set their strategic vision and start leading differently.

I’m proud of all the work I’ve done.