AGENDA
Please refer to the session descriptions for details on the location of each event.
Join Dr Arrash Yassaee, medical doctor, healthcare leader, and Founding Associate Fellow of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, for an engaging fireside chat on AI, innovation, and the future of healthcare. Drawing on over a decade of experience across national policy, transformation, and digital health, including senior roles at NHS England, NHS Improvement, and the Department of Health, Dr Yassaee will reflect on pivotal career moments, risks that shaped his trajectory, and lessons learned. He will share insights from his private sector work as Global Clinical Director, Caldicott Guardian, and Clinical Safety Officer overseeing award-winning SaMD products and regulatory strategies across Europe, the USA, and the Middle East. The session will explore emerging opportunities for the NHS, the evolving skills needed for the next generation of professionals, and guidance for early-career leaders seeking to make a meaningful impact.
This event will be held via Zoom. A Zoom link for the session will be shared after you register.
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Join Claire Godfrey (Senior Atlantic Fellow, 2020), Executive Director of Balanced Economy Project, and Veronica Martin OBE, founder of Black Leaders Awareness Day, for a panel discussion exploring careers in the NGO and not-for-profit sector.They will reflect on their own professional journeys in organisations such as Oxfam, share perspectives on the future of the sector, and offer guidance to those aspiring to, or already building, careers in this field.The session will conclude with a Q&A, giving attendees the chance to put forward their own thoughts and questions.
This event will be held in-person at Rhodes House, with light refreshments provided at the event.
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Willie Pietersen, drawing on his experiences as both a CEO of multibillion-dollar businsesses such as Lever Brothers Food Division and Tropicana, and a Professor at Columbia University, will lead a highly interactive workshop designed to help attendees reflect on what success and leadership means to them, how to learn and grow from failure, and how to build and leverage meaningful networks. With a focus on developing the ‘soft skills’ that underpin long-term growth, the session will support participants in navigating their career paths and flourishing in their chosen fields.
This event will be held in-person at Rhodes House, with light refreshments provided at the event.
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Join Econet Wireless Zimbabwe, the country’s largest telecommunications provider, for an exclusive session designed for Rhodes Scholars. Senior leaders will introduce Econet’s mission, strategic priorities, and transformation agenda, and share work experience opportunities within the company. Econet's work placement offer a fantastic opportunity to develop professional skills, gain practical experience, and build valuable connections beyond Oxford. The session will close with a Q&A, offering you the chance to engage directly with Econet’s leadership team.
This event is offered in collaboration with Econet, with whom the Rhodes Trust has no financial or other commercial arrangement.
This event will be held via Zoom. A Zoom link for the session will be shared after you register.
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Join Christian Nattiel for an engaging conversation on leadership, ambition, and personal fulfilment. Drawing on his experiences as a Rhodes Scholar and his time commanding a 152-soldier unit in the army, Christian will share how these experiences shaped his approach to leadership, decision-making, and guiding teams under pressure.
He will also explore how he navigated being a leader while building a family and maintaining a balanced personal life, challenging the common assumption that high-achievement demands sacrificing personal wellbeing. Attendees will gain guidance on integrating career growth, leadership responsibilities, and personal fulfilment.
The discussion will conclude with a Q&A session, providing the audience with the opportunity to engage directly with Christian, ask questions, and explore his insights on leadership and thriving both professionally and personally.
This event will be held via Zoom. A Zoom link for the session will be shared after you register.
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Join David Johnson, president of Regional Growth Strategies LLC, as he reflects on the lessons learned throughout his remarkable career. He will share how he first set out on a conventional path in law, pursuing the career he felt he should follow, before realising that, while outwardly successful, it did not meet his deeper sense of purpose.
David will reflect on the power of a strong professional network and how the right connections can provide guidance and opportunities during pivotal career decisions, such as the founding of BioCrossroads and serving as the CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. The session will conclude with a Q&A, giving attendees the chance to put forward their own thoughts and questions.
This event will be held via Zoom. A Zoom link for the session will be shared after you register.
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Join us for an engaging panel discussion with founders from the Rhodes Alumni community, organised by the Entrepreneur’s Circle. The founders will share their journeys in establishing their ventures, such as the Little Dreamers Foundation, Deducta and Ruddr.ai, reflecting on lessons learned, challenges overcome, and insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. The discussion will be moderated by a member of the Rhodes Incubator, offering a unique opportunity to hear directly from Alumni who have turned ideas into impactful ventures.
The event will be structured in two parts: the first half will feature the panel discussion, and the second half will offer breakout rooms with the panellists, providing a more intimate setting to ask questions, exchange ideas, and gain personalised insights.
This event will be held via Zoom. A Zoom link for the session will be shared after you register.
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Join us for a fireside chat with Dirk Bester, former Chief Scientific Officer at Sciemus and Vice President at Barclays Investment Bank, exploring leadership, mentorship, and bringing your authentic self to work. Drawing on his experience across insurance, investment banking, start-ups, and market-making, Dirk will reflect on navigating complex careers, the lessons he has learned, and the value of guidance from mentors. The conversation will focus on how authenticity and integrity shape professional impact and satisfaction, and offer practical insights for emerging professionals seeking to lead with purpose. The session will conclude with a Q&A, providing attendees the chance to ask questions and gain personalised advice on leadership, career growth, and professional authenticity.
This event will be held in-person at Rhodes House, with light refreshments provided at the event.
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Join us for a fireside chat with David Clark, Managing Director of Academia, and member of the Executive Committee at Oxford University Press. In this session, he will reflect on his career journey and share insights into the world of academic publishing, offering guidance for those considering careers in or alongside the sector. This event will be of particular interest to anyone curious about the processes behind academic publishing and how the industry is evolving. The conversation will conclude with a Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly and explore questions of interest.
This event will be held in-person at Rhodes House, with light refreshments provided at the event.
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Join us for a fireside chat with Professor Charlotte Dean MBE, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Drawing on her distinguished research career, including serving on SAGE, the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, and acting as UK Research and Innovation’s COVID-19 Response Director, Professor Dean will share insights into the future of the sector, offer guidance for those seeking to build successful careers, and reflect on the importance of mentorship in research. This session is ideal for students, early-career researchers, and anyone considering a career in the field. The conversation will conclude with a Q&A, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly and gain tailored advice from Professor Dean.
This event will be held in-person at Rhodes House, with light refreshments provided at the event.
Explore the backgrounds of our speakers by clicking on their images below.
As the closing session of the Careers and Pathways programme, join John Roome, former World Bank Director and Senior Advisor to organisations including the AIIB, for an evening of relaxed drinks at the Turf Tavern in the heart of Oxford. A table will be reserved for those who would like to join John for an informal conversation about his career and to hear his guidance on pursuing paths in climate and international development.
