Latest Alumni Updates

What happens when you have no choice but to flee your home and leave all you know behind? Can you ever utilise your experiences and turn them into opportunities for others? When Attal Shams’ journey of conflict, displacement, and resilience became the focus of his dissertation, he didn’t think anyone would be interested. But now, those experiences have become the driving force to him making a real difference to others.

Recent graduate Carolina Sagardoy Saavedra (BA History of Art, 2019) always knew she had a passion for fine art. She turned that passion into a reality – graduating from Warwick and moving to New York to study a Masters’ degree in Art Business at the world-renowned Sotheby’s Institute of Art. Today, she uses the knowledge she gained at Warwick to help art be bought and sold across the world.

Rohish has a deep desire to be part of the solution of climate change.

The ASI course at Warwick provides an excellent learning experience, where classroom lectures are seamlessly interconnected with hands-on experience with modern instrumentation techniques. The cohort-based learning style, guest lectures, and research seminars throughout the year really fuel curiosity and innovative thinking.

"I work as the Department General Manager of the Special Assets Business at Beijing International Trust Company."

The level of support and encouragement from both the academic and administrative staff alongside your cohort's is an invaluable part of this MSc AS&I course, which stretches the mind and any preconceived limitations

Jonathan's history book on 7,800 horses and their riders in World War II.

Karen's book, that she started in Professor Andrew Williams' non-fiction class, has now been published.

What makes a good communicator? We may think we know, but how many of us really excel when communicating? A successful career in sales and marketing led Tim Pollard (MBA, 2003) to a career-defining curiosity where he sought to understand and capture the underlying “science” behind communication.

Nuzu has been awarded the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award for my outstanding contribution to horror fiction.

Making a difference is what drives Kate Frost (BSc Management Sciences, 1997). She left her financial career to pioneer a charity that turns pennies into pounds to make a big impact.

For more than half a century, Warwick has forged a deep relationship with the city. The Faculty of Arts has taught generations of our students during their Venice terms. Since 2007, we have had a physical base in the Palazzo Pesaro Papafava.

From May 2023, our undergraduates, postgraduates and staff will have a new base - a wonderful late 17th century building in Palazzo Giustinian Lolin, right on the Grand Canal of Venice. As we get ready to open the building, we would love to share some alumni memories of studying in Venice over the years.

There is so much exciting research being done by the academics in the Physics departments that there was lots of groups to choose from when it came to picking a research topic.

We caught up with Dr Kimberley Thomas (BA History 2010, MA History 2011, PhD Caribbean Studies, 2020) to talk about her time at Warwick, ahead of her return to deliver a Caribbean seminar series.

Features writer and editor for The Boar, Vice President of Warwick HisSoc and Deputy Editor of Warwick Politics Society’s Perspectives, alum Celia Bergin (BA History and Politics, 2022) certainly made the most of her time at Warwick. Graduating with a first-class degree, she jumped straight into the world of journalism. Now working as a reporter for Bloomberg News, Celia reflects on how these experiences helped her get there.

Journalist, author, higher education professional, proof-reader, and editor Annette Rubery (PhD English and Comparative Literary Studies, 1999) has spent the 30-plus years since graduating honing her editorial and marketing skillset.

Balraj Dhingra had known sport would play a huge part of his time at Warwick.

For Vera Okojie choosing to come to study at Warwick was a decision made all the easier by our impressive alumni community.

When Jo Walker first met Vikram Grover, it was their mutual love of the theatre and performance that built a firm friendship.

From never running a long-distance race in his life to becoming New York’s fastest runner in his age group.

Diana looks back on her time at Warwick with fondness due to the friendly support she received.

Helen's book on  chronic people-pleasing and burnout has now been published.

Postgraduate, multilingual translator and communications specialist - languages alum Dom Johnson has been busy since leaving Warwick in 2019. After almost three years working in Geneva as a translator for Swiss Federal Railways and Swiss Post, Dom (BA Modern Languages, 2018; MA Translation and Cultures, 2019) swapped proofreading for politics, moving back to the UK after securing a role as a Communications Officer for the Green Party of England and Wales.

First-class Classics graduate and Senior Policy Advisor, Dillon Patel (BA Ancient History and Classical Archaeology, 2017) shares how Warwick shaped his thinking, the power of soft skills, and how the past isn’t so dissimilar from the present day.

