Having initially studied at the University of Bristol, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and my Master’s degree in Experimental Psychology, I found myself at a crossroads as to where to go next in my career. That’s where I ‘fell’ into the world of audiology, taking up a training role in Cardiff on the Certificate of Higher Education in Basic Audiological Practice.
After completing that programme and falling in love with audiology as a discipline, I then embarked on the Scientist Training Programme, which I am due to finish in September 2026. This puts me in the slightly odd position of (still) being a student as I enter my 30s, while having worked in audiology for almost 6 years but as a trainee for the entire time. This has given me a drive to advocate for anyone at the earlier stages of their careers. On top of that, as an Englishman who has moved to Wales and never looked back, I am always excited to take the opportunity to talk about how fantastic Wales (and Welsh audiology) is.
As I come to the end of my time as a trainee, I wanted to join the Early Professionals Committee: partly to give something back for all of the excellent training opportunities I have benefited from since entering the world of audiology, and partly to promote the range of training pathways available for those entering our field earlier in their educational journey than I did—if nothing else, it might save them on student loans!