Latest Alumni Updates

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Now working for IBM, Khaled still misses his workshops and study groups from Warwick.

Jinsong now works as Compliance Risk Control Director and Board Secretary at a PE fund Ever State Capital in Shenzhen, China.

Her studies at WBS and interactions with global students led Violeta to start her own company

Savia met Sacha Wyszegrodzki at Warwick and got married seven years later in Brussels.

After suffering a traumatic brain injury during his time at Warwick, Hon Win Woon is now working for Roche as an IT Analyst.

Carol Anne was in the first 3 year training course to go through Canley in the 1960s.

Ken Wharton has written 13 books in which he chronicled the troubles in Northern Ireland from 1969-98.

Over his IT career, Malcolm has held senior IT roles in leading UK and global financial and legal organisations.

"I am an ordinary office worker in a business development position. I spend time working, travelling, reading, doing sports, photographing and listening to songs and podcasts."

Yu learned from Warwick how to brand himself.

Ivan is currently working as an Agile Coach and has discovered a passion for martial arts.

"I never dreamed, coming from a working class background, and the depths of darkest Coventry, that I’d ever be accepted into university."

"Warwick as I read years back is a centre for Excellence in Creativity and a perfect educational hub.

Being there to learn the art of ART/IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) was total ecstasy. The IVF Unit and the teaching faculty were top-level and they were kind enough to transfer the valuable knowledge to deserving students without any quid pro quo. Presently my practice of ART/IVF at Mothercare Hospital, Pune India has grown, not because of my strength, but the tips that I cultivated at Warwick. Thank you."

Alicia’s book offers lessons for coping with issues of divorce, bereavement, career change, study changes, and more.

"I am extremely grateful for the teaching I received at Warwick. Thank you to Geraldine Hartshorne, Rina Agarwal, Sue Montgomery and Sarah Drury. I have been doing great, the course was very helpful. I have since referred doctors from India to this course."

"I am an entrepreneur, best-selling author, qualified lawyer, career coach and commercial/creative consultant.

Before university, I was a full-time musician for a number of years, but after our singer quit, I joined Warwick to study Law & Business. I really enjoyed my degree, from the social aspects and my time running societies, to the broad mix of modules that I was able to study."

A theatre graduate who ended up becoming a chartered accountant with Big Four firm E&Y in London.

John Mason, Paul Sullivan, and Mark Rogerson performed in a rock band along with two fellow students known as "The Interviewees”.

It was Frisbee that drew Derek to Warwick. The University Frisbee Club started in 1976 and must be one of the oldest clubs in Europe.

Learn about Eloise's experience studying Physics at the University of Warwick and her life after graduation.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University of Warwick. I grew up in a small village in the countryside where I didn’t have the opportunity to meet people from different cultures, backgrounds, or other countries. Warwick has a strong international student base and I learnt a lot from meeting people from all walks of life and seeing the world outside of my sleepy Gloucestershire village!"

Philanthropist Doug Miller, who with his wife Audrey founded the Multicultural Scholars Programme here at Warwick, has created a global venture philanthropy network with more than 1,000 members and 100 team members across four continents.

Over the last 4 years after graduation from the University of Warwick in 2017, Nak has been actively volunteering his personal time apart from his full-time professional work to share his expertise and experiences through various mentorship programs and activities to support young women in Asia. Apart from being a mentor, he has a strong passion in volunteering and supporting STEM Education in Cambodia as a robotic trainer, a judge for various STEM and Robotic competitions, Chief STEM Project Supervisor. He is also a member of Southeast Asia Research Academy.

"I have not had a career. I’ve simply had a long list of fascinating projects."

At 26, Sharon Plant was the youngest independent gallery owner in the country. She went on to become an art consultant; interviewing prominent creative figures, including Yoko Ono. She helped launch and direct the New Designers exhibition and was Festival Coordinator for the inaugural London Design Festival.

She is a painter, jazz musician and novelist. She looks back at her working life and shows how a career doesn't have to follow a traditional path.

Stu went his own way after graduating, opting to teach English as a foreign language for many happy and interesting years.

"My favourite memories of Warwick include One World Week where I participated in cultural dance events on stage. I remember performing three dances, which were all from different parts of India. As a British Indian this was a proud moment as I celebrated along with thousands of other students the diverse culture and background that make up Warwick University. The event represented students from across the world and celebrated the One World in which we live in today."

