Meet the Careers Service team and find out more about what we're responsible for Careers Consultants Dr Gavin McCabe Gavin is a Careers & Employability Manager leading a team of Careers Consultants. He has a PhD in epidemiological statistics and developing national alert systems, and over 17 years' experience leading and delivering work on careers, student development, curriculum design, and employability in higher education. Contact details Email: gavin.mccabe@ed.ac.uk Gina Black A graduate of English and French from the University of Aberdeen, Gina has an MSc by Research in Postcolonial Literature from the University of Edinburgh. She previously enjoyed diverse work in publishing and education before training as a careers professional with an MSc in Careers Management and Coaching and moving into Higher Education careers work. Gina works Monday – Friday and is based at the Main Library Building. Contact details Email: Gina.Black@ed.ac.uk Jennifer Steven Jennifer has over 10 years’ experience in career development with students of all disciplines. Prior to joining the University of Edinburgh, she worked for the London School of Economics and Political Science. Whilst there, she worked on a series of international recruitment and networking projects in Brussels, China, Hong Kong and the USA. This work was developed and delivered with international partners including Harvard, Columbia, Sciences Po, the College of Europe and Cambridge. Contact details Email: Jennifer.Steven@ed.ac.uk Dr Kay Barbour Kay has an Ed.D from the University of Glasgow and postgraduate degrees in careers education and guidance from Reading and Edinburgh Napier Universities. She has worked in management and practitioner roles across university student services and has a particular interest in supporting the career development of Masters students. Kay works Monday - Friday, based at the Main Library Building. Contact details Email: Kay.Barbour@ed.ac.uk Kyla Atkinson Kyla joined the Careers Service in 2018, after graduating with a PG Diploma in Career Guidance and Development from Edinburgh Napier University. Kyla has Masters Degrees from the University of Edinburgh in Inclusive Education, and in Criminology. Her BSc is in Psychology/Education from Bath Spa University and she previously worked with schools and charities. Kyla works Monday-Friday at King’s Buildings Campus. Contact details Email: Kyla.Atkinson@ed.ac.uk Lyn Kane Lyn has an MSc in Career Guidance and a Joint Honours Degree in Maths and Psychology. She joined the University of Edinburgh in 2019 and has over 10 years’ experience within Higher Education, helping students and graduates plan and manage their careers. Her previous employment includes working within local authority employability projects, student recruitment and marketing. Lyn is based in the Main Library Building and works Tuesday – Friday, 8.30-4.30pm. Contact details Email: l.kane@ed.ac.uk Rachel Taylor Rachel has a PG Dip in Careers Education, Information and Guidance in Higher Education from the University of Warwick having previously graduated from the University of Stirling with a BA (Hons) in English and Film and Media Studies. She moved into the Careers Consultant Team in 2014 having previously worked in the Information Team. Rachel works Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and is based at King's Buildings. Contact details Email: rachel.taylor@ed.ac.uk Rebecca Clacy-Jones After completing an undergraduate degree in Drama, and working as an audio producer, Rebecca spent 15 years working in recruitment, HR consultancy and project management. An interest in training and coaching led to studying for the PG Dip in Career Guidance and Development at Edinburgh Napier University. Rebecca joined the Careers Service in 2021 following a role as a Careers Advisor at Queen Margaret University, and works Monday to Thursday at King’s Buildings and at the Main Library. Contact details Email: Rebecca.Clacy-Jones@ed.ac.uk Sarah Johnston Sarah graduated with a PG Diploma in Careers Guidance and Development from Edinburgh Napier University after a career change from the Tourism sector. Several years within a management role led to a keen interest and focus on coaching and development. Prior experience includes working in a guidance role within widening participation for LEAPS (Lothian Equal Access Programme for Schools). Sarah works Monday - Thursday, 9:00 - 4:30. Contact details Email: sarah.johnston@ed.ac.uk Steve Norman Steve is a graduate in Politics, History and Sociology and has a Diploma in Careers Guidance. He works Monday - Friday and is based at the Main Library Building. Contact details Email: steve.norman@ed.ac.uk Suzanne Agnew Suzanne is a biological sciences graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a PG Dip in Careers Education Information & Guidance in Higher Education from the University of Reading. Suzanne works Monday to Thursday and is based in the Main Library Building. Contact details Email: Suzanne.Agnew@ed.ac.uk Information Team Tom Robinson Careers Information Adviser Tom has been working in Higher Education information and advice for the last 10 years. Prior to this he completed teacher training at Nottingham Trent University, having also studied his undergraduate degree in Computer Science there. Current responsibilities include maintaining and developing information resources for the Banking and Finance, IT, Healthcare, Retail and Hospitality sectors. Contact details Email: Thomas.Robinson@ed.ac.uk Sara Tsompanidi Careers Information Adviser Sara is a graduate of the University of Patras in Greece, where she studied primary school teaching and education. Prior to working for the University, she taught in primary schools across Edinburgh and later she worked as a content editor for an educational publishing house. Current responsibilities include developing information resources for various sectors, offering