All Alumni News
Welcome to your alumni news hub.
Packed full of interviews, features and stories with our incredible alumni and detailing the global impact they have on the world, these pages introduce you to our community like no other.
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Rebecca Preedy
Through her degree, Rebecca Preedy (BA Ancient History and Classical Archaeology with Study in Europe, (2021), MA Ancient Visual and Material Culture of Rome, present) has been able to combine her interests in ancient history, archaeology and languages. She talks about her Warwick experience, and the parallels between the ancient and modern worlds.
Ben Spiller
As artistic director and producer of the award-winning 1623 theatre company, alumnus Ben Spiller uses Shakespeare and theatre to engage communities, champion diversity and support social justice.
Ben’s love of the theatre blossomed at Warwick, where he became president of the award-winning Warwick University Drama Society (WUDS), acting in and directing productions at Warwick Arts Centre and beyond including the National Student Drama Festival.
Ben explained what motivates him to inspire, surprise and affect people through the power of Shakespeare.
Cathy Galvin
After a career in journalism where she launched The Sunday Times Short Story Award, Cathy Galvin (MA Writing, 2015) came to Warwick to explore her interest in short stories and discovered a love of poetry. She now helps other authors through her company, Word Factory.
Wayne Snow and Allister Dennis: Education as a driver for positive social change
Alumnus Wayne Snow (BSc MORSE, 1994 and Chief Risk Officer) and his husband Allister Dennis (BEng Engineering (Mechanical), 1994 and Product Manager Electrification and Advanced Power Systems) are passionate about social inclusion and changing people’s lives by breaking down barriers to accessing a university education. Explore their views on STEM inclusion and what motivates them to give to Warwick.
Nita Clarke
Former trade union activist and political advisor Nita Clarke OBE (BA History and Politics, 1974, MA Comparative Labour History, 1977) had her first experience of public speaking and activism at Warwick. Nita was awarded an OBE for her services to employee engagement and remains a prominent speaker on the subject.
Dr Afiniki Akanet: Experiences of an international student, GP and writer
Dr Afiniki Akanet (MBChB Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, 2012; PGA Understanding Childhood, 2014) is a General Practitioner (GP) specialising in mental health based in Coventry. Uncover Afiniki’s journey as an international student, her devotion to improving mental health in the community and the motivations behind her love of writing.
Sam Steiner
From working in a fish and chip shop to writing a play that’s been performed all over the world, Sam Steiner (English Literature , 2014) learned at Warwick how to take his stories in new directions. Most recently, he’s penned the script for Morning, a film starring Laura Dern and Benedict Cumberbatch set for release later this year. We spoke to Sam about his experience of breaking into playwriting for stage and screen.
Anyarat Nattheeraphong
Anyarat Nattheeraphong (PhD English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 2013) shortlisted for the UK Alumni Awards 2022 (Social Action) in Thailand.
British Council Study UK Alumni Awards: Elyanora Menglieva
An advocate for teaching and children’s literacy, Elyanora Menglieva (MA TESOL, 2019) was a 2022 Uzbekistan national finalist in the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards (Social Action category) and was awarded ‘Ambassadors’s Choice’.
Susan Douglas CBE
Susan Douglas (BA Qualified Teacher Status, 1987-1991) was awarded a CBE for her services to Education in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. She shares her memories of why her time at Warwick was ‘life-changing’, and why being an educator is the greatest privilege of all.
Gauri Agrawal
Congratulations to Finance & Economics graduate, Gauri Agrawal for winning a British Council Study UK Alumni Award (India) for Social Action. Gauri empowers Indian women with her craft brand, Sihori that helps turn waste into high fashion
Voices of the Alliance
Celebrating the Voices of the Alliance:
Anmol Malik
Alumna and author, Anmol Malik speaks about how her experience of studying at Warwick inspired her love of film and writing.
Spotlight on: Robbie Chandler
With a personal passion for community health, Robbie Chandler (BSc Psychology, 2019) is Health Manager at Coventry City Football Club’s charity arm, Sky Blues in the Community. Alongside some tips for standing out from the crowd, discover how his time at Warwick helped Robbie to fulfil his drive to help others and support local communities in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Ella McLeod: from dissertation to published book
Ella McLeod’s debut novel Rapunzella, Or, Don't Touch My Hair started life as a poem written during her studies at Warwick. We asked Ella (BA English and Theatre Studies, 2017) how she was inspired to evolve the idea from its beginnings to her dissertation and now, her first book.
Spotlight on: Last Mafuba
Inspired to create change in the refugee community, Last Mafuba (BSc Psychology, 2015; LLM International Development Law and Human Rights, 2016) created the Inini Initiative. Inini provides a safe space for refugees to build relationships and find out about mental health and other support services available.
