Saving lives in spite of the clutter

Name : Guillaume Alinier

Age : 29 Job: I am manager of a multiprofessional healthcare simulation centre in Hertfordshire University's Intensive Care Emergency Simulation Centre. I am also a university teaching fellow and national teaching fellow.

Salary : Improving, but few of us are ever content.

Background : I studied engineering and physics in France (Rouen University) and at Portsmouth University. I also have a PGCE. I spent a short time in an underwater acoustics research company, where I learnt a lot.

What are your working hours? I don't count my hours as I enjoy my job. I work a lot now so that I can have a more peaceful time when I near retirement - perhaps wishful thinking!

How many staff and students do you work with? I am involved in teaching students from many different disciplines and levels and work with staff from most faculties.

What has been your biggest challenge this year? I have found overseeing the development of the centre very challenging. We had the "topping out" ceremony for the new health and human sciences research building, in which the new centre will be housed. It will be the largest such facility in the UK. This is challenging, but satisfying, as the training we provide saves people's lives.

What was your worst moment? Being taken for a student and sent out of an administration office.

What is your office like? It is becoming very cluttered. I dread the moment when I have to move.

What university facilities do you use? Everything, from portering to catering, transport, the research and development support unit, video studio, and our fantastic library.

Do you have to deal with difficult people? I deal with people I need information or help from, which has its difficult moments, but on the whole it is a very supportive environment.

Do you interact with other departments? Yes, with nursing, pharmacy, midwifery, paramedic sciences, physiotherapy, radiography, the care practitioner unit and postgraduate medicine, engineering and computer science, external relations, marketing and the vice-chancellor's office.

Do you socialise at the university? Yes. Work is an important part of my life. Having a "university baby" (my wife, Nandini, lectures in mobile communication) four months ago is proof!