advice to students and recent graduates, and taking part in careers fairs. Contact details Email: Sara.Tsompanidi@ed.ac.uk Leadership Team Shelagh Green Director My role is to inform the University's support for students' employability. Directly and through my (amazing) team I work with students, students' representatives, employers and university colleagues to enable our students to make successful transitions to life beyond University. I have years of experience in Higher Education careers and employability, built on previous experience in professional out-placement and redundancy support. My first degree was in Economics from the University of Aberdeen. I'm a past President of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, and have represented Higher Education in various settings, such as the Scottish Government Careers Strategy Steering Group. I relax by running & making messes in the kitchen. Contact details Email: shelagh.green@ed.ac.uk Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mortimer Assistant Director My role is to provide strategic direction and oversight of key areas of Careers Service activity. I lead development, delivery and promotion of our pan-institution provision to support the greatest reach and impact on all our students. I've been working in the careers and employability sector for many years now, and I'm passionate about what we do. In addition, I serve as Professional Standards Director for the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services. Prior to joining Edinburgh, I worked in finance recruitment, NHS learning and development, and spent two years in Japan on the JET programme. My first degree is in English Language from the University of Glasgow. Contact details Email: elizabeth.mortimer@ed.ac.uk Ruth Donnelly Assistant Director Ruth provides strategic direction and oversight for the work of the Careers Service to support students' development and successful transition to their future. A key part of her remit is to incubate innovation projects with colleagues from across the university and partners beyond. She has extensive experience in the field of careers and student development, primarily at the University of Edinburgh. Her background is in information management, and she has degrees in languages and business management as well as holding the postgraduate diploma in careers in Higher Education. Ruth relaxes by cycling, travelling, reading, cooking & baking. Contact details Email: ruth.donnelly@ed.ac.uk Dr Sharon Maguire Assistant Director (Academic Partnerships) Sharon's role is to lead development and delivery of College and School-based careers and employability services and to champion careers and employability within academic contexts. She manages and supports a team of 4 Careers & Employability Managers and through them direct activity of the wider Career Consultant team. She has worked in higher education careers for many years developing support for students at all levels. She has also worked in academic research in the UK and USA for a number of years after gaining a PhD in life sciences from University of Edinburgh. Contact details Email: Sharon.Maguire@ed.ac.uk Employer Team Lucy Everett Employer Engagement Manager Lucy heads up the Employer Engagement team, aiming to facilitate meaningful ways for employers to connect with University of Edinburgh students across all disciplines. She is a member of the ISE Scotland and North Group, Co-Chair of the AGCAS Employer Engagement Task Group and contributes to the Joined Up for Business and Inspiring Talent networks across Edinburgh and the wider city region. She has over 12 years’ experience of working between business and higher education in roles, ranging from account management of large-scale graduate recruiters to supporting SMEs to access student and graduate talent through ScotGrad and IAESTE. Contact details Email: lucy.everett@ed.ac.uk Alison Parkinson Employer Engagement Adviser Alison develops meaningful ways in which employers can connect with our students and graduates. She has specific interest in building relationships with those in Life Sciences, Engineering, Sustainability & the Environment, Data & Technology. She has over 15 years experience in graduate recruitment and development from large international businesses to SMEs. Contact details Email: Alison.Parkinson@ed.ac.uk Ailsa Wright Employer Engagement Adviser Ailsa develops meaningful ways in which employers can connect with our students and graduates. She has specific interest in building relationships with the Legal sector, Public sector, Third sector and Creative Industries. She developed her events and relationship management experience in her previous role as Events Coordinator for the Service as well as through a variety of third sector roles. Contact details Email: ailsa.wright@ed.ac.uk Simon Raeside Employer and Alumni Engagement Adviser Simon has a background in project management, systems and business development gained via work in international development and cultural relations, bicycles, teaching and printmaking in Edinburgh, London, Zimbabwe and South Africa. He enjoys sporadic bursts of yoga, the growing of green things and working with wood. Contact details Email: simon.raeside@ed.ac.uk Laura Reid Employer Engagement Coordinator Laura is helping employers engage with students across a number of different services. She supports the management of the University vacancies, our event platform and engagement services. She studied Business Management at Heriot-Watt University and gained experience in both the private and public sector before joining the University of Edinburgh in 2022. Contact details Email: laura.reid1@ed.ac.uk Ruth Dougall Recruitment and Events Administrator Ruth supports the Events Coordinator and Employer Engagement Coordinator to provide employers with opportunities to engage with students across different events and services. She