A number of Warwick alumni have been recognised for their outstanding contributions in the recent King’s Birthday Honours. Twelve individuals have each been celebrated and honoured for their tireless work and commitment, as well as the incredible impact they have on the world around them.

Maths was always going to be my subject; it was my best subject at school and the subject I most enjoyed. I wasn’t particularly career-minded, just loved doing maths for the sake of maths!

Population dynamics was a module I did in my third year and was the first time I had been exposed to maths with real world applications. I really enjoyed seeing how techniques I had been using in a real situation. I enjoyed this module enough that I would go on to do a PhD in this topic!

Maths was by far my favourite subject, so studying it at university was a natural choice. I wanted a university which had a fast pace, a broad range of choices, and offered the flexibility to either stay in academia or transition into industry. Warwick excels at all of these, so was my top choice.

Christine works as a gallery tour guide, librarian, and researcher at Compton Verney Art Gallery, where their research on a 16th-century altarpiece is currently exhibited. Motivated by the discovery and sharing of new knowledge, Christine also gives talks on various historical subjects and volunteers at local museums and archives, drawing inspiration from their enriching experience as a mature student at Warwick.

I developed good communication skills during Warwick in Africa when I taught Maths (and Italian and ballet!) to classes of up to 50 children in Ghana. Likewise, talking about my independent projects in oral assessments in front of lecturers and course mates developed my communication skills and my ability to throw myself into something I found daunting.

Clive's curiosity and drive to learn continue to motivate him, a trait fostered during his time at Warwick, which taught him critical thinking and presentation skills.

Mathematics was the only subject I enjoyed in school and found that calculus and probability really interested me because of how we could understand and explain real world phenomena. This motivated me to delve deeper into what maths has to offer, along with how it's applied!

During both my MSc and PhD at Warwick, I had several opportunities to communicate research to a range of audiences - some academics, some domain experts from industrial partners, some other students. This is something I am glad I started practicing early, as when I then moved into industry, I was already equipped to talk about science in a range of different ways depending on who the audience was, and what was most relevant to them.

Whilst the second-year essay and final year project were good opportunities to hone my communication skills, I found working on weekly assignments with other students equally helpful. Knowing a solution isn't the same as being able to explain it or teach someone!

Warwick, chosen by Whitleigh for its prestigious status, led her to her current role in children's services, where she focuses on complex cases encompassing exploitation, drug use, and mental health, fueled by her aspiration to enhance her mental health knowledge.

Archit's decision to attend Warwick stemmed from its esteemed reputation and vibrant campus community, influenced by interactions with Warwick Ambassadors during his International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in Mumbai. Now, as a Software License Compliance Consultant at Deloitte UK, his drive comes from a larger vision of making a positive impact and running his own business, shaped by his time at Warwick and supported by family and friends.

Graduating from Warwick in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy, Jake began his career teaching English in Thailand before returning to the UK for a role in business consulting. After a brief stint in project management, his drive for adventure led him to Shenzhen, China, where he now teaches English and explores entrepreneurial ventures in exporting and recruitment. Warwick’s reputation has been key in opening doors throughout his career.

David Curwen (BA History 1985) was inspired during his time at Warwick to pursue a career in Law. He is now devoted to helping people who struggle with legal problems to help make a positive impact on their lives.

Benjamin Nuga (BA French with Chinese, 2022), has already diversified his skill set by working as a production assistant, scriptwriter, and musician and he’s also been a contestant on Countdown. Having only graduated in 2022, his achievements are centered around his willingness to step outside his comfort zone.

Now working at the cutting edge of science and technology, Emma Arandjelovic (BSc Computer Science, 2002) looks back at her time at Warwick and how it was key to succeeding in a male-dominated industry.

Theatre company, Speakbeast, is made up of Warwick alumni and students who are interested in creating original theatre that focuses on queerness, transness, and what it means to be human in a mechanised world. They’ve been shortlisted for the Untapped 2024 award and will be taking their debut show, The Freemartin, to Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024.

Theatre and Performance Studies students were able to hear from alumni Zoe Templeman-Young (BA Theatre and Performance Studies, 2013) and CJ Webley (BA Theatre and Performance Studies, 2015) at a careers event in January.

Friendship, warmth, fun, and connections were the foundations that encouraged Puri Ragini (BA History and Politics, 2020) to head to Warwick and build a successful career in the social sector.

Teacher Edward Dubavin (BA English Language and Linguistics, 2020) looks back at his time at Warwick and how it fuelled his passion for research that still continues.