ProGRESS host Sandra Kessell has been a journalist for more than 30 years, starting in sport and news, then lifestyle magazines before rising to senior editor.

Sandra Kessell, founder and host of the ProGRESS podcast

Sandra's freelance work has included interviewing celebrities, business and sports people for consumer, business to business (B2B) and business to client (B2C) publications. A decade ago she started interviewing executives and rising star employees to inspire graduates and school leavers who were looking for career role models.

Inspired by her younger interviewees' viewpoint on values-led employment she began putting together the green careers Ezine proGRESS in 2021. Sandra revisited the idea to launch the ProGRESS podcast in February 2024.

As host, Sandra encourages podcast guests to discuss the journey that led to their current employment, which is often more random than you might imagine. She invites them to offer advice to listeners of all ages who want to take up a course, career or activity that is pro Green, Ethical, Sustainable or Socially Responsible (the GRESS of ProGRESS).

In her spare time Sandra undertakes voluntary communications work for Chatterbox, Norwich's talking newspaper for people who are blind or vision impaired, and delivers leaflets and newsletters on behalf of the Green Party.