Lifetime Achievement Award: Biographies
Val Butcher
Val has an international reputation in the higher education careers arena. She joined AGCAS in 1984 when appointed Head of the Careers Service at the College of Ripon and York St John. Val ran her first group work course for AGCAS in 1984 and chaired the Training Sub-Committee from 1989-91 and, since then, she has contributed to very many AGCAS courses and conferences. Her thoughtful and knowledgeable work within AGCAS, and internationally, includes career development learning, policy and strategy, PDP, enterprise, and employability, alongside her valuable, innovative and entertaining new approaches for careers and academic staff. Her active contribution to AGCAS includes her continued collaboration with AGCAS during her work as Director of Enterprise in Higher Education, Principal Adviser for Higher Education and Employment, both at the University of Leeds, when she co-authored a report with Ben Ball on the impact of EHE on student skill development. Latterly, as Senior Adviser for Employability at the Higher Education Academy and partner in the ESECT Project, her valuable knowledge and tireless work to promote employability and career development learning have inspired and supported many AGCAS members. Val’s strength, used to excellent effect for AGCAS and FEDORA, has been the development of networks for exchanging good practice in HE careers services across Europe and, in 2004, she received a CRAC 40th Anniversary medal for her outstanding contribution.
Tony Butler
Tony’s AGCAS career spanned 10 years while he was Director of the Oxford University Careers Service before retiring in 2006. Previously, Tony spent 25 years working for the Home Office, his final role being Director of Personnel and Finance for the Prison Service. Tony’s talents and commitment made him an obvious candidate for the AGCAS Board and he became Treasurer (2002-2004) and then President (2004-2006), holding both roles with distinction and success. A popular member of the Senior Common Room at New College, Oxford, Tony was well liked and respected within AGCAS, introducing newcomers to the workings of the AGCAS Board and generously sharing his wisdom and experience. Tony played a key role in AGCAS during a difficult period for the Association, working with his predecessor and the CEO, and with HECSU and GP, to find a solution that benefited all parties in the negotiations regarding the provision and publication of AGCAS information products and the level of the charitable donation to AGCAS. The resulting agreement and its smooth implementation were a credit to Tony’s affability and diplomatic skills with heads of service, GP/HECSU and AGCAS Board members, as well as his attention to detail and ability to 'crank the figures'. But despite his professional seniority, Tony always felt that working with students "was the best bit about the job".
Keith Dugdale
Keith’s AGCAS Lifetime Achievement Award, won as both a careers professional and former AGCAS President and key supporter of AGCAS through KPMG and AGR, is a tribute to his exceptional talents and contribution over 30 years. After Sunderland Polytechnic, Keith headed up the Careers Service at Strathclyde University from 1989. Having been AGCAS Secretary and Vice-President, Keith took on the challenge of the AGCAS presidency, helping take our profession into the technological era through negotiations which secured Prospects HE (Planner) for the CSU/AGCAS partnership. From 1991-1994 Keith project managed the highly successful Scottish Graduate Careers Programme funded by Scottish Enterprise and in 1994 he became Director of the Careers Service of the University of Manchester and UMIST. Here too Keith’s leadership was transformational, bringing substantial funding and his entrepreneurial talents as a trail-blazer in developing career management modules, career planning for postgraduate research students and new forms of staff appraisal, and he was always willing to share his expertise with AGCAS colleagues. After 2001, in his new role as Graduate Recruitment Manager for KPMG, Keith continued to collaborate closely with AGCAS, also giving frank, constructive feedback to services on their image among employers and how they might 'raise their game'. This dual perspective has been invaluable to the AGCAS community.
