Becky Freshwater

Becky joined the University of Bristol in 2016 as an administrator for a Centre for Doctoral Training in the School of Physics. Shortly after, she secured the role of Centre for Doctoral Training Manager and spent the next seven years managing both the Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials and the Quantum Engineering CDT. Becky is now a Project Manager based in the School of Chemistry and manages two projects; a UKRI-funded Research Programme Grant focusing on photochemistry, and Commercial Enterprise which provides residue analysis of archaeological pottery. Before coming to the University, Becky’s background was in event management and planning, having spent 10 years delivering events across the UK at locations such as the International Golf Open, Longleat House, the Silverstone Grand Prix and music events at Bristol Beacon.

“As a woman in my early twenties managing high-profile events, I often had to work harder than my male counterparts to be taken seriously. Fortunately, this was not the case when I joined the University, where I felt a genuine commitment to equity. When I became pregnant with my first child in 2019, I had no doubt that the University would provide excellent support, given the positive experiences of my colleagues before me. During my maternity leave, the pandemic began, and my husband and I decided to move back to our hometown in Devon with our then 6-month-old daughter.

Despite societal progress, balancing motherhood and a full-time career can still be challenging. When it was time for me to return to work, the University offered several flexible working options to accommodate my new family situation. I chose to work remotely with the option to visit the office as needed and, despite working from home most of the time, I am still feel included in team and School activities. This arrangement has allowed me to continue to develop professionally, and the positive impact on my work-life balance allows me to feel secure in my career while managing family life.”