Provenance — the priority record

Authored · dated · openly published

Where this definition comes from.

The term Living Professional Identity was defined by Kevin Chappell of Talanthology in New Zealand, published here on 1 September 2026.

It was written from over 40 years on the other side of the process — reading the applications, running the shortlists, and watching good people lose roles to a document that was never able to carry them.

The definition is published openly. Anyone may use it, build to it, or argue with it. Please cite it.

Cite this

Chappell, K. (2026). Living Professional Identity: a definition. Talanthology, New Zealand. www.livingprofessionalidentity.com

Contact

Kevin Chappell
kevin@talanthology.com
Talanthology · New Zealand

Revisions

1 September 2026 — first publication. No revisions.

What carried a working life before this

1482

A letter to Ludovico Sforza, the future Duke of Milan

1950s

The handwritten letter of application

1960s

The typewriter

1970s

Carbon copies and the typing pool

1980s

The photocopier and the fax

1990s

The email attachment

2000s

The online tracking system

2020s

Elimination by machine

2026

The Living Professional Identity