Alumni Awards Dinner

Born in Jamaica, Geoff moved to London in 1955. He attended Shelbourne Road Secondary Modern and, after showing promise as a cricketer, was admitted to Highbury Grammar School and earned a place on the London Schools’ cricket team.  

After leaving school in 1958, Geoff found a job as a junior lab technician at Queen Elizabeth College, London University. He went on to complete a BSc in Botany at the University of Leicester in 1964. After graduating from the University, Geoff secured a place to study for a PhD in grain science and technology at Heriot-Watt College and the University of Edinburgh, completing his PhD in 1967.  

He is a prominent campaigner for racial equality. Geoff received an OBE in 2003 and was knighted in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to human rights, science and charity. He was made a Freeman of Midlothian in 2012 and was appointed as Jamaica’s first Honorary Consul in Scotland in 2018. He received Jamaica’s National Honour, the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2020 and in 2021, received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pride of Scotland Awards. Geoff was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Leicester in 2016, and in 2022, the University named one of the new accommodation blocks after him – the Sir Geoff Palmer Building. In March 2024, he was appointed a Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT) by King Charles III.  

Geoff discovered the barley abrasion process that revolutionised the world of brewing. Instrumental in the development of sorghum as brewing material and food in Africa, he also helped to secure Britain’s first exports of barley to China. In 1998, he became the fourth person, and first European, to be honored with the American Society of Brewing Chemists’ Award of Distinction. In 1989, Geoff became the first black professor in Scotland and was installed as Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University in October 2021. 

Lynda Wight graduated from the University of Leicester in 1978 with a BSc in Biological Sciences. After graduating, she gained an MSc in Information Science from City, University of London.  

She worked in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs before establishing a global consultancy and training company. After selling the company, she became Executive Director of TOPRA, the international professional association for healthcare regulation and also undertook volunteer roles for the Royal Society of Medicine and Institute of Association Leadership.  

She is a Fellow of the RSA, and an Honorary Fellow of TOPRA, receiving a volunteer Distinguished Service Award from them in 2024. Lynda has volunteered at the University of Leicester for over ten years, previously holding the position of Vice-Chair for the Alumni Association Committee and was instrumental in the introduction of these very Awards, as well as many other events and activities for alumni. She is currently a Team Leader at her local community support hub in Sussex.  

Dr Justine Reilly is a social entrepreneur and believes in the power of an individual identifying a social need business gap which, when filled, is a force for good and change on a wide scale.  

Justine set up Sporting Heritage in 2012, an organisation which would revolutionise how the museum and heritage sector responds to and addresses the history and heritage of sport. Sporting Heritage works across the UK to support heritage to be removed from risk, celebrates this heritage, and tells stories of diversity, endeavor and communities through the sporting past. 

In 2022, Justine set up The Neurodiverse Museum. This is a nationwide organisation which is changing the way the heritage sector (and wider) thinks about and supports neurodivergent people. It is using museums to reflect who neurodivergent people are by campaigning for equitable representation of neurodivergent people within formal heritage spaces and the heritage workforce.  

With the aim of ensuring that music making, and live music access was made available to everyone within the community, in one of the most deprived wards, Justine led the set-up of Tutti, Leeds Community Concert Band in 2018. The band is now embedded in community development and has over 70 members.  

Justine is a champion for creating change and changing perceptions. As an autistic person, she supports emerging neurodivergent women to develop their careers, access opportunities which would not otherwise be open to them, and advocates on a national level for the change needed to inform opportunities in this way. Justine believes that her time at the University of Leicester was crucial in informing the work she does now. She found the experience inspirational, and it sowed the seeds of her successful career and her ability to create positive social impact. 

Chika Okeoma Okwuolisa is a graduate of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering. She graduated from the University of Leicester with an MBA in 2012. Following her younger sister’s brain hemorrhage and subsequent brain surgeries, she served as her primary caregiver.  

Chika established the Brain and Spine Foundation Africa in 2017 and proceeded to Harvard Medical School where she obtained a certificate in Neurological Emergencies. This is a pioneering organization in SubSaharan Africa dedicated to creating much needed awareness of Neurological Conditions, as well as providing crucial support and resources to people affected by neurological conditions, especially brain and spinal cord issues. 

