2014-2015

10.00 - 11.00

Welcome and Working in International Development: Lessons Learned, Current Challenges and Opportunities
Dr Hilary Homans - Director, Centre for Sustainable International Development
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.
This presentation has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Dr Hilary Homans

Director, Centre for Sustainable International Development
(http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sustainable-international-development/)

11.00 - 12.00

Diplomacy and International Development;  the Highs and Lows of international Careers
Frances Guy - Head of Middle East, Christian Aid
Former British Ambassador to Lebanon and Yemen,  now working for Christian Aid after spending some time with the UN in Baghdad, Frances will draw some lessons about career paths into international development and where you can make a difference.
Book your place at this talk here (http://www.abdn.ac.uk/careers/events/6762/).

Frances Guy, MA(Hons) Politics (1981)

Head of Middle East, Christian Aid (www.christianaid.org.uk)

12.00 - 1.00

From the University of Aberdeen to INGO (or the story of tango lessons in 6 countries)
Ali MacLeod - Director, Fundraising and Marketing, Mercy Corps
Ali has worked for national and international organisations based in the UK and overseas, with travel to many programmes around the world. As European Director of Fundraising and Marketing for leading INGO Mercy Corps a typical week for Ali will include working with colleagues from Syria to Ukraine, Colombia to the Central African Republic, and South Sudan to Myanmar.  Active in over 40 of the world’s toughest places Mercy Corps’ network of over 4,000 staff respond to natural disaster, political turmoil or economic collapse to provide immediate relief, build towards recovery and work to create resilience.  There is never a dull day.  There can be few sectors more frustrating or rewarding.  How can you get involved? Ali will talk about her career path, opportunities/decisions, and highlight that there are lots of ways into Development beyond the traditional.
Book your place at this talk

Ali MacLeod, MA(Hons), Politics and International Relations (2002)

Director, Fundraising and Marketing, Mercy Corps
(www.mercycorps.org.uk)

1.00 - 2.00

Break

2.00 - 3.00

An insight into a Career in the Ethical Trade
Catherine Dishington - Ethical Trading Officer, The Co-operative Food
Catherine will speak about her career path since leaving Aberdeen, and what led to her work in the ‘Ethical Trade’ sector, presenting particular projects and pieces of work in which she has been involved.
Book your place at this talk

Catherine Dishington, MA(Hons) Politics and International Relations (2003)

Ethical Trading Officer, The Co-operative Food (www.co-operative.coop)

3.00 - 4.00

Challenges and Opportunities in Achieving Business Sustainability in the Developed World: The Efficiency Paradox
Sabrina Andrei – Junior Energy Data Analyst, Minimise Solutions
Diogo Guia - Junior Sustainability Consultant, Minimise Solutions
Sabrina and Diogo’s opportunity to work at Minimise Solutions came as the result of an inspiring speech during last year’s Back on Campus - International Development event. The efficiency paradox states that the more efficient we become, the more we consume. What this hints to is the need to critically assess our current patterns of behaviour and address the challenges that we face by turning them into opportunities to create a more sustainable world for future generations.
Book your place at this talk

Sabrina Andrei, MA(Hons) Economics and Management Studies (2014)

Junior Energy Data Analyst, Minimise Solutions

Diogo Guia, MA(Hons) International Relations and Management Studies (2014)

Junior Sustainability Consultant, Minimise Solutions
(www.minimisesolutions.com)

Making the most of your CV
Careers Service and Andrew Southall, Delivery Lead (Financial Services & Consumer), IMS worldwide
For those of you who are preparing to apply for summer internships and graduate roles, come along to find out how to make the most of your experiences when creating a CV. Andrew Southall, Aberdeen graduate, and who is currently working in recruitment in London, will be there to offer his personal advice and guidance before speaking later in the day.

