Mema o Te Apārangi | Member profile: Tom Goldsmith
In this month’s profile, we hear from Tom Goldsmith, who manages the facilities for the Society.
Tell us about your role at the Society?
I have been looking after the facilities here since July 2023, and over 7,000 guests have walked through our doors in that time. My job is to keep them happy and make sure they return to use our lecture theatre and conference rooms. I also try to make my colleagues’ lives easier by taking care of the logistics of the many events we have here.
What has been a defining highlight of your experience at the Society?
Working in a good culture. Having no background in academia, I wondered if the Royal Society would be a stuffy or snooty place to work. Fortunately, it is quite the opposite! My highlight has been working with a diverse and lovely group of people. Not one working day has passed without laughter.
What helped to convince you to work here?
The ‘Internal Values’ page at the back of the job description. The five values expected of all staff...Respectful, Proactive, Collaborative, Acting with Integrity, and Convivial. Life is too short to spend five days a week somewhere that doesn’t value these qualities.
When not working...
I’m a keen follower of athletics, boxing, and football and am passionate about soul music, particularly The Temptations and Aretha Franklin. I moved to New Zealand from England with my Wellington-born wife last year, so we’ve spent a lot of time exploring the lower North Island. I have yet to acclimatise to Wattie’s tomato sauce, so if anyone could explain why it is so popular I would be most grateful.