Chika has led the Foundation to become a cornerstone of hope for countless individuals and families grappling with the challenges of neurological disorders. From raising awareness, to advocacy, to facilitating access to medical care and rehabilitation services, the foundation’s holistic approach has transformed lives and fostered a sense of community among those in need.  

As well as her work for the Brain and Spine Foundation Africa, Chika is also Founder of the Samaritan Ark Global Foundation, with a goal of spreading compassion, minimising pain, suffering and poverty whilst fostering peace building and resilience.  

Through innovative programmes and strategic partnerships, she has spearheaded initiatives that tackle systemic issues at their root, empowering individuals to break free from the cycle of poverty and chart a course towards a brighter future. Alongside her charity work, Chika is the Managing Director of Hogrago Engineering Co in Abuja, Nigeria, and Lead Partner at the Base Metal, Iron & Steel Bulletin. 

John Taylor studied medicine at Cambridge, where he rowed for Selwyn College, then at Guy’s Hospital London. His father was a distinguished cardiac surgeon, who would take John to the wards with him. This initiated an interest in surgery which would be cemented by a surgical house job with Ian McColl (later Lord McColl of Dulwich) and a cardiothoracic senior house officer post, at Guy’s Hospital.  

John completed his training at the University of Liverpool and the University of Leicester, graduating as a Doctor of Medicine from Leicester in 1989. He spent a period at the pioneering pancreas transplant unit in Minnesota, before returning to Guy’s as a consultant in 1994. Here he established the pancreatic transplant programme that was his passion for the rest of his surgical career.  

John Taylor’s contribution to Medicine, is acknowledged on a plaque in the innovative Surgical Simulation Suite at the University, officially opened in 2023. This suite was made possible, in part, through John’s generous bequest of £25,000 to the University in 2015. In his lifetime, he was also an annual donor to the University from 2007 to 2013. John died of mesothelioma in 2014.  

Kiran Bhavra is a final year medical student who will be graduating in 2024. She is student Co-Chair of MedRACE (Raising Awareness Celebrating Excellence), a student-staff group focused on mainstreaming equality and diversity across the learning environment, addressing racial harassment and supporting individuals to speak out. The work of MedRACE under her leadership was showcased in the University’s Gold TEF application this year.  

Kiran has led multiple projects, including the current evaluation of MedRACE’s attempts to create a more inclusive surgical environment for students and staff. She has been intimately involved in sourcing and making available theatre scrub caps that fit different hairstyles and headwear, after multiple medical students expressed their effective exclusion from surgical placements. She has also been working regionally with staff and healthcare workers to create a Misogyny and Sexism toolkit that will be utilised within NHS Trusts in England. 

In addition to this, Kiran has co-developed and co-delivered multiple EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) teaching sessions for medical students reaching over 700 students a year. She consistently contributes to Open Days and medical student interview days. 

Kiran was the co-director for the Midlands Racial Equality in Medicine conference in 2023, reaching medical students across the region. She was the previous President of the Medico-Political Society and Marrow at the Leicester Students’ Union where she received the Campaign of the Year Award in 2021. Kiran has had a positive impact on the staff and students she has worked with and has gone beyond to influence and educate others, including school children who are scouts to Members of Parliament and National Health Service leaders. 

Anuj Ashar is a serial tech entrepreneur and the Founder/CEO of Launchpad AI, a platform developing websites and apps for high-growth potential startups. He graduated from the University of Leicester with a BEng in Aerospace Engineering in 2022, with First Class Honours, and was recently appointed as the youngest ever individual to sit on the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Innovation Board.  

Anuj was 18 and studying at the University of Leicester when he launched his first startup, A-Pay. Recognising the issue of students’ money management, Anuj scaled the company into multiple countries and secured a successful exit. Innovate UK subsequently invited him to collaborate with the United Nations in supporting rural communities in South Africa, where he designed and implemented a low-cost system for digitalising payment systems in developing economies. He received a £10,000 award along with investment from various global venture capitalists and as a result, at 19 years old, the UN named him one of the “Top three Global Young Innovators.”  

Having successfully built two tech startups by the age of 21, Anuj went on to establish his third company, Launchpad AI. This platform aims to remove the barriers of entry, particularly for non-technical entrepreneurs and startups, seeking website and app development by creating and utilising proprietary AI technology. Launchpad AI has grown rapidly, and now has a team of 150 developers, with Anuj at the helm.  

