As part of Volunteers Week, we’re highlighting the people who help shape and strengthen the infection prevention community through their volunteering with IPS. We spoke to Maura Smiddy about her experience with the Society and the impact volunteering has had on both her professional and personal life.
Maura first became involved with IPS when it was still known as the ICNA in 2001. At the time, she was working as a solo Infection Prevention and Control Nurse in an acute private hospital and found the Society to be an important source of support and connection.
“The Society gave me an opportunity to learn, link and engage with other IPCNs, which really supported me,” she explained.
Although she had been involved with IPS for many years, it was attending her first annual conference in 2016 that truly inspired her to become a volunteer.
“I was immediately hooked,” she said. “It was the first time in my career where I attended a conference surrounded by like-minded people where everyone had a common goal. I wanted more of those conversations and opportunities to discuss IPC outside of my day-to-day work.”
Since then, Maura has taken on a number of volunteer roles within IPS. She became Deputy Chair of the Republic of Ireland Branch in 2019 before serving as Branch Coordinator from 2020 to 2022. In 2022, she joined the Research and Development Committee, becoming Coordinator in 2023. She currently continues to support the committee as Acting Coordinator and, in 2025, joined the IPS Board of Trustees as a Member Trustee.
Throughout her volunteering journey, Maura says the strongest benefit has been the connections she has built with colleagues across the IPC community.
“Engagement with IPC peers has been invaluable to me personally and professionally,” she said. “Volunteering has grown my professional network and supported my career development.”
Now working in academia after beginning her career in the acute sector, Maura says volunteering has also helped her stay connected to the realities of frontline IPC practice.
“My big fear was that being removed from the clinical setting I would become stagnant and lose perspective of practical IPC challenges,” she explained. “Working with such a diverse and amazing group of IPS colleagues has helped ensure that I stay engaged with the real-world issues faced in IPC.”
Alongside the professional development, Maura says the friendships and support network she has gained through IPS have been equally important.
“From the moment I became more engaged with the Society as a volunteer, I was warmly welcomed and included by colleagues,” she said. “I have met some amazing people, built real friendships and found an incredible community of support.”
Reflecting on standout moments from her volunteering experience, Maura highlighted opportunities to support webinars, contribute to research projects, present at conferences and appear on the Infection Control Matters podcast during IP2025.
However, becoming a Member Trustee for IPS stands out as one of her proudest achievements.
“To work with the Board as a member representative has really been the highlight of my volunteering career,” she said. “I’m still learning and want to use my time to support members and the Society over the coming years.”
Maura encourages anyone considering volunteering with IPS to take the opportunity. “Definitely do it,” she said. “Pushing myself outside my professional comfort zone has really benefitted me. It has been challenging, engaging, enjoyable and inspiring.”
She also highlighted the supportive environment within IPS, both from fellow volunteers and the staff team. “There is always someone to ask when you are uncertain or have a question,” she said. “That means so much when you are new and perhaps a little nervous.”
For Maura, volunteering is central to what makes IPS unique. “I think volunteering is what makes the Society special,” she said. “It is the real people doing real IPC work who inform, develop and implement the work of the Society. That means we are a Society for our members and focused on meeting their needs.”
A huge thank you to Maura and to all our volunteers for the time, passion and expertise they bring to the infection prevention community.
