Alumni of the Year Awards - 2025

Alya Aldrin is a proud Brunel alumna who completed her master’s degree in Water Engineering on a full scholarship. Her time at Brunel was transformative, equipping her with the technical knowledge, confidence and support that continue to guide her career in construction and project management today.

Since graduating, Alya has remained closely connected to the Brunel community, regularly attending university events to share her experience and insights with current and prospective students. She also works closely with the British Council and students in her home country, offering guidance and encouragement to those hoping to pursue higher education in the UK.

Alya is passionate about creating pathways for others, especially for young people navigating unfamiliar systems and opportunities abroad. Her journey has been shaped by resilience, gratitude and a commitment to paying it forward whenever she can.

Being named a finalist for the Alumni of the Year Awards is an unexpected and deeply appreciated honour. Alya feels truly thankful to represent the university that opened so many doors and continues to be a meaningful part of her story.

As a Mechanical Engineer, Pipeline Engineer and Advisor with Laurel Gabe Solutions and a Researcher and a Lecturer with BMET, I combine the scientific approach of solving problems with humour and interesting practical expertise. Hi everyone, I am Bridget Kogo and I love imparting knowledge in a fun integrated manner, while carrying my audience and learners along spellbound. I am passionate about what I do and have a way with words. Being a member of the Women in Brunel Engineering and Computing (WiBEC) mentoring team, I am a mentor to Brunel students and a role model to younger ladies. I conduct interviews for students and also received recognition as a mentor. https://shorturl.at/hyEGM As a member of the Brunel Alumni, I have interest in the Speed Mentoring Network session and also created a video focussed on inspiring and encouraging final year students to stay motivated and give their best. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGBDuDFTqss/?igsh=ajdsZjE2bmxjejBk. This video has received well over a thousand views and has effectively motivated final year students across Brunel University London and the country and globe at large. I also inspire younger generations and students to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics via https://youtu.be/KYQ4Ndm0w9s as a Stemazing Woman.

Chris studied mathematics at Brunel from 1981-85, sponsored by British Petroleum. 

He was captain of the 1st XI football team and played for the university cricket team. 

Following graduation Chris spent 20 years working in global commodity business for Cargill in the UK, Germany and Switzerland. 

Chris moved to Singapore in 2005 and has continued to work in global commodity business including 9 years as CEO of RCMA group. 

In 2015 Chris helped setup the Brunel alumni and has led the group for the last 10 years. This role has included organising Brunel alumni events in Singapore, other Asian countries and also in the UK. 

Chris has also arranged and helped supervise intern assignments for current students to spend time in Asia working with charities working with the disabled, in commodity business and local Singapore businesses. 

Brunel remains an important part of Chris life in Singapore, 40 years after graduation. 

I am honoured to be considered for the 2025 Outstanding Contribution Award. Throughout my time at Brunel University, I have dedicated myself to both academic excellence and meaningful contributions to the university community. My efforts to make a positive impact have been recognised through multiple accolades, including the Brunel Volunteer Gold Award (2023 and 2024) and the Brunel-plus Gold Award (2023). These awards reflect my deep commitment to volunteerism and community engagement. Whether it was spearheading charity events, mentoring peers, or actively contributing to sustainability initiatives, I have consistently sought to use my skills to benefit others. I take pride in creating inclusive, supportive environments that empower individuals to succeed and thrive. Academically, I have been consistently driven to push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. My contributions to projects focused on sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and green building practices have provided me with both the skills and passion to continue addressing global challenges. In 2022, I was also honoured with the Best Outgoing Student Award and the Class Topper Award at AISSMS College of Engineering, Pune and many more. These experiences, combined with my dedication to lifelong learning and service, make me a strong contender for the Outstanding Contribution Award. I am deeply committed to leaving a lasting, positive impact at Brunel and in the world beyond, and I look forward to continuing this journey with the values of excellence, leadership, and community at the core of everything I do.

Is a Materials Science Engineer, energy projects manager, and sustainability and innovation consultant with over 14 years of experience spanning strategic initiatives, business operations, sustainable transformation, business development, and project management at the intersection of engineering, design, and social impact.

A proud MBA graduate of Brunel Business School, Moustafa holds a BSc in Materials Science Engineering and an MBA in Operations and Sustainable Business Transformation. He has since dedicated his career to driving impactful change across both public and private sectors. Moustafa has applied his engineering foundation to lead complex decarbonisation and retrofit programmes across the UK, working with public sector bodies, local authorities, and SMEs to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and champion low-carbon innovation.

