Member Spotlight: Geoff Stevenson, Regional Manager at Ada, National College for Digital Skills

Each week we get to learn a little more about one of our members. This week it’s Geoff Stevenson, Regional Manager at Ada, National College for Digital Skills…

1. Favourite quote or saying?

“The only true voyage of discovery… would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes, to behold the universe through the eyes of another, of a hundred others, to behold the hundred universes that each of them beholds.” – Marcel Proust

2. Career highlight?

I think despite the pandemic it would have to be this last year as we’ve been setting up Ada here in Manchester. It’s a very collaborative city and there is so much buzz and potential, people really get what we are trying to do.

3. Why do you love pro-manchester?

They have been very warm and welcoming and also utterly professional!

4. What are you reading at the moment?

How To Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X.Kendi, also been reading lots of CJ Sansom for an escape into a novel.

5. What are you watching at the moment?

Recently, I’ve only had time and energy for a Schitt’s Creek or Brooklyn 99 on Netflix! I’m looking forward to getting into something a bit more meaty.

6. Favourite meeting place in Manchester?

Is the Friska café on St. Peter’s square still there? I think it closed but is used to get lovely sun. The Home café and bar is another favourite.

7. Favourite lockdown activity?

It’s not restricted to lockdown, but running along the Mersey has been a staple for the last year.

8. Most creative meal that you cook?

These days the only creative cooking I do is via Simply Cook recipes with their little pots of ingredients- it’s cheating but makes a great meal!

9. Most creative thing you’ve seen on a video call during the lockdown?

I joined a party a while back where someone organised a game of wink murder – it actually worked pretty well.

10. Most mundane task you’ve completed since being in lockdown?

We’ve had an extension done over recent months and I’ve spent more hours than I care to imagine shopping online for curtains, tiles, blinds, shower trays, sinks, extractor hoods…

11. Do you write a blog that you’d like us to share?

For more about what we do check out: https://www.ada.ac.uk/latest-news. I wrote a blog post on there about some of the short-courses we’ve been running in Manchester: https://www.ada.ac.uk/latest-news/introducing-careers-in-tech-adas-one-week-courses

12. What are you looking forward to doing again the most after lockdown?

Having people round & staying with family!