Emily Ireland-Jones named new Chair of Young MCA

The Young MCA has appointed a new Chair, as it looks to grow throughout 2023. Emily Ireland-Jones is a professional with IBM Consulting, and has held roles supporting the Chartered Management Consultant Award through the firm and the Young MCA.

The Management Consultancies Association (MCA) is the representative body for the UK consulting industry, dedicated to supporting member interests and promoting the value of consultancy to the private and public sector. On top of this wider remit, the MCA also champions a number of specialist sub-groups, which provide best practices and networking experiences for its members. One such sub-group is the Young MCA.

As the Young MCA aims to engage and develop the young consultant community, while also shaping the future of the industry at a pivotal time for the UK’s economy, the organisation has named a new Chair. IBM Consulting’s Emily Ireland-Jones will take over from EY professional Hassan Kamara, as the Young MCA continues to grow with more younger consultants joining the profession than ever before.

Ireland-Jones commented, “As Chair of the Young MCA I am delighted to have the opportunity to represent and influence the community of young consultants, whose contributions solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. I am excited to engage more young consultants with the Chartered Management Consultant Award through the Young MCA, in order to maintain and reward the highest standards of management consulting. I take pride in my career in consulting, and I look forward to working with our diverse Executive Committee, Council, members and stakeholders to enhance the young consulting community to positively shape the future of our industry.” 

Ireland-Jones, joined IBM in 2016, as part of a placement year whilst studying at the University of Leeds, achieving a First-Class Honours in BA Human Geography, before returning as a graduate. Within IBM, she focuses on enterprise strategy consulting, while holding roles supporting the ChMC Award, and previously as the IBM Council Rep for the Young MCA. 

The Members of the Young MCA get involved with numerous university and school engagements across the UK promoting consulting as a profession while young consultants from MCA firms regularly appear on panels at career events across the country discussing the life of a consultant and future career opportunities. The Executive committee is led by the Chair, and Ireland-Jones will now sit on the main MCA board, with a team of volunteer Vice-Chairs who lead on various workstreams with a Young MCA representative also sitting on the MCA Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.  

Tamzen Isacsson, Chief Executive of the MCA, added, “The Young MCA is a vital part of our trade association providing development and networking opportunities as well as acting as the important voice of young consultants in our profession. I look forward to working with Emily and the wider team on the range of Young MCA activities in 2023 as we promote the exciting career pathways in consulting and provide essential tools and advice for consultants on their journey in the profession. Emily’s passion for the new Chartered Management Consultant Award shone through in her interview and she will be a vital ambassador for this new important award for our profession.”