Graduate cohort information

Iona joined the 1^st cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme on the Rotational Professional Services stream after graduating from the University of York with a BA (Hons) in Business of the Creative Industries.

With a passion for equality, diversity and inclusion, Iona was mentored by Rae Preston, Cornwall Programme Manager, and took an active role in the University's staff LGBTQ+ Network as Social Media and Communications Officer.

During her time on the scheme, Iona completed placements in Learning Experiences and Innovation within Education and Academic Services, Service Experience within PS Connect, and a number of teams within External Engagement and Global in Penryn. She also supported the University Mental Health Charter within HR, Culture and Assurance, bringing together her interests in inclusion, accessibility and wellbeing while contributing to initiatives that enhance the staff and student experience.

Following the successful completion of the scheme, Iona secured a role as Portfolio Officer within Education and Academic Services. The role includes supporting projects across the division and serving as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience. Having been mentored by Clare Wydell throughout the latter stages of the programme, the position represents a natural progression into education and student experience work. The broad network, knowledge and experience gained through the Graduate Scheme have provided a strong foundation for her continued development within the sector.

Xuecong [shuer-tsom] joined the 1^st cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme on the Rotational Professional Services stream after completing an MSc in Prosperity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at University College London. She previously studied at Lancaster University, where she obtained a BSc in Accounting and Finance.

During her first year on the scheme, Xuecong completed placements in Service Experience within PS Connect, Sustainability within FICS, and Degree Apprenticeships within Exeter Innovation. Across these roles, she contributed to projects that improved ways of working, supported the delivery of the University's Sustainability Strategy, enhanced programme marketing activities, and increased process automation.

In her second year, Xuecong continued to develop her transferable skills through placements in Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture within HR, Culture and Assurance, and Education and Academic Services, gaining further experience across a broad range of professional services functions.

Following the completion of the scheme, Xuecong secured a full-time secondment at the University as Project Officer with the Digital Innovation and Circular Economy (DICE) Network+, led by Professor Fiona Charnley, Associate Dean for Research and Impact. In this role, she supports collaboration across academia, industry and government to accelerate innovation and deliver meaningful real-world impact.

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Anna joined the 1^st cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme on the Rotational Professional Services stream after studying Theology.

During her first year on the scheme, Anna completed placements in Strategy, Policy and Performance within Research Services, Talent and Policy within HR, Culture and Assurance, and Service Experience within PS Connect. In the second year of the scheme, Anna completed placements within ESE Faculty Operations in Education and Academic Services, where she supported faculty-level projects and the Business School's Accreditations and Rankings team, and within Research Development and Partnerships, where she contributed to the strategic planning of application development.

Following the completion of the scheme, Anna returned to the Service Experience team within PS Connect, where she worked on strategic projects and initiatives to enhance service delivery across the University.

As she prepares for a future relocation to the Midlands, Anna is continuing to build her career within the Higher Education sector. She looks forward to applying the knowledge, skills and experience gained through the Graduate Scheme as she continues to develop her generalist professional services expertise and deliver meaningful impact in her future role!

Alex joined the 1^st cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme on the Technology stream after graduating from Falmouth University with a BSc (Hons) in Immersive Computing.

During his first year on the scheme, Alex completed placements across a range of IT Services teams. His first placement was with Desktop Support, where he assisted staff and students with technical issues across the University. He then joined Vendor Management, collaborating with another graduate on a OneDrive optimisation project and producing a report that identified future challenges and opportunities for business-as-usual processes. In his third placement with Enterprise Device Management, Alex developed the foundations of a unified software catalogue to improve software visibility, management and governance across the University.

In the second year of the scheme, Alex worked alongside IT Services Project Managers, gaining valuable experience in project delivery while developing his PRINCE2 knowledge and practice. He also completed a placement within the SharePoint Team, where he developed a Power Apps solution to enhance and streamline an existing University process.

Following the successful completion of the scheme, Alex secured a role as an IT Operations Analyst at the University of Exeter, where he continues to build on the skills and experience gained through the programme.

Harry joined the 1^st cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme in the Technology in Professional Services stream after obtaining a BSc in Computer Science and Philosophy from the University of Exeter.

In his first year on the scheme, Harry was mentored by Mike Westwood, Assistant Director of IT Solutions Delivery. His placements included supporting the design, delivery and technical documentation of MyExeter within the Digital Team, contributing to a cloud storage analysis and migration project within IT Services, and working on data analysis and AI application development within the Data Team.

In the second year of the scheme, Harry was mentored by Chris Frost, Director of Digital Transformation, and completed placements across Solution Architecture and Digital Engineering.

