Blog
Our graduates have gone on to do a variety of interesting and exciting things throughout their careers and beyond. Our blog shines a spotlight on the voices of our alumni and friends and on the transformative effect gifts of time and donations from alumni have had on our students and the wider University.
Alumni profile - Claire Meadows
25 September 2020
My career path began quite logically but has taken a few plot twists in recent years!... After over twenty-seven years in teaching, the time came to take a career break, so I fulfilled a lifelong ambition and became a full-time martial arts instructor.
Alumni profile - Bilal Khan
24 September 2020
Studying politics at Queen Mary gave me the opportunity to further research and understand how politics influences economic decision-making, and further piqued my career interests of becoming a political figure.
Student Story: Amelia Elamradi
23 September 2020
Amelia is a BSc Biology Student at Queen Mary University of London and she is the first in her family to go to university. Amelia is a recipient of the Annual Fund Scholarship and she told us how alumni support made a difference to her university experience.
Amelia Elamradi, Queen Mary Annual Fund Scholarship 2019-2022
Alumni profile - Gabriel Krauze
21 September 2020
Booker Prize long-listed author and English alumnus, Gabriel Krauze, discusses the themes of morality, beauty and trauma in his debut novel, Who They Was, the challenges of being labelled a “gangster” in the media, and how his passion for literature made him realise he needed to do something constructive with his life.
#TogethernessThursdays blog post - Pareemala Mauree
20 September 2020
Today's #TogethernessThursdays blog post features alumna Pareemala Mauree (Comparative and International Dispute Resolution LLM, 2019) and her plight to raise awareness of how the Covid-19 pandemic and recent ecological disasters are threatening her home country of Mauritius.
Alumni profile - Paul Clements
19 September 2020
To be in the newsroom at the time an era-defining story breaks is exhilarating; I was there for the credit crunch, the expenses scandal... I was even thinking about putting my coat on and going home for the night when, in January, Harry and Meghan announced they were quitting the royal family (we pretty much tore up the next day's newspaper on the spot).
Alumni profile - Shamima Akter
15 September 2020
As part of Welcome Week 2020, we caught up with alumna and newly elected President of the Students' Union, Shamima Akter (Computer Science and Multimedia BSc, 2020): "One of my main aims this year is to be able to lead the union through a global pandemic. I think surviving this year and making sure we stay true to our values and who we are as an organisation is a massive priority."
Alumni profile - Konstantinos Bozas
15 September 2020
I have now been working at Amazon for eight months... I am helping sellers actively find deficiencies in their products and then helping them to re-advertise their products in our marketplace... employees of Amazon are constantly encouraged to explore different opportunities within the company. Seeing as Amazon is so big, there is the option to move between different departments and job roles.
Alumni profile - Cameron Storey
14 September 2020
As part of Welcome Week 2020, we caught up with alumnus and newly elected Students' Union VP Humanities & Social Sciences, Cameron Storey (Economics and Politics BSc, 2020): "I think what I really hope to achieve this year is to really make the most of the fact that my role is entirely new. I have the opportunity to determine how the role will look for years to come and I really hope I can set the bar for the role going forward."
Alumni profile - Tiana Dinard-Samuel
14 September 2020
As part of Welcome Week 2020, we caught up with alumna and newly elected Students' Union VP Communities, Tiana Dinard-Samuel (Film Studies and Hispanic Studies BA, 2020): "In this role I get to look out for the welfare of all of our communities and liberation groups such as BAME students, LGBT+ students, women students and international students and I’m so glad we have a role now dedicated to supporting them."
Alumni profile - Julian Robinson
12 September 2020
Most of the newer buildings on campus were completed whilst I was here either as Project Manager or Project Director... My first project was the Student Residences by the canal and the last thing was the big Student Village and the Medical College in Whitechapel. I am very proud of most of the projects I was involved with. The buildings I commissioned and oversaw were really quite significant and they won awards, thus lifting the whole kudos of Queen Mary.
#TogethernessThursdays blog post - Isabel Biggs
10 September 2020
Alumna Isabel Biggs (English BA, 2019) created the blog post ‘The Post-It Plot: Micro-Journaling During Lockdown’, to help those suffering with mental ill health during lockdown. Isabel has kindly consented to us sharing her blog post in full.
Student Story: Aisha Sesay
8 September 2020
Aisha is a BEng Chemical Engineering student at Queen Mary. She is the eldest of three siblings and first in her family to go to university.
Aisha Sesay, Annual Fund Bursary recipient 2019-2022
Alumni profile - Dr Raja Awais Ali
4 September 2020
My story is being rejected twice and then doing another degree and then finally getting in to study Dentistry. However, I then had to raise £36,000 to make my dream a reality... my story is testimony to anyone who has a vision or a goal – you can achieve it, you just have to put your mind to it and put yourself out there.
Alumni profile - Lucy Sofroniou
1 September 2020
I started Queen Mary at such a pivotal moment in my life and it has become a place of so many great memories for me. It was such a positive experience, both academically and personally - I'll always look back on those three years so fondly.
Alumni profile - Dr Daminda Attanayake
28 August 2020
I have been the Team Physician to National Hockey and Netball teams and the Contingent Doctor for the Commonwealth Games 2018 in Australia. I am currently working as the Chief Medical Officer to the Sri Lanka Cricket team and as the medical representative to the International Cricket Council from Sri Lanka.
Alumni profile - Bekeme Masade-Olowola
25 August 2020
My work has put me in board and other leadership positions, including becoming the first West African on the board of the leading sustainability standard-setter, the Global Reporting Initiative, Amsterdam, and the Nigerian version of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the Business Coalition for Sustainable Development Nigeria.
Student Story: Weronika Martyna
25 August 2020
"My name is Weronika and I’m a second-year Dentistry student at Barts and The London. I’m so pleased to be awarded the Scholarship for Excellence this year funded by our generous alumni. Thank you for your support!"
Alumni profile - Um-E-Aymen Babar
21 August 2020
In regards to the fundraising campaign Um-E-Aymen Babar launched to financially support her MPhil at Cambridge: I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated and shared the link. Money should never be a barrier to education and this campaign has made me want to help other young people in a similar situation.