Strategic innovation and sustainability specialist, Ganesh Malani (MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2019) epitomises the wave of young, dynamic Warwick alumni focusing on strategic and sustainable innovation in Mumbai, India. Discover how his entrepreneurial journey started at a young age and how his passion for innovation is having a positive impact on a diverse range of communities across India.

A trip to Ghana through Warwick in Africa prompted alum, Soumya Dabriwal (BSc Economics, 2016), to make a difference and set up Project Baala to trans form menstrual health and hygiene practises for women and girls in rural areas in India

Philanthropist, published author, and engineer, Dr Nick Donofrio (Hon Doctor of Science, 2002), spent 44 years at IBM including as Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology, leading numerous transformational strategies and initiatives across the company.

First class graduate Fay Inverarity (BA German Studies, 2021; MA Translation and Cultures, 2022) is translating her academic passions into a budding career after securing a place on Barclays’ Retail Banking Graduate Scheme.

After being featured on Powerful Media’s Future Leaders 2022/3 list, which recognises 150 of Britain’s most outstanding Black university students, recent graduate Giulio Aguigwo (BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics, 2022) reflects on his Warwick experience.

We’re proud to count Tilly, the Springer Spaniel, as an honorary member of the Warwick alumni community, as she and her owner, Alison Pigdon offer a helping paw to students through their wellbeing visits with charity, Pets as Therapy.

You’ve worked your way up the corporate ladder since graduating, you have a secure job that takes you all over the world, then out of the blue a colleague asks you if you want to start a business together. He doesn’t have an idea, but he had a dream he wanted you as a business partner. Would you take the risk? Alum Jinesh Vohra did.

Ruth Ntumba (BA History, 2021) has spent her first 18 months since graduating helping drive engagement and culture at one of the world’s leading media corporations, Warner Brothers Discovery. Ruth shares why you should go at your own pace and trust your gut instinct when searching for your next role.

Superstar screenwriter. Matcha maniac. Intern turned international TV writer. Cat lover. Origin originator. Warwick alum. These are just some of the phrases that describe English graduate and one of the world’s youngest showrunners, Mika Watkins.

What do a golden retriever called Bowie, women’s rights in history and a start-up supporting later living have in common? They all set arts alum and marketing expert Harriet Stanger’s (BA History, 2016) heart on fire.

A veteran of the City of London, Chris Wheeler (MA Modern History, 2021) spent more than 40 years in banking, working, and travelling across the globe. But he swapped investment banking for US antebellum history and Irish diaspora and fulfilled his childhood dream when he began furthering his education journey, first studying History at the University of Oxford before completing an MA in Modern History at Warwick. Chris embarked on his PhD at the University of Edinburgh in September 2022.

BA English and Theatre Studies alum Vinitaraj Aulak may have only graduated in 2021, but she wasted no time chasing her dreams and securing a radio presenter role on BBC Asian Network. Here she shares how her undergraduate degree taught her to break the mould and follow her passions.

This January, we’ve enjoyed celebrating the achievements of thousands of graduates and graduands on campus.

It’s been a pleasure to welcome and celebrate both new and returning members of the alumni community.

A big thank you to our returning alumni graduation speakers, and a huge congratulations and welcome also to our winter 2023 honorary degree and special award recipients and newest members of our alumni community. To find out more about our honorary graduates here.

Congratulations to the King’s New Year’s Honours recipients from our Warwick community.

Thinking studying languages would progress his scientific career, Tim Heenan (BA European Studies, 2015; MA French Studies, 2020) undertook two degrees at Warwick. He didn’t know those lessons would pay dividends for years to come. At 71, Tim’s putting his research skills to good use and supporting his local community – and he’s not planning on slowing down.

#TeamWarwick kicks off in February and we want to hear from you!

Were you part of a sports club or team whilst at Warwick? Did you compete or simply join in for fun? Did your sporting interests at Warwick influence or impact your career? If so, tell us the story, share the memory and send us a photo – so we can help celebrate the impact of sport at Warwick and on our lives.

Ping (pong) us an email now

Named as one of Powerful Media's 2022/23 Future Leaders and a semi-finalist in targetjobs Black Heritage Undergraduate of the Year Awards, Nosa Charles-Novia (BA Film and Literature, 2022) is currently an MA in Writing student and film-critic intern. Here she tells us about her degree and why that little voice in your head is your most powerful weapon.