In 2023, Anuj established and founded a number of organisations alongside his mentor and Entrepreneur in Residence at the University, Shahid Sheikh OBE. The first, which was born out of a love for cricket, is an E-Commerce platform dedicated to cricket fans around the world and has already grown to over 60 countries.

Dr Angela Stienne is a museum researcher, who graduated from the University of Leicester with an MA in Museum Studies in 2015 and a PhD in 2018. With a specialist interest in making ethics conversations accessible in museums, Angela released her first book, Mummified, The stories behind Egyptian mummies in museums, in 2022.  She maintains connections with the University, taking the role of Disability Expert at the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, whilst being an Honorary Research Fellow of the school of museum studies since 2018. 

Angela has founded three internationally-acclaimed projects: Mummy Stories, the first participatory project on the ethics of human remains in museums; The Lyme Museum, an online museum making invisible illnesses and disabilities visible; and Museum Takeover, an award-winning relabelling of museum collections by refugees and asylum-seekers. The Lyme Museum, established in 2020, is the first online museum to explore invisible illnesses and disabilities through materiality and storytelling. Angela has drawn on her own diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease and Hypermobility syndrome, as well as her museum experience, to fundamentally change the perception and inherent ableism surrounding the lived experience of chronic illnesses and disabilities. The Lyme Museum gives individuals around the world a platform to share their everyday lived experience. Angela has grown a supportive community that feels truly represented by The Lyme Museum, in a way that other museums still struggle to do. Her first in-person exhibition, The Materiality of Invisibility, was a thought-provoking display of flat lays of daily objects taken by individuals around the world; ever committed to the city of Leicester, it took place at the Documentary Media Centre in Leicester in 2022 and is now touring the UK. 

• Highly Commended in this Category: Dr Roger Achkar (Social Sciences PhD 2019)

Tendo Sebuyira is a University of Leicester Law student, studying on the Graduate Entry LLB and due to complete his course in 2023. Prior to his enrolment, Tendo completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. He joined us on the Citizens of Change Scholarship, having recorded a video expressing his desire to use his Law studies to change the lives of children in Uganda, his home country, for the better.

Whilst at Leicester, Tendo has been involved in voluntary and paid employment at the University, including working as a Student Legal Advisor and as a Law School and Careers Development Ambassador. In his role as an ambassador Tendo welcomes prospective students and their families with huge warmth and has been mentioned as one of the best things about the open days on the feedback forms completed by attendees. He is President of the Pan-African Law Society at the University and has breathed new life into the society with activities such as securing sponsorship of leading law firms, which in turn provides the society members with career-enhancing opportunities. Tendo’s lecturers describe his positive attitude as infectious!  

Having completed a term as a Winter Vacation Scheme Student at Herbert Smith Freehills, Tendo has been offered a contract as a Future Trainee Solicitor to commence in 2024. 

• Highly Commended in this Category: Waad Ekwas (Medical Biochemistry BSc)

Lucy Dawson enrolled as a full-time undergraduate Criminology student in 2014, with an interest in joining the police on graduation. In her third year of study, she contracted rare brain disease, Anti NDMA Autoimmune Encephalitis, that wiped her entire brain of memory, speech and all other functions. Lucy spent a considerable time in hospital and was left permanently disabled however returned to her studies in 2018, from which she graduated a year later. She is now a public speaker, disabled model, and content creator. On Lucy’s social media, she amplifies the disabled voice and campaigns for the awareness of medical trauma and encephalitis.  Lucy has also had great success breaking into the modelling industry, which as a disabled person is something much needed. This year she booked London Fashion Week and shot front covers of three different publications, as well as gaining recognition from Vogue Italia.

• Highly Commended in this Category: Dr Katrin Sconti (Infection, Immunity and Inflammation PhD 2021)

Dorin Frăsîneanu completed the double LLB Law Maîtrise in 2016, studying at the University of Leicester and the University of Strasbourg. He then went on to complete an M.P.Sc at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and an MA in European Political and Governance Studies at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. In February 2019, Dorin ran for MP in one of the newly created 51 constituencies in his home country, the Republic of Moldova. Despite narrowly missing entry into the national parliament, he continued his career in the European Commission in areas related to diplomacy, international relations, and foreign policy.  In August 2021, Dorin returned to his home country after 11 years of living abroad, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova to join her cabinet as the PM’s Foreign Policy and EU Integration Adviser.  

