• Amara Buckeridge is a classically trained cellist and music graduate whose career reflects curiosity, resilience, and creativity. She performed with the Chineke! Junior Orchestra before beginning her career as a firefighter in Central London, where she has served for the past three years. Alongside emergency response, she has embraced opportunities to develop practical skills through building projects and work on television productions, including Bridgerton. Passionate about lifelong learning, Amara values the balance between creativity and discipline. Her diverse experiences have shaped a perspective that celebrates transferable skills, personal growth, and the confidence to pursue opportunities beyond traditional career paths.

  • Heavenli – Programme & Events Associate

    With a background in Medical Science and Clinical Education, Heavenli brings experience in education, learner support, communication, and creating engaging learning experiences. Her academic and professional journey has developed her understanding of how effective support, guidance, and opportunities can help individuals progress and achieve their goals.

    In her role, Heavenli contributes to marketing strategy, sponsor engagement, programme coordination, and the day-to-day delivery of events. She works closely with the team to build partnerships, increase awareness, and help create impactful experiences for graduates and industry professionals.

    Passionate about widening participation and supporting career development, Heavenli combines her knowledge of education with her commitment to creating inclusive pathways that enables individuals to thrive in the workplace.

  • Professor Robert Beckford is a teacher, writer and broadcaster who has spent his career making education more inclusive and relevant. A leading scholar of Black theology and culture, he has taught at universities in Britain and internationally, supervised many PhD students, and created innovative programmes connecting learning with real-world change.

  • Caia Buckeridge works in the TV industry and is a classically trained violinist. She studied Music at the University of Bristol.

    Through Our Collective History, she delivers workshops focused on confidence and practical skill-building.

  • Laura Buckeridge is an actress, presenter, and partner at Learning Presenters, delivering dynamic, confidence‑building workshops to schools, colleges, and parents across the UK and Europe. Born in Northampton and raised in Coventry, she brings a down‑to‑earth, relatable approach to her work with young people. Trained at LAMDA, Laura blends her performance background with strong insight into neurodiversity to create inclusive, engaging sessions in classroom and group settings.

    Laura’s workshops focus on communication, confidence, and practical skill‑building, offering supportive, creative environments where students feel comfortable participating, expressing themselves, and developing new strengths.

  • Thomas Wilde is an Audit and Advisory Manager, leading audits and providing advisory services to businesses of all sizes. After studying Economics at university, Thomas qualified as a Chartered Accountant and has developed experience supporting organisations with financial challenges and opportunities. Born and raised in Surrey, Thomas is of English and Jamaican heritage and passionate about widening opportunities for young people from under-represented backgrounds. Outside work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters, leading worship at church, teaching violin, and competing in tennis tournaments.

  • Carolyn Balogun is a recruitment consultant and career coach. She has recruited from graduate to C-suite level across finance, media and law. Her particular strength is in candidate preparation: giving people the confidence to walk into an interview and own it, and clarity on exactly what the client is listening for. A psychology graduate and NLP Master Practitioner, she helps people pursue careers they thought were out of reach, or earn more in the roles they already have. Having changed direction herself, she brings that experience to how she coaches others through the same.

  • Micah Beckford is a recent Environmental Science graduate passionate about ecological and social issues, and the ways in which technology and environmental restoration can help create a fairer, more sustainable world.

    He enjoys leaning about wildlife, understanding how complex systems work, and creatively exploring practical ideas that can improve communities and the environment. Since summer 2026, Micah has also gained internship experience with the Birmingham Green Party, supporting and influencing work connecting local action, data and public engagement.

    Through OurCollectiveHistory, Micah hopes to help young people recognise their strengths, build confidence and access opportunities allowing them to create and shape their own futures.