The term for a person who provides a reference for someone for a job

When writing a CV or something similar, one often provides contact information to a person, who may be contacted for references about oneself (e.g. about work attitude or other qualifications).

What is the person, who provides the reference or testimonial, called?

edit: I did come by the term referee, but that does not feel right as I associate that more with sports.

The person is your reference. Collins English Dictionary:

A reference is a person who gives you a reference, for example when you are applying for a job.

Example, made up:

Student to Professor: I'm applying to Brown for grad school. Will you be one of my references?

[Clarification: As the OP mentioned, a reference is also (see above link):

A reference is a letter that is written by someone who knows you and which describes your character and abilities. When you apply for a job, an employer might ask for references]

I grew up in the USA, and did some job-seeking in New Zealand.

The term "referee" is the typical New Zealand term that I heard, from sites providing locally-oriented resume advice, as well as from some colleagues.

In American English (from California, at least), "reference" is what I would expect. Indeed, "referee" sounded strange to my ear when I first heard it in NZ!

I think in England people say referee. As an American, I say reference.