Richard Swann (MBA, 2004) explains how there are many attributes and ways of working that contribute to a successful and fulfilling career and how your career path needn’t be determined by your degree or first job.

Anish Agarwal (MEng Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering, 2011) is an entrepreneur in the automotive and manufacturing space with a passion for technology and engineering innovation. Anish discusses how his experiences of studying and working around the world have shaped his own career, including his time with the family business Sterling Tools and involvement in several exciting automotive startups including Sheeva.AI.

Water fights and Rag Week costumes are some of the things Dana remembers fondly.

For Classics alumna Katharine Broderick (BA Classical Civilisation, 2021, MA by Research Classics and Ancient History, 2022), 2022 started and ended on a high. From having successfully produced Bacchae for the Warwick Ancient Drama Festival earlier in January to submitting the final assignment for her Master's degree, Katharine reflects on her time at Warwick and the relevance of Ancient Greek plays in modern society.

An education at Warwick doesn't just set you up for a particular career path, some alumni find their passions outside of the lecture theatre. Immi Kelly (BA Education Studies, 2020) discovered her love of baking while looking for a distraction during lockdown when she was studying for her exams. Her skill and passion for baking soon led her to set up Immi Bakes, which she runs full time and is currently in the process of baking 22,000 cookies for Telford's Polar Express.

For more than 25 years, Charles Wiltshire (BEd Learning Difficulties, 1986) has worked in theatres as an audio describer. Here, he explains how he found this career path and why it means so much to him.

From combat to craftsmanship and opera to Oscars, Greg Campbell (BA Theatre Studies, 1987) has spent many years of his life in the creative arts. Since then, he’s completed a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE), two masters’ degrees and is underway with an Education PhD. But it was only when he received his ADHD diagnosis that the world – and his struggles as an undergraduate - began to make more sense.

The Warwick physics course made me challenge the most fundamental assumptions I held about the world.

The ASI MSc exposed me to numerous frontier instrumental techniques in Analytical Science; it equipped me with the nitty-gritty of many analytical methods and their applications in solving real life problems.

Musician and Music Educator Katherine Fear (BA Qualified Teacher Status [Arts Ed.], 1991) balances her passions for folk music and teaching. Here she shares how her time at Warwick gave her the confidence to follow her dreams.

David Clarke (BSc Mathematics, 1984) explains how the Covid pandemic shone a light on the importance of mathematics and shares his experience of being personally tutored by the founder of Mathematics at Warwick.

Warwick alumna Monita (MA Writing, 2011) is a content magician and pop culture enthusiast who has taken her skills across the world.

Professor Mohammed Al-Amri reflects on his highlights from his time as a Master’s student on campus.

During my time at Warwick, I grew and matured from an ambitious student to a professional young adult eager to enter the world of work.

Emily Wells (BA English Literature and Creative Writing, 2013) has a job many booklovers would envy: she gets to read for a living. As Senior Editor for a division of world publishing giant Hachette, her week is spent dissecting what makes a story sell and succeed on the market.

Dr Mark Wallace (BEng Engineering (Electrical), 1996; PhD Engineering, 2001) is Lead Innovations Engineer at Quanta Dialysis Technologies. He is one of the team which was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering’s MacRobert Award for UK engineering innovation. The creation of the Quanta Dialysis System (SC+), a compact and portable dialysis machine that is transforming the lives of patients with renal failure, is already being used across 12 NHS Trusts. The innovation is both CE-marked and FDA-cleared and stands to be a global leader in the multibillion-dollar industry.

Before Warwick, alumna Armani Chante Samuel-Smith (BA Film and Literature, 2022) was working with a charity supporting students from underprivileged backgrounds into the creative industry. Fast forward to now, she’s the proud owner of a first-class degree, her own production start-up, a role with Netflix, and even more determination to write her own shows. It’s no wonder she’s been featured on Powerful Media’s Future Leaders 2022/3 list, which recognises 150 of Britain’s most outstanding Black university students.

Not only has law graduate Jessica Tinubu (LLB Law, 2022) been inspired by the trailblazing women she knows, but as one of Powerful Media’s Future Leaders, she is now an inspiration to others. An alumna of all trades, Jessica founded a start-up stationery business and has amassed a following of more than 13,000 on TikTok where she shares advice about Warwick and her law degree. And she’s only just getting started.