During his tenure, the Republic of Moldova faced multiple overlapping crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy crisis and the Russian war in neighbouring Ukraine, while the government was advancing ambitious anti-corruption, economic, and governance reforms. Since the Republic of Moldova has received the largest influx of Ukrainian refugees per capita of any European country, Dorin was also appointed as the Head of the External Aid Coordination Unit in the Single Crisis Management Centre created for the management of the refugee crisis and combatting the effects of war.   

The Republic of Moldova has faced numerous challenges in the 31 years since gaining independence. In the last two years alone, the Moldovan citizens have been exposed to an acute economic and energy crisis, with an inflation rate that had reached a record high of 35% in October 2022, while 30% of the population continues living in poverty (the figure is expected to rise to almost 50% as a result of the effects of Russia's war in Ukraine).  

Dorin has returned to his home country in August 2021 to contribute directly and to help bring change for the Moldovan citizens.

• Highly Commended in this Category: Damilola Adeyemi Hastrup (Business Economic BA 2016)

Ian Johnson graduated with a Geography BA in 1977 and has maintained a close relationship with the University particularly through his extensive volunteering. Having discovered a latent and hitherto unknown interest in accounts for the University Hall of Residence, Ian qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse in 1981. He became a taxation specialist predominantly focused on wealthy individuals, partnerships, trusts and estates. Ian spent most of his career at Grant Thornton UK LLP, initially as a Senior Tax Manager and then Private Client Tax Partner for nearly thirty years, retiring in 2017. Since retiring, Ian has undertaken consultancy work as a Shareholder and Director at Meadowcourt Consultancy Limited.  

Ian has made extensive, regular donations to the University, and has attended a wide variety of Alumni Association events since 2010, including dinners, reunions, receptions, balls, varsity rugby and quizzes. Since 2011, Ian has volunteered as Treasurer and Lay Member of Council at the University and will remain in this role until at least 2025 and was also the Master of Ceremonies for our annual Supporters Reception and Unveiling of the Centenary Golden Book Event in October 2022. He has also been a member of the Silver Hearts Circle and has attended Circle events. 

Sue Campbell trained as a physical education teacher, taught in Manchester and lectured at Leicester and Loughborough Universities.  During this time, Sue represented her country as a player, a coach and a team manager.  She then went on to spend four years as a regional officer with the Sports Council (now Sport England) before moving to the National Coaching Foundation (NCF).  Following 11 years as the Chief Executive of the NCF, she became Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust.  In February 2005, Sue became Chair of that organisation until December 2017.  In April 2005 she was appointed as Chair for UK Sport, following 18 months as the Reform Chair.  Sue held this position for two terms until April 2013, where she presided over Team GB and Paralympic GB’s incredible performance at the London 2012 games. Sue was appointed Head of Women’s Football with The Football Association in March 2016, and became Director of Women’s Football in January 2018. Among many honours, Sue has received 11 Honorary Doctorates and in June 2003, Sue was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to Sport.  

In December 2008 Sue was appointed to the House of Lords as an independent Crossbench Peer and in December 2019 Sue was awarded a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to Sport.  

Sue was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards and was made a Lifetime Ambassador of the Youth Sport Trust in December 2017.  In September 2021 Sue was honoured with the Lifetime Contribution to Education Award from The Teaching Awards Trust in recognition of her work to emphasize the value of sport to children and young people.

Reginald Barnes graduated from the University of Leicester in 1954 with a BA in Latin. During his lifetime, he was a regular supporter of the University, donating to the Common Room Appeal, the Library Appeal, and the Jubilee Phone Campaign. He also gave generously towards the Student Opportunities Fund on several occasions. Reginald was a member of the University Legacy Guild, having pledged to leave the University a gift in his will. When he passed away, Reginald gifted the University a residual from his estate to the value of £51,449 towards student hardship. Reginald's kindness will continue to benefit many students over the coming years.