Alumni profile - Prajith Rakunathan
19 August 2020
I remember when I was younger saying to my friends whilst playing several hours of Fifa and Halo on my Xbox that it would be so cool to work for the likes of a Microsoft. I look back now and that still hasn’t changed, technology is so engrained in our lives and being involved in a company that is on the bleeding edge keeps me on my toes.
Alumni profile - Nizam Kabir
14 August 2020
I work for one of the UK’s largest Health and Safety Distributors, Arco. I manage a team of 8 planners, responsible for maintaining the supply of health and safety products sourced from all over the world... working in supply chain is a constant battle for equilibrium.
Alumni profile - Bryna Teli
11 August 2020
“I was looking for a course that would help me explore global markets and development of international business and was particularly interested in the world economy and the dynamics of development. I figured understanding this would go a long way in building my foundation of working abroad.”
Student Story: Uswah Naseem
11 August 2020
Uswah is a BA Law and Politics student. She accepted a place to study at Queen Mary after obtaining A*, A* and B in her A-Levels (Politics, English Literature and Geography). Uswah is the eldest of three siblings and is the first in her family to go to university.
Uswah Naseem, Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2019-2022
Clearing alumni profile - Sonia Goodman
10 August 2020
I got my insurance university choice, but was adamant that I wanted to study in London. I was delighted to see that Queen Mary University of London was in the Clearing and Adjustment list... Dr Kirsteen Anderson invited me to the University for a friendly and informative conversation about the course. As I walked around the University, I immediately knew it was the right environment for me... my experience was truly unforgettable!
Alumni profile - Nabil Al-Kinani
9 August 2020
Just because you studied something, it doesn’t mean you have to conform to the limits of your degree. I studied biomedical sciences and I work in construction and property, and one of my biggest projects delivered is in literature (Authors of the Estate: Chalkhill Edition). Don’t limit yourself.
Alumni profile - Bismeh Shafi
5 August 2020
“The MA from Queen Mary has allowed me to segue into my field of interest. I am currently working at The Citizens Foundation (TCF), a Pakistan-based NGO that provides education to more than 250,000 under-privileged children across Pakistan.”
Student Story: Kin Liu
28 July 2020
"I’m Kin Liu, a Medical student at Barts and The London. I’m the eldest of 3 siblings and the first in my family to go to University."
Kin Chang Liu, Annual Fund Scholarship for Excellence recipient 2019-20
Alumni profile - Rosie Vincent
27 July 2020
"I love the balance that I have from my two jobs. Sometimes I will be sat at a desk and managing many tasks in the morning but then in the evening I will be jumping around as an animal and helping young people to have fun.”
Alumni profile - Yashvardhan Rana
23 July 2020
I have, and shall always maintain unconditionally, that my year as an LLM student at Queen Mary was easily one of the best years of my life. It gave me a lot more than just a degree. [...] Intellectually, it consistently challenged me to simultaneously learn and unlearn - amplifying my personal growth and helping me develop a broader view and perception of which I would previously not have considered myself capable.
Alumni profile - Oliver Davis
21 July 2020
While I was still doing my masters, I got my job as the Regional Organiser here in Tower Hamlets. It was very much the contacts, the networks and the exposure that I gained through my degree that was all part of one direct line to where I am now.
Alumni profile - Lovena Kureemun
19 July 2020
Coming from an island in the Indian Ocean which is remote to many places around the world has made me become an explorer by nature. I always like to discover new things and new methods of doing things differently. The course at Queen Mary not only satisfied my passion for science and engineering but also my desire to explore new cultures as students all around the world enrol on this specific course.
Alumni profile - Anterleen Singh
15 July 2020
Studying at Queen Mary really helped me develop and build my network with various people from different backgrounds. As well as deepening my knowledge of finance, it helped me to gain international exposure and interact with people belonging to different cultures, which really changed my perspective on life.
Alumni profile - Marissa Landy
14 July 2020
Being an actor is the most thrilling job imaginable. The fact that I get to travel around the world whilst always doing new projects is luxurious. It is a very tough and competitive environment but the moment you get into that rehearsal room or on stage, it all becomes worth it.
Student Story: Aisha Sohail
14 July 2020
Aisha is a BSc Computer Science and Management student. She accepted a place to study at Queen Mary University of London after obtaining 3As in her A Levels (Sociology, Politics and English Literature). Aisha is from the London Borough of Newham As the eldest of three siblings, she is the first in her family to go to university.
Aisha Sohail, Queen Mary Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2019-2022
Alumni profile - Dinara Punchihewa
13 July 2020
Inspired by the lives of the women and men around me, I began the ‘Punchi Actors’ initiative; a non-profit organisation that not only shares my passion with children who love acting, but also gives these children from different financial and social backgrounds the opportunity to build on, and follow their dreams.
Alumni profile - Aniththa Ragunathan
8 July 2020
Amazon is full of opportunity - it is a great place to work and to learn something new every day. I have always used Amazon to purchase products but I never knew how it felt to actually be part of Amazon. After joining Amazon, I realised that there is a much bigger picture that shaped the way Amazon is now. From FC associates working hard to make customers happy to us recruiting great talents to work for Amazon - we are all working as part of a team and I love it.
Alumni profile - Roberta Rhyse
7 July 2020
Roberta Rhyse Kirosingh graduated from Queen Mary in 2019 with a bachelors degree in Politics and International Relations. She is the founder of The Simple Press and works as an Executive Westminster Manager for a Member of Parliament, as well as a Policy Researcher.
Alumni profile - Mya Medina
5 July 2020
After graduating, I tried a couple of different career paths, both in PR and journalism, but even then, I was tutoring after work or on weekends because I loved it so much. When I met Alex, Tutor House’s CEO and Founder, I was astounded by his commitment to making tutoring accessible to everyone (regardless of their financial situation).
Alumni profile - Hassan Shaigan
4 July 2020
The Professors of Arbitration at Queen Mary are globally well-known. Anyone who not only excels in his/her field but who is also brilliant at teaching and spreading knowledge is the perfect person to study from and Queen Mary had many of these said faculty members.