Following successful completion of the scheme, Harry secured a Software Engineer position at the University, where he continues to apply and develop the technical skills and experience gained through the programme.

Tasmin joined the 2^nd cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme on the Rotational Professional Services stream after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in Business Management with Marketing.

Passionate about student recruitment, engagement and enhancing the student experience, Tasmin is keen to explore how different areas of the University work together to support students throughout their journey. She is supported in her professional development by her Senior Mentor, Alex Tiffany, Head of Insights.

Alongside her role on the scheme, Tasmin volunteers as Co-Chair and Events Officer for the Wellbeing Network, helping to create opportunities for colleagues to connect and support one another.

During her time on the scheme, Tasmin has completed placements in Service Experience within PS Connect, Degree Apprenticeships within Exeter Innovation, and Marketing within Finance, Infrastructure and Commercial Services. These placements have allowed her to develop experience across a diverse range of professional services functions while contributing to projects that improve engagement, communications and service delivery.

Currently, Tasmin is working within the Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture team in HR, Culture and Assurance, where she is continuing to build her knowledge of people-focused initiatives and contribute to creating a positive and inclusive University community.

 

Becky joined the 2^nd cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme on the Rotational Professional Services stream after completing both her BSc in Psychology and her MSc in Social and Organisational Psychology at the University of Exeter.

During her first year on the scheme, Becky completed placements in Researcher Development and Research Culture (Research Services), Wellbeing, Inclusion and Culture (HR, Culture and Assurance), and the Change Team (HR, Culture and Assurance). These varied experiences gave her the opportunity to support projects focused on people, culture and organisational development, while building a broad understanding of how different areas of the University work together.

Becky joined the Sustainability Team within Finance, Infrastructure and Commercial Services for her fourth placement. Working on the Sustainability Strategic Framework and Scope 3 Programme Support project, she is leading the consultation and analysis of the University's Sustainability Strategic Framework and supporting supplier engagement activities through sustainability research and business case development. Becky is supported by her Senior Mentor, Leanne Heath, Strategic Portfolio Partner (Wellbeing, People and Culture).

Alongside her placements, Becky is actively involved in a number of University networks and communities. She is a Digital Officer for the Wellbeing Network, a member of the PS Connect Sustainability Committee, and helps facilitate the Network Chairs Forum, creating opportunities for network leads to connect, collaborate and share best practice across the University.

Passionate about supporting people and creating positive change, Becky hopes to make a meaningful contribution to both the University and the wider Higher Education sector. Looking ahead, she is keen to continue developing her leadership skills and would welcome the opportunity to take on management responsibilities in the future.

Utkarsh joined the 2^nd cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme on the Rotational Professional Services stream after graduating from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Economics with Work Industrial Placement.

With a strong interest in data, digital transformation and organisational improvement, Utkarsh has continued to build his experience across a range of professional services functions. Throughout the scheme, he has been supported by Senior Mentors Peter Scargill, Director of Commercial, Residential and Campus Services, and Dave Stacey, who have helped guide his professional development.

In his first year on the scheme, Utkarsh completed placements in AI Enablement within Digital Transformation, HR Systems within PS Connect, and Event Exeter within Finance, Infrastructure and Commercial Services. These opportunities enabled him to develop his analytical skills while gaining experience of digital and operational projects across the University.

In his second year, Utkarsh has joined the Financial Planning and Reporting team, working under the supervision of Siobhan Asprey, Assistant Director of Financial Sustainability and Assurance (Research and Education). He is currently leading a project to recreate the University's process for the Department for Education's national course costing exercise, delivered in partnership with KPMG, helping to provide robust financial data and insights to support sector-wide analysis.

Looking ahead, Utkarsh hopes to build a career in project and change delivery, using data, process design and technology to help large organisations implement new systems and make more effective, evidence-based decisions.

Dhruv joined the 3^rd cohort of the Future Leaders and Innovators Graduate Scheme on the Rotational Professional Services stream after graduating from the University of York with a BSc (Hons) in Business and Management. As part of his degree, he completed a placement year with DHL Supply Chain, gaining valuable experience in a large-scale operational environment.

Dhruv is passionate about continuous improvement, business excellence and project management. He has a keen interest in identifying opportunities to enhance processes and improve service delivery, and is looking forward to developing these interests further throughout the scheme.

His first placement on the scheme is with the IT Service Desk and Estate Helpdesk, where he is supporting projects across both teams. He is also contributing to work focused on automation and AI enhancements, helping to explore how technology can improve processes and user experiences across the University.