Company structure

Nikki Lawrence

As chief executive I lead on delivering our ambitious strategy “Brighter Futures.” It aims to give young people and adults across Wales access to high quality, impartial, all age careers support.

I am deeply committed to the crucial work we undertake. It benefits individuals, their families, and overall well-being and can be attributed to transforming people's lives. It also plays a significant role in the economic development of Wales.

I am a qualified accountant and have previously worked in both public and private industry. I have now worked for Careers Wales for over twenty years in a variety of roles. In 2019 I was appointed to my present position as chief executive.

My ambition, working alongside highly professional, dedicated colleagues, is to take the organisation forward to become a world class, sector leading organisation for the benefit of the people of Wales.

Nerys Bourne

My role involves driving forward the company’s careers guidance services, employer engagement activity and curriculum support.

I have worked in the careers sector for nearly 28 years. I have the same passion for the work that we do as when I first started as a trainee careers adviser. When I worked as a careers adviser, I would get a real buzz from knowing that I had supported a young person to achieve their goal and made a difference to so many people’s lives.

As a Director for Careers Wales, I am passionate about what we do as an organisation and enjoy the opportunity to shape and influence the Careers Wales services for the benefit of our customers.

Departments:

• Services to Young People
• Services to Stakeholders
• Working Wales: Employment Advice

Responsibility for developing our services for customers:

• Young people in mainstream schools, special schools, those who are educated in EOTAS or alternative curriculum as well as Further Education
• Supporting schools and employers to work together to provide young people with experiences of the world of work
• Supporting teachers to develop Careers and Work-Related Experiences as part of the Curriculum for Wales
• Providing guidance and employment support for young people outside of education, adults who are unemployed, facing redundancy or seeking to return to the workplace or make a career change

Also leads on Safeguarding within the organisation, implementing our Cymraeg 2050 strategy and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Ruth Ryder

I joined Careers Wales having worked in higher education for most of my professional life. Working for an organisation that provides a public and social good is important to me. Careers Wales, with its remit of providing an all age, impartial careers service to the people of Wales, fits perfectly with my own values.

My role focuses on aligning resources with the company’s strategic priorities, but also to drive organisational efficiency. I lead on large scale programmes to innovate and futureproof services to customers, as well as enhance the experience for employees. Fostering a culture of trust, empowerment and collaboration are at the heart of my role.

Each day is different and provides rewards as well as challenges and this is what I enjoy so much about working at Careers Wales.

The resources and transformation directorate focuses on aligning the company’s resources with its strategic priorities. It also focuses on driving organisational efficiency and performance, innovating to futureproof services, and developing and upskilling employees to work collaboratively with agility and flexibility.

Departments:

• Digital and Communications
• Finance and Estates
• Information Communication and Technology (ICT)
• People Development
• Quality and Planning

Amie Field

I lead on our Careers Information, Advice and Guidance services in schools across Wales.

I have worked in many roles during my 17 years at Careers Wales including as an Employability Coach, Careers Adviser and in information and communication technology (ICT). I have had the privilege of hearing many young peoples dreams and aspirations for the future and working with them to make them a reality. I have enjoyed every single role I have done and have learnt so much from all the great people I have worked with.

Careers Wales has always given me the freedom to ‘give things a go’ which really motivates me.

Mark Owen

I started my career in July 1999 as a school-based Careers Adviser in Swansea. I later became a Team Leader in Neath Port Talbot, following the establishment of Careers Wales in 2001, before joining Careers Wales Mid Glamorgan as Operations Manager in 2002.

I operated in several middle and senior management roles until being appointed Head of Operations for the South Central region of the newly formed Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa (the national ‘careers service’ for Wales) in 2012. I subsequently became national Head of Stakeholder Services following a restructure in 2018.

Our work brings together schools and businesses to support young people. The aim is to inform, inspire and motivate young people about their career opportunities. We do this through a range of employer-led events and curriculum enrichment activities. We help education professionals to deliver an effective careers programme. We support to build the skills, knowledge, and confidence of education professionals.

We do this through:

• Consultancy
• Professional learning
• Support to develop resources
• Our curriculum quality award

Find out more about our work with:

• Employers
• Education and teaching professionals

Mandy Ifans

I head up the Working Wales programme that we deliver on behalf of Welsh Government.

The Working Wales programme offers careers information, advice and guidance as well as signposting and referral for adults and for young people in the labour market in Wales. We also support customers in the secure estate.

I have worked for Careers Wales since 1988, and have worked in a large number of different roles during that period. These include careers adviser, unemployment specialist careers adviser and special needs link adviser before moving into a team manager role in the 1990s.

I am passionate about the work that we do and about the value that we bring in support of adults and young people at critical points in their careers and lives.

I am a Welsh speaker and happy to chat to learners if you want to practice your language skills.

Find out more about Working Wales.

Denise Currell

I lead the Human Resources (HR), Learning and Development and Health and Safety teams, all of whom have a drive to provide the best service for our internal customers.

I have been with Careers Wales for over twenty years and am a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of People Development - CIPD. I chose to work here for this long because of the social purpose of the organisation, the passion and commitment of the people who work here and the many development opportunities that everyone has access to.

Over my career, I have put a lot of emphasis on the wellbeing of people at work and the importance of a diverse workforce and I’m committed to wanting people to be healthy and happy at work.

The People Development Team is responsible for the recruitment, HR management, wellbeing, learning and development and health and safety of our workforce. Through our team of professionals, we aim to recruit and maintain a happy and engaged workforce, leading to retention of our talent in fulfilling roles throughout their career with us.

Find out more on:

• Work for us
• Recruitment - Careers Wales (gov.wales)

Philip Bowden

Quality and Planning within Careers Wales assures standards, improves performance and provides robust planning activities so that customer requirements and expectations are met.

I have worked for Careers Wales for over twenty years, starting out as a Careers Adviser, before going on to hold several positions in the company. Prior to joining Careers Wales, I was a teacher in a secondary school.

I believe we are uniquely placed in Careers Wales to provide the support that young people and adults need to prepare them for those key transition points in their career journey and help them to achieve their future goals and aspirations.

Find out more about our work with:

• Our annual report
• Operational Plan
• Welsh Language Policy
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Pupil destinations

Denise Evans

I am the lead for information and communication technology (ICT), Business Intelligence and data security which includes GDPR.

I have worked for Careers Wales for 36 years. I started my career as an administrative assistant in the Cwmbran office.

Careers Wales offers fantastic training opportunities and by doing many training courses in ICT, I was able to progress my career and I now lead a team of 30 ICT professionals from across Wales.

Find out more about our ICT Strategy.

Will Piper

I have Finance and Premises responsibility across Careers Wales. I have been with Careers Wales for over twenty years and am a Chartered Accountant - Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Prior to working with Careers Wales, I worked in private practice helping local firms across South West Wales. I have held several positions within Careers Wales during my time with the company and have enjoyed all of those roles, helping to provide sound corporate governance and to give value for money for the public purse.

Find out more about our work:

• Accounts
• Freedom of information act

Emma Blandon

I oversee our website, product development, marketing and communications, digital innovation, research and customer contact teams.

I’m a member of both the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and I’ve worked at Careers Wales for four years. Prior to this, I worked in local government and higher education.

My role at Careers Wales is really varied, supporting our drive to deliver personalised and excellent customer experiences at a time, place and channel that meet need.

I enjoy the variety in my role. Each day is different and it’s rewarding to know that our services are helping people at key points on their career journey.