Let's say hello to...
Building Community Engagement. Bringing Cool Ideas to Life.
Hello! I am Christy, the Student Engagement Coordinator (Communities) at Heriot-Watt Student Union. I look after everything that brings students together outside of studying and sport. Every day is about creating something exciting and meaningful for our student community.
I’m originally from Larne, Ireland, but I left at 18 to study drama in Newcastle. When the pandemic hit, I was running a comic book shop, but for obvious reasons, we had to go into lockdown. That was the nudge I needed to finally go back to my original plan and do a master’s. I picked Edinburgh because, well, it’s the city of festivals. I studied International Festival and Event Management, and right after I submitted my dissertation, I landed this job. The timing was wild, but kind of perfect.
I started at the Union a week before Freshers’ 2022, so I was thrown into the deep end. It was intense, but so much fun. I’ve loved being part of this community ever since. It’s about supporting students, bringing ideas to life, and helping them create memories. I absolutely loved my time as an undergrad, and I want others to feel the same.
My job is extremely varied. Sometimes I’m organising a big event like Freshers or Winter Fest, sometimes I’m problem-solving for a society, and sometimes I’m bringing in a reindeer for a Christmas celebration (yes, it was me!). One of my proudest moments has to be launching Scotland Day during Freshers. It’s all about celebrating cultures and Scottish heritage, storytelling, and tradition. It’s not always about social media trends, it’s about connection, culture, and curiosity, and it was incredible to see students really embrace it.
When it comes to values, “fun” speaks to me the most, it’s what I’m here to do. I love creating a space for students to show who they are, celebrate what matters to them, and make connections that last.
Outside of work, I’m a colossal nerd. I spend my spare time painting miniatures, crocheting (I recently made a dinosaur for my niece, proud uncle moment!), and playing card games like Flesh and Blood. I’ve also dabbled in ukulele and oh, I used to do stand-up comedy. Whether I’m still funny is up for debate!
Ways to get in touch with me...