Asset management: a rewarding and exciting career choice
Alex Barr, Head of Private Equity Investments, Aberdeen Asset Management
Alex will discuss building a career in asset management, offering candid thoughts on the decision points he faced along the way, what worked well, and what he might have done differently. He will look at the attributes a good investor needs, and highlight the importance of other non-investment roles in this industry.  Alex will also cover the strategic drivers and opportunities that are currently shaping this now very global industry. The session should provide stimulating advice for today’s Aberdeen students who are considering an asset management path.

Download Alex's presentation here.

Break

13.00 - 14.00

Is there life in financial services after an MA?
Gillian Hepburn, Director, Quality Platform Solutions
After completing an MA in English in 1988, Gillian ‘fell into’ financial services and is still there successfully running her own business and working with companies such as Legal & General, Aegon, Standard Life plus a range of asset managers and investment platforms. She will talk about her career path (including juggling family life and further study!) and also discuss the challenges and the benefits of working in financial services.

Download Gillian's presentation here.

14.00 - 15.00

A brief summary of financial services and how graduates fit into the picture
Andrew Southall, Delivery Lead (Financial Services & Consumer), IMSworldwide
The financial services industry has spent the last six years going through an incredible amount of change, bringing with it a new environment for today’s graduates to navigate. Having worked for specialist consultancies since graduating, Andrew has been involved in the evolution of investment banks, retail banks and insurers as they adapt to the new marketplace. As part of his work, Andrew has been responsible for managing recruitment and aims to take soon-to-be graduates through what financial services requires of them and how they can get the most of it.

Download Andrew's presentation here.

You Always Have a Choice
Moira Forsyth, Author and Publisher
Using her own experiences of the workplace, and of running projects for more than fifteen years with a range of businesses, she will speak about what having a career – or not - means, and what I now think is important for young graduates as they join the job market.  She will give some information and advice that relates to working for local government (particularly in the kind of job she had in the Education Department). The main part of the talk will focus on two aspects of what she does now – running her own business, and working in publishing. The focus throughout will be on what makes work enjoyable, how to change direction if you want to, and what the current idea of ‘transferable skills’ really means.

Moira Forsyth MA(Hons) English (1973)
Author & Publisher
www.sandstonepress.com

Landing your Dream Job - Luck or Career Ladder?
Grant Moir, CEO, Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Grant graduated from Aberdeen in 1999 with an MA(Hons) in Geography and History. He will talk about his career to date, the ups and downs and how he ended up as one of the youngest CEOs in the public sector in Scotland. He will also discuss some of the challenges of his current role and whether a beard really is needed to get a job in conservation!

Grant Moir MA(Hons) Geography & History (1999)
CEO Cairngorms National Park Authority
www.cairngorms.co.uk

Break

13.00 - 14.00

Making the most of your CV
Careers Service
For those of you who are preparing to apply for summer internships and graduate roles, come along to find out how to make the most of your experiences when creating a CV.

Felicity Keefe (2005) MA(Hons) International Relations and Religious Studies 
Careers Adviser, The University of Aberdeen

14.00 - 15.00

Procurement and Supply Chain - a  global challenge – buying a great opportunity
Karen Bowman, Director of Procurement, The University of Edinburgh
Did you know the CEO of Apple began in procurement? Remember ‘horsemeat’ scandal – who bought what from whom? It is a global career with many opportunities for graduates of all disciplines. Come and learn about a career that offers variety and is in all industries as successful businesses do know that driving out every ounce of additional value from money spent is critical and are relying on their Procurement and Supply Chain Teams. Every organisation has to buy and global supply chains offer commercial opportunity and have technical challenges as well as issues around ethics and sustainability. Karen’s buying career started a few years after graduating and led to roles in procurement leadership on  £multi-million purchases in health and higher education - everything from syringes to robots, new buildings to bananas (working with students on fair trade); fastest computer contract in Europe at the time, and people skills procuring recruitment agents (!), ‘influencing’ government policy  and laws. 

Karen Bowman, MA(Hons) Economics (2011)
The University of Edinburgh