I spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, beginning as a pharmaceutical market researcher, interviewing doctors across Spain and Latin America, to delivering scientific publications, managing projects, and leading large teams. I gained strong leadership and people skills, but as my career developed, I wanted to make a more meaningful difference. So, I took a leap of faith and stepped away from my corporate career to become CEO of Resource, a small charity with an extraordinary impact.

At Resource, we support thousands of people facing unemployment. I lead a dedicated team that delivers the highest level of support, training and advice to help clients with their job search. Over the past 12 years, I have been incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.

Today, unemployment has risen to 5.2% — the highest it has been for some time — affecting people of all ages: school leavers, graduates, professionals over 50, and everyone in between. In this climate, Resource plays a vital role. We help people develop not only the practical skills they need to secure employment, but also the confidence to believe in themselves again.

Our expert advisors offer one-to-one support and employability skills training with lots of practical support. We provide psychometric profiling, mock interviews and IT training. But what we do goes beyond skills. We are restoring self-confidence, rebuilding self-esteem and helping people regain dignity and independence. I often say that skills training and confidence-building are of equal importance; when both improve, our clients are far more likely to succeed in a competitive job market.

What makes Resource unique is our volunteers; they are the beating heart of Resource. We have 19 volunteer advisors, five mock interviewers, training facilitators, and volunteers across administration, marketing and finance. They bring decades of experience in recruitment, people management and business leadership. We operate a rigorous selection, onboarding and training process, ensuring that every volunteer is highly skilled, deeply experienced and genuinely committed to helping our clients succeed.

It is important to us that our volunteers feel valued and also that we operate at the highest standards of professionalism. Many of our volunteers come from structured, senior professional backgrounds, and Resource provides a dynamic and purposeful environment where they can use their experience and wisdom in a meaningful way.

As a team, nothing compares to seeing our clients go forward. Many arrive feeling low, with their confidence knocked and uncertain where to turn. Over the course of a few months, with one-to-one support and training workshops, they transform and walk out with their head held high.

One client in his late forties particularly stands out. He told me that, having been unemployed for 6 months, he had missed several mortgage payments and was now considering turning to a food bank. He felt anxious and invisible. We listened. We supported him. We helped him rebuild his skills and confidence through our services. When he secured a role as a senior marketer, he told us Resource had saved him.

Looking ahead, leading Resource through the rapid advancement of AI is our next exciting challenge. We are embracing the opportunities AI presents, ensuring our team remains at the forefront so we can equip our clients with the tools they need for the evolving workplace.

For me personally, I will continue to build Resource into the go-to organisation for anyone needing support in their job search. Inspired by the volunteers, I have also found my own way to give back beyond my role as CEO, serving as a listening volunteer and trustee for Samaritans. Plus, to keep my mind active in the years to come, I hope to learn to play bridge … when I find the time!

Circle Square Quick Fire Q&A

What 3 words best describe you? Practical, resilient and optimistic.

If you could offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be? I would say that you don’t need to find a job for life. Everything can lead somewhere. There is more than one career for everyone.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Building Resource’s impact so that we were able to help over 1000 people last year with their job search.

Which person (dead or alive) would you most like to invite to dinner? James Timpson is well known for giving people a second chance and championing ex-offenders. At Timpson, he has consistently employed former prisoners to help them move forward after their time in prison and to prevent re-offending. I often take calls at The Samaritans from prisoners whose employability prospects are very poor, and they’re often in a very low mental state. I wish there were more employers like Lord Timpson, and I really admire the work he does in this area.

How has age strengthened your advantage? I’m a calmer decision maker, leading to better judgment. And I’ve got a much broader perspective now. I can see things from different angles.

What inspired you to join Circle Square? I am really interested in being part of a like-minded community with shared values. It’s also a great opportunity for networking and finding mutual support.

If you are interested in finding out about volunteer opportunities at Resource please email hello@resource-centre.org