His work focuses on supporting businesses and local authorities in adopting energy transition and decarbonisation strategies, implementing green fuels and sustainable practices, unlocking funding, and delivering energy efficiency measures through practical innovation and community-first approaches. Moustafa’s commitment to sustainability is matched by his passion for inclusion and social impact. Most recently, he has led community-focused decarbonisation projects across London, including the Hackney Impact programme, helping to deliver green grants, retrofit projects, and energy audits to empower underrepresented businesses. He continues to drive sustainability initiatives, helping businesses transition to greener operations.

Beyond his professional work, Moustafa was actively involved in student leadership and mentoring during his time at Brunel, and he continues to support students and alumni through career guidance and industry insight. He remains deeply engaged with the Brunel community, advocating for inclusive pathways into energy engineering, project operations, and sustainability.

Being shortlisted for both the Outstanding Contribution to Science and Engineering Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Brunel Award is a deeply meaningful recognition of Moustafa’s journey – from a driven Brunel student to a changemaker building a fairer, more sustainable future. He remains an advocate for innovation with purpose and believes universities like Brunel are key to shaping a more inclusive and resilient world.

Dr. Ammar Sami Aldallal, now an Associate Professor, is a visionary academic whose dedication to engineering education continues to leave a transformative mark across the Gulf region. Since earning his PhD from Brunel University London in 2012, he has become a leader in academic innovation, quality assurance, and student empowerment.

At Ahlia University, Dr. Aldallal spearheaded the BSc in Mobile and Network Engineering program’s successful bid for dual international accreditation from ASIIN and EUR-ACE—a historic first for the university. This achievement brought the program global recognition and significantly elevated the employability of its graduates.

His contributions go beyond administration. Dr. Aldallal has published over 40 peer-reviewed research papers in cutting-edge fields such as machine learning and cybersecurity. He has supervised numerous award-winning capstone projects, inspiring innovation and excellence in his students. He is also a proud Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy, reflecting his commitment to world-class teaching and learning.

Dr. Aldallal is not just building programs—he’s shaping futures.

Vote for Dr. Ammar Aldallal as Brunel Alumni of the Year 2025 and support a passionate educator who exemplifies Brunel’s spirit of innovation, impact, and global leade

Is a Materials Science Engineer, energy projects manager, and sustainability and innovation consultant with over 14 years of experience spanning strategic initiatives, business operations, sustainable transformation, business development, and project management at the intersection of engineering, design, and social impact.

A proud MBA graduate of Brunel Business School, Moustafa holds a BSc in Materials Science Engineering and an MBA in Operations and Sustainable Business Transformation. He has since dedicated his career to driving impactful change across both public and private sectors. Moustafa has applied his engineering foundation to lead complex decarbonisation and retrofit programmes across the UK, working with public sector bodies, local authorities, and SMEs to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and champion low-carbon innovation.

His work focuses on supporting businesses and local authorities in adopting energy transition and decarbonisation strategies, implementing green fuels and sustainable practices, unlocking funding, and delivering energy efficiency measures through practical innovation and community-first approaches. Moustafa’s commitment to sustainability is matched by his passion for inclusion and social impact. Most recently, he has led community-focused decarbonisation projects across London, including the Hackney Impact programme, helping to deliver green grants, retrofit projects, and energy audits to empower underrepresented businesses. He continues to drive sustainability initiatives, helping businesses transition to greener operations.

Beyond his professional work, Moustafa was actively involved in student leadership and mentoring during his time at Brunel, and he continues to support students and alumni through career guidance and industry insight. He remains deeply engaged with the Brunel community, advocating for inclusive pathways into energy engineering, project operations, and sustainability.

Being shortlisted for both the Outstanding Contribution to Science and Engineering Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Brunel Award is a deeply meaningful recognition of Moustafa’s journey – from a driven Brunel student to a changemaker building a fairer, more sustainable future. He remains an advocate for innovation with purpose and believes universities like Brunel are key to shaping a more inclusive and resilient world.

Is a distinguished academician with an extensive background in environmental engineering, chemistry, and sustainable development. She earned: Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology, Postdoctoral Research in Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering at the University of Glasgow, UK. MPhil in Environmental Sciences from Brunel University, London, UK.

Her commitment to academic excellence has been supported by multiple prestigious scholarships, including the Quaid-I-Azam Talent Scholarship, HEC Postdoctoral Fellowship, and Chinese Cultural Scholarship for PhD​.

