Jonnie Walker

What were you doing before you joined the Development Office?

I was a volunteer for an international development organisation focusing on fundraising and campaign engagement with students and young people.

Why did you move into higher education?

I was looking at charities and organisations in Oxford where I could use some of the experience I’d already gained as a volunteer. I initially joined the Donor Relations team, helping manage relationships with key donors, which was quite a nice transition. I have gradually gained more experience and have now moved into this fundraising role.

What does a typical day look like, in brief?

I’m just starting a new role but it will involve building relationships both internally, with academics who will want to let us know about the projects they’re working on that require support, and externally, with different organisations who want to give to Oxford. I’ll also be writing proposals and applications for funding, and donor reports for projects already underway.

What’s the best thing about working here?

The working environment and the colleagues. I have worked in a lot of really nice teams. Everyone is supportive and collaborative so that makes work enjoyable.

What is the biggest challenge?

I have done a lot of work for Medical Sciences recently and I don’t have a medical science background, so understanding all the terminology and the research can be a challenge. But you do learn a lot from it.

What has surprised you the most?

Maybe the size and scale of the University and everything it does. I’m always coming across new areas of activity and different research interests and this reminds me of the number of students and staff working here.

What has been the most special gift or project, and why?

I helped secure some funding for a microscope – it was new state-of-the-art technology that will further research into cell biology and hopefully will lead to new discoveries. The science was quite complex but the technology was exciting and so it was good fun to work on!

Describe working in Development Office in three words or short phrases

What would your super power be?

I’d like to be able to pause time like Bernard’s Watch – he had a watch that he could stop, do what he wanted to do and then restart time. I just feel like you’d get a lot more done and still have time to do the fun stuff.