Staff profile: Meet the CQI’s head of membership

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Gareth Kingston joined the CQI as head of membership in December 2016. He oversees the membership department’s four teams: the new member team, member journey team, content team and professional networks team.

What does your role entail?

It’s my responsibility to ensure that the membership department is working in a joined-up manner across all its teams, to deliver the best possible member experience and to meet the CQI’s strategic aims.

What are the main challenges you face?

Members can have a career-long relationship with the CQI. My challenge is to make sure that members find this relationship valuable at every career stage. A member-centred approach is at the heart of that, and understanding what our members want and need is a challenge I’m enjoying getting my teeth into.

What’s the most rewarding part of working at CQI?

It’s rewarding to know you’re helping to change things for the better by supporting members and the work they do. When you see the commitment members have to the profession and the CQI, and the impact they are making, it’s humbling.

What’s your hidden talent?

I’m an international quizzer, competing at events throughout Europe. I guess it’s not that hidden a talent as I’ve also been on shows such as Mastermind and Fifteen to One.