Meet an RQG Director
Carol Bannister BA (Hons) MSc RGN OHNC
I have always lived in Nottinghamshire but I did work in London for 14 years. I qualified and worked as a nurse and an occupational health nurse for about 40 years. My occupational roles have included working as the national adviser in occupational health for the Royal College of Nursing and as a senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. I am currently a tutor on the post graduate genealogical courses at the University of Strathclyde.
I qualified with an MSc in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde in 2011 and established ‘Ancestors Direct’, my own genealogical research business, in 2009. I am passionate about genealogical research and teaching. I have many research interests but currently my research is focussed on the Nottinghamshire Ecclesiastical Court records. My personal areas of research interest includes a one name study with the Guild of One Name Studies on my paternal family name of ‘Burnip’, a locational surname from the Durham area of England. I also love working on my own genealogy and family history when I find the time. My hobbies include cycling, weaving, gardening and walking.
I was one of the founder member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) and I am also an active APG member. Myself and a small group of genealogists agreed to start the company after discussing the value of developing for a register for qualified genealogists at a symposium in Glasgow, Scotland 2014.The motivations for developing the RQG included two main aims. Firstly to build and develop the RQG as a home for genealogists who had achieved a post graduate diploma qualification in genealogical studies at one of the three institutions approved by the RQG. I knew that our organisation would enable great networking, sharing of good genealogical practice and the promotion of high standards of practice. The second aim was to enable those looking for a genealogical researcher to find a genealogist who had a qualification in genealogy which had been validated by a University or by the Institute of Genealogical Studies. To that end, I think that the founder members have been totally successful in achieving their initial goals.
One of my personal goals for RQG was to develop a peer reviewed journal and I was so excited when we achieved that objective in April of last year. My other great pleasure has been welcoming new members to RQG and to know that these members are also passionate about the RQG and about driving up standards of practice. I am proud to be a Director of RQG and I work hard to promote the development and goals of the company, as well as to support its members.
