Celebrating ALT’s Trustees for #TrusteesWeek

To celebrate Trustee’s Week, 4-8 November, we are kicking off our new profile series by interviewing one of our trustees, Puiyin Wong. ALT’s Board of Trustees are responsible for ALT’s strategy, governance, and overall performance of the Association. The Trustees are an integral part of ALT. 

Puiyin Wong has been an ALT Trustee since 2022. She is currently Head of Digital Education at the University of Birmingham, as well as a PhD candidate with the Educational Research Department at Lancaster University.

Puiyin and Patch

Puiyin, you have been a trustee for over two years now. How did you decide to become a trustee and what have you learned that you have taken into your day to day job?

It was actually a happy coincidence! I had encountered an issue with my session proposal for the ALT Annual Conference 2022, so I asked Maren Deepwell (ALT’s previous CEO) if we could have a quick chat about it. At the end of our conversation, Maren asked if I was aware of an upcoming Trustee election and whether I might be interested in standing. I replied with a surprised “No”, I didn’t even know Trustees existed! Maren and I then had an open discussion about the commitment and responsibilities involved, and I was convinced in a heartbeat. That same afternoon, I wrote my election statement, ran a shameless campaign in the following weeks, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Since becoming a Trustee, I have valued every opportunity that has come my way. Each Board meeting offers a chance to learn, especially during strategic decision-making discussions. My first few meetings were truly eye-opening; at the time, I was still a learning technologist, so being in the same room with fellow Trustees, many of whom are senior leaders in higher education, felt like a master class in leadership and management. Watching them in action has been an incredible learning experience.

How has ALT been important to your career?

Massively! I have only worked directly in learning technology for about 5 years. Before that, I didn’t even know ALT existed! Over the past five years, I have progressed from a junior learning technologist to Head of Digital Education at a Russell Group university; something I would never have dared to dream of. Before discovering ALT, my goal was simply a mid-level, full-time role in education. ALT and its incredible community of people have taught me to dream big, to pursue my ambitions without holding back. All you need is the willingness to try, to persevere, to ask for help, and sometimes to take a leap of faith. The generosity I have received from so many ALT members and the friendships we have built along the way has been the most important thing for me.

In addition, the opportunities I have gained through ALT have directly contributed to my career progression. Attending and presenting at its conferences and events, earning my CMALT and now SCMALT accreditation, serving as an assessor, participating in Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and contributing to various committees have all been invaluable CPD experiences. These opportunities have exposed me to new insights and experiences that I wouldn’t have encountered in my day-to-day role.

A strong presence in the ALT community is also something that employers value, as standing in front of peers represents not only yourself but also your employer. After all, who wouldn’t want their organisation represented in a positive light? Whilst I cannot quantify exactly how much this has boosted my career, I know that as my reach and visibility have grown, so has my confidence. This is particularly true in how I conduct myself publicly and presentation skills, which are essential for most roles in learning technology, especially at senior levels. 

What do you find exciting about working with learning technology?

The most exciting part is seeing people who are genuinely enthusiastic about using learning technology in their teaching. Their eagerness to innovate and their drive to make learning more engaging for students through technology is truly inspiring.

Many people resist using learning technology, viewing it as too technical and a hindrance to their teaching. I understand this perspective; many colleagues are under pressure to work more, teach larger cohorts, and manage increasing responsibilities. Why would they want to learn yet another piece of technology? That’s why I find it most exciting when I can convince them that learning technology is not about the technology itself. Instead, it is in response to their existing pedagogical practices, enhancing their teaching to make it more effective, innovative, and engaging.

What was the last thing you read or watched?

Some trashy Chinese TV drama. I go through phases of wanting to watch a lot of Chinese movies and TV shows. I guess they remind me of home in Hong Kong, which has not really been my home for over 20 years now, but a root is a root. It will never change.

If you were on a deserted island, what is the one thing you would take?

PATCH!  I think anyone who knows anything about me would know the answer to this! I cannot imagine life without her now, she is the most important, loving and loyal companion in my life. I adopted Patch from Battersea Dogs and Cats home in summer 2013. Not long before that, she’d become a young mother of 3 kittens. It has been a regret of mine that I never got a chance to meet her babies, otherwise, I would have taken the whole family home with me! Fast forward to 11 years later, Patch is now enjoying her well-earned retirement in our new home away from busy London. Some fortunate people have had the pleasure of befriending her through our online meetings, including some fellow ALT Trustees.

We hope you enjoyed hearing from one of our trustees. If Puiyin has inspired you to investigate becoming a trustee, there will be vacancies coming up in 2025. We’ll be in touch with information about trustee roles and how to get involved next year.

Future profiles will feature colleagues involved with Special Interest and Members Groups, CMALT holders and assessors, apprentices and ALT staff. 

If you are a current member of ALT and would be interested in featuring in an upcoming post or want to recommend someone members would be interested in hearing from, please contact us at blog@alt.ac.uk.