With over 35 years of experience, Dr. Robina has significantly contributed to higher education, governance, and research. She has held various key positions, notably Vice Chancellor, Government College Women University Faisalabad (GCWUF), Pakistan (2019-2023)

She has spearheaded innovative educational programs integrating sustainability, climate action, and green technologies into curricula, ensuring that students are equipped with knowledge and skills to tackle environmental challenges​.

As a globally recognised researcher in pollution control, waste management, and sustainable energy solutions. She has successfully secured and executed 11 national and international funded research projects, worth over Rs. 249.42 million. Dr. Robina's impactful research has resulted in; Three patents (USA/Pakistan) for environmental technologies, 107 research publications in high-impact journals, with an H-index of 24 and i10-index of 36 and 11 books and book chapters on environmental chemistry and pollution control.

Prof. Dr. Robina Farooq is a visionary academic leader whose lifelong dedication to education, research, and environmental sustainability has shaped national and international policies on pollution control, waste management, and climate resilience.

Her legacy is not just in the academic corridors but in the tangible solutions she has developed to combat environmental crises, making the world a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable place.

 Is an eminent academic, internationally recognized researcher, and visionary leader with over 39 years of excellence in Optoelectronics, Optical Communication, and Optical Networks. A proud alumnus of Brunel University London, where he earned his Doctorate, Dr. Shaukat has since elevated the global academic landscape through groundbreaking research, innovative teaching, and transformative institutional leadership.

He has supervised 38 Ph.D.-level research projects, leading students to international acclaim, and published over 100 high-impact papers with a cumulative Impact Factor of 119.86 and more than 1,060 citations. His pioneering work has earned him multiple national accolades, including the prestigious Productive Research Scientist Award from Pakistan’s Ministry of Science and Technology. He also holds two U.S. patents for environmentally vital ultrasonic recovery techniques, addressing industrial pollution and public health risks.

As Director and academic head at several campuses of COMSATS University Islamabad, Dr. Shaukat has spearheaded institutional growth and innovation. A steadfast ambassador for Brunel University, he has inspired countless students to pursue higher education at his Alma mater. His enduring contributions to research, academia, and global knowledge exchange reflect his firm commitment to advancing Brunel’s legacy of excellence.

Ben Lopez (MSc, BA) is a trailblazing data scientist and SupTech innovator transforming how regulators tackle fraud, greenwashing, and ESG risk. A proud Brunel graduate, Ben recently won the Financial Conduct Authority’s Emerging Technology and Data Innovation Award for his groundbreaking system, the Sustainable Finance Compliance and Monitoring System (SFCMS) — an AI-powered platform that boosts fraud detection and exposes sustainability misreporting using natural language processing and anomaly detection.

From presenting to FCA senior leadership and cabinet members, to developing high-impact data tools at the Bank of England, Virgin Money, and Santander, Ben has consistently delivered data solutions that drive integrity, accountability, and transparency in financial systems. His MSc research at Brunel applied machine learning to cancer diagnostics, and he’s now preparing it for academic publication.

As the founder of Insight, an app startup combining AI and marketing strategy, Ben is passionate about the ethical use of technology to solve real-world problems. He’s fluent in Python, R, and SQL—and equally fluent in turning bold ideas into scalable, meaningful innovation.

Whether it’s reshaping regulatory systems or building next-gen digital tools, Ben is shaping the future of science, engineering, and sustainable finance with brilliance, purpose, and impact.

Stephenson studied English and Creative Writing at Brunel from 2009-2012, where he also fell in love with Musical Theatre, keeping the staff at the Arts Centre very busy by joining the Musical Theatre Society, singing in the choir, and becoming a founding member of Brunel University Barbershop Society.

Stephenson was then awarded a full Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music and gained an MA in Musical Theatre Performance, graduating early to join the Original West End Cast of Hamilton: The Musical, where he made his professional debut understudying the role of Alexander Hamilton. Since then, he has performed in Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, and As You Like It at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Starter for Ten at Bristol Old Vic, Once on this Island at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Rock Follies at Chichester Festival Theatre, and Passing Strange at the Young Vic.

Stephenson also played the leading role of Simba in the UK tour of Disney’s The Lion King and is currently in rehearsals to play the role again, this time in the West End production at the Lyceum Theatre in London.

Stephenson’s vibrant and varied career in musical theatre would never have happened without the training, support, and encouragement he received from Eileen Pinkerchevski, Sally Goodworth, and the other creative faculty members at Brunel University

Rose has worked as a Casting Director in the film and television industry for the past 16 years and joined the industry 22 years ago shortly after graduating from Brunel.

