Shaping the Future of Work: Employers Address Held at the Octagon

19 November 2025

The evening was hosted by Professor Yasmin Ibrahim, Deputy Dean for the School of Business and Management, who opened the event by highlighting the School’s commitment to inclusive excellence and meaningful partnership with industry.

Designed to encourage open dialogue and collaboration, the evening began with networking before moving into a series of keynote talks, and concluded with a lively drinks reception where conversations continued informally.

Centred on how organisations can better understand and engage emerging talent, the Employers Address brought together expert voices from across business and academia. Students were able to hear directly from senior leaders about the qualities and capabilities that will shape the future workforce, while also sharing their own aspirations and perspectives.

Attendees heard from three influential leaders whose work spans real estate, professional services, hospitality, technology and digital transformation:

• Jane Hollinshead, Chief People Officer, Canary Wharf Group Plc
  With over three decades of experience in real estate and the legal profession, Jane leads CWG’s ESG, People, Legal and Customer Experience strategies. She highlighted the importance of governance, inclusive leadership and people-centred cultural change.

• Robbie White, Partner & Innovation Lead, Forvis Mazars (UK)
  Robbie drives innovation, digital transformation and AI capability at a global professional services firm. His perspective underscored the growing demand for digitally fluent, adaptable graduates who can help organisations navigate rapid technological change.

• Kimberly Ofrecio, Group Commercial Director, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts
  Drawing on senior roles across hospitality, aviation, tech and e-commerce, Kimberly spoke about commercial strategy, digital operations and the value of data-driven decision-making across diverse markets.

Together, they provided a rich and inspiring set of insights into leadership, organisational culture and the evolving world of work.

Fostering collaboration between students and employers

The Employers Address continues to be a key moment in the School’s calendar, offering students a chance to connect with highly experienced professionals and gain confidence in exploring future career pathways. The informal conversations that followed the keynote speeches helped create new networks and opportunities, reinforcing the School’s commitment to supporting students’ personal and professional development.

The success of this year’s Employers Address reflects the School of Business and Management’s mission to equip students with the knowledge, skills and connections they need to thrive in a changing world. By bringing together business leaders, academics and students, Queen Mary continues to build partnerships grounded in collaboration, inclusion and real-world impact.

To learn more about employer engagement and careers support at the School of Business and Management, please visit our Careers and Employability pages.