Helen Rushforth

My original involvement as a CIPFA volunteer was on the National Student Forum. After I qualified I moved house and changed job and decided it was time to step down from the NSF.

However, Jennie Prewett - who set up the student society - persuaded me to volunteer to get involved with my Region. After a couple of meetings I found myself agreeing to be nominated as treasurer, a post which I'll be developing over the next year or so.

Volunteering gives me a chance to have some input into how CIPFA is run in the area and to understand how some of the decisions taken affect members across the Region. I come into contact with people I wouldn't normally meet and it looks good on the CV.

I've been involved in putting together conferences and finding speakers and have recently agreed to take on the challenge of setting up a new 'hub' in Bournemouth, to run events for members in the area.

I enjoy the fact that I can do something useful and relevant for an organisation that plays such an important role in my professional life.