Her credits include: BAFTA nominated and BIFA award winning film THE SURVIVALIST; UK Casting on Martin Scorsese's HUGO;  the first two seasons of the Golden Globe nominated and Emmy award winning show GENIUS: EINSTEIN and GENIUS: PICASSO for Ron Howard; the award-winning show, THE GREAT for Hulu; UK Casting on HOMELAND; BLACK CAKE for Hulu, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and THE CONJURING: LAST RITES.

Rose is a member of the Casting Society of America; Casting Director's Guild; Television Academy and BAFTA.  She is a Screen International Star of Tomorrow; nominated for an Artios Award for short film ROOM 8 and won an Artios Award for casting on the THE GREAT.

Since 2020, Rose has facilitated retreats and sessions to support creatives in industry to tune into their intuition, to nurture and empower themselves.  Last year she offered a workshop to 42 actors from 21 countries during the Cannes Film Festival and recently led a weekend retreat in the UK.  She is also a Creative consultant for Polhawn Fort, on the Cornish coast and currently writing her first book.

www.rosewicksteed.com @rosewicksteedcasting @musesofrose

Is a trailblazer at the intersection of culture, creativity, and technology. A proud Brunel alumnus, he is the Founder of Mays EV, the startup behind Oman’s first homegrown electric vehicles. More than just an automotive brand, Mays is a symbol of national pride—named after the legendary Omani horse Maysoor—and embodies a vision where innovation celebrates heritage. With a Master's in Innovation and Technology Management and Bachelor’s in International Business from Brunel, Haider has spent over a decade transforming bold ideas into impact. His work fuses design, storytelling, and engineering to create vehicles that are not only sustainable but deeply meaningful. Under his leadership, Mays EV’s reach has surpassed 20 million people globally and attracted international media attention for its bold creativity and cultural resonance. Beyond business, Haider mentors aspiring entrepreneurs, speaks on behavioural economics, and champions creativity as a force for change. His journey reflects the spirit of Brunel—bold, forward-thinking, and rooted in purpose. Through Mays, he is not just building cars; he’s building a movement—one that inspires future generations to reimagine what's possible when culture and creativity drive innovation.

Anne graduated from Brunel University with a BA Modern Drama Studies in 2007, and is now an actor and playwright.

After Brunel, Anne went on to graduate as a fully qualified Drama teacher, and for several years taught in the Essex area, before deciding to pursue a career as an actor. Anne successfully gained a place at the prestigious Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, and graduated from there in 2013 with an MA in Acting.

Anne has now been in the theatre industry 12 years and over that time has worked for distinguished companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, where she has performed in productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Winter’s Tale. 

Anne recently gained critical acclaim for Princess Essex, a play she both wrote and played the lead in, exploring the true story of ‘Princess Dinubolu of Senegal’- the first woman of colour to ever enter a beauty pageant in the UK (1908). The play was a full ensemble production with music, which was performed at Shakespeare’s Globe last year (2024).

Recently, Princess Essex was nominated in this year's WhatsOnStage Awards for ‘Best New Play’, and Anne was also nominated for ‘Best Performer in a Play’, alongside other nominees such as David Tennant and Tom Holland.

The Receipts Podcast – The Receipts Podcast is a leading UK podcast hosted by Audrey Indome and Tolani Shoneye. The podcast started in 2016 and has enjoyed huge success with audiences internationally alongside live touring shows across the country including dates at the prestigious London Palladium. Their debut book Keep The Receipts was published in July 2021 and was a Sunday Times Bestseller. Alongside their work on The Receipts Podcast, Tolani and Audrey have established themselves as presenters, hosts and influencers. Their television work includes The Big Breakfast for Channel 4, Tonight with Target for BBC, Dating No Filter Series 2 for Sky One.Audrey’s presenting and panel work includes the documentary, On The Cards: Colourism alongside Tan France for BBCiPlayer. The show discusses colourism, skin bleaching and how the shade of their skin has affected them. Tolani's presenting work includes BBC 1xtra Live Talks, Bumble's My Love Is... podcast and the popular What to Watch on Netflix podcast co-hosted with Gena-mour Barrett. As a writer, she is developing original scripted projects and has been part of various writers rooms. 

Is a values-driven leader dedicated to social justice, financial stewardship, and system-wide change. With a career spanning the not-for-profit and public sectors, she has helped transform organisations at the intersection of housing, health, and community safety—combining financial acumen with deep empathy and purpose.

