We’re so excited to announce a new member to The International Bunch Team. Rowan has joined us as our new in house Copyeditor and Sensitivity Specialist. We catch up with Rowan following their first week in their role.
Do you want to start off by telling our readers a bit about yourself and your professional background?
In 2014 I graduated from Durham University with a first in Psychology, and went on to begin a Masters in Foundations in Clinical and Health Psychology at Newcastle University. At the time I wanted to go on to do a PhD in trans health inequalities, but life threw me a curveball. After my first term at Newcastle I suddenly became very ill with Guillain-Barré Syndrome: a neurological illness that temporarily gave me severe muscle weakness and affected my ability to walk, stand, use my arms, and speak. I spent the next several years slowly recovering from my illness, and for a long time I was too sick to work. Eventually (through a combination of physiotherapy, dietary changes, supplements, and a lot of trial and error) I managed to improve my symptoms to the point where I was able to start freelance work in 2020. I spent the next three years doing a combination of copyediting, sensitivity reading and consultation, content writing, and game design for clients across various industries.
What excites you the most about your move to The International Bunch?
I'm looking forward to being part of a small team, after a while of working solo! I also really enjoy helping people to communicate clearly and am passionate about improving inclusion and removing barriers to access, so this role seems perfect for me.
Finally, outside of your working life, how do you like to spend your time?
Outside of work, I enjoy playing tabletop roleplaying games (and occasionally designing my own), writing poetry and short fiction, and volunteering in my community. I'm lucky to live in a wonderful neighbourhood, surrounded by a community of LGBT+ and polyamorous friends and partners.
What to learn more about Rowan? Check out their LinkedIn profile.