Career development: taking ownership of your career journey
Free for everyone
Organised by The CIPD Branch in Thames Valley
Free for everyone
Organised by The CIPD Branch in Thames Valley
Career Development:What’s in it for me? Where are you now? Confidence building through change. The benefits of networking.
Your career journey is unique, and it is not always a straight line.
This interactive session is designed to help you take ownership of your career development by reflecting on where you are today, identifying where you want to go, and creating practical actions to help you move forward with confidence.
Whether you are considering your next career step, looking to broaden your experience, or simply seeking greater clarity about your future direction, this session will provide practical tools, insights and opportunities for discussion with colleagues at different stages of their careers.
Participants will explore how to recognise and communicate their value, identify development opportunities, build meaningful professional relationships, and turn ambition into achievable career goals.
Session outcomes
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
Time - Activity
0–5 min Welcome & introductions
5–20 min Presentation: Understanding Your Career Journey
20–30 min Individual reflection
30–50 min Group discussion
50–65 min Presentation: Turning Ambition into Action
65–75 min Group exercise: Your Next Step
75–80 min Takeaways & close
About the speaker
Liz Griffin- Metropolitan Police Services
Career Development Manager
With a career spanning more than 30 years in public service, Liz has dedicated her professional life to leadership, development, and supporting people to achieve their full potential.
Liz began her career in education, spending 20 years in primary school teaching and progressing to the role of Head Teacher. During this time, she developed extensive experience in leadership, staff development, organisational management, and creating environments where individuals and teams could thrive.
Thirteen years ago, Liz transitioned into policing, joining the Metropolitan Police Service's Command and Control Centre. In this role, she was responsible for receiving and dispatching emergency 999 calls, operating at the heart of frontline policing and public safety. Her expertise and leadership led to promotion as a supervisor, before moving into the centre’s Academy, where she played a key role in training and developing new communication officer recruits.
Today, Griffin serves as Career Development Manager within the Metropolitan Police Service's People Directorate (HR), with responsibility for career development initiatives supporting approximately 46,000 police officers and police staff.
She is passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their career aspirations and ensuring equitable access to development opportunities across the organisation.
In addition to her professional role, Liz is Chair of the Met Police Staff Network, where she champions the values of Recognition, Parity, Opportunity, Respect and Pride for police staff.
Through her leadership and advocacy, she works to enhance inclusion, visibility and career progression, ensuring that police staff are valued and recognised for their vital contribution to policing.
Please note
Tue 29 Sept 2026, 18:00-19:30
6 Milton Gate Abingdon-on-Thames, Milton, OX14 4FP
Thu 01 Oct 2026, 18:00-20:00
6 Milton Gate, Milton, OX14 4FP
Wed 07 Oct 2026, 10:00-11:00
Online
Thu 08 Oct 2026, 19:00-21:00
Bath Road, Newbury, RG7 5UP
Tue 03 Nov 2026, 15:00-16:30
Langford Lane, Kidlington, OX5 1GN