Ben Ball OBE

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Staff in the Career Development Unit (CDU) are celebrating the news that Ben Ball, careers psychologist and CDU's Associate Director, is to be honoured with an OBE for services to careers guidance.

Phyllida Stewart-Roberts, Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex and Vice-Chairman of the University's Council, will present the award next week at a small ceremony in the Meeting House.

Ben (pictured left) is well respected in the careers profession for his rare combination of work - both locally and nationally - as a researcher, writer and practitioner. "His contributions to the theory and practice of careers guidance and management, especially in the higher education world, have been considerable," said CDU's Director, Carolyn Morris.

Ben has worked in the CDU for more than ten years and before that was head of the Careers Counselling Service at Brighton Polytechnic (now the University of Brighton). He holds an MA in Education from Sussex and has been involved with several research projects at the Institute of Employment Studies (IES).

Ben is highly regarded in his profession as the author of a number of books, including Careers Counselling in Practice, a core textbook on all career-guidance courses. He has also carried out a number of government-funded evaluation studies.

What makes his many achievements so astonishing is that Ben has suffered for the last 14 years from a rare brain cancer. "His courage and professionalism throughout has been remarkable and I feel privileged to have worked alongside him during this time," said Bridget Millmore, one of Ben's colleagues in the CDU.