15 December 2025
CDI welcomes Ryan Gibson as its new President
Marking the completion of his two-year term as CDI President, Professor Pete Robertson of Edinburgh Napier University hosted the Inauguration of the new CDI President.
Pete reflected on his own two-year term, thanking members of the CDI team, his predecessor Carolyn Parry and the Board for all their support during his tenure. He reflected on the honour of holding the President role, having worked in the profession for most of his career, as well as the personal link to his own father being Chair of his occupational professional body.
Pete reflected on the importance of the work over the past few years to clarify the CDI’s governance documents, ensuring we have a robust foundation for the organisation. He also spoke of the three pledges he made when he joined. Growing membership has been challenging following issues with the website provider and financial pressures on some careers providers, but Pete welcomed the upward trend in individual memberships.
He was also pleased with the work on furthering research – with two key research projects being completed, as well as more focus on dissemination of knowledge. His last pledge was to address complexity in entry and training routes, and he expressed his pleasure at being part of the CDI’s research and resulting projects in this area.
Finally he highlighted the CDI’s recently-launched 2030 Strategy, which both Pete and Ryan were involved in developing, focused on enhancing professionals. At that point, Pete handed over the leadership to Ryan, who shared the honour he felt taking on the role.
Ryan is National System Leader for Lift Schools and has been closely involved with the creation and review of the Gatsby Benchmarks, having been seconded to the Gatsby Foundation to lead the 10-year review. He shared his personal reflections of his daughter and his dad who have both recently benefited from careers support, at opposite ends of their careers.
Ryan looked back at how the focus for previous Presidents of the Institute has led to the organisation being where it is now – supporting members and representing the profession – and how the 2030 Strategy takes that forward.
He reflected on the Strategy’s focus on clear entry and progression routes, professional recognition, continuous development of individuals and the sector, and collaboration to foster an inclusive community. This is underpinned by the Code of Ethics and evidence-based practice.
The strategy will inform all our work going forward and Ryan called out three words that were most important to him – Value, Belonging and Impact. He championed career development to be valued by employers, the public and policymakers, and for the CDI to be valued by members.
Belonging is about being part of something bigger than ourselves and the importance of the CDI in supporting the entire career development sector across the UK. Overall, the strategy is about impact, biased towards action and making the most of the opportunities for the profession.
Closing the Inauguration, Ryan received the President’s badge and closed the ceremony.
You can see all of Pete and Ryan’s talk in the full Inauguration video. They also took time out of a busy CDI Board meeting at Gateshead College to record this light-hearted video showing the regeneration of the President.
Pete reflected on his own two-year term, thanking members of the CDI team, his predecessor Carolyn Parry and the Board for all their support during his tenure. He reflected on the honour of holding the President role, having worked in the profession for most of his career, as well as the personal link to his own father being Chair of his occupational professional body.
Pete reflected on the importance of the work over the past few years to clarify the CDI’s governance documents, ensuring we have a robust foundation for the organisation. He also spoke of the three pledges he made when he joined. Growing membership has been challenging following issues with the website provider and financial pressures on some careers providers, but Pete welcomed the upward trend in individual memberships.
He was also pleased with the work on furthering research – with two key research projects being completed, as well as more focus on dissemination of knowledge. His last pledge was to address complexity in entry and training routes, and he expressed his pleasure at being part of the CDI’s research and resulting projects in this area.
Finally he highlighted the CDI’s recently-launched 2030 Strategy, which both Pete and Ryan were involved in developing, focused on enhancing professionals. At that point, Pete handed over the leadership to Ryan, who shared the honour he felt taking on the role.
Ryan is National System Leader for Lift Schools and has been closely involved with the creation and review of the Gatsby Benchmarks, having been seconded to the Gatsby Foundation to lead the 10-year review. He shared his personal reflections of his daughter and his dad who have both recently benefited from careers support, at opposite ends of their careers.
Ryan looked back at how the focus for previous Presidents of the Institute has led to the organisation being where it is now – supporting members and representing the profession – and how the 2030 Strategy takes that forward.
He reflected on the Strategy’s focus on clear entry and progression routes, professional recognition, continuous development of individuals and the sector, and collaboration to foster an inclusive community. This is underpinned by the Code of Ethics and evidence-based practice.
The strategy will inform all our work going forward and Ryan called out three words that were most important to him – Value, Belonging and Impact. He championed career development to be valued by employers, the public and policymakers, and for the CDI to be valued by members.
Belonging is about being part of something bigger than ourselves and the importance of the CDI in supporting the entire career development sector across the UK. Overall, the strategy is about impact, biased towards action and making the most of the opportunities for the profession.
Closing the Inauguration, Ryan received the President’s badge and closed the ceremony.
You can see all of Pete and Ryan’s talk in the full Inauguration video. They also took time out of a busy CDI Board meeting at Gateshead College to record this light-hearted video showing the regeneration of the President.
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