By 
Listen to Kent alumni from our Human & Social Sciences schools who will be sharing their advice, tips and experience with students looking to pursue a career in the Public Sector. The session will be followed by a Q&A with students.
The event is part of the University wide EMPFEST – focused on highlighting career options and opportunities to students.
Wednesday 13th October 17.30 – 18.30
This meeting has finished. Please click here to listen to the recording.
Our guest speakers are:
Sebastian Bromelow – Project Manager, Education, Diversity & Inclusion, Kingston University
Sebastian studied Politics and International Relations with a year in Japan, followed by a Research Masters in Comparative Politics. He was part of, and lead, a number of student societies and sports clubs, winning the first ‘Kent Student Award for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’, alongside a ‘Life & Honorary Membership to Kent Union’. Since graduating, he’s worked in the charity, travel, student democracy and education sectors in a range of roles championing inclusion and access for which he’s won a number of awards. He is currently EDI (Education, Diversity & Inclusion) Partner at Kingston University and a regular author of sectoral articles.
Sophie Hodges – Project Manager and Analyst – System Transformation, NHS England
Sophie graduated from Kent in 2017 in Economics with Econometrics with a Year in Industry. She joined the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, specialising in Health Analysis where she has worked at a range of national and local health and care organisations. She is now one year into her first “proper job” at NHS England in the Population Health Management team as a Project Manager and Analyst. Alongside her NHS role, Sophie has also continued her academic studies and as in her final year of an MSc in Health Data Analytics at UCL.
Jake Mason – Policy Advisor, Department of Health and Social Care
Jake graduated from Kent in 2020, having studied Economics with Econometrics. After completing the Summer Diversity Internship Programme at the Civil Service, he spent 12 months at the Department of Health and Social Care working as a Policy Advisor in the Devolution and Trade Team. This involved providing advice to Ministers on topical issues such as Brexit and Covid-19, as well as improving the Union capability of the Department. He is now on the Civil Service Fast Stream Graduate Programme with his first posting at the Home Office as a Taxation Support Officer, providing taxation advice and support to the HM Passport Office, Border Force and Immigration Services.
Hannah McNorton – Head of International Partnerships, University of Kent
After graduating from Social Anthropology, Hannah studied for a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and an MA in Applied Linguistics at Cardiff University. Hannah returned to Kent in 2004 where she worked with international students in various roles including; International Officer, Assistant Director & Director at the Centre for English and World Languages. She was also a Senior Tutor supporting international students with access to UK HE through pathway programmes. In 2015, Hannah established the University’s new International Partnerships office which is responsible for increasing the University’s global presence and profile through the development of a range of international partnership activity including student and staff mobility.
Rory Murray – Senior External Relations Manager, Metropolitan Police
An alumnus of POLIR, Rory’s first role after graduation was as a sabbatical officer at Kent Union; spending one year as Vice President (Welfare) and then one year as Union President. Rory also completed a Masters in ‘Child, Youth and International Development’ at Birkbeck part time. Rory currently works for the Metropolitan Police as a Senior External Relations Manager with a focus on supporting the Met’s relationship with Government and Parliament. Before joining the Met, he worked for the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) where he led the Public Affairs Team. During his time at the RCP, he led its public affairs response to Brexit, COVID-19, air pollution and the NHS workforce.
James Shilling – Lieutenant – Training Management, Royal Navy
POLIR alumnus, James Shilling, joined the Royal Navy in 2013 as an Engineering Technician. After training, he was assigned to a ship and deployed to the Middle East on anti-drug duties. He was commissioned as a Training Management Officer in 2016. Since then he has had roles in two of the Royal Navy’s training establishments and is currently delivering basic training in HMS Raleigh. During his career he has been fortunate to visit Gibraltar, Portugal, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, India, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait, as well as numerous ‘runs ashore’ around the UK.