Get to know Holly Porter

What do you do in your role?

I joined as Membership Director in July 2019. In a nutshell, I’m tasked with super-charging two of our super-KPIs, which are to grow membership and increase pride in the work of BCS. I’m responsible for the community and corporate engagement teams and am adding in a membership product manager role to the mix too.

Practically speaking, I see my role as making sure that BCS membership is seen as valuable and relevant to the different communities we serve. IT is a broad field and the scope of BCS’ work is equally diverse so there is plenty of opportunity to connect some of the dots.

Why BCS?

I can’t profess to having an IT background, but I’m passionate about customer experience and value creation. In the digital age, membership communities have a vital role to play in connecting like-minded people around a common purpose to share knowledge and improve their skills.

If you understand customers and their needs, you can work towards more tailored experiences based on the right mix of communications, content, events, standards and services - and that’s the future I see for BCS.

What’s the proudest achievement in your career?

In my last job at global barcode and data standards body GS1, I created a business case for a dedicated team and programme focusing on small businesses and this contributed to a year-on-year growth in membership of 13%. I can’t take all the credit for this, but it heralded a change in mindset away from the corporate world to the needs of the small business.

I can also claim to have held a Guinness World Record for a total of nine weeks for the fastest scan across a checkout of a basket of 20 grocery items!

Where do you think computing can have the biggest impact in society?

It’s hard to pick just one area because computing now touches everything and everyone. But, I think the advances in technology and some of the innovations we are seeing now have transformative potential for people living with disabilities.

What’s your favourite drink?

Erm. Gin… not that I drink it all the time, of course! My current favourite is Brockmans with Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic which has a lovely, summery taste of berries.