Richard Hill
In 1987, Richard, previously Graduate Recruitment and Development Manager for the Midland Bank, became AGCAS Development Manager and the first AGCAS employee. Three years later, he left the bank and became AGCAS Administration Manager, a post he held until his retirement on 31 December 1999. Single-handedly at first, he established the AGCAS office and set the benchmark for the unstinting support it provides for the organisation as a whole and all its members. Richard’s many achievements include: establishing the financial health of AGCAS by putting its financial affairs in excellent order and setting up income-generating activities; developing AGCAS-supported graduate fairs throughout the country; establishing good working relationship between AGCAS and both CSU (now Graduate Prospects) and the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR); introducing and organising, in co-operation with CSU and AGR, ROGET seminars; organising AGCAS Biennial Conferences in collaboration with Standing/Executive Committee and each host careers service; and providing invaluable administrative support to the AGCAS Treasurer, Secretary and President. Richard did a tremendous amount of work for AGCAS over the years, enabling the organisation to grow while still relying on volunteers. He set the standard for all staff who worked with him and who followed him, through his financial knowledge, his calm demeanour and great good humour, which were a tremendous asset to AGCAS.
Bernard Kingston
Bernard's AGCAS career spanned 26 years culminating with his post as Director of the Careers Service at the University of Sheffield (1975-97). Bernard was Chairman of AGCAS (1985-87) and of AGCAS Plenary, Credentials, Schools Liaison and Graduate Opportunities Committees. He served on Finance, Statistics, Computer-assisted Careers Guidance, ROGET, Performance Management and Development Groups and there were few developments he was not actively involved in. He created the AGCAS Office at Sheffield University and negotiated the secondment of its first manager, Richard Hill. He proposed the Watts review “Strategic Directions for Careers Services in Higher Education”, was founding co-author of “What Do Graduates Do?”, a founding member of the Guidance Council, a member of the CSU Management Committee and the first careers adviser member of CSSB. Locally he developed what became the CRAC Insight Courses, set up TEMPUS, the first Student Employment Service in a UK University and established Graduate Gateway and Graduate Link programmes. At international level, Bernard set up the AGCAS / British Council Summer schools and developed strong AGCAS links with Australia , New Zealand , Hong Kong and South Africa. Through his tireless work, Bernard has made an outstanding contribution to AGCAS and to the development of good practice in HE careers work.
Bill Kirkman
Bill was involved in SCUAS/AGCAS from its early beginnings and contributed substantially to its influence and success over all his professional life. He was the Chairman of SCUAS from 1971-73, a founding member of CSU and a member of its Management Committee from 1971-74 and again from 85-87. Bill’s other contributions to AGCAS range from the AGCAS/AGR Committee on Racial Equality and his input to training writers of information booklets to his current role in helping organise reunions of the retired members group. Bill had considerable influence and had the ear of a great many people, including HE leaders and those in government, but he was always supportive, friendly and encouraging to new, young AGCAS members and that played a huge part in bringing on the next generation. He was Head of the Careers Service at the University of Cambridge from 1968 till 1992. Prior to this he was a careers adviser at the University of Oxford and a correspondent for the Times.
Lesley’s unstinting contribution to AGCAS includes roles as trainer, editor of the forerunner to ARENA, sub-committee member and chair and finally President from 2000-2. She worked as Information Manager at Nottingham Trent, Careers Adviser at Warwick and eventually became Head of Careers at the University of Lancaster in 1996. Lesley contributed significantly to the introduction of the AGCAS/Reading qualifications. She was a trainer on the forerunner of Foundation Guidance Skills for many years, including when, despite dislocating her jaw, she still ran the course, illustrating her tremendous sense of duty. Lesley was a meticulous planner and popular trainer on many AGCAS courses including Challenges of Careers Work in HE, Managing your Staff and Training the Trainer and was always ready to party after a hard day’s work. As AGCAS President, Lesley had to manage a difficult period of change in the relationship with Graduate Prospects and did her very best to preserve AGCAS income and independence. Despite the burdens of that role she always made time for others in her typical open, honest and unselfish way. She was centrally involved in the Harris Review and its follow-up, managed the AGCAS contribution to the UNESCO Handbook on Careers Counselling (2002), and was frequently quoted in the press, raising AGCAS's profile on a wide range of issues.
