Today is Alison Hopper's final day as Centre Development Manager after eight years at the John Smith Centre.
Today we bid farewell to the John Smith Centre’s Development Manager Alison Hopper who, after eight years here, is leaving to become Head of Operations at ACOSVO, the membership organisation which supports voluntary sector leaders in Scotland.
That’s a very matter-of-fact way of summing up what is a massive moment, and huge loss, for the Centre. As our chair, Baroness Catherine Smith of Cluny KC has said, the Centre simply would not exist were it not for Alison’s work over her time here. I’ve only been at the Centre for eight months, but I’ve already been able to appreciate that in spades, a view I know is also shared with my predecessor Kezia Dugdale.
Alison’s lasting legacy will be the work she has done developing our internship programmes. I’ve spoken to a few of those former interns in my short time here and many say candidly that they would not have found work in whatever career they’ve chosen were it not for their time with the Centre. For Alison, personally, that is some legacy. She can leave the Centre knowing that her impact will carry on for many years, in a wholly positive manner. Not many of us can honestly say that.
As Elli Loose, Rebecca Rae and all our former staff members would agree, she’s also been a great friend and colleague to everyone who has worked here. ACOSVO – you’re lucky to have her.
So, on behalf of those students who she mentored and staff members who she supported, we’d like to say a huge thank-you. We all wish Alison the very, very best in her new job and look forward to seeing her on campus whenever she can make it back.
Eddie Barnes
Director, John Smith Centre
