Amy is currently undertaking a three month internship with Google London, on the University Programmes team. Thus far she has learnt an enormous amount about time and project management whilst supporting the team who keep Google and universities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa connected.
Amy's most recent achievement is receiving a runner up prize for her poster presented at the BCS Women In Computing Lovelace Colloquium 2010, and having her abstract published as part of the Conference Proceedings.
When she isn't computing, attending technology conferences to catch up on the latest advances, or trying to learn something new, Amy spends her time working on one of several ongoing novels, attending meetings of the Science Fiction Society (of which she is the Communications Officer, responsible for the website, advertising, bi-montly magazine and keeping members up to date with events), swimming or trampolining.
Amy is currently a member of the team of part time Casual Staff for the University of Lincoln Students Union. For this role, she designs and creates posters to advertise various SU related events and is also involved in the maintenance of the SU website.
In August 2009, Amy travelled to Bihar, India, with the charity People First India. This is one of the poorest regions, where she spent two weeks helping with various welfare projects run by the charity. Along with her fellow volunteers, she pledged to raise £1200 to fund a school for a year in the area, and has been involved in various fund raising events over the past few months, the most recent one being a sponsored 20 mile hike. While she was there she kept a weblog of her adventures (when the electricty supply and internet connection allowed) - read all about it here.
Her interest in voluntary work was initiated during participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme during High School, as well as joinng the Millenium Volunteers scheme in Lower Sixth. This resulted in Amy spending several hours a week working at her local British Heart Foundation charity shop for almost two years in 2006-7. She also taught swimming on a voluntary basis, both one-to-one and to groups of up to 14, to four to eight year olds between 2004 and 2008. For over a year, she was the sound technician for the Boston Grammar School Schuhplattler dance group, attending gigs around the country to raise money for various charities. Also with Millenium Volunteers, she attended a two day course to learn basic British Sign Language.
Amy worked for eleven months at clothes shop Bon Marche, in 2007-8, giving her valuble experience of a busy retail environment, and active selling techniques.