Neil remembers being a programme engineer on Warwick's radio station in the 1970s when it was based in ‘The Shed’ next to Rootes D Block. His job was to have everything ready for the radio presenter. On one occasion, the presenter for a pop music programme never showed up, so he had to go on instead when he had to scramble between the studio and the storage cabinet to find a new song to play before the one I had just launched was over.

"I studied at Warwick more than 20 years ago but I still keep in touch with flatmates at Claycroft. It was so impressive, enjoyable and also a hard time during my life."

"I miss the creative atmosphere of Warwick campus, that feeling that something big in going on in this place. This inner talk that pushed me inside to be as good as possible in order to be part of this ''big'' going on."

"I arrived at Warwick in 1989 and immediately joined the Caving Club (my uni choices were based solely on whether there was a good Caving Club). I also joined the Climbing Club, which was one of the major turning points of my life."

Calum is a political media writer and entrepreneur, setting up a youth-orientated media company, The Speaker, in 2018, seeking to inspire the next generation in politics. Part of his work for The Speaker, has also seen Calum and his co-director write a book, 2020 As It Happened, which was published in early 2021 and looks back at the major stories of the previous year and some of the more bizarre news stories that we might have forgotten.

"I started studying martial arts at age 65. Now, eight years later, I have black belts in eight martial arts and am a World Champion in taekwondo (sparring, forms & weapons), karate (sparring, 2017, 2018, 2019), kung fu (forms & weapons), Yang Style Tai Chi (forms & weapons), Sun Style Tai Chi (forms & weapons) and qigong (forms). My career gold medal count is 500+, hopefully with more to come."

"I am entrepreneur from Mumbai, India. I have recently switched gears in my life to become an author.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, I wrote my first, fast-paced, reality-based fictional thriller called ‘Lynchpin: The Best Laid Schemes of Mice and Men.'"

"I think I was the first student Entertainment Secretary at Warwick. I helped to get the student discos off to a flying start with many top bands at the time, such as Cream, Pink Floyd and many others performing there."

"After graduating, I spent two years at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and then the next two years working (and resting) as a professional actor. In 1983 I started teaching English at The King's School in Worcester, staying there for my entire career until retirement in 2018. I was a housemaster for 21 of those 35 years and was involved in school sport and especially school drama, directing nearly 50 productions. I completed an MA at The Shakespeare Institute in 2012. I married Sarah in 1984 and we have two daughters, one a teacher and the other a lawyer."

"I started at Warwick in 2014, and a quick four years later, I graduated as a Master of Mathematics. While my degree was in pure and applied Mathematics, I knew that I always wanted to go into tech after I graduated. A lot of my friends were looking for jobs in finance, but I knew that wasn’t for me. I heard about an event that TPP were running at the University with a speaker that I was interested in going to see. I went along to see the speaker, make the most of the free food, and learn a bit more about TPP."

After graduation, Nat worked in the finance and legal industry. She then founded Mochy Group (STEM specialist that provides kids workshop services and designs educational toys) and OhMyClass (course finding tech platform that connects teaching providers with learners). Being nominated for AmCham Women of Influence Awards (Leading Woman in STEM), her go-to motto is 'try and fail, but never fail to try'!

"I left Warwick in 1982 and took up a career in teaching. After a couple of years in Basingstoke, I became a Head of Department in a school in Nuneaton. After six years in this job and a promotion, I was headhunted to become a senior teacher at the prestigious City Technology College in Kingshurst. During this time I was directly involved in writing sections of the then new National Curriculum."

"I have recently written a book on commercial banking, "Banking Matters: An essential guide to commercial banking in an age of disruption".

The book provides an overview of commercial banking and the role that banks play in the economy, and would be useful for anyone starting a career in banking, hoping to challenge incumbent banks, or providing services to banks. It briefly reached #1 for banking books on Amazon in the UK, and was #2 in terms of ratings for such books. It has been publicly endorsed (on LinkedIn) by senior bank executives as a useful resource."

"I am now a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong. I recently received my Faculty’s Emergency Remote Teaching Award for my work in 2019-20 - the first time this Award has been given. One thing the Panel though especially worthy of mention was a project I set up in May 2020 called Hear This! A Festival of Radio Drama on Zoom."

"Having published several novels, short stories and picture books for children, I have just published my first novel for adults, Death at Friar's Inn, in eBook! I'm hoping a paperback will follow."