Fumi Nakamaru | Aberdeen Centre for Evaluation

Fumi Nakamaru

Fumi tells us about how she became a member of the Public Involvement Partnership and her mission to be a representative for non-English speakers

Tell us about your role at ACE: I joined the group when it started in 2018. One of my former colleagues had moved to HSRU (now ACE) and she invited us to visit their marquee in the city centre and that's where I found the Public Involvement Partnership. I have been involved in reading and commenting on documents such as fund application forms through the eyes of a layperson. I also personally make it my 'mission' to be a representative (of sort) of non-English speaking voices.
Tell us a bit about your background and what you do now: I came to Scotland 25 years ago and have raised two bairns now aged 25 and 28. I work at University of Aberdeen Business School as a PA to a professor, as well as working as an editorial assistant for an economic journal. I do volunteer to do some weeding at some community gardens some weekends, and also added my name to volunteer lists at Rowett Institute as well as at the School of Psychology, though opportunities don't come round that often.
What is your favourite thing about your role in ACE?: I've been given opportunities to attend presentations by PhD medical students and conferences to learn what's happening at the clinical front which are fascinating to me. I also enjoy our group meetings to meet up with other members over coffee and biscuits!
How do you usually start your day?: I start my day with homemade cereal and coffee, then I either go to work or work from home, or plan what to do over the weekend.
How do you relax?: The best way to relax for me is to have a bath! But I usually settle with the next best thing - shower. Outside those wet environments I listen to Japanese radio programmes, where internet and a chunk of 'me time' is available. Or else, I listen to audio books or podcasts.
What was the last thing you shared on your social media profiles?: A video clip about a summer festival which I found on our Japanese broadcasting corporation's website. I don't post things to social media to share with people, just with myself as I am rather coy about social media.