Currently serving in executive and advisory roles, Deepa is recognised for bringing stability, governance, and people-first leadership to teams navigating complexity. She has led large-scale financial turnarounds, embedded inclusive governance frameworks, and championed trauma-informed approaches across the charity and housing sectors. Her commitment to mentoring future finance professionals has opened doors for underrepresented talent and built lasting pathways into leadership.

Deepa’s work is deeply rooted in lived experience, and she brings authenticity and compassion to every space she enters. In 2024, she was appointed as an Advisory Treasurer with The Security Institute and shortlisted for a national leadership award recognising her contributions to finance and equity.

A proud alumna of Brunel University London, Deepa credits her time at Brunel for sparking her belief in service, integrity, and the power of inclusive leadership.

Is an internationally recognised educationalist, cultural sociologist, and senior academic leader whose work bridges education, policy, and the creative arts. With over two decades of experience, she is widely respected for her leadership in inclusive pedagogy, anti-racist education, and curriculum decolonisation.

She serves as Associate Director of the Centre for Inclusive Pedagogy and Practice and contributes to strategic equity work within the Principal’s Office at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Dr. Shah is also an experienced consultant, having delivered tailored training across more than 30 multi-sector organisations in areas such as race equity, inclusive leadership, and workplace belonging.

Her award-winning research project My Name Is—exploring the racialised politics of naming—has influenced policy and practice across education and corporate sectors internationally. In 2023, she was honoured with an Outstanding Leadership in Education Award in Dubai for her global impact.

Mentoring is at the heart of her ethos. Through initiatives such as London Higher’s Global Majority Mentorship Programme, Muslim Women Connect, and institutional HEA pathways, she champions the next generation—committed to paying it forward through advocacy, support, and transformational leadership.

My name is Farid Oladapo and I’m 25 years old and I’m currently on a Banking graduate scheme with Lloyds Banking Group. Not too long ago I was a student at Brunel university and I studied international politics. Not only did I have to deal with the pandemic I also was diagnosed with cancer during my final year of studies.  This diagnosis completely changed my life and fundamentally has changed who I am as a person. 

The course of my treatment was 9 rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy whilst trying to plan and write the best dissertation I could. (I got a 2:1).  Since then I have a been an advocate and a voice for Young Lives Vs Cancer (YLvsC) and have tried to make a difference for people who are battling cancer. I have a given presentations to the board of JD wetherspoon about their charitable aid they provide to YLvsC and how their contribution have made a difference to my life and so many others. I have used my social media to spread awareness about cancer in young people and how Cancer doesn’t define you. You define you. Most notably I have had the privilege to present a petition to number 10 to increase the rate of SSP for those with long term health conditions along with being featured on the BBC, Good Britain and various news papers. 

Life isn’t always easy but I hope through what I’ve accomplished in the last year and a half I’ve shown people that with perseverance and dedication you can achieve whatever you put your mind too. Don’t allow difficult times to stop you from going after what you want in Life. Good luck to all the students, I wish you all the best with your studies being a student can be a real struggle. 

Ifeyinwa completed a Master’s in Social Work at Brunel University in 2017, where her passion for community work began. She has since led innovation across the public, private, and voluntary sectors in health and social care. Currently, she is Joint Service Lead for CAMHS at East London NHS Foundation Trust, overseeing a national project improving mental health outcomes for young people across 75 schools in Tower Hamlets.

A qualified social worker and therapist, she has shaped national policy as a consultant for MIND and the Care Quality Commission. Elected as Watford’s first African councillor in 2015, she continues to serve, championing equality and leading initiatives such as the cross-party COVID-19 BAME taskforce and advocacy against violence toward women and children.

Ifeyinwa supports African Caribbean families through Save the Woman Charity and founded Nigerians in Watford to promote community cohesion. A passionate foster carer, she has fostered six children and received multiple Pinnacle Awards.

A proud Brunel alumna, she mentors students and contributes to social work education. In 2025/26, she will become Watford’s first African Chairman/Civic Mayor, coinciding with the release of her book The First Citizen, documenting her inspiring journey of resilience and public service.

Lina is an award-winning specialist solicitor in international family law, and currently an in-house solicitor-advocate at one of the most esteemed legal departments. With extensive expertise in international children’s law, Lina is widely recognised for her exceptional contributions to the field.

Lina has dedicated her career to representing and supporting vulnerable individuals, including children affected by international abduction by their parent, young people facing forced marriage and FGM, and women fleeing abusive relationships. She now represents children in complex family proceedings and conducts her own advocacy at the High Court, demonstrating expertise in navigating the complex intersections of family law, often including human rights, immigration, and international legislations and protocols.

