Eleanor Nixon | People Analytics Product Manager | Barclays
I began my career as a Human Resources Graduate at Barclays, experiencing roles in teams in Business Partnering, People Analytics and Early Careers.
I now work in the Data Products Team in (People) Analytics, a fascinating area of the bank that works on elevating data and insights for the internal organization. Beyond my main roles, I have held volunteer leadership roles in the Graduate Apprentice Intern Network, a 4500+ membership network in the bank that focuses on creating a community for past and present early careers programme colleagues. Starting out as an ambassador in the communications team in late 2022, I moved on to hold the role of Communications Co-Lead, then have now been Co-Chair of the network since April 2024.
Georgia Bright | Group People and Talent Partner | Praetura Lending Group
I graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2016 with a degree in English Literature and Language.
After a year of travelling across Southeast Asia and Australia, I started my career in 2018 as a Graduate Recruitment Consultant in the tech sector. During my studies, I worked in various customer-facing roles including lifeguarding, sales, and at a garden centre, which cemented my love for working with people. My recruitment role allowed me to engage with professionals in different industries; I learnt how important hiring the right talent is for businesses. I then joined Grayce, a graduate change management consultancy, where I specialised in recruiting top graduates in project management, business analysis, and data for their development programme. In 2020, I self-funded my CIPD Level 5 HR Management course, driven by my ambition to become a People Leader in the future. During the pandemic, I took on a short-term role at AO within the Resource and Capacity team, supporting workforce planning and compliance during a period of rapid change in their call centre. This role pushed me out of my comfort zone and hugely strengthened my adaptability. In 2021, I transitioned into a generalist HR role at Lighthouse Lab - a Covid-19 testing facility - where I gained experience in HR operations in a highly regulated setting. Later that year, I joined Praetura as a People Coordinator, progressing to Group People and Talent Partner. My role covers recruitment, employee support, policy development, training, and employee relations, ensuring a high-performing, inclusive workplace.
Jessica Setter | Employee Relations Consultant, EMEA | Macquarie Bank
I grew up in a coastal town on the east coast of Australia where I studied a double degree in Law and Business. At 23 I entered the corporate world as a law graduate at a Sydney firm.
I obtained my NSW legal practising certificate in 2016 (which I still hold) and worked in private practice for about 4 and a half years – predominately in the employment legal team. In 2019 I took a big bold bet and left private practice to become an in-house employment lawyer at a fast-paced technology company. Two years later, I took an even bolder bet and moved with the company to London where I helped support employment legal matters impacting their Northern and Eastern Europe operations. In 2019 an opportunity to take on a hybrid legal / employee relations role arose. The opportunity allowed me to continue to live in London and maintain a connection to my home country. In this role I am at the forefront of providing commercial advice on a broad range of employment matters with the overall aim of maintaining and fostering a positive work environment. I am a calm, practical and solutions-focused advisor who invests time in building genuine relationships with my stakeholders. In my roles, I have supported on people matters across various locations in APAC and EMEA and I am currently based in London. Outside of work, I am a lover of travel, ceramics and the ocean. I also consider myself an amateur (but persistent) cook.
Cherie Stephenson | DEI & Employee Engagement Manager | Browne Jacobson
I am currently the DEI & Employee Engagement Manager at a law firm, a place I have worked at for nearly 14 years.
As the first person in my family to attend university, I graduated with a 2:1 in Human Resource Management and have dedicated my career to HR ever since. Throughout my time here I have seized various opportunities which has often led to a change in direction in my specialism within HR. I have done this as long as the change aligns with my personal values, beliefs and ambitions. I love to work with new people and teams as there is always something to learn and often better way of doing things. My journey began as a HR Data Analyst and since then I have taken on a secondment into the PMO team as a Business Change Manager to broaden my experience before returning back to the People team as a People Change and Projects Manager. Eventually, I transitioned into my current role within the DEI team. I am a mother of two, who inspire me to continuously learn, evolve, and develop myself so that I can show them that hard work and persistence pays off, even in challenging times. Additionally, I volunteer regularly at my local junior Park Run, where I recently took on the role of Run Director managing the local event—a role I thoroughly enjoy.
Laura Balboni | Head of people and operations | Sifted EU Ltd
Laura Balboni is a strategic and results-driven HR leader with a background in talent acquisition, people management, and operations.
