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Abu Bakr Kalam
Social Mobility Advocate
From his base in East London, freelance careers consultant Abu works to help students from under-represented backgrounds to challenge barriers that they face in their careers.
Most likely to say: "I didn't know someone like me could do this job."
"If we want a fairer future, we must challenge systems that hold people back and co-create ones that lift them up"
Liz Reece
Adaptability Advocate
Career expert Liz Reece channels her four decades of experience helping individuals, students, schools, and fellow professionals build on their past experiences to create a meaningful future.
Most likely to say: "We all build on where we've been before"
"My advice is to be proactive about networking, as your peers are your strongest asset."
Read Liz's careers story
Bella Doswell
Careers Transitions Coach
Bella Doswell helps individuals, executives, and professionals navigate massive career changes, rebuild their confidence, and tell their new story.
Favourite hashtag: #somuchmorethantalkingaboutjobs
"Careers work is never just about the job; it's about identity, purpose, and navigating change."
Read Bella's career story.
Movers and shakers
Emma Hill
Human-Centered Career Consultant
From her practice at Career Matters UK, former teacher Emma Hill helps clients navigate career change by providing guidance that is empathetic, personal, and values-led.
Most likely to say: "I'm not here to tell people what to do; I'm here to help them ask better questions."
"Careers work isn't just about skills or sectors — it's about who people are becoming."
Freda Zapsalis
Inclusive Career Strategist
A careers consultant at the University of London, Freda Zapsalis brings a background in policy to champion career support for underrepresented groups.
Most likely to say: "Systems matter, but people matter more."
"Good careers work is inclusive, reflective, and trauma-informed."
Darrin Steward
Social Mobility Champion
University of Suffolk Careers Consultant Darrin Steward, a champion of social justice, leverages his personal journey to help students navigate their careers with agency and confidence.
Most likely to say: "Careers guidance is more than employability. It’s an invitation for students to explore what’s possible."
"Everyone deserves fair and equitable guidance, and personal experiences matter."
Fiona Morrison
Care-Leaver Champion
Fiona Morrison, an Employability Adviser at Fife College, leverages her own experiences in the care system to empower young people and drive institutional change.
Most likely to say: "I've always wanted to be the adult I needed when I was younger."
"It's about dignity, confidence, and visibility—showing them they belong in those spaces."
Raza Abbas
Global Career Advocate
Raza Abbas, a global Career Practitioner, champions career guidance as a civic right, using two decades of experience to advocate for early intervention and social justice on a global scale.
Most likely to say: "Career development is a peace-building tool."
"If we invest in it—boldly, collectively—we can make the world better, one life at a time."
John Ambrose
Community Careers Champion
John Ambrose, a Careers and Employability Coordinator at the University of East London, uses his East London roots and creative background to empower first-generation students to build bold, entrepreneurial careers.
Most likely to say: "I’ve lived the barriers many of these students face - class, race, postcode prejudice. I'm here to disrupt those narratives."
"Creativity, resilience, and community knowledge are strengths."
Joanne Carrington
The Data-Driven Careers Strategist
Joanne Carrington, Head of Guidance at Morrisby Ltd., merges her background in mathematics and data with a passion for social mobility, creating impactful and strategic careers guidance.
Most likely to say: "I’m passionate about giving others access to timely, meaningful support that recognises their strengths."
"Careers work is one of the few sectors that cuts across every group—and has the power to level the playing field."
Lis McGuire
The Careers Cartographer
Lis McGuire, a Career Development Professional and founder of Sunrise Career Guidance, helps people move beyond barriers by viewing careers not as ladders, but as landscapes to be navigated with curiosity and creativity. Her work is rooted in the belief that careers are unpredictable and can be shaped by embracing uncertainty and taking the next step with awareness.
Most likely to say: "We don't need to have it all figured out; we just need to take the next step with awareness".
"Careers aren’t ladders; they’re landscapes".
Sue Edwards
The Social Mobility Champion
Sue Edwards, Head of Careers and Employability at the University of Westminster, is a champion for fairness and social mobility, using her leadership to ensure guidance serves as a force for real-world impact and belonging.
Most likely to say: "How can we make this fairer?"
"Careers work is about hope. It’s about possibility, choice, and belonging".
Anne Wilson
Anne Wilson, a Freelance Careers Educator and Trainer, leverages her background in teaching and special needs to design accessible careers education that centers the learner and empowers those who don't fit into standard career narratives.
Most likely to say: "I want every learner, regardless of background or pathway, to feel their voice matters."
"It's about belief - helping someone believe they can, even if they've been told they can't"
Trent Loader
Most likely to say: "The idea that people plan their careers is a myth. Careers are chaotic and largely unpredictable journeys."
"Accept what you cannot change. Work to improve what you can."
Holly Prescott
Dr. Holly Prescott, a Freelance Careers Adviser and Writer, uses her academic background and personal experience to help individuals navigate career transitions by redefining success and authoring their own professional stories.
Most likely to say: "I want to challenge rigid career narratives and help people understand that ambiguity isn't a failure, but a natural part of growth."
"Careers are stories, and people deserve to be the authors of their own."