Risk management stood out to me because of my interest in how political, social and economic factors shape decision-making, often in unpredictable and interconnected ways. I began my career in the retail sector, where working in a fast-paced environment meant making decisions with incomplete information and responding quickly to unexpected events. This sparked my curiosity about how organisations can manage uncertainty more deliberately, and how risk can be used as a tool to support better, more informed decision-making rather than something to be avoided.
I was particularly drawn to the government risk profession because of the unique context it offers. Risk plays a critical role across government, with risks often spanning multiple departments and policy areas, meaning you can influence decision-making at scale and contribute to outcomes that have real societal impact. As the profession continues to grow and evolve, it is an exciting time to join the profession.
In my first year on the Risk Management Fast Stream, I joined HMRC’s central risk team. My role involves analysing and presenting information to senior leaders to support effective decision-making, alongside contributing to improvements in the department’s risk management processes and strategy. Seeing tangible changes in how risk is understood, discussed and acted upon across the organisation has been incredibly rewarding.
A common misconception is that risk management is only about focusing on what might go wrong. In reality, it is about understanding uncertainty, enabling opportunity, and increasing resilience to deliver better outcomes. If you enjoy thinking analytically and strategically, I would encourage you to consider a career in the government risk profession – it is a challenging, rewarding and impactful area to work in, with opportunities to make a difference.