Careers Wales has announced the appointment of three new members to the Careers Choices Dewis Gyrfa (CCDG) board.
Azza Ali, Natalie Richards and Rokib Uddin joined the board in June 2024.
Together, they have decades of experience, bringing knowledge and expertise from areas including education, inclusion and diversity and property management.
Azza Ali has nearly two decades of leadership experience in customer services and team management, in both the public and private sectors. Azza is an active diversity advocate, having founded Legal & General’s first diversity and inclusion committee and worked with Oxfam Cymru and Business In The Community. She has been recognized for her contributions with nominations for the EMpower Ethnic Minority Future Leaders list and various diversity awards. Currently, she is an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator at South Wales Police.
Azza said:
“I’m thrilled to have joined the Careers Wales board this year. I want to ensure Careers Wales services are inclusive, accessible to all communities and reflect the diverse support needs of people in Wales.”
Natalie Richards is currently the headteacher of a large secondary school. She previously worked as a senior leader serving across two schools in Ely, Cardiff, from 2016 to 2022. Natalie has also been a drama teacher.
Natalie said:
“It’s fantastic to have joined the board of Careers Wales. Careers education plays a vital role in shaping decisions for everyone’s futures. I want Careers Wales to bring ambition and prosperity to all, no matter their age, ethnicity or social background.”
Rokib Uddin is a chartered surveyor with varied experience in commercial property. He is currently a senior commercial manager at Coastal Housing Group. Rokib has an LLB (Hons) in Law and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Rokib said:
“I’m delighted to have joined the board of Careers Wales. I would like to ensure customers from hard-to-reach community groups are aware of the help and support available to them.”
Chief Executive of Careers Wales, Nikki Lawrence, said:
“I’m delighted to welcome three new fantastic professionals to our board.
“Azza, Natalia and Rokib bring a wealth of experience from across the public and private sectors to support Careers Wales with providing impartial careers advice and guidance to people of all ages across the country.
“I look forward to us working together as we continue to deliver our Brighter Futures strategy and build on our strategic direction.”
All board member appointments will run for a three-year period from their start dates.
The post of a CCDG Board Member is an unpaid voluntary position with an annual commitment of a minimum of 10 days.
All three appointments have been made in accordance with Welsh Government’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.
For further information, visit the board members page on the Careers Wales website.