As a first-generation graduate and lawyer from a BAME background, Lina has broken barriers to become a leader in family law and now mentors aspiring lawyers, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, empowering them to achieve their full potential. She has written various legal articles for family law, previously lectured at The University of Law and contributes to mentorship initiatives like the Young Legal Aid Lawyers Association.  

In 2023, she was honoured with the We Are The City Rising Star Award in the Law category (The Lynne Freeman Award) and was shortlisted for the YRes Rising Star Award. She was also named a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer. In 2024, Lina was shortlisted for three prestigious Inspirational Women in Law Awards, including In-house Lawyer of the Year, Solicitor of the Year, and Mentor of the Year. Recently, she was ‘Highly Commended’ for the In-house Lawyer Rising Star Award at the Women and Diversity in the Law Awards. 

(MBA Healthcare Management, Brunel 2013) is a visionary commercially-driven leader in both healthcare and commercial business, with a career dedicated to transforming systems, improving access, and driving innovation. Now CEO of RDI (Real Digital International), David is revolutionising healthcare delivery through home-based prevention, screening, and self-sampling—helping the NHS shift towards a more proactive, patient-led model of care.

With a proven track record in both the NHS and private sector, David has led national programmes in diagnostics, built cutting-edge PET-CT and radiopharmaceutical infrastructure, and overseen major service improvements across mental health, urgent care, and integrated health and social care. His leadership consistently delivers measurable impact while keeping the patient at the heart of every decision.

Beyond his executive roles, David is passionate about developing others. He mentors and coaches emerging leaders and managers across sectors and is a regular guest lecturer on leadership at leading business schools. His commitment to giving back reflects the values Brunel champions—blending business success with public service and people-focused leadership.

David’s influence continues to shape the future of healthcare and leadership alike, making him an inspiring candidate for Alumnus of the Year

Is a dynamic entrepreneur, human resource consultant, and founder of Illuminating Minds, a social enterprise committed to empowering communities through education, skills development, and economic opportunity. Since graduating with a PhD in Management from Brunel University of London in 2017, she has devoted herself to shaping lives through personal and professional development initiatives that bridge the gap between potential and performance.

With nearly a decade of experience in the education sector and over six years in development, Dr. Turner works at the intersection of business strategy, youth empowerment, and social impact. Her work has reached hundreds through targeted capacity-building programs, strategic human resource solutions, and grassroots empowerment projects, particularly in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.

She is also a lecturer, mentor, and advocate for mental health awareness, emphasizing holistic well-being as the foundation for productivity and success in every sphere of life.

Hi, I’m Chukwuemeka (Emeka) – a seasoned engineer, project leader, and business owner with a passion for mentoring future leaders and developing innovative digital solutions to business challenges. Since graduating from Brunel in 2003, I’ve had a successful career working across several sectors leading global teams in aviation, energy, and complex technical engineering projects, delivering iconic, successful, difference-making projects. More recently, I transitioned into strategy consulting and founded iStrat Consulting, were I drive digital technology adoption and transformation across aviation and construction.

I have always maintained a connection with academia as a visiting lecturer and to share my experiences in business.  I first returned to Brunel through the Inspiring Futures programme sharing insights about engineering careers as a STEM ambassador. Recently this has been through links with my old Faculty to talk about my transition from engineer to business owner. As a Chartered Engineer, I have had the opportunity to mentor others applying for chartership and being one of APM’s first Chartered Project Professionals globally, was a proud achievement.

Besides running my business, I have a family and my wife and I are blessed with 3 children and life is pretty busy but great fun.

I’m honoured to be selected as a finalist and this will continue to motivate me to continue to inspire the next generation of leaders.

Founder Farah Bashir created Sachi Skin after her own difficult skincare journey, navigating PCOS-related acne, severe post-peel burns, and an adverse reaction to hydroquinone. Despite countless treatments, she couldn’t find solutions that were both astoundingly effective and safe for melanin-rich skin.

Growing up between ancient South Asian traditions and modern skincare science, Farah believed in a different approach—one that would honour ancestral wisdom while embracing clinical innovation. From this vision, and with a team of chemists, dermatologists, and pharmaceutical executives, Sachi Skin was born: a professional-grade range rooted in Ancient Clinical Skincare® where time-honoured botanicals meet advanced delivery systems and dermal science.

Today, Sachi Skin offers elevated, adaptive formulations for all skin tones. Trusted by skin experts and guided by deep cultural intelligence, Sachi Skin delivers results that are visible, respectful, and enduring.