International Women's Day
We are shining a light on the fantastic achievements of our alumnae.
World Book Day: Librarian Jane Burke
“World Book Day is about literacy and its place in a modern, equal society.” So believes Jane Burke (BA History, 1975), whose career has fuelled a passion to promote the joy of reading and access to books for all.
World Book Day Profile: Children’s author, Christy Kirkpatrick
Children’s author Christy Kirkpatrick (BA Philosophy and Literature, 1995) has worked with a number of publishers, including BBC Worldwide, Ladybird and Flying Eye Books. We chatted with her on World Book Day about her career, her advice to budding authors and her co-authored book that uses relaxation techniques to help with bedtime.
Spotlight on: Louise Hardy
From the London 2012 Olympic Park to the High Speed One (HS1) railway and more, Louise Hardy (BSc Engineering (Civil), 1988) has worked on many high profile and internationally renowned construction projects during her career. She was named in the Financial Times’ Top 100 Women of Influence in Engineering and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Women in Construction and Engineering awards in 2019. In November 2021, Louise was the judges’ choice for the ‘Overall Business Woman of the Year’ at the National Business Women’s Awards (NBWA).
Warwick Connections: Kingsley Napley
With more than 260,000 Warwick alumni around the world, you are never too far away from a Warwick connection. Kingsley Napley, a leading London law firm, has three Warwick graduates at its helm, sitting on the firm’s eight-strong board.
Interview with Bestselling Author Sarah Pearse
Having written from a young age, bestselling author Sarah Pearse chose to study English and Creative Writing at Warwick, giving her a safe and supportive space in which to pursue her passion. We spoke to Sarah in between a book tour for her debut novel The Sanatorium and editing her next thriller The Retreat.
Once Warwick, always Warwick
Hear from Warwick alumna and former professional services staff member, Charlotte Beesley (BA History and Sociology, 2014)
Profile - PGT alumnus William Harrop
Hear from recent PGT alumnus William Harrop (MA Global and Comparative History, 2022)
Alumna wins Study UK Alumni Awards Jordan 2021
Congratulations to alumna, Noor Abu-Jbara (MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2019) who was a winner of the Study UK Alumni Awards Jordan 2021.
Laura Walker McDonald
Laura Walker McDonald (LLM International Development Law and Human Rights, 2006) has dedicated her career to helping others through her work in humanitarian and international aid. Now working for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Laura looks at how technology can have both a positive and negative impact on wellbeing across the globe.
Lynda Thomas
Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, Lynda Thomas, began her career in marketing and PR before making the transition into the third sector by volunteering for a children’s charity. Since then, Lynda (BA Psychology, 1986), has dedicated her professional career to helping others.
Winter Graduation 2022: Ben Brabyn
Former Royal Marine Commando and brain tumour survivor, Ben Brabyn (MBA, 2002) congratulates our Winter 2022 graduates, and shares three simple pieces of advice for staying resilient in the face of adversity
Winter Graduation 2022: Joan MacNaughton CB
"What you have to offer is precious."
The warmest of welcomes to the Warwick alumni community for all our Winter 2022 graduates from Chair of the Climate Group, Joan MacNaughton CB (BSc Physics, 1972)
Winter Graduation 2022: David Suarez Cuellar
'"I often regard resilience as a superpower." Congratulations to all our Winter 2022 graduates from business founder David Suarez Cuellar (MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2020).
Winter Graduation 2022: Bisman Deu
Will you build windmills or walls? Women's rights advocate and panellist for UNICEF, Bisman Deu (BSc Economics, Politics and International Studies, 2019) shares her congratulations with our Winter 2022 graduate.
Voices of the Alliance - Dr Emily Pilkington
This year, we are celebrating 10-years of the Monash Warwick Alliance. As part of our Voices of the Alliance series, joint PhD graduate, Dr Emily Pilkington, shares her experience and highlights of the Alliance.
New Year’s Honours for Warwick community
Celebrating members of our community that have been named in the New Year's Honours List 2022.
Spotlight on: Dave Griffin
From science to finance, Dave Griffin (MChem Chemistry, 1999) explains how his time at Warwick opened his eyes to where a Chemistry degree could take him, and how today, he’s still using what he learned as a partner at Deloitte.
Lanaire Aderemi
Poet and playwright, Lanaire Aderemi tells us about her new podcast, Story Story. It currently ranks #1 in the History Category of Nigeria’s Apple Podcasts despite being produced in the UK.
Warwick Marathon Man Makes History
At the age of 74, Warwick MBA graduate Phillip Howells has entered the history books by completing an incredible 300 marathons and achieving the UK’s 100 Marathon Club ‘Triple Crown’ award.