David Barry FCMA (Mathematics BSc, 1965)

Now retired, David is the former Vice President of Finance at CNH Global and spent 40 years working in the industry. David has been a long-standing supporter of the University beginning his philanthropic journey in 1998 by supporting the Jubilee Campaign and also attending many University events.

In 2011, David set up the Susan Helen Wiley Memorial Fund, in memory of his late wife. The memorial fund supports undergraduate students in Geography, the subject his wife studied at Leicester, who need funding to participate in optional field courses in the third year. Since then he has also set up and donated to the David Barry Endowed Postgraduate Fund, known as the “Alumni Scholarship Fund”, this endowed fund was set up in 2014 to support the cost of postgraduate students in need.

As well as the Women in Maths fund which is a fully endowed scholarship for female postgraduate Mathematics students on a Postgraduate Degree (MSc) in Mathematics, David has also supported Big Data, a match funding campaign for 1960s graduates and most recently the COVID-19 response fund. David continues to top up his three endowments regularly.

In total David’s generosity and passion for supporting students and education has meant he has donated over £115,000 to the University.

Jeffery Boakye (English BA, 2003)

Jeffrey is an author, broadcaster, educator and journalist with a particular interest in education, race, masculinity and popular culture, using the arts to engage his audience and to examine complex and difficult issues.

Jeffrey is an acclaimed author of books including Hold Tight; Black, Listed; Musical Truth and most recently, I Heard What you Said, and co-author of What is Masculinity? Why does it Matter? and Other Big Questions. Jeffrey’s books cover a range of topics from his experience as a black student and teacher, to exploring Black British history through music. Jeffrey also has upcoming books including Musical World, a follow-up to Musical Truth, as well as a children's story Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer – the first of three books in a new series that features a young, black protagonist. Several of his books are aimed at children – empowering a new generation of readers and providing diversity to children’s literature.

As well as being a journalist who writes for The Guardian, The Observer, The Financial Times and GQ magazine, Jeffrey co-hosts BBC Radio 4’s Add to Playlist.

Having written his first three books whilst working full-time as a teacher shows that it is possible to succeed in the tough world of publishing if you have a distinct voice and something important to say.

Sir Nicholas Green (Law LLB, 1980; Honorary Doctor of Laws, 2017)

Sir Nicholas Green made his name in a landmark case against the UK government, since then Sir Nick’s meteoric rise has continued. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1998, becoming UK Permanent Representative to the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe in 2000-2002, he was also appointed Bencher of the Inner Temple in 2002 and made Recorder in 2004. In 2009 he was elected Chair of the Bar Council, the professional body of all barristers in England and Wales for a year and in 2011 became Joint Head of Brick Court Chambers.

In 2013 Sir Nick was awarded a Queen’s Honour and appointed as a judge of the High Court of Justice. Appointments are made by the Queen on recommendations, based on decades of distinguished work. He was appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom in 2018, as well as being appointed Lord Justice of Appeal, the first from Leicester.

Sir Nick has also been a long-standing supporter of the University participating in Law School activities such as lectures and talks, judging extra-curricular court competitions, as well as being an Honorary Professor.

Alanis Ortiz Espinoza (LLB Law (JD Pathway), 2021)

Upon graduating, Alanis received the Frank May Cup for Volunteering Finalist Award in recognition of her contribution to the University and wider community and dedicated hundreds of hours to the University’s Pro Bono Society, the Leicester Law Review, the Peer Mentor programme and the Library Champions programme. In a year Alanis dedicated around 1,000 hours to volunteer for NGOs, campaigns, workshops, webinars, and conferences.

In 2021, Alanis was selected by Equal Voice, a national organisation that advocates for the equal representation of women in Canada’s Parliament, to represent her federal riding in the House of Commons in Canada for the Daughters of the Vote programme. Soon after, she founded an initiative to support students interested in becoming licensed lawyers in Ontario and she tirelessly works to support students throughout their lives.

Alanis is a Director at the Canadian Hispanic Bar Association where she advocates for Latin American lawyers across Canada, Director at Equal Voice, Secretary and Executive Member at the Ontario Bar Association, and Advocacy Committee Member at the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, as well as an Executive Member on the CBA.

In December, 2021, Alanis co-hosted a conference with hundreds of attendees, including the Canadian Prime Minister, to celebrate 100 years of women MPs.

