Early Careers Conference 2026

Camilla McBride is Head of Early Careers at Sky. Responsible for driving the strategy and leading her team to attract, recruit, develop and support hundreds of people starting in their careers each year.

Previously Camilla worked in the charity sector, including roles at Terrence Higgins Trust and Catch22 before connecting businesses and untapped talent through the social action initiative GoThinkBig. She has a passionate commitment to creating programmes and experiences that transform lives

Aya is the Talent Acquisition and DEI Leader at Decathlon UK, combining her background in Advertising and Communications with a passion for talent acquisition and inclusive workplaces. She aligns talent strategies with DEI goals to attract and empower diverse talent. A former triathlete and avid runner, she brings the discipline, resilience, and teamwork from sports into her professional life.

Charlie is the Labour Market Lead at Jisc, responsible for research and support on graduate employment. Widely regarded as a leading graduate labour market analyst, he consults with UK organisations and advises groups like the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics. A Fellow of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling and Manchester Metropolitan University, he also lectures at UK institutions. His research focuses on local labour markets, occupation taxonomies, and postgraduate employment.

Karen is a dynamic marketing and communications specialist with extensive experience in strategic planning and global business development. She has led multi-disciplinary teams, driven digital transformation, and developed innovative marketing strategies across industries, including education, finance, and healthcare. With a strong focus on B2B and B2C marketing, she consistently delivers outstanding results in competitive sectors. Passionate about workplace inclusion, she is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring career opportunities are accessible to all.

Rebecca is a leader in Global Early Careers and Talent Acquisition, known for her work in STEM hiring, social mobility, diversity, and digital innovation. Recognised as one of the "Top 5 Most Innovative Women in Recruitment," she has led initiatives for brands like EY and Transport for London. Currently a strategic advisor for Tazio and a Board member with the Association of Apprenticeships, she has earned over 33 awards, including a RAD award and CIPD award for best diversity strategy.

Jennifer is the Global Head of Early Careers Talent Acquisition at Kainos, where she leads recruitment for apprentices, graduates, and placement opportunities across the UK, EMEA, and the Americas. With 17 years of experience in talent management, she specializes in all aspects of the early careers lifecycle. She is passionate about building the next generation of talent and creating opportunities for their success.

Lauren McCafferty is director of early careers at Deloitte. She joined the firm in 2022 as head of early careers and was promoted to director in August 2024. Lauren is responsible for Deloitte’s early careers strategy - leading teams that oversee the firm’s award-winning BrightStart apprenticeship, graduate and work experience programmes that welcome over 3,500 students each year.

Lauren gained 11 years of experience in PwC’s student recruitment team where she was UK head of student recruitment. Previously holding graduate recruitment roles at Deloitte, EY and Reed Graduates, Lauren has nearly two decades of experience in the field of early careers.

Jackie has over 15 years’ experience in future talent and early careers marketing, possessing a deep understanding of both the future talent market, and the challenges faced by employers when it comes to apprentice and graduate recruitment.

Since joining SMRS in 2019, Jackie has worked with a diverse range of national and global employers across a wide portfolio of projects providing insight and consultancy, using her skills and expertise in future talent attraction marketing to support organisations with their strategic approach to emerging talent.

Nicky is is the Co-founder and Chief Customer Officer of Cappfinity, leading global projects and driving innovation in talent technology. With offices in London, Birmingham, New York, and Sydney, she focuses on customer satisfaction and strategic business growth. A frequent speaker on the future of work and recruitment, she splits her time between the UK and US. Outside of work, she is a proud mother of two sons.

Robert Newry, Co-Founder of Arctic Shores, is a passionate advocate for social mobility and skills-based hiring. He has spoken on psychometrics, HR tech, and AI, appearing on BBC and being quoted in outlets like The Times and The Guardian. As host of the TA Disruptors Podcast, he writes for leading HR media and campaigns for CV-less hiring to promote social mobility and inclusion.

Dan Miller established Young Professionals with a deep commitment to fostering social mobility and inclusivity. Recognising the challenges faced by many students in accessing career opportunities when he, himself was just in Year 12, Dan set out to create a platform that levels the playing field. With a passion for education and professional development, from his bedroom in Derby 10 years ago, Dan has now built an unrivalled student network that connects students from all over the UK and Ireland with work experience, mentoring, apprenticeship, and job opportunities with some of the world’s biggest organisations.

Louisa is a marketing professional specialising in early careers talent attraction and employer branding. At Young Professionals, she develops strategies to connect employers with emerging talent, focusing on apprenticeships, traineeships, and internships. With a background in further education, she helps organisations enhance brand visibility and recruitment success to attract and retain top young talent.