My journey into healthcare innovation started not in a lab, but as a patient. Growing up with health challenges gave me first-hand insight into the gaps in care — and the power of compassion, when paired with the right technology.

That’s what drives me today as a biomedical engineer and entrepreneur. I co-founded Reneural to help stroke survivors access high-quality rehab, no matter where they are. In the last three years, we’ve raised over half a million pounds in investment, secured key grants, and developed NeuroVive — a virtual reality platform that supports recovery in hospitals and at home.

This work wouldn’t be possible without incredible partners like Brunel University London and Hillingdon Hospital. Together, we’ve moved from research to real-world care — and we’re now proud members of the NHS New Hospital Programme.

I'm proud of what we've built, but even more excited for what comes next. If you're inspired by technology that makes a difference, I’d love your support.

Originally trained as a mechanical engineer, Benjamin Carew began his career solving complex technical challenges before transitioning into management consulting. During this time, he led the development and launch of several new zero-carbon ventures for major global companies, including BP and Ford, helping to drive innovation and sustainability within established industries.

Building on this foundation, Benjamin went on to found Othership, a pioneering venture conceived before the COVID-19 pandemic to make flexible workspaces more accessible and inclusive. Unlike traditional co-working models, Othership offered a network of spaces across the UK, many of which were free to use. This approach quickly gained traction and cultivated a vibrant community of over 10,000 freelancers, entrepreneurs and remote workers who used the platform to connect, collaborate and grow their businesses.

As the nature of work continued to evolve, Othership expanded its offering to support the wider challenges of remote and hybrid teams. This led to the creation of the world’s first hybrid working management software, helping organisations manage distributed workforces with clarity and flexibility.

Benjamin is proud that Othership has become more than a business, it’s a movement that redefines how we work, connect, and thrive.

Born in Neath, South Wales, Kevin Bowring studied physical education at Borough Road College from 1974 to 1978 where he was awarded the prestigious I.B.Mac Award for Student of the Year in 1977.

Excelling in rugby, Kevin played for the College 1^st XV for three years, captaining the team in his second year. He began teaching in Reading before moving to St Paul’s School in Hammersmith which enabled him to pursue his playing career at London Welsh RFC. He played more than 250 first team matches, including over 100 games as captain, and also captained Middlesex and played for the Barbarians.

On retiring from playing, Kevin coached Wales U20, U21 and Wales ‘A’ before being appointed the first full-time professional National Coach for the Welsh Rugby Union from 1995 to 1998. There followed four years as a senior lecturer in sport at UWIC before joining the Rugby Football Union as Head of Elite Coach Development. After fifteen years he set up his own consultancy providing personal development, support and challenge to leaders in sport, business and education across the world. Kevin held a number of non-executive roles in coaching organisations and received several awards for his services to coaching, including an Honorary Fellowship of Brunel University in 2021.

Kevin had 45 years’ experience as a teacher, coach and coach developer before his untimely death in October 2024: a self-effacing, modest man who build a remarkable career rooted in his time at Borough Road. He was highly acclaimed for his professional approach, his leadership skills and his motivation to pursue excellence.  Kevin was greatly respected for his knowledge, integrity and empathy. His influence on those who knew him professionally is immeasurable.

I had a wonderful childhood in Cornwall, however, after leaving school, I spent three unhappy months building diesel engines.  I called my former Headmaster who suggested that as I had enjoyed woodwork, why not become a teacher? That one sentence guided me into a wonderful career. 

Shoreditch College in 1957 was easy to reach by train, and I’m so grateful for this. Shoreditch was everything I wished for; stimulating, challenging and encouraging. Jack Maynard tutored me and I still look with pride at the walnut bow-fronted sideboard I made with him. In 1962 woodwork teaching posts were scarce, but I was fortunate to secure a position back in Cornwall.

Over my 34 years at Truro School I worked tirelessly to instill a love of craft in the pupils within my care. I extended their learning outside the traditional classroom wherever possible. Through the building of a brand-new state-of-the-art woodworking department and a school aeroplane; The Spirit of Truro, they understood the practical application of their skills. In 1980 ‘Spirit of Truro’, flew! I believe it remains the only school built aeroplane that has taken to the UK skies. 

On retirement in 1996 I built a 5inch gauge railway with model GWR engines because I loved those steam journeys to college!