Alumni volunteer hails global mentoring success
More than 450 students from top global institutions including the University of Warwick and Monash University, came together to provide innovative solutions to business challenges through the TeamWork mentoring programme. Over 60 Warwick alumni volunteered to act as mentors and provided projects to develop students’ intercultural awareness, communication and project management skills.
Claire Ridgway
Claire studied for her BA QTS at Warwick, focusing on Religion and English Literature. She's now a well known historian and published author with 12 books under her belt, plus a popular Tudor history YouTube channel.
Natasha Boulding
Co-Founder and CEO of Sphera, Natasha Boulding (MChem Chemistry with Professional Experience, 2015) gives her advice on working in sustainability and her hopes for attending COP26 earlier this month.
Dr Phil O’Donovan
Dr Phil O’Donovan (BSc Electrical Engineering Science, 1971) is a successful entrepreneur and angel investor, providing support and financial backing for startups and other entrepreneurs.
How has the pandemic affected alumni in hospitality?
With the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic far from over for the hospitality sector worldwide, find out how two alumni, Ravi Nahappan (MSc Manufacturing Systems Engineering, 2005) and Edward Rudd (BSc Microbiology and Virology, 1994), have coped with the challenges, adapted their businesses, and made plans for the future.
Future Leader: Samuel Akpan
Listed in the 2020-2021 Top 150 Future Leaders List (Powerful Media), Samuel Akpan (BA Politics and International Studies, 2021) is now in freelance journalism with a focus on sports.
Future Leaders: Tiana Holgate
Having been named in the Top 150 Future Leaders list for 2020-21 by Powerful Media, Tiana Holgate (BA Sociology with Specialism in Race and Global Politics, 2021) is taking a different view on leadership.
Future Leaders: Daniel Nwanebu
Listed in the 2020-2021 Top 150 Future Leaders List (Powerful Media), Daniel Nwanebu (LLB, 2021) shares what he thinks makes a leader and why it's important to pass on opportunities to the next generation
Spotlight on: Jo Walker
Recent graduate Jo Walker (BA Theatre and Performance Studies, 2020) is busy producing original plays and short films with black female empowerment at her core.
Spotlight on: Claudia Lussana
To celebrate European Day of Languages we asked our languages alumni to share their stories about Warwick and travels! Claudia Lussana (BA, Hispanic and Italian, 2017)
Future Leaders: Gold Oyelade
Despite only graduating this year, Gold’s already starting to shine with an appearance on the 2021 Powerful Media 150 Future Leaders List. She recently completed a successful summer internship at leading global independent investment bank, Evercore, through the 10,000 Black Interns programme, and has now secured a permanent analyst role. Read on to find out why the challenges of studying and graduating during the pandemic only made Gold (BA Sociology, 2021) more determined to succeed.
Brinda Gulati
Brinda Gulati is a writer and founder of Instagram shop @ThriftyBrinda. Her extensive scope of writing includes opinion pieces for the Kashmir Times, Jammu, freelance projects and now her first novel.
Yash Lohia
Warwick alumnus Yash Lohia (BEng Engineering Business Management, 2009) is Chief Sustainability Officer of Indorama Ventures based in Bangkok, Thailand, having joined the family business in 2013.
Spotlight on: Alistair Rogers
Warwick alumnus Alistair Rogers (BSc MORSE, 2016) is a Senior Data Scientist at LV=, one of the UK’s largest insurance companies. Find out about Alistair’s time at Warwick, his advice for students and recent graduates who want to work in the ever-expanding field of Data Science, and his plans for the future.
Spotlight on: Richard Small
After spending much of his career in supply chain management, Richard Small (MBA, 2002) decided to go-it-alone and start his own business in 2017.
Theatre and Performance Studies Student Prizes for 2021
2020/21 has been a particularly challenging year, and we are so proud of all of our students who have made it through this year - particularly those who are graduating.
In particular, we are delighted to mark the contributions and successes of this year’s winners of the Theatre and Performance Studies prizes
Humanitarian Engineering Graduates
We want to highlight some of the fantastic work Warwick Humanitarian Engineering graduates are doing to provide support and assistance to those in need.
Professor Robert McGee
Professor Robert McGee completed his PhD in Industrial and Business Studies at the University of Warwick in 1986. Since leaving Warwick, Professor McGee has led a successful career in accountancy and academia. Most recently, at the age of 74, Robert won six gold and two silver medals at the Taekwondo World Championship in Phoenix, Arizona. Discover his inspiring story
Mentoring Tips
Alumnus Justin Onuekwusi (BSc Economics 2000-2003) is Head of Retail Multi-Asset Funds at Legal & General Investment Management. He shares his top five tips on mentoring
Alumni Interview: Dr Andy Palmer CMG
Dr Andy Palmer CMG (Manufacturing Systems Engineering [IGDS], 1990), is an alumnus of WMG and one of the leading and most respected figures in the UK automotive sector. He has had a glittering career at the top of some of the world’s biggest and best-known automobile manufacturers, including Nissan and Aston Martin.