Wendy was recruited from British Aerospace by Neil Scott to the University of Nottingham Careers Service in 1968 as the youngest HE careers adviser in the country and recently retired from Loughborough University having worked in higher education for 40 years. She became Deputy Director at Nottingham in the 1980s and remained there until 1992, during which time she served on the former AGCAS Standing/Executive Committee from 1989-1993 with responsibility for training, and was also closely involved, with Barbara Graham, in the development of the AGCAS/Reading qualifications. Wendy was an active AGCAS trainer for many years, most recently involved in running training courses for new heads of service. Wendy moved briefly to Leicester University to head up their Careers and Welfare section in 1992 before moving to Loughborough University in 1993, firstly as Director of the Careers Service, then Director of both Careers and Student Guidance and Welfare and finally as director of the latter only, during which time Loughborough University won the THES award for best student experience on two occasions, and also the award for outstanding support for international students. Wendy’s long-standing contribution to our profession at national and regional levels means she is regarded as an AGCAS heavyweight, whose views have been influential and whose generous advice and wise counsel have been invaluable to others.
Norman Lloyd
Norman too was involved in SCUAS/AGCAS from its early years, becoming Secretary under Bill Kirkman from 1971-73 and Chairman from 1975-77, chairing the conference in 1977 when the organisation changed its name to AGCAS and welcomed services based in the then polytechnics, a decision which pre-dated the HE sector’s removal of the binary divide by 15 years. In 1991 Norman became AGCAS Treasurer but in the intervening years he was twice a member of the CSU Management Committee, contributed to Training Committee, Information Sheets, Legal Profession WP and hosted the AGCAS Biennial Conference in Manchester in 1989. Norman joined the University of Manchester/UMIST Careers Service in 1968, was appointed Head of Service at UCW Aberystwyth in 1973 and became Director of the Careers Service at the University of Manchester/UMIST in 1984. His exceptional contribution to AGCAS over so many years is recognised by this award.
Richard Maynard
Richard joined Birmingham University & AGCAS in 1978 and soon cut his teeth writing information sheets and getting involved in Information Sheets Sub-Committee serving as Author-Secretary recruiting writer “conscripts”. During a later spell on Information Sub-Committee Richard helped revise the AGCAS “Where Next?” workbooks. A stint on Statistics Sub-Committee during the switch from USR to HESA rules proved challenging and occasionally entertaining. From 1995-7 Richard served as Deputy President which was also challenging but equally rewarding. Highlights were being a member of the Steering Group for the “Strategic Directions” Report (1997) and drafting the AGCAS constitution with others in preparation for AGCAS incorporation, a draft that became the core of the AGCAS Articles of Association. Richard continued to be involved with the incorporation process working with the President and the AGCAS solicitors to negotiate the initial form of the Memorandum & Articles, and as a result he was one of the founding “members” of the new company. Having been tarred with the constitutional brush, Richard soon found himself drafting the Plenary “constitution” and organising the first annual Plenary conference in a new format, and for several years he chaired the associated business meeting. Richard also served on the Quality and Accreditation Committee and in the two years prior to his retirement in 2005, he chaired the Graduate Labour Market Task Group. Most recently, he co-authored two chapters of the AGCAS history – not surprisingly, those dealing with AGCAS constitutional development and statistics.
Audrey Newsome
Audrey’s belief that career choice is an especially acute concern of most undergraduates underpinned her interpretation of the work of an appointments officer (AO) and was reflected in her influential book Student Counselling in Practice (1973). Having studied under Professor Donald Super, Audrey outlined her vision of a completely new approach to appointments work which embraced vocational, personal and educational counselling and thus she became head of the first and only “Appointments and Counselling Service” in the UK, at Keele, from 1962 to 1983. Audrey was soon in demand by members of AGCAS who sought her training in interviewing and related skills. 25 UK AOs attended her first course in1968 and considerable numbers of careers staff and employers made the pilgrimage to Keele. Audrey pioneered SCUAS training and was ever available and interested to help other services. She served on Standing Committee 1969 – 73. In 1983 The Open University awarded her an honorary degree for her help in setting up their appointments and counselling service. She was the Chairman of the British Association for Counselling from 1978-80 and is now an Honorary Fellow of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. When she left Keele, Audrey moved to London where she was invited to work on the development and integration of student services at a number of colleges of London University. Audrey’s early impact on the course of our profession cannot be underestimated and foreshadowed more recent interest in taking a holistic approach to student guidance and support.