Alumni profile - Edmond Ng
1 July 2020
There is absolutely no justification to discriminate, verbally abuse or physically assault anyone due to their race, ethnic origin, or on any ground. Chinese and East Asians are as likely to be infected by Covid-19 as anyone else in the world. Racism spreads like a virus... Virus does not respect any border, religion, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity. I call on all communities to unite to spread our compassion and empathy rather than hate and division to defeat Covid-19.
Alumni profile - Olga Kravchenko
30 June 2020
Olga Kravchenko graduated with a degree in Drama from Queen Mary in 2016. She is now CEO of Musemio, a virtual reality app that connects children with content from museums around the world and seeks to turn them into museumgoers of the future.
Donor Story: Michael Bridson
30 June 2020
Michael Bridson is a Queen Mary alumnus. He studied BA History and graduated in 1956. He is now a retired Personnel manager living in Surrey. He told us about his time at Queen Mary and why he chose to support the Annual Fund.
28 June 2020
Home for me is Pakistan. However, the excellent alumni network, as well as the Queen Mary faculty, always makes their presence felt in every part of the world and I never feel far away from the institute. Once a Queen Mary alumnus always a Queen Mary alumnus!
Student Pride profile - Gemma Stokes
25 June 2020
Identifying as a queer, cisgender woman, Pride is essential to me in many ways. In my mind, Pride is more than just the annual march (although the parade is incredibly uplifting). I look to incorporate Pride into every aspect of my life and identity, in order to be more unashamedly myself and maybe even inspire others along the way.
Alumni profile - Lewis Corner
23 June 2020
Pride to me means having the freedom to live as your true self. Too many people are forced to conceal parts of their identity for fear of rejection or discrimination. We need to cultivate a society that embraces different identities from a young age, allowing people to grow up with confidence, security and an acceptance that difference is beautiful.
Alumni profile - Vicky Norton
22 June 2020
The key selling point for me was the modular system Queen Mary offered. That was quite rare back then, and it enabled me to take linguistics classes and also marketing classes. I loved learning more about the theory of language, and am very proud of that ‘with Linguistics’ in my degree!
Alumni profile - Jade Tolley
21 June 2020
I get to work with a wide range of brilliant, hugely successful authors. I've had the privilege of working on Elton John’s autobiography, which has definitely been a career highlight... In ten years' time I’d definitely like to see myself in a senior role within publishing, with lots more experiences to draw from, and even more brilliant books to work on!
Alumni Pride Profile - Lewis Thomas
16 June 2020
To me, Pride means unapologetic authenticity and visibility. The LGBTQ+ community is actually quite an elusive concept to describe as it encompasses so many different people with so many different experiences. But at its core, for me, the LGBTQ+ community represent unity in the face of adversity.
Alumni profile - Dr Mir Yasir Umair
12 June 2020
My wife and I were looking for a Masters opportunity to pursue together and we both felt that Queen Mary was the right place to continue onto postgraduate study... we had to adapt to studying in an alien place which was memorable in all aspects.
Student pride profile - Hannah Cragg
8 June 2020
To me, Pride is all about activism and celebrating who we are. It's really important, both as a historian but just as a member of the LGBT community as well, that the first Pride was a riot. We owe the rights we enjoy today thanks to trans women of colour. So amongst all the music and the rainbows and the parades, it's important to celebrate where we came from.
Alumni profile - Angela Inwood
7 June 2020
I studied my degree as a mature student, so began with some trepidation... However, I soon bonded with the small English & History cohort, the majority of whom were also mature students and I really appreciated that we were supportive of each other. That said the young students were also great to be with, providing me with a different viewpoint.
Student Story: Dominic Morey
2 June 2020
Dominic is a 4th-year student studying Medicine at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. He holds a First Class Honours in BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science and was awarded a Distinction in MSc Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology.
Dominic Morey, Medicine, Annual Fund Hardship Bursary recipient 2019-20
Alumni profile - Raveesha Gupta
30 May 2020
Studying and living in a different country was a life changing experience. It teaches you to get along with people from different backgrounds and gives you a much broader perspective in life... I love how culturally diverse Queen Mary is, I made friends from all around the world.
Alumni profile - Dr Rizwan Ullah
27 May 2020
My time and study at Barts improved me not only from a scholarly point of view, but also helped me to utilise my experiences for the betterment of my students both here in Pakistan and abroad... I found Barts' facilities, student support and London’s diverse cultural environment made adjusting as an international student very easy.
Alumni profile - Dr Ernest Odhiambo
25 May 2020
The pandemic has also spurred innovation in me. As I write this, I am in the middle of preparing for a presentation of a Ventilator which we have designed and made from scratch using local materials together with a team of 7 colleagues from the departments of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at the University of Nairobi.
#TogethernessThursdays: Westfield College
23 May 2020
Queen Mary University of London merged with Westfield College in 1989. Westfield College, like Queen Mary, was founded to provide higher education for a community with less educational opportunities: women.
Alumni profile - Kia Abdullah
22 May 2020
After university, I worked in tech for three years, but my first love won out eventually. I took a 50% pay cut to take a writing role at Asian Woman magazine... since then I've started my own website, Atlas & Boots, and written for publications like The New York Times, The Guardian and The Telegraph, and published a novel with HarperCollins with the next one out in 2020. It’s certainly been an interesting journey!
Student Story: Caroline Olabisi
17 May 2020
Caroline is a medical student at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. She is the first in her family to study medicine. Caroline was awarded the Annual Fund Hardship Bursary thanks to the generosity of our alumni, to support her in her final year of study.
Caroline Olabisi, Annual Fund Hardship Bursary recipient 2019-20
Alumni profile - Ray Canham
15 May 2020
To a large degree, Queen Mary chose me. At the time (1961) admission to university degree programs was far from automatic; only 5% of high school graduates went on to study at universities. When the academic year began, I was delighted to find that the class size was small—14 students; seven male and seven female—all of whom were very compatible despite differences in age and experience.
Alumni profile - Sabrine Shaw
13 May 2020
With my love for all things media paired with my passion for story-telling and interviewing, I decided to create my own podcast - Shaw Me Your Way. Having grown up in Dubai and continued my education in London, I knew I could create a diverse platform of people who are happy to share their journeys into their businesses, artistry, careers and more.