Spotlight on: Gulcan Telci
Meet Gulcan Telci (MBA, 2014) - one of our Warwick Alumni Ambassadors in the USA.
From biology student to all that jazz
He’s toured all over the world and released his first album earlier this year, but it was James Hudson’s time at Warwick that inspired him to become a professional jazz singer. Although he studied Biological Sciences, James credits his involvement in societies such as Musical Theatre Warwick and Warwick Big Band for shaping his career.
New Year’s Honours for Warwick community
Congratulations to the Queen’s New Year’s Honours recipients from our Warwick community.
Graduation 2020 advice - Anita Chagar
Centre for Education Studies alumna Anita Chagar offers advice to our new graduates.
"Don’t consider ‘The Class of 2020/The COVID-19 Cohort’ as a label for uncertainty, adversity or loss, but as a label for determination, resilience and a new way of achieving success."
Graduation 2020 advice - Valerie Patrick
WBS alumna Valerie Patrick offers advice to our new graduates.
"This is a time to evaluate what you have accomplished, think strategically and ask yourself what you could do to make the world a better place."
Graduation 2020 advice - Peter Blackman
Philosophy alumnus Peter Blackman offers advice to our new graduates.
"Be Proud – you are Warwick graduates; persevere and be broad minded about the sort of future you seek."
Graduation 2020 advice - Stuart Humphreys
WBS alumnus Stuart Humphreys offers advice to our new graduates.
"It may seem a little trite for me to say I feel fortunate to have graduated during one major economic downturn and to have subsequently graduated again during another."
Graduation 2020 advice - Hannah Brockbank
WBS alumna Hannah Brockbank offers advice to our new graduates.
"You're just at the starting line with many more years to go!"
Graduation 2020 advice - Alison Duncanson
Centre for Lifelong Learning alumna Alison Duncanson is a Chartered Psychologist and has worked for most of her career with people, from graduates to senior business leaders, consulting on change projects, designing assessment centres and developing leaders.
Today she shares her advice to new graduates.
Jordan's Story
Jordan (MB ChB) shares his experience as a Medical Student Clinical Support at University Hospital Coventry.
"As a former historian, I feel as though we are watching history unfurl before us – a turning point as real as the world wars, the nuclear age, the bubonic plague. As before, the solution is courage in the face of adversity."
Abbie's Story
Abbie (MB ChB) reflects on her experience as a medical student during the pandemic.
"Covid-19 has truly changed our lives, and we as medical students are no different."
Anj's Story
Anj Kang (MB ChB Phase I Secretary) signed up to the NHS Volunteer Responder initiative and tells us what her role involves.
"Both the patients and the pharmacies have been extremely grateful for the help I and lots of others are providing for those who are unable to get out at the moment."
Roopak's Story
Roopak Khara (MB ChB, 2013) tells us about her role working as medical lead on a psychiatric inpatient Covid-19 ward.
"Overnight I went from working as a general adult psychiatry registrar on a PICU (psychiatric intensive care unit) to medical lead for the UK’s first psychiatric inpatient COVID-19 ward in West London."
Shirley's Story
Shirley Rigby (PG Award, 2004) tells us about her role working as a consultant on a Covid-19 ward.
"It was a rapid learning curve, learning how to diagnose and treat a new disease that none of us had seen before."
Jessica's Story
Jessica Nolan (MB ChB, 2019) reflects upon her experience as an F1 working on a Covid-19 ward.
"When starting work as an F1 this year, I never thought that I would be facing anything as challenging as the Covid-19 pandemic."
Warwick student becomes Home Secretary
Muhammad Ali Randhawa (MA Public Policy, 2017) is currently working as the Home Secretary in Gilgit-Baltistan, a beautiful region of Pakistan. After the arrival of COVID-19, Ali has been the head of all the relief operations in his jurisdictional province.
"With dedicated team effort and continuous hard work, we have been able to achieve a 75% recovery rate of COVID-19 patients, the highest in Pakistan. I believe the quality of education that I got from the University of Warwick has helped me to frame the policies and implement them by using networking management style."
Further updates can be found on Twitter @RandhawaAli.
Warwick alumnus to Mayor of Ledbury
Councillor Phillip Howells (MBA, 1993) shares his account of recent events.
Brothers supply polycotton fabric to the NHS
Over the last two months, brothers Faisal Ahmed (MSc Marketing and Strategy, 2016) and Suhail Ahmed have been supplying polycotton fabric to the NHS for making scrubs.