Megan Parks (Physics with Space Science, 2022)

Megan is Co-President of the University’s astronomical society, Astrosoc, and successfully secured funding for 22 of its members to attend the prestigious UKSEDS National Student Space Conference.

As part of the fourth-year research project, Megan worked with members of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), a European Space Agency (ESA) mission, at the University. Megan was tasked with developing an algorithm to assess two proposed trajectories, investigating the scientific opportunities offered by the different mission plans, and evaluating whether spacecraft resources, power and data rate, were capable of meeting the scientific requirements of several different instruments. This was a challenge worthy of spacecraft planners in the ESA, yet Megan made progress with speed and has been performing at a level that would be impressive for a 1st year PhD student.

In the summer of 2021, Megan was awarded an extremely competitive internship with ESA with applications from across 20+ countries. Working with a team at ESTEC, Megan developed a citizen-science project to search for satellite trails in Hubble Space Telescope observations. Her contribution impressed her advisors and a paper is about to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal on the outcome. Megan has been invited to represent the team at the European Astronomical Society meeting in Valencia, Spain, this summer.

Shailesh Shinde (Advanced Mechanical Engineering with Management Industry MSc, 2018)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shailesh and a group of University alumni established ‘PPE For Heroes’ to help provide free 3D printed face shields to frontline staff.

Shailesh led the initiative contacting alumni in the UK and India, establishing a network of 50 volunteers with nine 3D printers. He also started a crowdfunding campaign raising over £1,500 in the UK and ₹50,000 (INR) in India to ensure they could buy raw materials, as well as establishing a website and social media platforms to take requests for face shields, mainly from care homes.

The initiative attracted local media attention and was featured on BBC Radio Leicester, as well as in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers newsletter.

Shailesh’s determination and professional and alumni network enabled him to have a positive impact on society in what was a challenging and frightening time for many.

Fellow alumni supporting Shailesh and this initiative include:

• Milan Kerung (Advanced Mechanical Engineering and Management MSc, 2018)
• Shatabdi Dutta Roy (Software Engineering for Financial Services and Industry MSc, 2017)
• Shashidar Ette (Advanced Software Engineering with Industry MSc, 2018)
• Tony Kenny (Web Applications and Services MSc, 2020)
• Liam Jordan (Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience BSc, 2021)

What have you been doing since you won the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020?

I was thrilled to be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 for my work as a songwriter and musician, after having been the principal songwriter and leader of Strawbs for over fifty years. Unfortunately, two weeks after being presented with the Award the first lockdown started, but the band and I were determined to write and produce a whole new Strawbs album. The first song wrote itself – ‘Strange Times’, and the album ‘Settlement’ was written and recorded remotely and released by Cherry Red Records in February 2021, reaching No 2 in the Official Folk Album charts and No 3 in the Official Progressive Album charts! 

What does winning an alumni award mean to you? 

Winning an alumni award is recognition that my music has resonated around the world and is appreciated by people whose opinions I value and respect.  

What made you choose Leicester and what has studying at Leicester enabled and inspired you to do since graduation?  

The promotional brochure from the University was far more interesting than any of the others I considered. I was convinced that Leicester was where I wanted to study as their spirituality about the area was something that I had not experienced before, having lived in West London. I deliberately chose the general degree and I am grateful to The University of Leicester for providing such broad subjects, as the breadth of knowledge that I gained from one-year courses in Psychology and British Archaeology broadened my horizons.  

What is the one skill that the University helped you develop and which you have continued to use?   

To this day I still use the mathematical disciplines in complex spread sheets not only for cash flow projections but also for planning social projects for The Commonwealth Medical Trust, of which I am a trustee. The structured discipline has also been beneficial in the methodology of song writing, album planning, and tour budgeting. 

Reflecting on your time at University – what are you most grateful for? 

When I reflect on my time at The University of Leicester, I am most grateful for the social experience of developing friendships with people who were far more mature than myself.  

What was your proudest moment during your time at Leicester and what do you continue to be proud of when thinking about the University of Leicester? 

I have fond memories of becoming the first ever chairman of the newly formed University Folk Cub and my proudest moment was organising the University’s first Folk Festival. 

What advice do you have for anyone who would like to enter a similar work role to you? 

