The IWSG is now looking for a Conference Co-ordinator & a Publicity Officer | IWSG

After years of dedication and service to the IWSG, Triin Kaasiku & Elwyn Sharps left two exiting volunteers positions of conference co-ordinator and publicity officer in the IWSG. Interested in helping us to run the IWSG? Take a close look below at the IWSG chair communication sent to members this week for details about these positions and how to apply, we need you!:

Dear Member,

We hope this email finds you well and looking forward to the rest of 2021 when we are all hoping life can return to some semblance of normality.

The International Wader Study Group is run by a group of dedicated volunteers without whom we could not provide you with connections to the global wader community through publishing Wader Study, our annual conferences and the grants that help fund wader projects.

Each volunteer takes the lead on a different aspect of the group’s activities. Being part of this international group is a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded people and make life-long friends, to learn how an international organisation works, to use existing skills to help the group but also to gain new and highly transferable skills. We are always keen to hear from people who might want to offer their time or expertise to the group.

Right now, we have two exciting opportunities to become our next Conference Co-ordinator or our Publicity Officer. We are looking for two enthusiastic “waderologists” who enjoy communicating, are organised and would like to become part of the team running the IWSG. These roles need about a day each month but in the run up to, and during conferences, more time will be needed because of the essential role you will play in ensuring the smooth delivery of these events. The past year has taught us that the tools available online, to communicate and to run conferences in new, interesting and inclusive ways, are rapidly developing so this is an interesting time to be joining our team and you would be fully supported by the IWSG family to help you succeed.

Please can I ask, even if these roles are not for you, if you know someone who would be suitable please do pass on this information and encourage them to get in touch.

Conference Co-ordinator

This role is critical to ensure we run a conference each year. Local teams within the country which is hosting our conference do the ‘on-the-ground’ organisation, put together the programme and abstracts and run the conference. As conference co-ordinator, your role is to find teams who want to host an IWSG conference, support them in planning and running the conference, organise the financial support for delegates from low-income countries and promote the conference to members including via social media. You would become an elected member of the ExCo of IWSG and work closely with the Chair, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, General Secretary and Publicity Officer.

It would be great if you had some previous experience of attending an IWSG conference or organising a big meeting or conference. But this is not essential as you will be able to shadow Triin Kaasiku, the current co-ordinator, in the run up to the 2021 conference and we also have a detailed conference organising manual.

Publicity Officer

This role is all about maintaining and raising the profile of IWSG to the global shorebird community using our Twitter and Facebook social media accounts and other online platforms. One area which we are hoping to continue to develop is the use of Twitter conferences to complement our annual (usually in-person) conference.  You will work closely with the ExCo of IWSG but especially the Publishing and Media Editor for Wader Study and the Conference Co-ordinator. We are ideally looking for someone who already has some experience of science communication through social and online media.

How to apply?

These opportunities are open to everyone. It’s simple, just drop me an email at chair@waderstudygroup.org by Monday 12 April. Tell me which role you are applying for and briefly outline why you are interested and what you can bring to the role.

I really look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Jen Smart

IWSG Chair

Featured image: Common Redshank Tringa totanus, April 2017, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA. ©Christoph Müller.