Alumni profile - Neha Patel
12 May 2020
I am the co-founder of Your999 Limited, an app/platform launched in 2015 for the general public to use in all sorts of emergencies. For example, in response to the global fight against coronavirus, we have put together a resource that people around the world can use to find the most up to date information.
Alumni profile - Shivani Reddy
10 May 2020
At Fairtrade, I worked on a wide range of issues (fairer prices for banana farmers; public-private partnerships; gender equality in agricultural supply chains; Sustainable Development Goals; modern slavery; post-Brexit trade policy…). After almost four years, I decided that I wanted to see if I could make an impact on people’s lives from inside a large company so I moved to Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP).
.jpg)
A special message from Queen Mary's President and Principal to our alumni
7 May 2020
Professor Colin Bailey CBE, President and Principal of Queen Mary University of London, addresses our global alumni community about the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch Colin's video to alumni .
#TogethernessThursdays: WW2
6 May 2020
This #TogethernessThursday we thought we’d remind you of how the University community has worked together in the past and continued to function even in extraordinary circumstances.
Student Story: Jesse Grainger
6 May 2020
Jesse Grainger is completing a Joint Honours programme in BA Hispanic Studies and Politics at Queen Mary University of London. He lives in Tower Hamlets and is the first in his family to go to university. He told us how support from our kind alumni made a difference to his studies.
Jesse Grainger, Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2019
Class of 2020 - Welcome to our Global Alumni Community!
2 May 2020
Did you know that your Queen Mary journey doesn’t end when you graduate? We, the Alumni Engagement Team, are here to help you maintain a lifelong connection to your University and to each other. Once you graduate, you automatically become part of our global network of almost 180,000 alumni based in over 160 countries around the world.
Alumni profile - Dr Nilesh R. Parmar
30 April 2020
Dr Nilesh R. Parmar is one of a few dentists in the UK to have a degree from all three London Dental Schools: "about 80% of my work is implant dentistry. One thing I love about implants is if you lose your front tooth, I can replace it in such a way that nobody would ever know it isn’t real, even if they get really close to you."
Alumni profile - Corinna Bordoli
25 April 2020
As CEO of your own company you learn every day. This is certainly the most rewarding part of being an entrepreneur... Another rewarding aspect is that of building long lasting and like-minded connections and partnerships. I see creativity as a social phenomenon where other people's ideas, especially when different, enrich you and help you create.
#TogethernessThursdays: The People's Palace
21 April 2020
The history of Queen Mary University of London and the legacy of its predecessor institutions contain many examples of communities coming together to support each other. Queen Mary's Archives team shines a light on one such example: The People's Palace.
Alumni profile - Emma Hedington
17 April 2020
I hadn’t necessarily considered the publishing industry as a career path whilst at university, and I wasn’t particularly aware of academic publishing, but I’ve been in this industry ever since... I’ve worked my way up at various companies... I’m pretty sure all my friends are bored of me talking about working with NASA now!
Student Story: Sadad Mahir
8 April 2020
Sadad is a BSc Accounting and Management student. He accepted a place to study at Queen Mary after obtaining A, A and B in his A Levels (Economics, History and, Government and Politics). Sadad is a former care leaver and lives in Newham.
Sadad Mahir, Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2019
Alumni profile - Zsófi Szemerédy
6 April 2020
I didn’t speak English particularly well when I came here... Queen Mary has given me the language skills and the courage to be confident in my everyday working life... My undergraduate studies were all about building foundations, pretty solid ones at that, to move forward and be able to follow my dreams. My degree truly opened up the world.
Alumni profile - Raymond Poon
2 April 2020
During my first year of University, I attended the University of London Officers’ Training Corps (ULOTC) and underwent military training. I got to see HMS Bulwark and a Royal Marine Landing Craft, which gave me an appreciation of the type of work engineers do to aid the UK’s naval warfare force. I never expected to end up in the defence industry, but I guess my experience in the ULOTC gave me the kick for it.
Alumni profile - Fizza Ali
26 March 2020
I am currently working as a corporate legal trainee lawyer for commercial and transactional practice in one of the biggest and renowned law firms in Pakistan. In the nearby future, I look forward to playing an active role in enhancing the quality and standard of legal practice in Pakistan!
The Sami Sidhom Award
25 March 2020
Sami Sidhom was a BA (Hons) History student at Queen Mary University of London and aspired to become a lawyer after completing his education. He was only in his first year, when he tragically passed away, at the age of 18.
Alumni profile - Marrisa Joseph
20 March 2020
When my work was commissioned by Palgrave Macmillan it was a touching moment. Much of my research is framed around understanding what the Macmillan brothers did back in the nineteenth century. Now I have become a Macmillan author, I feel like I have joined an illustrious club!
Alumni profile - Diana Akanho
9 March 2020
I am a Committee Member for Women in Data UK. The vision of the organisation is to create gender parity within STEM subjects through presentations and talks. We like to talk about how ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ and to make women realise that there are women working in certain roles and careers that they may have thought were previously off limit to them. I will always act as an advocate for gender parity where possible so as to make a pathway for women in certain careers.
Alumni profile - Dr Hannah Thompson
6 March 2020
Being named on BioBeat’s annual 50 Movers and Shakers in BioBusiness report, a report which highlights the trailblazers and trendsetters shaping the future of the UK life sciences sector, was such a lovely achievement which recognised my role in working with patients and oncologists to help develop CCG.ai’s artificial intelligence platform for treatment monitoring of cancer... As for my future career, I look forward to a wide range of opportunities with the healthcare, environment and people sectors, helping to grow businesses and make a difference to the world.
Alumni profile - Jaspreet Kaur, aka Behind the Netra
2 March 2020
Since 2015, I have been performing my spoken word on stages across the UK, aiming to tackle issues related to gender discrimination, mental health stigma, the postcolonial immigrant experience, taboo issues within the South Asian community and much more. I have met lots of inspirational women from a range of different industries and backgrounds. This network of inspirational women is continuing to grow and we all support and guide one another.
Alumni profile - Julie Fleck
27 February 2020
The work that I did to make London 2012 ‘the most accessible Olympic and Paralympic Games ever’ has definitely been the highlight of my career. The policies and planning guidance I had written for the London Plan were applied to the planning proposals for the Olympic venues and parkland so that all the designers were obliged to consider the needs of disabled people from the very beginning of the design process.
