Over the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of being the British Infection Association (BIA) Professional Affairs Trainee Representative. When I first applied, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect—only that I was passionate about improving training for infection trainees and curious about the wider world of infection practice across the UK. It turned out to be a rewarding role that shaped my understanding of our specialty, broadened my network, and allowed me to contribute meaningfully to national conversations about training and workforce development.
Why I Applied: Looking Beyond My Local Patch
Before applying for the role, I’d been a local trainee representative and was aware of the BIA’s work. Training in the North East can sometimes feel geographically distant from other centres, and I was keen to better understand how infection services operate across the UK. The BIA role offered a unique chance to step outside my local system, connect with infection trainees and consultants nationwide, and contribute to improving the training experience for us all. It’s an opportunity to get out of your “silo,” see different models of practice, and learn from the incredible work of infection specialists across the UK.
What the Role Involves
The Professional Affairs Trainee Representative is a full member of the BIA Council, elected by trainee members for a two‑year term.
1. Representing trainees Nationally
Serve as the trainee representative on professional committees, including:
- Specialist Advisory Committee (SAC) for Infectious Diseases
- Joint Committee for Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine
In these meeting I represent trainees and ensure their voices are included. These meetings discuss curriculum development, training standards, assessment frameworks, and broader professional issues affecting infection trainees across the UK.
2. Communication with trainees
Part of the role is ensuring that trainees have a point of contact for any concerns but also ensuring information is filtered back to them from professional committees and they understand what’s happening at national level. This involves presenting updates at BIA Trainee Days and sharing insights from national committees, workforce discussions, and training developments. In order to improve the flow of information I have set up the BIA trainees subcommittee with trainee representatives from across the UK. Over the past two years we have helped address curriculum uncertainties, exam challenges and concerns around laboratory training time.
3. Supporting BIA Events
I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Trainee Meetings Secretary to help chair at the BIA Trainee Days and rank abstracts for presentation. It has been a great way to stay connected with the trainee community and support education events.
4. Contributing to Broader BIA Projects
While the core responsibilities remain constant, the role also evolves. During the past four years I have carried out two trainee surveys to provide information to advise workforce planning and I have been involved in writing workforce planning documents at a national level.
Excitingly, the BIA podcast, MIC: More Infection Chat, was born with my friend and colleague Michael and I interviewing authors published in the Journal of Infection and Clinical Infection in Practice.
No two years look the same—there’s room to shape the role around emerging needs and your own ideas.
How It Fits Alongside Training
Like many trainees, I work less than full time. When needed I typically used a couple of hours on my non‑clinical day to focus on BIA work, which helps to protect my evenings and weekends. It’s definitely manageable, and the BIA is incredibly supportive, approachable, and organised. You’re never doing the work alone; there’s always someone to ask, guide, or collaborate with.
What I Gained from the Role
This role has genuinely been one of the most valuable experiences of my training. I’ve gained:
- A deeper understanding of national education structures
- Insight into how infection services operate across the UK
- Skills in leadership, communication, and strategy
- A stronger sense of belonging within the infection community and connections with inspiring infection specialists across the UK
It has been motivating to see how much our colleagues give to improving infection practice and training—and being part of that is something I’ll always value. I’ve learned more than I ever expected and feel incredibly fortunate to have had this opportunity.