I advise anyone who wishes to have a career within the music industry to get the best music business lawyer you can afford before signing any contract. I wish I had taken my own advice! 

What did you discover about yourself whilst studying with us? 

During my time at the University of Leicester, I learned to look beyond the straightforward direct answer to any question and think laterally, giving me the grounding and confidence that I have relied on ever since. For that, I am eternally grateful. 

What ambitions do you have for the future? 

I aspire to write the songs for another Strawbs album in the future. 

Find out more about what Future Leader alumni award winner Mesut, has achieved since graduating (including working as a researcher for The University of Leicester) and what winning an alumni award means to him.

What have you been up to since you won the Future Leader Award in 2019? 

At the time of receiving my award, I was completing a fellowship at the Science Museum, which ended in December 2019. I then took an 18 month break to create an online museum called The Lyme Museum, which responded to current events and I also wrote my first book.  

What does winning an alumni award mean to you? 

It was significant to get this award because my research in museum studies always felt a bit different from what others were doing, so to see my work with refugees and digital projects recognised meant a lot. Also, growing up with an invisible disability meant that I did not see people like me doing great things and winning awards - there was a representation issue. So, winning an award as a person with an invisible illness and disability was so important. 

What made you choose Leicester and what has studying at Leicester enabled and inspired you to do since graduation? 

In 2013 I came to Leicester to complete MA in Museum Studies, as it was such a vibrant place and so multi-cultural. I loved it and the University so much that I stayed for a PhD and I am now an Honorary Research Fellow! But, for me, the most important thing it has taught me is the power of community and diversity. 

What is the one skill that the University helped you develop and which you have continued to use? 

Public speaking for sure! I started giving my first talks during my PhD, and I got small grants to attend conferences. This dramatically helped me to develop a strong skillset in public speaking and my work now would look very different if I did not gain this skill set during my time at Leicester. 

Reflecting on your time at University – what are you most grateful for? 

I am incredibly grateful for the people I met during my time at Leicester - from my tremendous supervisors to friends for life who now live around the world. 

What was your proudest moment during your time at Leicester and what do you continue to be proud of when thinking about the University of Leicester? 

Graduations were proud moments for me. Having my parents and sister attend made my little childhood dream come true and I went on to earn a PhD in a foreign language! When I think about the University of Leicester, I now know that the environment solidified my goal to continue with my studies and complete a PhD in just three years. 

What advice do you have for anyone who would like to enter a similar work role to you? 

My advice for anyone that would like to enter a similar career as myself would be to practice communication skills as they are extremely important. Also, make sure you try new things and stay curious as you can do many things with your studies, and you do not have to follow one set path.  

What did you discover about yourself whilst studying with us? 

Whilst studying at The University of Leicester, I discovered that I could use my voice to amplify important causes and give others a voice. Furthermore, due to being in an environment that fostered independent thinking, I learned to have confidence in my ideas, that my opinion matters and that small projects can have a significant impact.  

Have you been to any alumni events since winning your award? What was your favourite event? 

I attend online events as I returned to France 18 months ago. I eagerly await returning to the UK to see my friends graduate and for the Centenary Alumni Celebration!  

What ambitions do you have for the future? 

In the future, I plan to keep writing and developing digital and in-person projects that give people a voice and make them think 'wait, I feel seen, I matter, I am visible' when they head back home.

What have you been up to since you won the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 2015?

Since winning the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 2015, I have stood down from my role as CEO at the Science Council and now support voluntary organisations and charities with good governance and strategy on a consultancy basis. More recently, I have been working on developing a new volunteer-based literacy support scheme in East Sussex for early years students who have fallen even further behind during Covid, as well as joining the Construction Industry Training Board as an independent member.

What does winning an alumni award mean to you?

Receiving an alumni award was an incredibly special experience. Having my work recognised by the University helps to positively highlight the benefits of having a career in the voluntary sector.

What made you choose Leicester and what has studying at Leicester enabled and inspired you to do since graduation?

Although I liked the idea of studying in a medium-size institution, it was in fact the course that made me choose The University of Leicester. Having the opportunity to study five subjects in my first year, four of which were new to me, was an exciting and challenging opportunity that helped me understand a world way beyond my A level subjects. Since graduating, I have been inspired to continuously campaign for the things I believe in and drive the implementation of change in the areas I think matter for society.