Pat Pearce
In 1972 Pat joined the Polytechnic of Central London (formerly Regent Street Poly & now University of Westminster) as Assistant Careers Adviser. During the next seven years, Pat built up the careers service and introduced the concept of careers education to academic staff. Inspired by a SCUAS training course, Pat became a trainee tutor and eventually led many interviewing courses, joining AGCAS Training Sub-committee and devising the first AGCAS group work course. Pat also served on the Equal Opportunities Working Party as member and secretary. 1979, Pat became the Head of the Polytechnic of Central London Careers Service, also editing the ‘Yellow Book’ recording the first destinations of polytechnic graduates and the corresponding ‘Green Book’ for CSU. Pat served many years on Statistics Sub-Committee, ultimately as Chair. Elected to AGCAS Standing Committee (1981-3) Pat reported on statistics and became involved with the newly established HESA, soon realising how political graduate destinations were becoming. Pat served two terms on CSU Management Committee and became involved with Prospect(HE) as one of the six pilot sites and as member of the Prospect Liaison Sub-committee, developing this program as a very important professional contribution by AGCAS to careers education. Before retiring in 2000, Pat was made Honorary Fellow of the university and was awarded an OBE in 2001 for services to careers education but she felt both awards owed much to the stimulating and rewarding contribution of AGCAS colleagues and activities.
Richard Pethen
Richard enjoyed a long and distinguished career at the University of Sheffield Careers Service starting as adviser in 1977 and finishing as Director (1997 – 2004). His contribution to AGCAS includes serving on an amazing range of committees covering everything from the Future of AGCAS Development Group, the Quality Assurance Panel, the Prospect Factor Analysis Development Group, the European Committee and the International Seminar Development Group. He was involved in groups grappling with issues like Information Sheets, the AGCAS Classification system, Information Systems Development and the Training & Employment of the Older Graduate. Richard's work provides an illustration not only of his unceasing efforts on behalf of AGCAS, but also how the issues and concerns have changed over time. Richard was one of the leading lights in the sharing of good practice across Europe through FEDORA and in the HECSU “Careers Services Technology and the Future” project which had a major impact on the development of Careers Service websites. He was a leading player in the collaborative success of the Yorkshire Heads Group and the joint projects under the Graduates Yorkshire umbrella. Latterly Richard's wisdom and personal qualities allowed him to play a key ambassadorial role in the developing relationships between HECSU/GP, AGCAS and HE Careers Services.
Peter Pierce-Price
Peter was a careers adviser at the University of London from 1969-71 and then Head of Service at City University from 1971-82. In 1982 AGCAS recommended the development of a computer-aided career guidance system for use by its member services and the Department of Education and Science (DES) agreed to fund a feasibility study which Peter carried out. His report recommended the development of a British, custom-built, comprehensive information & learning system. The DES provided the major funding for the creation of what later became PROSPECT (HE) (now Planner). As Guidance Consultant to the DES from 1984-93, Peter was closely involved in promoting and improving PROSPECT (HE). During this formative period for AGCAS, Peter was a persistent and effective advocate of career guidance practice based both on the soundest career guidance theory and on appropriate use of the available technology. Peter’s influence was exercised at AGCAS Plenary, Standing and Training Committees. Peter also insisted on increased recognition being given to the role of Information Officers, and taking account of the increasing importance of technology. Peter developed and ran a series of AGCAS courses on "Training Technology" and on "The Principles of Course Design". In 1977 he obtained a grant from the Nuffield Foundation to design a two-term Career Education programme option for second year students at City University, probably the first career education course to be assessed as part of a university degree award. The impact of Peter’s contribution can still be felt in AGCAS services.