Alumni profile - Dr Pedram Kordrostami
23 February 2020
I am currently working as a junior doctor in one of London’s hospitals. I am also the founder of AfterDrink which is a supplement designed to support alcohol-related health and co-founder of a canned water company promoting a sustainable alternative to plastic bottles. I spend the time I have off from work growing these businesses with support from friends and family.
Alumni profile - Dr Milad Shadrooh, aka The Singing Dentist
19 February 2020
My nurse got in touch with our local press and they came and did a piece on me, which then triggered The Metro, BBC news and ITV London news to feature me...Two weeks later Good Morning Britain asked me to cover a dental story...I’ve now done This Morning like 3 or 4 times, Good Morning Britain 3 times and Sky News.
Alumni profile - Shamim Ara Chowdhury
17 February 2020
For the past four and a half years I’ve been living in Istanbul and working as a foreign correspondent for the Turkish English-language news channel, TRT World. During this time I have reported from all over Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Some of the stories I’ve covered include the 2017 Rohingya refugee crisis from inside the camps in southern Bangladesh; the Syrian war, both from inside Syria and from the Turkish border; the fight against ISIS in Iraq; the rise of communal violence in Sri Lanka; Donald Trump’s first tour of Asia; the French yellow-vest protests, (when I got tear-gassed on the Champs Elysees!); The 2019 Spanish elections; the siege of Marawi by ISIS in the Philippines and much, much more.
Qupid Love Story - Matt & Gulnoor Jones
14 February 2020
In their own words, married alumnus and alumna Matt and Gulnoor Jones narrate their love story, telling their audience how they have "essentially grown up together" and "moulded into separate complementary halves of a whole."
Qupid Love Story - Joy Hall & Barry Hall
12 February 2020
In their own words, alumna Joy Hall and alumnus Barry Hall narrate their love story, telling their audience how "over thirty years after we first met we were married with our three daughters as bridesmaids. Next year we will celebrate our silver wedding anniversary."
Alumni profile - Karen Chilver
10 February 2020
I would encourage current and future graduates to consider nursing as a career. It’s seen as low status and poorly paid, but we really need well-educated, compassionate nurses who can make a real difference. My life would be much poorer without nursing. People say “how can you do that, it must be so depressing”, but it’s the opposite. It has given me so much.
Alumni profile - Marcus Chown
10 February 2020
I have stroked bats (they purred) behind the scenes on channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. I have given a talk in a glass-bottomed boat in a shark tank at Brighton sea life centre. I have been on a train through the Australian outback on a book tour and I have been chased off of BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends by legendary rock drummer Ginger Baker, who didn’t like me mentioning the term “big bang”...
Qupid Love Story - Jade Harvey and Alex Berrill
10 February 2020
In her own words, alumna Jade Harvey narrates the love story of herself and her fiancé and soon to be husband, Alex Berrill. The happy couple are due to get married July 25, 2020 at a remote mountain lodge in BC, Canada where they now live.
Qupid Love Story - Katherine Tinoco Reyes & Andreas Beckwith
10 February 2020
In his own words, alumnus Andreas Beckwith shares his alumni love story and how despite not meeting his wife and fellow alumna at Queen Mary, the University did play a role in their relationship, to the extent that their baby daughter will "no doubt be encouraged to continue the family tradition and study at Queen Mary at some point in the future!"
Alumni profile - Dr Lochana Nanayakkara
5 February 2020
After completing specialty training, I came back to Barts as a Consultant and I have been here for the last sixteen years. I know every single person in this building really well and they know me, so being President of our dental alumni felt like it would be such an honour. It is also the first time we have had a Director of Dental Education for BartsHealth, so this is an exciting opportunity for me to raise the profile of the amazing education that goes on in the Dental Hospital.
Future alumna mini profile - Adiba Khan
3 February 2020
Following the publication of alumnus Navjot Sawhney's profile, humanitarian engineer and co-founder of The Washing Machine Project, we caught up with current BEng Biomedical Engineering student and part-time Design Engineer for Nav's project, Adiba Khan. Stay tuned for part two of Adiba's profile once she has graduated!
Alumni Profile - Navjot Sawhney
31 January 2020
The humanitarian engineer who co-founded The Washing Machine Project, a social enterprise dedicated to designing and distributing a manual hand-cranked washing machine to displaced and low-income people around the world. "Engineers around the world have the power and responsibility to bring about change; small scale inventions will truly transform the lives of people in need."
Alumni profile - Winsome Yuen
27 January 2020
Former intern for, and now full-time Software Engineer at, Spotify - "By the time graduation was round the corner I had already contributed in improving the premium pages user interface to increase conversion rate and I was working on the worldwide free 3-month trial campaign across all of Spotify Premium plans."
Alumni profile - Zeeshan Nazar
23 January 2020
I am living proof that BAME individuals can go anywhere they want – we just need to go into recruitment and career processes with the right mind-set and be willing to adapt and overcome. I can now recognise that the setbacks along my journey to my current role as a Commercial Management Graduate for BT, were in fact setups. They enabled me to build a resilient and impenetrable mind-set.
A Gift For The Future
22 January 2020
We would like to thank everyone for showing their support for our A Gift ForThe Future campaign. From buying mouth-watering, home-baked goodies to spinning the wheel at Winter Graduation, staff and students have successfully raised £283 for the Annual Fund - thank you!
Alumni profile - William Sung
21 January 2020
Today I am a Professional Executive and Business Coach and CEO of my own company Wilosophy, however, I also have nearly twenty years' worth of experience working with HSBC - at one stage as a General Manager I had 9000 people reporting to me!
Alumni profile - Leila Alimadadi
17 January 2020
Within my first six months working at Queen Mary, I was lucky enough to go on a few big trips, including a two week trip to South East Asia. I had the opportunity to go to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia – I went to all of the capital cities... being thrown in at the deep end has given me the confidence to know that I can go anywhere and do these kind of events by myself.
Alumni profile - Dr Simon Fleming
13 January 2020
I was a medical student during the 7/7 bombings and I was at the Royal London when the major incident was declared and all of the patients started coming in. That day confirmed that I wanted to be an orthopaedic surgeon; I saw the way the ‘pods that day were cool, calm and collected whilst fixing people and making decisions... I also lead the internationally renowned anti-bullying, undermining and harassment campaign known as #HammerItOut.
