2013/2014

The Changing Face of Media

Throughout his three years as Rector of Aberdeen University,  Michael presented the BBC1 current affairs programme “Nationwide” at six o’clock every weekday evening – a benchmark in British television achieving a regular audience of 11 million which has never been  equalled.  He will trace his own progress from newspaper journalism at home and overseas to tv and commercial video production and outline what further dramatic changes may be expected by graduates considering a career in the new digital era.

What are companies looking for in PR candidates/how to break into the PR sector?

Beverley will be covering what companies are looking for in candidates/how to break into the sector; and her own, rather non-traditional, career path.

She is the owner of multi award winning Scottish PR agency Tricker PR which was established in 2001. Although convinced that PR was the career she was meant for, Beverley, an arts graduate, has taken an unconventional career path to get there as if directed by a mis-programmed sat nav. Periods as a primary school teacher, a sales rep, a wedding dress designer and a period In local governments led up to her starting her own business.

2.00 - 3.00

What are companies looking for in broadcast candidates/how to break into television?

David is currently Managing Director of Tern, which produces shows such as The Harbour, the Beechgrove Garden and Vinnie Jones: Russia's Toughest. He'll be talking about the range of different jobs there are in TV, how to get them and what are the career prospects.

From Law to Luvvie - climbing the jelly mountain 

Building a career in the media and creative industries is like climbing a jelly mountain. It’s a wobbly, unstable business with no clear path to the summit, no career sat-nav, and often no Guide to lead the way. Jayson will share his experiences of the ‘climb’ and discuss how today’s graduates can make it to the top. Jayson read Law at Aberdeen, graduating in 1991. After officer training at Sandhurst, he spent 4 years in the Army including an operational tour of Northern Ireland and command of a military skydiving team. In 1995, Jayson hung up his boots and headed to film school in Los Angeles. He then spent 14 years as a freelance writer & director in Scotland, working across TV, commercials, corporate communications and feature films. In 2011, Jayson established SIGNAL2NOISE Ltd, a video and digital media production company based in Aberdeen where he is now the Creative Director. 

Jayson Clarke (1991), Law (Hons)

Welcome and Working in different development contexts - stable, humanitarian crises and post-conflict situations: Opportunities and Challenges

Professor Homans is Director of the Centre for Sustainable International Development (CSID) at the University of Aberdeen. Hilary has been working in international development since 1987 of which 13 years were for DfID and 13 for the UN. She has a strong commitment to poverty alleviation, reducing inequity and promoting social inclusion and has worked with 45 countries (twelve in sub-Saharan Africa and 26 in the former Soviet Union) and is a founder member of two NGOs in the UK and Zimbabwe. She is the author/editor of five books, over thirty published papers and numerous technical reports for DFID and the UN and has developed distance education modules for staff in developing countries.

The Opportunities and Obstacles to Working within the Private Sector to Promote International Development

James is Director, Markets Enterprise and Trade Division, of the global international development consulting firm, Landell Mills. He will give a brief run through of his own career/experience and then talk about some of the opportunities and obstacles to working with the private sector to promote international development.

The Journal of an Early Career Development Worker

Currently an ESRC funded doctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh's Centre of African Studies, Hannah has previously studied at Aberdeen (Geography), Birmingham (Poverty Reduction and Development Management) and Warwick (Local Government Management), and has worked at the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and Christian Aid. The speaker will discuss her experience since leaving Aberdeen, and what led to her work in the international development sector, presenting particular projects and pieces of work in which she has been involved. It is intended that this session will be interactive, with plenty of time for questions from the room.

2.00 - 3.00

What it is to be a Sustainable Business in the 21st Century?

An English graduate, Jason started his working life working in information management consulting. For the last six years, however, he has been fascinated by how business is responding to a new, unpredictable world, were surety and old logic has been replaced by a complex structure that defies explanation. He’ll be discussing what it is to be a sustainable business in the 21st century and how students graduating soon may be inspired by this new approach to commerce, and seek new opportunity working in a new economy.

What iNGOs are looking for in candidates/how to break into the sector?

Currently HR & Organisational Director for Plan International (one of the oldest and largest children’s development organisations in the world), Pam has spent 9 years in the sector (having moved from pharmaceuticals) largely on leading global change. She’ll be covering iNGOs are looking for in candidates/how to break into the sector; her own career path; and how iNGOs are changing in a changing world. 

Pam Innes (1981), MA(Hons) French & English

My ICS Experience in Nicaragua

A very recent graduate, Anne will be talking about her experiences with International Citizen Service (ICS) and how it can be beneficial to way to start a career in International Development.

Anne Brady (2013), MA(Hons) Geography