It is common for academics to dread any administration roles that may affect their research agenda or obstruct their teaching. However in certain cases such roles help us to understand the overall structure and operations of an organisation we are part of. I had so far my fair bit of painful tasks and bitter experiences, but I was also lucky enough to serve in roles that offered me opportunities for self improvement.

This section includes some of the administration roles and academic related tasks that have occupied my mind throughout the years. These include:

• Coordinator of the weekly research activities of the Distributed and Collaborative Technologies (DaCT) group in the Department of Computation, UMIST.
• Project Officer for the Centre of Expertise in Electronic Commerce (CEeC) in the Department of Computation, UMIST.
• Member of the Research Committee in the Department of Computation, UMIST, serving as the organiser of the departmental seminar series.
• Member of the Global Campus group in the School of Computing Science, Middlesex University, responsible for the development and evaluation of distance learning material and the promotion of research activities.
• Schools Liaison Officer for Department of Computation, UMIST.
• Invigilator for both the Department of Computation, UMIST and the School of Computing Science, Middlesex University.

PAPER FOR PAUL

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.

Mark Twain

I am always ready to learn, but I do not always like being taught.

Winston Churchill