FutureFest: Careers & Connections

4th – 6th November 2025

Louisa Ryland House, Birmingham

FutureFest is your chance to meet recruiters, entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping the future of work. Here’s a look at some of the fantastic professionals who will be joining us - from innovative start ups to leading employers across the UK.

View Tuesday Agenda
View Wednesday Agenda
View Thursday Agenda
View Employer Panel
View Enterprise Speakers
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Tuesday 4th November

Time
Event
Room
Agenda
13:00 - 14:00
Employer Panel
Room 307
Join us for an inspiring Q&A Panel Session featuring alumni and professionals sharing career insight, experience and practical advice.
16:30 - 17:30
Enterprise Session - Kehinde Fasola
Auditorium
Kehinde Fasola is a tech-driven entrepreneur and UK Global Talent Visa recipient, pioneering access to clean, affordable energy through green-tech innovation. An Ulster University Birmingham alumnus, Kehinde holds an MSC in International Business with Advanced Practice and has built a career creating scalable impact across sustainability, enterprise and leadership development.
17:30 - 18:30
Future-Ready Skills Sessions - Adaptability, Resilience & Growth: Succeeding in a Shifting Job Market
Auditorium
Embrace change, bounce back from setbacks and develop a growth mindset to thrive in an unpredictable job market. Through practical strategies and self-reflection, you’ll learn how to turn challenges into opportunities and confidently navigate your career journey.
18:30- 19:30
Enterprise Session - Mia Collins
Auditorium
Mia Collins is an entrepreneur, content creator and athlete, most recently seen as a candidate on The Apprentice 2025. Alongside launching her own businesses in the fitness and meal prep industry, Mia has built an online community of over 80,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. She also delivers talks and workshops on resilience, entrepreneurship, and personal branding, inspiring students to step out of their comfort zones and turn ambition into achievement.

EMPLOYER PANEL: Breaking into the UK market

Ailyn Bernardo -

Head of Projects at QA Higher Education

Ayah Tarek Moneeb - Business Lecturer at Fairfield School of Business

Verity Stokes -

Director at Katie Bard

Monia Ben Nejima - Fractional COO and International Growth Strategist at Sterling Standard Care Group

Matthew Cooper - Academic Leader & Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

View employer panellists profiles

Wednesday 5th November

Time
Event
Room
Agenda
10:00 - 16:00
LinkedIn Photobooth
Room BL-208

This is your opportunity to get a professional headshot for free so make sure you join the queue on time.

13:00 - 14:00
Inclusive Futures Sessions - Workplace Culture in the UK: Expectations and Realities
Room 003
Practical insights into communication styles, professional behaviour and workplace relationships, preparing students to adapt and thrive in their future careers. This will help students – particularly international and first-generation students – understand the norms, expectations, and realities of professional life in the UK.
16:30 - 17:30
Future-Ready Skills Sessions - AI in Hiring: Opportunities, Challenges, and How to Stand Out
Auditorium
Explore how AI is transforming recruitment- from resume screening to video interview analysis, gain strategies to stand out in AI-driven hiring processes and showcasing soft skills beyond the algorithm.
17:30 - 18:30
Future-Ready Skills Sessions - Market Trends and the Power of Transferable Skills
Auditorium
Explore the importance of identifying and presenting your transferable skills. Through understanding labour market tools, networking, and industry news, you’ll be better equipped to make strategic career decisions and stand out to employers.
18:30 - 19:30
Enterprise Session - Imani Kyaruzi
Auditorium
Dr. Imani Silver Kyaruzi is an entrepreneurship and economic development analyst, with research focussing on SME growth and enterprise education. Passionate about empowering emerging entrepreneurs, he champions innovation and leadership in business and academia.

ENTERPRISE SPEAKERS

Mia Collins - Entrepreneur, Content Creator and Athlete

Richard Cristina - Principal Director for the Founder Institute London

Kehinde Fasola - Founder at Fizzle Power Tech and Ulster Alumna

Imani Kyaruzi - Principal Lecturer at QA Higher Education

View Enterprise speaker profiles

Thursday 6th November

Time
Event
Room
Agenda
12:30 - 14:30
Enterprise Session - Richard Christina
Room 304
Richard Cristina leads the world's largest pre-seed start-up accelerator, helping founders scale ideas into viable businesses. With years of experience launching and mentoring state-ups, he shares insights on growth, innovation and entrepreneurial leadership.
13:00 - 14:00
Inclusive Futures Sessions - Work visa insights Session
Room 404
This workshop will provide you with practical knowledge and guidance on navigating visa pathways, career planning and immigration requirements for international students and early-career professionals.
16:30 - 19:30
Employers Corner
1st Floor Study Space
Connect with leading organisations and recruiters - including Turner & Townsend, Jubilee Talent, Blesst and many more! Discover exciting career opportunities, explore industry insights and network directly with employers keen to meet students.

FEEDBACK

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