GETTING TO KNOW OUR PEOPLE
Sharon Lui, Executive/Events Assistant What is your role at the CIQS and to whom are you accountable? I am so excited to hold the position as Executive/Events Assistant for CIQS, located in the Markham office. My role includes organizing Chapter and National events (including booking event venues and creating promotional materials) and performing administrative duties related to event planning, the board of directors, chapter relations, and the AGM and nomination/election process. I am accountable to everyone within the organization, including the Executive Director, National and Chapter board members, and especially the CIQS members, as every event we plan is for the benefit of our members. What does a typical day look like, and is there much variety in your job? A typical day for me includes sourcing venues for events, creating promotional materials on our EventBrite registration site, updating Chapter representatives on the attendee status of their events, setting up teleconference meetings, reviewing contracts for event venues, promoting our events via email or phone, sourcing sponsorship opportunities and any administrative duty that is assigned by the Executive Director of the CIQS, Sheila Lennon. There is definitely a ton of variety in my job. Being bilingual in French and English, I recently completed a translation assignment and also had the opportunity to help organize the Quebec Chapter event that was held in October. I was also fortunate to attend the CIQS Board Meeting in Calgary, where I took minutes and made sure that the meetings and the meet-and-greet ran smoothly.
As the CIQS grows its membership, it is my hope that the YQS programmes can promote similar growth for young quantity surveyors across the nation. on the job training as I flew out to Calgary to help with my first board meeting, just four days after I started this position. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
do not reside in those cities to attend the events. Holding livestream events and workshops could help remedy this issue as members can connect nationwide.
What is the most satisfying part of your job? The most satisfying part of my job is to see people thoroughly enjoy their time at the events that I help to plan. I recently received a shout-out on LinkedIn by one of the CIQS board members who thanked me for planning a wonderful event. It is always nice to know that your work is appreciated. I also love the culture and the people here at the CIQS. It really is a great family environment.
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Do you have any particular other interests? In my spare time, I like to rap (yes, you read that correctly) and grow giant, awardwinning pumpkins in our front yard. My family (consisting of three kids ages 6, 10 and 14 and a husband) keep me very busy. I also have a thirst for learning, as I went back to school last year and graduated with a Post-Graduate diploma in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Centennial College. It was a bit daunting to go back to school with a class full of kids half your age, but it was the most amazing experience.
What are the challenges and opportunities of performing your role? The main challenge of my role is to get more engagement out of our CIQS members, by having them attend more events and workshops that will add value to their membership. Many of our events are held in major cities, including Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto, so it makes it difficult for many members who
About the author Interview conducted by Arif Ghaffur, PQS(F), Editor of Construction Economist.
How long have you been doing this, and how has your role changed? I have been in the role for only six weeks, but in this short time I have already learned so much about the organization and the logistics of event planning. I literally had CLICK HERE to return to Table of Contents
Winter 2019 | www.ciqs.org | CONSTRUCTION ECONOMIST | 35