Alumni profile - Dr. Dena Al Thani
10 January 2020
Designing technology to change people's lives is fascinating. The pleasure of doing applied research is that you can see the impact of your work quite fast. I am currently leading a number of research projects in the field of assistive technology and accessibility. These projects serve two groups of users: the blind, and children with an autism spectrum disorder.
Alumni profile - Jorge Figueiredo Da Cruz
7 January 2020
In the context of moving abroad to work in Thailand, I believe Queen Mary prepared me to work in an unfamiliar environment with different people from different backgrounds. Due to its highly multicultural nature, Queen Mary taught me to embrace differences and to use them productively and efficiently at work. For example, I have led regional projects in Asia with teams from different countries and consolidated each team’s perspective on a particular issue.
Telephone Campaign 2019
18 December 2019
This November, we had our ninth Telephone Campaign. We are thrilled to announce that our campaign was a huge success thanks to our incredibly generous alumni!
Alumni Profile - Zlatina Jekova, aka La Elegantia
18 December 2019
Through my blog, I want to show my audience all the incredible places around the world that I travel to, but because I am just as interested in fashion, I always take a lot of different outfits with me to expand my audience’s perspective on fashion too.
Alumni profile - Moj Taylor
13 December 2019
The main transferable skill I took away from my University experience was emotional intelligence: understanding and interacting with diversity of culture, religion, gender and creative ideas – not everyone is going to agree with you and that’s fine. I also liked being thrust into an environment where everything is questioned and where you were supported from day one to experiment with the person you wanted to be – personally and professionally.
Alumni profile - Elena Baldwin
9 December 2019
There's a patient at the end of my supply chain and it’s about them and the people that I work with to make it happen which makes my job so worthwhile. Knowing that I have made and can make a difference to someone else’s life is a great achievement.
Alumni profile - Hal Dubuisson
6 December 2019
It feels amazing to have developed a product that has the potential to help doctors and paramedics save people’s lives – I really like the fact that design can have such a positive impact. My aim is to carry on innovating in emergency and trauma design.
Alumni profile - Helen Buckley
3 December 2019
One of the scariest things as an author is knowing that people will read your work and critique it, so to have such positive feedback on my debut novel Star in the Shadows, feels really overwhelming. As an author, I am able to completely immerse myself in my character’s lives. As I write, I feel like I’m there with them.
Alumni profile - Ruth Mensah
28 November 2019
I wanted to experience working within the Higher Education sector and as I had such a positive experience whilst studying at Queen Mary, I thought it would be a great next step to enhance my career development by working within the Careers and Enterprise department in the programme team!
Alumni profile - Mina Leung
25 November 2019
I’m a dentist but I work with people with additional needs, for example, anxious patients, housebound patients and people with special needs like autism and learning difficulties. Also marginalised communities like homeless people and travelling communities.
Alumni profile - David Pakozdi
22 November 2019
I am from Budapest, Hungary, and I knew I wanted to work in an industry related to economics early on. London, as a location to study, seemed a natural choice because of its worldwide reputation as the ultimate financial capital of Europe and one of the most important global hubs. I also liked that despite being in London, Queen Mary has a proper campus with plenty of green spaces nearby.
Alumni profile - Miniver Theatre Company
20 November 2019
"It all started when we took a show up to the Fringe with QMTC, we really enjoyed all aspects of the show, from the creation of the piece to the final performances. We decided this was something we wanted to continue beyond Queen Mary, once we had both graduated. So the two of us decided to set up our own company so we could continue making theatre independently."
Alumni profile - Shola Lee
15 November 2019
My friend and I established our own online publication called The Simple Press in 2018; it is an independent outlet that makes everyone’s voice heard. We have a team of incredible writers, each with a unique voice and viewpoint, who we help to find new leads and article opportunities and offer guidance where possible.
Alumni profile - Peter Halprin
11 November 2019
In my primary role, I am a Partner in the New York office of Pasich LLP. My Grandmother and my Grandfather were both lawyers and had their own legal practice together; my Father is a retired Judge and my Sister is a prosecutor in Boston so I guess you could say that there is something in our blood!
Winning space competition entries for 'An evening with astronaut Michael Foale'
8 November 2019
On Wednesday the 6th of November, as part of Queen Mary’s new Public Lecture series, former NASA astronaut Michael Foale, veteran of six space missions and survivor of the worst crash in spaceflight history, was invited to share his stories at the Perrin Lecture Theatre, Blizard Institute. The Alumni Engagement Team ran a competition to offer complimentary tickets to our alumni.
Joint Alumni Profile - Leandro & Sofia
5 November 2019
We met when we were 17 and we had always wanted to study abroad together. When we achieved a scholarship to study here, our dream came true. Overall Queen Mary, the University and its location, offered us the full package.
1 November 2019
As a civil servant for HM Treasury, it's really motivating to work on issues knowing that the solution can have a positive impact on millions of people’s lives - I'm currently working on tackling climate change!
Alumni profile - Jack Baldan
28 October 2019
I got to interview former White House staff as part of my masters, which was based on the re-election of Bill Clinton in 1996. My professor Mark White encouraged me to not be afraid to reach out to people at that kind of level.
Alumni profile - Zoë Rutland
25 October 2019
So much goes into the planning and laying out of a book that seeing it all come together beyond what you expected makes agonizing over the tiny details worth it ... the first book I worked on was advertised on the underground for a Christmas campaign and it was a really cool feeling to see it on my commute!
Alumni profile - Barry Lui
21 October 2019
As a QMentor, being a part of the crucial transition for graduates who have just come out of university is highly appealing to me, especially as I can distinctly remember how scary it is taking the leap into the world of work. I’ve been there and I started in this exact same University.
Alumni profile - Kajal Kumar
18 October 2019
The field of economics is male dominated and it becomes more so as you progress to higher levels, but the profession is trying hard to attract more women. I hope that the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences which was given to a woman, inspires other women to enter the profession like I have.