We know our arts alumni go on to do wonderful things after they leave us, and we love that everyone’s story is a little different. Arts advocate, Sunday Times columnist, mum, self-confessed cake scoffer, women’s fiction writer and ex Tellytubbyland resident alumna Pernille Hughes (BA Film and Literature, 1994) has had a rollercoaster of a journey since she graduated from Warwick. Here she tells us how she found her writing voice, and why your arts degree will always be a good talking point.

Ensuring pharmaceutical products are safe is vital for patient health and wellbeing. That’s the focus of Yvonne Udenwa (MSc Analytical Science: Methods and Instrumental Techniques, 2011), who’s Senior Associate in EU Regulatory Affairs Strategy at Pfizer. Discover how her time at Warwick helped her to succeed in the pharmaceutical industry and what motivated her to pursue a career in regulatory affairs.

As a five-time Paralympic medallist, Kare Adenegan’s (BA History, 2022) sporting endeavours have played a big part in her university experience. No stranger to making history, Kare graduated with a first-class honours degree a week after claiming silver in the T33/34 100m at the Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games. Here Kare reflects on her studies and how we can all learn a lot from history.

From becoming the first in his family to go to university, Mike Burnett (BA History, 1975) has continued to evolve throughout a career in which he’s worked all over the world.

Carla Miller is a leadership coach, trainer, and speaker, helping women in leadership roles to increase their influence and impact at work.

Powerful Media’s Future Leaders 2022/23 list recognises 150 of Britain’s most outstanding Black university students, including law graduate Precious Odunaiya (LLB Law, 2022). She shares what leadership means to her, and how following your passion is everything.

Future Leader Anthonia Ezeudogu (BA Politics and Sociology, 2022) might be just beginning her career, but she already has a lot to be proud of. With a first-class degree and experience as a Welfare Officer for The Black Women Project already under her belt, Anthonia is now a Graduate Associate on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) graduate programme. It’s clear to see why she’s named on Powerful Media’s Future Leaders 2022/23 list, recognising 150 of Britain’s most outstanding Black students and new graduates.

Theatre Director Ali Pidsley (BA English and Theatre Studies, 2014; MA English Literature, 2016) shares how Warwick inspired him to set up a different kind of theatre company.

IntoUniversity’s mission is to raise the aspirations of young people from the poorest homes across the UK. Statistically, these students underperform at school, they are less likely to go to university, and have little chance of breaking the cycle of poverty.

Warwick in partnership with IntoUniversity aims to challenge this in Coventry.

Dr Shahed Yousaf has been a GP for ten years; working with the homeless and with prisoners. He is also an accomplished writer, starting off his writing career with fiction, he has now published ‘Stitched Up’ which follows his career in medicine working with patients on the edge of society.

New Vice Provost and Chair of the Faculty of Arts Professor Rachel Moseley speaks about her plans as Chair and why it’s such a positive time of growth and change for the arts at Warwick.

Paving the way for a new style of work, Lizzie Penny (BSc International Business with Spanish, 2005) explains why inclusivity at work matters for everyone and what drives the concept of ‘workstyle’.

Kate Wilson (BA French with Italian, 2002) is not your typical languages alumna. After four years at Warwick, she launched herself into the world of emergency care and hasn’t looked back. Now, she’s using her powers for good to help with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

Luisa Da Silva (MBA, 2019) is the Executive Director of Iron+ Earth, a worker-led organisation based in Canada that sits at the intersection of energy, environmentalism and thought leadership.

Iron + Earth was set up to empower energy sector and indigenous workers to recognise and transfer their skills to the renewable sector to help tackle the climate crisis. Hear Luisa’s captivating story about life as an international student and her advice for students and alumni alike who share her passion for saving the planet.

"Coming from a working class background, it is fair to say that obtaining a degree from Warwick opened up doors."

Applications for the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards are open from 1 September to 28 October to alumni living outside of the UK who have studied in the UK in the last 15 years. The Alumni Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of alumni and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education. Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities, professions, and countries.

Throughout July, we’ve enjoyed celebrating the achievements of thousands of graduates and graduands on campus.

It’s been a pleasure to welcome and celebrate both new and returning members of the alumni community.

From Summer School to social justice, Patrick Olajide discusses his Warwick experience and why he puts ethics at the forefront of his work.

This summer we have a spectacular line up of celebrations happening on campus. There will be our traditional Degree Congregations and Warwick Celebrates events (for those who graduated in absentia in 2020 and 2021). We’ll also be taking part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, providing an Athletes village, and co-hosting the International Children's Games.