What is the one skill that the University helped you develop and which you have continued to use?

One of the top skills that I learned during my time at The University of Leicester, which I continue to use, is articulating my thoughts and ideas, both on paper and verbally. As a result, I have the ability to put a good business case together, present it and win support.

Reflecting on your time at University – what are you most grateful for?

Leicester was the right fit for me both academically and socially. I am most grateful for having the personal support I needed at times of pressure and stress but also the space to develop who I am and get involved in voluntary activities in the town.

What was your proudest moment during your time at Leicester and what do you continue to be proud of when thinking about the University of Leicester?

Reading my exam results and realising I had done well and that all my hard work was worth it, coupled with being awarded an Honorary Doctorate were two of the proudest moment during my time at The University of Leicester.

What advice do you have for anyone who would like to enter a similar work role to you?

For anyone wishing to have a similar career path as me, I would advise whilst at University take up the opportunities on offer beyond your degree. Your subject knowledge alone will rarely be enough to get on in life – the other skills matter equally as much. Show your employers you are a well-rounded individual by getting involved in clubs, societies, campaigns, voluntary work. Also remember you never stop learning, so read widely to understand the world around you.

What did you discover about yourself while studying with us?

Whilst studying at Leicester, I realised that I loved to study and learn but I was not cut out to be the geography teacher I initially set out to be.

Have you been to any alumni events since winning your award? What was your favourite event?

I thoroughly enjoy attending the annual alumni dinners and look forward to the next one.

What ambitions do you have for the future?

In the future, I will endeavour to use my skills and energy for as long as I can to build a fairer society. I am currently developing a new volunteer-based literacy support scheme in East Sussex for early years students who have fallen even further behind during Covid.

What does winning an alumni award mean to you?  

Winning the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 2013 was both an incredible honour and a great surprise. My years in Leicester are among the best in my long life and it gives me immense pleasure that I have made my University proud. I have followed Leicester's ascending star from the small University College in the early '60s when I was there, to its present stature and status in the world and its pioneering distant education reach, particularly in Africa. So I am enormously proud to be a part of the Leicester Alumni community! 

What have you been up to since you won the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 2013?  

Since winning the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 2013, I am still involved with education, mainly at the governance level. I have also continued my engagement with the SOS Children's Villages International. Having also celebrated my 80th birthday in June, it is hard to believe that over 60 years have flown by since I left Leicester in 1963! 

What made you choose Leicester and what has studying at Leicester enabled and inspired you to do since graduation? 

When I visited Leicester, I immediately fell in love with the campus, the open and friendly behaviour of the students, and their eagerness to embrace me into their fold. Since graduating, Leicester taught me to strive to and maintain high standards in all aspects of my life which has guided me throughout my life and career. 

What is the one skill that the University helped you develop and which you have continued to use?  

The University of Leicester helped me develop the ability to question, look for the source, look beneath the surface, gauge the true from the false, and walk straight towards that truth. I continue to use those skills to this day. 

Reflecting on your time at University – what are you most grateful for?  

When I reflect on my time at Leicester, I am most grateful for the values instilled in me along with the first-class education I received, not forgetting the lifelong friends that I formed! 

What was your proudest moment during your time at Leicester and what do you continue to be proud of when thinking about the University of Leicester?  

My proudest moment was when I finally understood and mastered a course called "The Use of English as a Literary Medium". At first, I did not even understand the title, but by the end of the course, I was able to do precisely what was intended— and that was my proudest moment. Overall, the experience taught me that I was capable of anything once I set my mind to it. An excellent teacher can inspire their students to heights they had not dreamed of; this has inspired all my career in teaching and education. 

What advice do you have for anyone who would like to enter a similar work role to you? 

For anyone that would like to follow a similar career path as myself, never forget what a profound influence a teacher or educator can have in shaping the character and career of the students in their care. My advice would be to work hard at what you are good at and enjoy doing; believe that you are capable of anything so long as you are prepared to give it your all; let these guide you to the career or profession you choose.

Danielle was recognised by fellow alumni and awarded the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award for her achievements as an archer in both Paralympic and able bodied competition. Find out more about Danielle's achievements since graduating.