Contact:
AEGON Lochside Crescent, Edinburgh
0131-549 5665
07740-897 202
fiona.steele@aegon.co.uk

Job/position:
Deputy General Secretary, Aegis

What does your job with AEGON involve?
My role is to deputise for the General Secretary. This involves working closely with Brian Linn to lead, direct and manage Aegis. My specific responsibilities include:

• anything that affects members and Reps within Life and Pensions and the Group Functions’ areas
• consultations and negotiations around policies and practices that affect all staff in AEGON
• external union relations, for example through the TUC, Alliance for Finance, FISO and Network Partnership
• Rep recruitment

What do you like best about it?
The autonomy and support we have to drive Aegis forward. As Britain’s newest independent trade union we’ve got a lot of work to do to building our profile and influence within AEGON and the bodies that regulate and shape our industry. I love working with our Reps, our members and our many external advisers and networks to make sure we continue to strengthen Aegis. It’s vital we do this if we are to continue promoting and protecting our members’ interests through the many challenges ahead.

What do you think makes you good at it?
I I am naturally optimistic, enthusiastic and believe that nothing is impossible if you set out your goals and focus your energy on achieving them. I constantly try to improve how I do things and am always willing to learn from other people’s experiences as well as my own. Above all I believe that our members deserve to be treated fairly and with respect in the workplace at all times.

How can you use this strength to benefit/help our members?
Aegis is involved in so many things affecting AEGON staff that you need a huge amount of energy and commitment to keep up. The variety and volume of work can be very challenging at times and you’re constantly interacting with people at every level in the company on a huge range of subjects. You can only do this by developing yourself in areas which will be out of your comfort zone and knowing when and what to delegate to others.

What's the most important thing about being a union Rep as far as you're concerned?
Taking a balanced approach to dealing with members and the company. You can only reach agreement if you consider both sides of the story.