Driven to help people thrive and find their sense of meaning and purpose, Warwick’s Head of Careers, Anne Wilson, is also an alumna, having completed a Postgraduate Diploma Career Education, Information and Guidance in Higher Education in 2013. Anne shares more about her 16-year journey at Warwick, and how she’s not finished yet.

I thoroughly enjoyed my 4 years and am grateful for the opportunity to study physics there as it definitely set me up for a successful future, armed with a degree from a highly respected university and skills that last a lifetime!

Elizabete Ludborza, who studied our Law with Study Abroad in English degree from 2015-2019, has set up her own legal tech startup Kaveat to help social media influencers and models to understand and negotiate legal contracts.

Farah Williamson (BA French and History, 2006) is currently Director of Gulf & Strategic Partnerships at Plan International Canada, one of the world’s oldest and largest development and humanitarian organisations that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

My PhD in Physics was on Advances in Electron Microscopy with Deep Learning, so starting my role at Illumina felt seamless.

Dr David Coates has begun a five-year project that extends his research to date on the development of amateur theatre in Britain. The project team, made up of five scholars, will explore the cultural and political contexts that determined citizenship ideas and practices, as well as theatre.

Having just graduated in her MA in the History of Medicine, Kirstie reflects on the course and why she chose Warwick for postgraduate study.

In his last role as Editor of BBC World Service News, Andrew was responsible for programming on the BBC's most widely listened to radio network.

Sarah is the longest serving member of the department having joined in October 1988. She takes a fond look back at her time at Warwick.

Laura Mathias on overcoming anxieties, managing alopecia and becoming the person she wanted to be at Warwick Driving positive dialogue and awareness about living with alopecia, Laura Mathias (BA Film and Literature, 2013) talks openly about her anxieties when she first started university, and how Warwick was where she became who she was always meant to be.

Find out more about how alumni and friends’ support made an impact on Giving Day.

Giving Day 2022, the Warwick community’s annual online fundraising challenge, was a great success, with 260 of you raising £182,673.75 for students, research and the arts at Warwick.

Over 12 days, 4,500 athletes from 72 countries will compete across 15 competition venues.

Final year Patrick (History and Politics, BA) is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Shoot The Messenger – an independent, student production company. Together with Ella McQueen, (Politics, Philosophy and Law, BA), he founded Shoot the Messenger in February 2021 as a way of keeping spirits up and creativity flowing during lockdown.

Despite originating from opposite sides of the world, Frank and Kate Dempsey (both MBA Business Administration, 2008) met through friends while studying at WBS. Fast forward 14 years and they live in Toronto, Canada with their young family. Discover their favourite memories of Warwick, why they chose to study at WBS and what the future holds.

Kanishka Arumugam (MSc Engineering Business Management, 2015) is Co-CEO of EKKI Water Technologies, a leading family business based in Coimbatore, India who pump and transport water in an efficient and sustainable way for agriculture, building services, industrial and public utilities. Kanishka set up India’s first Wastewater Pump joint venture alliance with HOMA of Germany, a world leader in wastewater technology. Discover how the people he met at WMG influenced his career, his views on sustainable business challenges in India, and how sustainability is embedded in his company’s core values.

Have you ever wondered how people in the past dealt with their periods? If Queen Victoria coasted* through her cramps? What if period dramas really were about…periods?

Comedy, cabaret and tap collide in this hilarious one-woman show, teaching the history you never learnt at school. Armed with glitter, blood, some history books and an arsenal of embarrassing stories, History alumna, Heather Milsted is on a mission to push through the menstrual taboo and change the way we think about bleeding.

Audiences are invited to embrace themselves fully, let loose and have a BLOODY good time!

*Obviously she didn't. It was 1837.

Book: Period Dramas - The Hope Theatre & Period Dramas | Pleasance Theatre Trust

Having worked on the world’s first driverless taxi system, John Hammersley (MPhys Mathematics and Physics, 2004) has always steered towards innovation. He’s now CEO and Co-Founder of Overleaf, a cloud-based LaTeX editor for collaborative working on scientific documents, with over nine million users and 150 university customers. Discover John’s journey from Physics at Warwick to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Theatre Performance Studies graduate, Dean Murphy discusses his career journey since leaving Warwick

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.

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.

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.