A CCLS Alumna Career Journey
Birjees Hussain talks about her experience since graduating from CCLS in 1989.
Birjees Hussain (MSc in Managing IP Law, 1990) says: "Since leaving the Centre for Commercial Law Studies in 1989 my main focus has been on Quality Management, Health & Safety and Environmental Impact compliance in the workplace. It was an area I got into by chance after several years in various legal fields.
Back in the UK I had a brief role at the Intellectual Property Office. The position was temporary because, when I joined, they already had plans to relocate to Wales. Back then I didn’t realise how important for me that relocation was because, following a brief break away from work, I was able to secure a senior position at the Copyright Licensing Agency. I fondly remember that the Chief Executive of the CLA agreed to meet me only on the condition that I accepted the job. I knew that working for CLA had enormous potential and so I accepted. CLA not only gave me the opportunity to use my Copyright knowledge but also to meet senior government officials. It also gave me the chance to travel across the UK to meet college principals, to inspect Sixth Form and Further Education Colleges for copyright compliance, and to attend various exhibitions. I have nothing but fond memories of CLA.
Then, due to circumstances beyond my control, I moved to Dubai. Unfortunately the move did not help my career since I could not use the skills and education I had acquired in London. At this point I began approaching local publications for writing work as a result of which I was published in several national newspapers and local magazines. The articles I wrote were around Copyright related issues and health and lifestyle. I did this concurrent to doing paralegal work for various law firms, roles that I found unfulfilling.
My journey into Quality Management and Health and Safety began on the advice of two siblings, both of whom are prominent Civil Engineers in Dubai. To pursue this line of work I decided to add to my education by doing an MBA, a NEBOSH IGC and some Quality Management Lead Auditor courses.
These new qualifications opened up new career routes. As Head of Quality for The Transguard Group and Group QHSE Manager for Gulftainer Company Ltd and Momentum Logistics, I successfully implemented ISO9001, OSHAS18001 and EN1400 across 3 organisations. Following a redundancy I began providing QHSE consultancy services to various business sectors and became a freelance trainer in Health and Safety in the Workplace for RRC International (the former UK Rapid Results College).
In addition to the consultancy services, I started my YouTube channel. It was a decision I made around three years ago and since then I have been producing watercolour tutorials and demonstrations for beginners and seasoned artists. I’ve become quite adept at using the Japanese Hake Brush for watercolour landscape paintings and produce two videos a week.
Really the channel was to have a bit of fun and, at the same time, share my art with everyone. Who knows where it will take me…"
Here is the link to Birjees's channel.