CDI London Regional Meeting

Join us for an interactive online session where you will hear from careers professionals across London. Presentations and discussions will include good practice on collaboration and the changing roles of careers practitioners and careers leaders. We look forward to welcoming you.  

As always, we’ll also be providing an opportunity for you to network with other Career Development Professionals during the session, as well as ask for your feedback to the CDI on what matters to you. This session is open to all – not just those in the London Region - including non-members.

Speaker bio:

Michelle Sporle brings over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to her role as the Strategic Hub Lead at the Central London Careers hub.  The London careers hubs play a vital role in both enhancing the quality of careers education and bridging the gap between education and employment. Her diverse background of roles in the sector, alongside her voluntary work as a qualified counsellor, have equipped her with unique insights into supporting groups facing disadvantage and building stakeholder relationships. 

As someone who is neurodivergent (AuDHD), Michelle has a personal commitment to supporting individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those facing disadvantage. She has championed initiatives that promote inclusivity and strives towards supporting equity in the career’s education space. Michelle’s work focuses on amplification of pathways and opportunity through creating collaborative working to serve the needs of young Londoners and industry, particularly for those facing disadvantages. Michelle is passionate about inclusion and equity for all those at the fringes of society and brings valuable lived experience to the discussion. Additionally, Michelle is currently undertaking an MA in SEND/Autism to help her continue to grow her knowledge around the SEND space, to best support the work within the Central London Careers Hub.
 

Alecia Cotterell is Head of Careers at Teesside University London, which specialises in Business, Computing and Games & Animation. She set up the  employability curriculum, which is undertaken by all students and comprises 20% of every module. Alecia is also Module Leader for the Advanced Practice Internship, and leads Digital Skills development across the campus. In addition, she manages Personal Tutoring and is the Disability Co-ordinator, supporting inclusivity for all students. 
 

Starting a role in supported employment five years ago, Maria Barden has since gained experience in the careers space across various sectors, including higher education, charities and the public sector. She completed her Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance and Development in 2024 and is now building a portfolio career, working part-time in higher education, mainstream and SEN schools, developing a private practice and working with charities.

Maria’s passion lies in supporting the long-term unemployed and those furthest from the job market. She has recently worked on CV writing projects with women in a domestic abuse refuge and provided employment support to young people with autism.