Bob Porrer
Bob’s AGCAS career spanned over 30 years and four institutions, including leading the careers services of Central London Poly (now University of Westminster) 1971-9, Leicester Poly (now De Montfort University) 1979-90, University of Edinburgh 1990–2002 and University of Auckland 2004-5. Bob’s contribution to AGCAS was outstanding over a long period: as Chairman from 1983-5, having previously served on Standing Committee as Statistics Coordinator; representing polytechnics on CSU Management; as Trustee of Careers Services Trust; as chairman of AGCAS Performance Management Sub-Committee 1991-3, editing and writing a large part of the booklet Performance Management and Measures (1991); as member of the AGCAS working party on Student Employment Services 1996-7; as convenor of AGCAS Scotland 1998-2000; and as Chairman of the Management Committee of the Scottish Graduate Careers Programme 1992-5. Early on, he was instrumental in facilitating the merger of the polytechnic careers services into AGCAS. His chairman’s report in 1985 referred to the ‘employability’ of graduates and he championed quality delivery and management within AGCAS services long before matrix was thought of. Bob introduced many innovative practices from integrating careers education programmes, introducing enterprise activities, establishing a Student Employment Service and developing the progress files, and he was always prepared to share developments with other AGCAS services. A respected member of the AGCAS community, Bob was often called on to support new heads of service and to review other services. He has enhanced AGCAS's profile within the UK and overseas, proving a positive ambassador for our profession.
Tony Raban
As a Careers Adviser at Cambridge University, before becoming Head of Service, Tony became the first non-head of service to be Chairman of AGCAS having previously served as Secretary. On Standing Committee, Tony helped manage the relationship between member services and AGCAS, and between AGCAS and the then CSU, realising the importance of a good working relationship with the Director of CSU, a precedent that continues to this day. He oversaw the integration of the polytechnics and colleges of higher education into membership during his time as Secretary, the association changed its name from SCUAS (Standing Conference of University Appointments Services) to the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services. Membership criteria were agreed to emphasis the need for services to be institution based. As Chairman, Tony realised that AGCAS would not be able achieve everything it wanted through subscription income alone and he was instrumental developing the Register of Graduate Employment and Training (ROGET) published by CSU, now the Prospects Directory. Tony’s chairmanship ended with the first Biennial conference hosted by a polytechnic (Sheffield 1981) marking the integration of careers services in the HE sector long before the removal of the binary divide in 1992. Tony played a major part in building good relations with continental Europe, where careers guidance was far behind that in the UK. He was co-founder and first President of the European Forum on Student Guidance (FEDORA) and also served as a member of the CRAC Council.
Pat Raderecht
Pat has had a remarkably distinguished career, making major contributions to HE careers work, AGCAS and CSU. Her contribution to AGCAS has been wide and significant, including sex equality, training, information & technology, four years on the Executive Committee and serving as Chairman from 1987-89. During this time she was centrally involved in negotiating ownership of the predecessor to Prospects Planner with the DfEE. From 1990–2000 she led CSU as its Chief Executive, developing a business employing 100 people and turning over £6m a year, with a surplus (from which AGCAS has benefited substantially) rising from £100k when she started to nearly £2m by the time she left. She has been on HEFCE, and various CVCP and DfEE groups as well as NCWE. She was a founder member of FEDORA, and Project Director for the European Commission projects to develop cross-border graduate mobility. She joined the University of Bristol in 1968, becoming the director of the Careers Service in 1982. This award recognises her very significant achievements and contribution to the profession.
Brian’s SCUAS/AGCAS career spans over 40 years since 1965 when he joined the University of Liverpool as an Appointments Officer before moving in 1967 to the University of Sheffield, where he continues to work part-time for the Department of Law as the specialist careers adviser for the Legal Practice Course. Brian’s SCUAS/AGCAS roles include: SCUAS Secretary 1973–5; member and chair of the Legal Profession Working Party and AGCAS Liaison Officer with the Law Society of England and Wales 1972-1993; AGCAS Liaison Officer with the Institute of Personnel Management; and six years as Correspondent for the Careers Services Trust. Brian has also been active in a wide range of other AGCAS groups throughout his long professional life. As the ultimate expert on all matters relating to the legal profession in England and Wales, he produced or collaborated on innumerable publications. Three abiding qualities have defined Brian’s work: his total respect for and devotion towards the needs and interests of his students and of those on whom his work might impact; his clear logic and firm principles; and his devotion to SCUAS/AGCAS and the crucial importance of its collaborative work, which embodies the 'AGCAS spirit'. Even at 80, Brian is active in AGCAS, one of the founding members of the AGCAS Alumni Reunions, and has, we believe, attended every Biennial Conference since 1965.
