Volunteering at IChemE
Volunteering represents the foundations that IChemE has been built on during its first one hundred years, and to support and recognise volunteers going forward, there was an increased focus on volunteer engagement during the year. Over 3,000 volunteers shared their expertise and contributed to the achievements of the Institution in a wide range of roles, from professional reviewer to mentor, member group treasurer to net zero working group member.
Working with an independent external agency, IChemE commissioned a piece of research to explore volunteering and understand how the many volunteers who play a critical role in the running of the Institution felt about their experience. This was the first time that comprehensive feedback has been sought from the full complement of volunteers, with 453 volunteers taking part in the research.
Undertaken in collaboration with the Volunteer Engagement Committee, the project was instigated to fully understand the needs of volunteers with the aim of improving the volunteer experience and engagement across the Institution.
The research findings led to a series of recommendations which were formulated into a programme of work which began towards the end of the year.
The volunteering team responded to 265 expressions of interest in volunteering roles with all new volunteer opportunities continuing to be advertised on the volunteer area of the IChemE website
During the year, the volunteering team responded to 265 expressions of interest in volunteering roles with all new volunteer opportunities continuing to be advertised on the volunteer area of the website.
In June 2022, IChemE established a volunteer engagement function within the organisation to provide ongoing staff resource and expertise, ensuring consistency of good practice and to drive forward the programme of work that was developed following the research recommendations.
The Institution celebrated the UN International Volunteer Day in December with the launch of a video celebrating the contribution of volunteers across IChemE. Demonstrating the span of roles and opportunities within volunteering, a range of volunteers took part including a mentor, a member of the Australian Board, the chair of the Covid-19 Response Team, a member of the Sustainability Hub’s Technical Advisory Group and a professional reviewer trainer.
IChemE’s achievements in 2022 are a direct result of the contribution of the 3,000 volunteers – thank you to you all.