Student Futures: Barts and The London SPiCE conference
15 October 2019
Your very generous donations enabled a group of Barts and The London students, to hold their very own on-campus conference. A grant of £2,000 from the Annual Fund helped us put together a day of presentations to over 50 delegates – it was a very successful day thanks to your support!
Alumni profile - Angelica Hill
11 October 2019
I feel privileged to be working at one of the world’s greatest newspapers at a time of unprecedented turmoil and political challenge. It excites me to be in what feels like the epicentre of breaking news and great minds. The beauty of working in Product Management is that there really isn’t a typical day.
Alumni profile - Filotas-Georgios Niarchos
2 October 2019
Queen Mary helps you discover new opportunities and take a deeper look at a great variety of jobs that I, personally, could never have imagined were possible in my hometown. Not only my studies, but also the entrepreneurial environment at Queen Mary, gave me the opportunity and motivation to begin my own companies.
Alumni profile - Isabel Overton
27 September 2019
The town I grew up in and the school I went to really lacked diversity, so coming to Queen Mary and experiencing real multiculturalism and inclusivity was such a positive experience for me. Exposure to different ethnicities and religions helped me build my awareness and become a better person.
Rahul Krishna - My tribute to London, my second home.
24 September 2019
A poem by our alumnus Rahul Krishna about his experience of living and studying in London. Rahul did his Masters in Law in the 2017-2018 academic year.
Alumni profile - Elliott Ajai-Ajagbe Daley
20 September 2019
As a freelancer, I can commit to a project, give it my all as I know it can't last forever, and I have to get what I can while giving all I am to the finite experience. I've travelled around the world and directed theatre in forests in Portugal, villages in Africa and schools and theatres around the world performing at the V&A, TedX and the Olympics.
Donor Story: Liz Green
15 September 2019
Liz graduated in the late 90s but remains close with Barts and The London and decided to give back to the University in one of our telephone campaigns. She kindly shared many memories of her time here and why she supports today’s students.
Elizabeth Green, Pathology with Basic Medical Sciences, 1997
Donor story: Andrew Popperwell
15 August 2019
Andy graduated in the 1970s but remains very close with Queen Mary and has been giving back to the University since our first ever telephone fundraising campaign! He kindly shared many memories of his time here and why he supports today’s students.
Andrew Popperwell, BSc Physics, 1974
Graduation 2019: Alumni Profile - Tasqeen Ahmed
1 August 2019
Congratulations to the Class of 2019, who graduated last week from Queen Mary University of London. To round off our graduation campaign, we spoke to School of Biological and Chemical Sciences / School of Medicine and Dentistry alumna Tasqeen Ahmed, who has some fantastic advice for graduates, considering a career in the Civil Service.
Tasqeen Ahmed, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Campaign for Science and Engineering
(Cancer and Molecular Pathology and Genomics MSc, 2016)
Graduation 2019: Alumni Profile - Weicheng Hung
26 July 2019
As Graduation week draws to a close, we spoke with School of Economics and Finance Alumnus, Weicheng Hung who discussed his career journey since graduating from Queen Mary in 2016 and also focusses on his Masters in Banking for those graduating this year, who are considering Postgraduate study.
Weicheng Hung, Associate, Mizuho
(Banking MSc, 2016)
Graduation 2019: Alumni Profile - Emma Black
25 July 2019
In celebration of today’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences (SBCS) Graduation ceremony, we spoke to alumna Emma Black, who graduated 3 years ago with a BSc in Biology. Emma talks about her experience on the graduate scheme at EY and offers some helpful advice to this year’s graduates.
Emma Black, FS Assurance Audit Senior, EY
(BSc Biology, 2016)
Graduation 2019: Alumni Profile - Anum Ahmed
24 July 2019
We were lucky enough to talk with School of English and Drama alumna, Anum Ahmed, 5 years after her own graduation and find out where her degree has taken her and also collect some valuable tips for 2019 Graduates to take on-board.
Anum Ahmed, Senior LGBT Policy Officer, Government Equalities Office
(English BA, 2014)
Graduation 2019: Alumni Profile - Trisha Mason
22 July 2019
Ahead of today’s School of Languages, Linguistics and Film Graduation ceremony, we spoke to Queen Mary alumna, Trisha Mason, who a year ago attended her own graduation. Trisha explains how her time at Queen Mary helped on her rapid journey into the corporate world and has some advice for this year’s graduates.
Trisha Mason, VIP Relations Executive, Informa
(French with Business Management BA, 2018)
Graduation 2019: Alumni Profile - Paul Loveridge
21 July 2019
In support of those graduating this week, we spoke to active Alumni Volunteer, Paul Loveridge, 20 years after he graduated from Queen Mary with a Law Degree. Paul provides insight into his career journey since 1999 and some tips for those graduating in 2019.
Paul Loveridge, Senior Legal Counsel, HSBC
(Law LLB, 1999)
Graduation 2019: Alumni Profile - Cassio Mosse
17 July 2019
We spoke to Cassio Mosse, Alumni Ambassador for Brazil, about how his time at Queen Mary University of London helped him forge a career as an Intellectual Property, Fashion and Social Media Lawyer.
Cassio Mosse, Partner, MOSSE IP, Fashion and Social Media Law
(Intellectual Property Law LLM, 2015)
Student story: Meklt Abura
15 July 2019
Meklt is a Human Geography student. She accepted a place to study at Queen Mary after successfully completing her A Levels in Geography, Economics and Maths.
Meklt Abura, Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2018
International Women in Engineering Day 2019: Helen Hagos
27 June 2019
In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day on Sunday 23 June 2019, we spoke to alumnae who are now working in the Engineering field.
Helen Hagos
(Mechanical Engineering MEng, 2011)
International Women in Engineering Day 2019: Sandya Abrar
23 June 2019
In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day on Sunday 23 June 2019, we spoke to alumnae who are now working in the Engineering field.
Sandya Abrar
(Sustainable Energy Engineering BEng, 2013)
International Women in Engineering Day 2019: Zakiyyah Auchoybur
23 June 2019
In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day on Sunday 23 June 2019, we spoke to alumnae who are now working in the Engineering field.
Zakiyyah Auchoybur
(Biomedical Engineering with Industrial Experience BEng, 2018)
International Women in Engineering Day 2019: Dr Yun Li
23 June 2019
In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day on Sunday 23 June 2019, we spoke to alumnae who are now working in the Engineering field.