previously studied French & German at the University of Glasgow and worked in the tourism sector before joining the University of Edinburgh in 2022. Contact details Email: ruth.dougall@ed.ac.uk Karen Dennis Events Coordinator Karen organises, coordinates and promotes large scale, multi-employer, careers related events that connect recruiting organisations and talented University of Edinburgh students. Karen studied Events Management at Queen Margaret University and gained experience across a variety of events and engagement roles before joining the UoE in 2023. Contact details Email: k.dennis@ed.ac.uk Internships and Work Experience Team Eilidh Steele Internships Manager Eilidh leads the Internship and Work Experience team to deliver the Insights and Employ.ed Internships Programmes, the Edinburgh Award and the Edinburgh Award (Work Experience). She provides consultancy on internship programme development, student employment and frameworks to support students to make the most of their work experiences. Eilidh worked in the finance and property sectors before joining the University in 2008 and has extensive experience, from roles in employer engagement and resource development to programme design and student engagement. Contact details Email: e.steele@ed.ac.uk Claire MacGregor Internships & Work Experience Adviser Claire is based in the Internships and Work Experience team at the Careers Service, and her main role is to support the running of the Employ.ed internship programmes. Prior to this role, Claire was part of the Employability Consultancy based in the Careers Service and supported a variety of projects and initiatives, such as the Edinburgh Award and SLICCs. Claire joined the Careers Service in 2018, after graduating from Stirling University with a degree in Psychology. Contact details Email: claire.macgregor@ed.ac.uk Lorna Savage Internships & Work Experience Adviser Lorna’s main role is to support the running of the Insights Programme and the Edinburgh Award (Work Experience). She joined the University of Edinburgh Careers Service in 2017 from the Internships Team at the University of East Anglia’s Careers Service. Contact details Email: Lorna.Savage@ed.ac.uk Kirsty Stewart Edinburgh Award Coordinator Kirsty coordinates the Edinburgh Award across the University. She works with staff to set up versions of the Edinburgh Award in order to recognise students taking part in co- and extra-curricular activities and support them to develop their skills while doing so. Contact details Email: Kirsty.Stewart2@ed.ac.uk Gemma Eugene Internships Assistant Gemma joined the Internship and Work Experience team in 2019. She previously worked in Sport and Exercise at the Pleasance. She works across all the programmes the team runs and provides administrative support. She particularly supports the growth and development of the Insights Programme. Contact details Email: Gemma.Eugene@ed.ac.uk Operations Team Robbie Manson Operations Manager Robbie leads the Operations Team to support the wider department in their operational delivery. Robbie joined the Careers Service in February 2022 and has worked at the University since 2012, predominantly in HR. Contact details Email: robbie.manson@ed.ac.uk Dr Yuji Shimohira Calvo Data Coordinator Yuji’s role is to produce and analyse business intelligence for the Careers Service. He also coordinates and assists with the data needs of all other teams in the Service, including satisfying data requests from external partners. He has ample experience in academic and government research. He has a master’s degree in Applied Quantitative Research from New York University and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh. Contact details Email: yshimoh2@exseed.ed.ac.uk Mairi Macdonald Operations Administrator Before joining the Careers Service in 2019, Mairi achieved a Politics degree from the University of Edinburgh and spent one year travelling and working in Australia, Indonesia and Singapore. Mairi’s current responsibilities include design and creation of digital and print marketing materials and involvement in areas such as finance, HR, IT and graduate support delivery. Contact details Email: Mairi.Macdonald@ed.ac.uk Carli Mac Mahon Operations Administrator As a part of the operations team, Carli works to keep the Service running smoothly. Some of her day-to-day activities include providing administrative, IT and HR support. Carli holds a masters in Philosophy from the University of St Andrews. She has previous experience working as a French teacher and a cheesemonger. Contact details Email: carli.macmahon@ed.ac.uk Tia Affleck Operations Administrator Tia joined the Operations Team in January 2023. Before this, she studied English Literature at the University of Birmingham. Her current projects as Operations Administrator include resolving IT issues and queries, creating promotional marketing materials for the Service and learning about the People&Money finance system. She also provides administrative support for the Edinburgh Award and SLICCs (Student-Led, Individually-Created Courses). Contact details Email: tia.affleck@ed.ac.uk Projects Team Kirsten Roche Careers & Employability Lead Kirsten is a Careers & Employability Lead working on a number of projects across the Careers Service. Kirsten has worked for the Careers Service at Edinburgh since 2012. Prior to working at Edinburgh, she worked for a number of other Russell Group universities. She also has experience of working in third sector, HR and central government. Kirsten works Monday to Thursday and is based at the Main Library Building. Contact details Email: Kirsten.Roche@ed.ac.uk Student StaffEmma TullochRitvik RathoreSusie PreslyVilte JuozokaiteMishita KhuranaElly SturmyKasia SteligaAlyssia WihardjaNiyamat NarangSophie HoustonUliana MakoveevaChristina ButtSophia BlumShirley TianRuhani GulatiKegan PaulJessica Thackeray This article was published on 2024-05-14
