We were delighted to welcome former pupils Keith Grimes and Chris Bain (both Class of ‘91) back to School for the first time in more than three decades as part of our S6 Lecture Series. They kindly offered their time to speak with our S6 pupils about careers, artificial intelligence and the future of work.

While their visit centred on speaking with our S6 students, Keith and Chris also took time to engage with pupils across both the Junior and Senior School. One of the highlights was a lively session with our Primary 7 pupils, who came prepared with thoughtful and wide-ranging questions.

Our S2 Biology, and Chemistry classes enjoyed hearing about Keith’s journey through school and into medicine. After training as a doctor and working as both a junior doctor and GP, Keith moved into the field of digital health before founding his own healthcare technology company. His story highlighted how careers can develop and change over time as new opportunities and interests emerge.

Meanwhile, our S4 Business pupils heard from both Keith and Chris about their paths to becoming founders of their own companies. Chris spoke about his journey from studying science and completing a PhD, to working in management consulting and later in a leadership role at Xbox before launching his own gaming consultancy. Together, they discussed what it takes to build and run a business today, highlighting the importance of teamwork, strategic thinking, and resilience.

A key theme of the talks was the growing role of artificial intelligence, particularly in fields such as healthcare. Keith explained how AI can be a powerful tool for reducing repetitive tasks such as administrative work, note-taking, and image analysis, allowing doctors to spend more time with patients. However, both speakers emphasised that technology must always be used responsibly. Human judgement, ethics, empathy, and accountability remain essential, especially in areas such as medicine where trust and care are fundamental.

Another important message for pupils was that career journeys are rarely straight lines. Both speakers shared how their careers evolved through a range of different roles and industries before they founded their own businesses. Their advice was clear - students do not need to decide their entire career path at an early stage. Curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to keep learning are far more important.

They also reassured pupils that school subjects still matter greatly, even in a world where AI is becoming more common. Subjects such as Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and English help develop problem-solving, systems thinking, and communication skills, while creative subjects such as Music, Art and Drama foster empathy and human connection - qualities that remain essential in both medicine and business.

Both Keith and Chris encouraged pupils to think carefully about how they use technology in their learning. While AI tools can be helpful, they should support thinking rather than replace it. As Keith described, AI is best seen like a calculator: extremely useful, but only if you understand the fundamentals behind it.

Finally, the speakers reflected on the importance of human skills in an increasingly technological world. Qualities such as integrity, reliability, leadership, and the ability to communicate well will only become more valuable as automation grows. They also spoke openly about topics such as mental health and neurodiversity, emphasising that understanding yourself and recognising different strengths can play a major role in long-term success.

Their visit offered pupils of all ages a fascinating glimpse into how careers can develop, how technology is shaping the future, and why curiosity, adaptability, and strong human values remain at the heart of success.

We are extremely grateful to Keith and Chris for returning to RGC and sharing their time, experience, and advice with our pupils.