Neil Scott
From Neil’s early years at the University of Nottingham where in 1957 he became Secretary to the Careers & Appointments Board, he recognised the need for communication between his counterparts elsewhere and informal meetings took place throughout the 1950s and 60s. The growing recognition of the need for a national body led to the establishment of SCUAS in 1967 when Neil became its first chairman. He was closely involved in the Heyworth Report (the first review of HE Careers Services) in 1964, the establishment of SCOEG (now AGR), the early days of collecting and collating graduate destinations statistics, information booklets and the development of training for HE Careers Service staff. His contribution to the development of HE careers work and the career development of students was significant. This award recognises Neil’s influence, stature, reputation, pioneering spirit, energy and commitment to the profession.
Colin Slipper (posthumously)
Colin joined Durham University as an Assistant Appointments Officer in the early 1960s, working with Henry Walters. He brought considerable experience of teaching, graduate recruitment, scout leadership and as a wartime pilot in the RAF to his new work, but his most significant asset was his sincere and sustained interest in young people. In the later 1960s it was felt that a more formal structure was needed to encourage better cooperative working between university appointments services, to negotiate more effectively with government and national bodies and to develop graduate destination statistics. Thus SCUAS (the Standing Conference of University Appointments Services), later to become AGCAS, was set up with Colin playing a central role in the development of its constitution, arguing for an inclusive approach both in terms of staff and institutions, and as such he can be designated one of the founding fathers of AGCAS. In the 1980s he joined the Standing Committee (predecessor to the Board) as GRADS (now Diversity) Co-ordinator, covering gender, race, age, disability and special needs, overseeing a guide for AGCAS services which foreshadowed “A Level Playing Field” and demonstrating AGCAS longstanding commitment to equality of opportunity. In retirement Colin took an active interest in AGCAS, attending a number of AGCAS Alumni Reunions and donating a fund to enable retired members to take part in AGCAS Biennial conferences.
Colin died unexpectedly on 26 May 2006. As part of the preparations for our 40th Anniversary celebrations in 2007, David Ward, another distinguished retired member of AGCAS, recently conducted a video interview with Colin and we are very grateful to have this record. A full obituary by John Hudson and Margaret Dane is in Phoenix (September 2006).
Tom Snow
Tom was Head of the Careers Service at the University of Oxford (1970-96) and Deputy Chair of AGCAS (1985-7) and IT Co-ordinator (1987-89). He had a major impact on the development of HE Careers Services, leading the UK team on the Mayflower Initiative to the US in the early 1980s to investigate the potential of computer aided guidance, how it might be integrated into careers work and enhance rather than replace the work of careers professionals. This work formed the basis of the very significant and successful joint AGCAS / CSU bid to the DfES to conduct the work that ultimately resulted in the development of Prospect HE (now Planner). Tom's role in the complex bidding process to obtain government support and private funding was invaluable and in the longer term his work benefited AGCAS enormously and the students served by its members. His interest in strategic planning meant that he was one of a small AGCAS group in 1987 to join a UK delegation for Vice-Chancellors to the US , playing a key dissemination role to HE Careers Services and helping them to succeed in a new culture of performance measurement. Tom provided vision, wise-counsel and encouragement to many colleagues and students.
Martin Thorne
In 1977, Martin joined the Information Sheets Sub-committee, and much of his contribution to AGCAS was in the information field. In 1981 he was AGCAS Secretary before becoming Information Group Co-ordinator, leading the establishment of Career Information Resource Groups (CIRGS) and the creation of the AGCAS databank which also served the computer-assisted careers guidance system which became Prospect Planner. Martin was correspondent of the Careers Services Trust in the mid-90s and in 1997 was Vice-President before becoming President in 1998, leading AGCAS through the somewhat traumatic experience of winding itself up and re-emerging, Phoenix-like, as a charitable company limited by guarantee, with Articles of Association and a Memorandum of Understanding. This incredibly important change for AGCAS, set the foundations for later expansion and consolidation and we owe Martin and his colleagues a great debt of gratitude. Martin also played a central role in relation to the quality agenda, influencing the QAA’s Code of Practice on careers education information and guidance and steering critical discussions with the DfES. Martin also has excellent credentials as an internationalist and chaired the International Students Sub-committee, presiding over the launch of the first version of Going Global. His modest, self-effacing, calm and thoughtful manner made him a hugely important leader for AGCAS at some critical times. His success in the information field, internationally and especially in relation to company status, owes much to his conscientious, collaborative and systematic approach while keeping the big picture in view.
