Current Job Title & Employer

Senior Fundraiser at the NSPCC; the UK's leading children's charity.

Dame Alice Owen’s Class of....

2011

Brief description of your path after Owen’s.

After completing my A-Levels, I decided to take a gap year. I juggled several jobs in retail, teaching and waitressing, whilst researching various degree programmes and universities. After much consideration, I applied to study a BSc in Sociology, at the University of Bath.

As part of my course, I undertook a placement year at ‘Lessons for Life Foundation’; an organisation which supports families affected by HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. This experience ignited fire in my belly, to pursue a career in fundraising.

Since graduating, I have worked and volunteered across a number of organisations, including Save the Children, Age UK, The Girls Network and Dementia UK.

How your path led you to where you are now?

I have always been interested in how society works, and the causes and consequences of human behaviour. Growing up in a household where my mother was a teacher and mentor, and my father a charity worker, also had a major impact on my career choices.

The above combined with my desire to make a difference, has landed me where I am today. Being able to work with like-minded people on a cause I am genuinely passionate about is a humbling experience that I never take for granted.

Did your time at Owen’s inspire any particular skills or attributes?

The variety of clubs and extracurricular activities were limitless. I always felt unconfident when it came to academia, and so was determined to find my place at Owen’s.

For me, the Music Department felt like home. The gentle hum of instruments being played as you walked through the music block, the feeling of unity during choir practise with Mr Werner, and memorising dance routines ahead of school productions, filled my soul with joy.

Favourite Owen’s memory?

I loved the day-to-day experiences of school life; lunch breaks spent on the playing fields, the school song at Prize Giving, undercooked croissants in the canteen and bus-journeys on the 626.

Then there were the bigger moments, such as choir trips to Bath and Llangollen, and singing with Spandau Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall during the 400th anniversary celebrations.

Last year I celebrated turning 30, and was surrounded by friends I had met on the first day of Year 7. Attending Owen’s has not only given me a great start to my working life, but it has provided me with memories and friendships that I know will last a lifetime. And for that, I am eternally grateful.