Stephen was appointed Chief Executive of the ISE in June 2013 following seven years as Head of Graduate Recruitment UK & Ireland at EY. At the ISE he is now responsible for market intelligence and thought leadership, for expertise and analysis, for policy direction and guidance to help members develop their early talent strategies. Working closely with the Joint CEO for membership & operations, he supports all ISE employer, education and supplier members to achieve best practice in early talent recruitment and development.

Stephen has managed graduate recruitment and development programmes in both the private and public sectors and has extensive experience in the recruitment and development of students, both graduates and school leavers. He has worked closely with education throughout his career and is focused on the career development and employment of students. In addition to his current role, Stephen undertakes a number of roles related to higher education and employment. He is a Governor of Harlow College, the Enterprise Advisor for Roding Valley High School, is a trustee of the London Interdisciplinary School Foundation, and sits on employer advisory groups at the University of Cambridge and the University of York. Previously he was a commissioner for the Student Futures Commission and a special advisor to Dame Shirley Pearce’s TEF review. He has presents at a wide range of conferences and events, to various committees in the Houses of Parliament, and often appears in national and local media.

Gillian has worked as a senior HR practitioner and OD specialist for several organisations including Swiss Re, Vodafone and BAA. Prior to her HR career, she was a management consultant with Deloitte Consulting and is also a qualified solicitor. Gillian has written various CRF reports on subjects including HR strategy, organisation design and development, leadership development, coaching and diversity.

Emma Pollard is a Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies. She is a mixed methods researcher with 30 years’ experience of applied research and the author of over 60 reports on higher education and careers covering topics including career decision-making, navigating the graduate labour market and establishing professional careers. Her work has looked at the policies and practices of education providers, professional and sectoral bodies, employers, and government to support transitions and career entry and progression; and explored the motivations and drivers, decisions, actions and experiences of individuals in their early careers including learners, graduates and postgraduates as well as those making career changes later in their lives.

Harriet Slatter is an experienced HR leader with over 15 years in the profession, spanning the care sector, financial services, and now manufacturing. As HR Director for Tarmac, the UK’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, Harriet is passionate about developing future capability and creating strong, inclusive pipelines of talent.

Her work focuses particularly on early careers, helping young people take their first steps into industry and shaping programmes that support long-term growth and opportunity. Harriet is also deeply engaged in how the HR function continues to evolve, balancing people-first strategies with the smart use of technology to support development, engagement, and performance.

At Tarmac, Harriet leads the people strategy across a business that plays a vital role in the UK’s infrastructure, with a strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community impact.