Margaret Wallis
Margaret became a careers adviser following ten years working at the NUS where careers advice and counselling fell within her portfolio. She served on a committee for the Computer Assisted Placement Service in the early 70s where fellow members included Betty Boxer, Brian Putt, Neil Scott and Keith Bell. Her good relationship with the NUS meant that she remained their AGCAS liaison officer until her retirement. Margaret was an active members of numerous AGCAS committees, culminating in periods of service on Standing Committee and Executive Committee (now the AGCAS Board) when Bernard Kingston, Pat Raderecht and Tom Frank were chairs, eventually becoming President from 1993-95. She worked tirelessly on issues such as equal opportunities and access, but also fostered good working relationships between careers services and graduate recruiters. Always a keen writer - of reports, book reviews, articles and information booklets - Margaret has spent some time during retirement writing short stories and a novella. She has also played a major role in pulling together the memories of AGCAS Alumni for the 40th Anniversary History project. The consistent theme in Margaret's career was providing a service to students. In fulfilling this primary role, she obtained extensive experience of committee work, research, media relations, preparation of reports for submission to public bodies, and liaison with representatives from a wide range of organisations both within and beyond the UK, activities which benefited AGCAS enormously.
David Ward
David began his contribution to AGCAS in 1966 when he served as Secretary to the Interim Standing Committee which brought SCUAS into being. He developed a database of recruiters’ requirements, pioneered GRADSCOPE (a predecessor of Prospects HE), enabling it to be run on “microcomputers”, played a principal role in the launch of ROGET, CSU’s first directory of employers and helped to show that CSU could successfully compete as a commercial publisher. In 1980 David and a small key group of AGCAS leaders visited the USA to investigate the use of computers in guidance and obtained substantial UK government funding to support the development of what has become Prospects Planner. He helped develop the Mutual Aid scheme and served on the AGCAS Standing Committee. David was Head of Service at the University of East Anglia where he pioneered CRAC Insight into Management Courses. This award recognises his fertile mind and very significant contribution to the development of how HE Careers Services are delivered today, and to the profile and reputation of AGCAS and CSU as leaders in the field.
Tony Watts
Tony Watts, involved in HE careers work since before the founding of SCUAS, deserves special recognition for his work which has informed and influenced AGCAS activities over the decades. His is one of the great minds of our profession, influencing how people think about guidance across the globe. Nationally and internationally, Tony’s name is synonymous with research and policy making in Careers Education and Guidance. In 1964, with Adrian Bridgewater, Tony co-founded CRAC, the Careers Research and Advisory Centre, the first organisation to bridge the gap between education and employment. In 1972, Tony became a founding fellow of NICEC, the National Institute for Careers and Counselling. In the late 1970s, together with Bill Law, Tony created a simple, elegant, logical and satisfying model of careers guidance that thousands of practitioners refer to and apply every day of their professional lives - the DOTS model. Over the last 40 odd years Tony has produced 14 books, 35 chapters in books, 82 refereed journal articles, 60 reports, 242 further articles, 23 briefings, numerous curriculum materials, careers and other publications, and made thousands of presentations. In 1994 he was awarded an OBE for services to education. Ceaselessly and with passion, Tony has researched, written, presented, inspired, befriended, advocated, encouraged, stimulated and supported our profession. Tony’s research is meticulous and thorough yet of great vision and breadth. His writing is a model of clarity, unpretentious and accessible to the rawest recruit yet full of challenge and stimulation, while his ethics and integrity illuminate all his work.