Currently serving as the Head of People & Operations at Sifted, she has played a key role in shaping inclusive workplace cultures, leading business restructures, and aligning people strategies with company objectives. Prior to her career in HR, Laura spent five years in Australia, where she ran her own theatre company and worked as a People Coordinator at Sydney University. Her passion for people stems from her early career—having trained at LAMDA and worked in TV and film from a young age. With a CIPD Level 5 qualification and extensive experience in employee relations, organisational change, and ESG initiatives, Laura is dedicated to fostering dynamic and innovative work environments.
Suzan Boylan | Job Architecture Relationship Manager | Barclays
Since joining the Barclays HR apprenticeship in 2015, Suzan has held a number of roles across the organisation, as well as multiple leadership roles across employee resource groups (ERGs), including mentor for Disability ERG, champion of the Gender Careers workstream, lead for the Gender Allies workstream, co-lead for the Black Professionals and Gender reciprocal mentoring programme, co-chair for the London Military Network and data lead for the HR Diversity workstream.
Suzan has looked to use her experience of entering the world of financial services in a “non-traditional” manner, as someone whose background does not fit the stereotype, to share her experiences and increase awareness on possible routes in to employment and navigating the world of career progression, both in her day jobs, including roles supporting veterans in to the right job for them and managing a self-evaluation talent & development tool, and outside of it. Away from work, Suzan also sits on her local community Board, focusing on bringing new communities together and driving discussions on diversity demographics.
Lucinda Pounds | Talent, Learning & Development Manager | Compre
I moved into Learning and Development five years ago after finding my passion in coaching and developing others.
Supriya Davda | Talent Acquisition Partner | Northern Trust
With over 13 years of experience in the recruitment industry, complimented by an education in Law.
I am passionate about finding and attracting diverse and talented professionals who can make a positive difference. My journey in talent acquisition has been driven by a deep passion for Diversity and Inclusion, with a particular focus on empowering women in the technology industry. Currently, I thrive in my role at Northern Trust, where I not only place exceptional talent but also contribute to our workplace culture. Within the organisation, I proudly serve as the Co-Chair for the Asian Leadership Business Resource Council, where I actively promote community engagement and facilitate early career development and awareness of the Asian Culture. Outside of my professional capacity, I serve as an Associate School Governor at the Holy Family Catholic School and Sixth Form. Additionally, I contribute as a Board Trustee Member for Sisters Circle, a charity dedicated to prioritising women’s health. My professional and personal journey is deeply infused by the values of Truth, Love, and Compassion, which I’ve imbibed from my spiritual teacher, Morari Bapu. I am a firm believer in his advocacy for the acceptance of all individuals and service to others; principles I strive to incorporate into my work.
Sana Butt | Early Careers Talent Acquisiton Specialist | DLA Piper
Sana stands as a formidable force and an unparalleled source of inspiration for many.
With an extensive background spanning over seven years in Early Careers, she remains dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion throughout the early careers industry, tirelessly working to establish environments where individuals, including herself, can truly belong. An unwavering advocate for change, Sana fearlessly uses her voice to shed light on critical issues and confront the prevailing norms. Undoubtedly, she is a rising star, poised to continue making significant strides towards a more equitable and inclusive future.
Sarah Raza | Senior Recruiter | Bank of New York (BNY)
I am an experienced HR professional who is extremely passionate about diversity and inclusion within the workplace and bringing in a high calibre of talent.
I have been working at BNY in the campus recruitment team since November 2022 and have recently been promoted to a senior recruiter within the firm. My role involves hiring early careers talent for a range of roles within the firm. I truly enjoy looking at new methods to identify and attract talent. With all the changes in technology within and outside of the workplace I am really interested to look at what changes we can implement as part of our roles. Prior to joining BNY I worked for Deutsche Bank as a recruitment partner where I focused on engineering and front office hires. I have worked in a multitude of HR and recruitment roles over the last six years. I have a degree in Business and Financial Management which I obtained from the University of Salford in 2017. Whilst at university I led the Raising and Giving Society. I believe in the importance of giving back, I have previously spent time writing blogs for a United Nations affiliated charity in Malawi which I one day aspire to travel to. Outside of work, I really enjoy trying new recipes, spending time with my friends and family and travelling. I have been to 14 countries and hope to increase that number by the end of 2025!