Dr Yun Li
(Electronic Engineering PhD, 2016)
Student story: Sameeha Goni
15 June 2019
Sameeha is a Geography and Business Management student at Queen Mary. She grew up in East London.
Sameeha Goni, Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2018
Student story: Bheatriz Elsas
15 May 2019
Bheatriz is a third-year medical student at Barts and The London. She is the youngest of six siblings and the first in her family to go to university outside of her native country.
Bheatriz Elsas, Hardship Bursary recipient 2018
Student story: Tara Frazer
15 April 2019
Tara is a first-year History student at Queen Mary and is one of this year’s Sally Sainsbury History Scholarship recipients.
Tara Frazer, Sally Sainsbury History Scholarship recipient 2018
Donor and student recipient story: Priya Patel
15 March 2019
Priya Patel is a recent Queen Mary graduate. She completed her mathematics degree in 2017 and began working at J. P Morgan shortly after.
Priya Patel, Graduation Hardship Fund recipient 2017
Student story: Hamzah Azam
15 February 2019
Hamzah is a BEng Chemical Engineering student at QMUL. He accepted his place to study after completing in A levels in Maths, Biology and Chemistry. He grew up in East London with three of his siblings.
Hamzah Azam, Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2018
Expeditions Fund story: Natasha Wilding
15 January 2019
The Annual Fund helped Natasha travel to Bangladesh during 2018 summer to carry out healthcare research and volunteer with Selfless Charity.
Natasha Wilding, Medical student
Telephone Campaign 2018
15 December 2018
This November, our wonderful team of student callers got in touch with our alumni for our eighth telephone fundraising campaign.
Donor story: Rosemary Rayner
2 November 2018
Dr Rayner is a Barts and The London alumna. She studied Medicine at the Royal London Hospital Medical College and graduated in 1981. She is now a retired paediatrician.
Rosemary Rayner, The London Hospital Medical College, Class of 1981
Student story: Kanesha Edwards
15 September 2018
Kanesha is a BSc Psychology student at Queen Mary University of London. She is from Hackney, East London and is the first in her family to go to University.
Kanesha Edwards, Queen Mary & Westfield Alumni Bursary recipient 2017
Student story: Sajid Ahmed
15 August 2018
Sajid is a BSc Economics, Statistics and Mathematics student. He accepted a place to study at QMUL after obtaining A*, A* and B in his A Levels (Maths, Further Maths and Economics). Sajid is from Newham and as the eldest of four siblings is the first in his family to go to university.
Sajid Ahmed, Annual Fund Scholarship recipient 2017
Student story: Ali Bahaci
5 June 2018
Ali is a BSc Biochemistry student. He is the first in his family to attend university.
Ali Bahaci, Queen Mary & Westfield Alumni Bursary recipient 2017
Student story: Ahsan Bashar
19 April 2018
Ahsan is a BSc Pure Mathematics student. He accepted a place to study at QMUL after obtaining A*, A and B in his A levels (Maths, Further Maths and Geography). Ahsan is from Newham and as the eldest of his siblings is the first in his family to go to University.
Ahsan Bashar, Annual Fund Bursary 2017
Scholarships for Excellence
21 November 2017
Our alumni provided 20 Scholarships for Excellence. These were awarded to students in the School of Medicine and Dentistry for high attainment and academic merit. Gemma and Eduardo, are two recipients of this award; read on to find out how your support helped them.
Student story: Nazeefah
12 July 2017
Nazeefah is a BSc Psychology student in Queen Mary University of London. She is the first in her family to go to University.
Nazeefah, Annual Fund bursary recipient
Student Story: Jessica Daly
18 April 2017
Jessica Daly is a History student in Queen Mary University of London. She lives in Bow, East London.
Jessica Daly, Annual Fund Bursary recipient
Student story: Papia Kabir
29 March 2017
Papia Kabir is a History and Politics student. She is originally from the East End and attended Central Foundation Girls School in Bow. She studied History, Geography, Sociology and Psychology for A-levels and achieved 3 As and a B.
Papia Kabir, History Scholarship recipient 2016-2019
Donor story: Oyedola Osilaja, BSc Economics
10 March 2017
Student story: Kevin Gurung
22 February 2017
Kevin is a Medicine student at Barts and The London. He is originally from Nepal but moved to Reading, aged ten, with his parents and brother.
Kevin Gurung, Annual Fund Scholarship for Excellence recipient
Student Futures story: Liam Fallon, BEng Mechanical Engineering
7 February 2017
QMUL work experience led to a job in New York for Liam Fallon
"My name is Liam and I am pleased to say I am now a Queen Mary University of London graduate, having graduated last summer. I come from South Africa originally but grew up in the UK so it is London I mostly call home. I live with my mother who lectures English and my sister who studies in London."
Student Story: Jake Webber
26 January 2017
Jake Webber, Annual Fund recipient
Student story: Umamah Tarvala
4 January 2017
Umamah is a third-year medical student at Barts and The London. She is from Hackney, East London.
Umamah Tarvala, Barts and The London Hardship Bursary recipient
Student story: Georgina Smart
1 December 2016
QMUL Observatory
22 November 2016
Student story: Angelo Ruggiero
7 November 2016
My name is Angelo Ruggiero and I've just started my final year in Economics and Business. I’m from a small Italian town called Vallo della Lucania but when I was twelve my parents decided to move to London with me, my twin brother and younger brother.
Angelo Ruggerio, Annual Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement
Student story: Benedicta Sarfo-Adu
28 October 2016
Benedicta Nadia Sarfo-Adu, Barts and The London Annual Fund Hardship Bursary recipient
Student story: Oliwia Wasik
14 October 2016
My name is Oliwia and I’m a third-year International Relations student. I’m really proud to have the chance to speak to you all as you also studied here. You and I probably share similar experiences of student life. I wonder if you remember your time here as I do?
Oliwia Wasik, QMUL Annual Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Performance
Student story: Mohzma Hussain
30 September 2016
Mohzma is a Medicine student in Barts and The London. She is from Burnley, she is the oldest amongst her siblings and the first to go to University.
Mohzma Hussain, Barts and The London Annual Fund Hardship Bursary recipient