Is a Chartered Accountant, Entrepreneur and Corporate Advisor with a Professional Doctorate (DrS）and an MBA from Brunel University (UK). With decades of experience across multinational firms, his forte is in corporate advisory, tax planning, M&A, forensic reviews and turnaround strategies. He is the Founding President of McMillan Woods Worldwide – A global accountancy network, with its Head Office in the UK where the network also accords awards recognition to global industry leaders globally.

DSRL is a prolific speaker and writer in financial and technical fields. He has served as a Trustee of the Malaysian Accountancy Research & Education Foundation since 2001; and a Council member of Malaysian Institute of Accountants (2001-2013); and Chartered Taxation Institute of Malaysia (2005-2013); and a Council member of the local ACCA (UK) Malaysian office in 2000.

A strong advocate for CSR, he spearheads the McM Cares Programme, raising over RM2.3 million for underprivileged communities. He serves as an advisor to various NGOs and is an Independent Director of a listed entity.

On 3^rd December 2024, he launched his book “In My Father’s Footsteps”, with all royalties donated to charity. The book has been launched in 26 countries. He is currently working to establish a Brunel University Alumni Chapter in Malaysia.

My interest in engineering started at an early age, and as a boy I was often to be found taking things apart to see how they worked. This wasn’t always appreciated by my parents! The Btech (Hons) in Design and Technology with Education at Brunel was launched just as I was looking for a degree course and proved the ideal platform to expand my knowledge and skills. I went on to teach at Eton, a London Secondary School, a large Comprehensive in Essex and a Technology School in Kent, and became involved in the development of new technology based GCSE courses. After a period working as the Science and Technology Director for the Kent EBP, I started my own company in 1998, offering training and consultancy across the sector. This developed into a second company, dedicated to working with global manufacturers to subsidise prices into education, and over the last 25 years we have been committed to improving the climate and the learning experience in UK classrooms. I live in Kent with my wife of nearly 30 years, and have 2 grown up children and a 3 year old granddaughter whom I adore. Needless to say, we’re already taking things apart……

Graham Morgan is a pioneering figure in football, education, and performance with a lifelong commitment to innovation and social impact.

In 1970, an England Schoolboys U18 international, Graham’s playing career was cut short by injury and recruited to Borough by the legendary Charles Lipton.

During nine years teaching, Graham became the youngest FA Full Badge holder and FA Staff Coach aged 24, later coaching the England Schools U18 team.

As the UK’s first Football Development Officer in Bradford, he received national recognition for his grassroots work from Sir Bobby Robson in 1989.

During a decade at adidas, Graham created several UK grassroots programmes that helped launch the Predator boot and signed the unknown David Beckham.

As Head of Global Grassroots Football Graham then developed a grassroots football menu for 68 countries. His leadership brought grassroots football to the 1998 FIFA World Cup Football Parc in Paris, attracting over 1.3 million visitors and earning him a Golden Shoe award.

In 2007, he founded Evolve, a multi-award-winning social enterprise supporting disadvantaged children through innovative mentoring programmes.

Today, Graham is collaborating with neuroscientist Dr. Michael Merzenich on Footballing Brains—a cutting-edge programme using neuroscience to enhance performance for players, coaches, and match officials.

After graduating with my BA in Industrial Design and Technology from Brunel University, I ventured into the world of product design before landing my current role at Rockstar Games. As a UX designer working on the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI, I stand at the cutting edge of gaming innovation, sculpting experiences that will define the next generation of interactive entertainment.

As someone who thrives on creative challenges, I'm excited to be working in the emerging field of UX in gaming, where I can apply design thinking to create more intuitive and engaging experiences for players.

I greatly enjoyed my time at Brunel and the wisdom it brought me. This is where i learned to work effectively in teams, and was given the freedom to experiment and grow. These experiences have shaped not just my professional skills but how i reason as a designer.

Today, as I navigate the complex environment of AAA game development, I draw constantly from those formative lessons, now enhanced by years of industry experience. As gaming evolves with new technologies and rising user expectations, I'm proud to apply my expertise at this transformative frontier, crafting meaningful player experiences that will shape how we interact with virtual worlds for years to come.

Since graduating from Brunel University London—where I completed both my undergraduate degree and a Master’s in Sport Psychology—I’ve built a career focused on helping people develop through football. I started by delivering Foundation programmes for Tottenham Hotspur in North London, using the game to support young people in local communities.

In 2017, I became one of the Club’s first full-time international coaches, working across South-East Asia to deliver programmes and lay the foundations for our global work. That experience shaped how I approach development—adapting to different cultures, building relationships, and using football as a way to create opportunity.

I moved into management shortly after, supporting the delivery of domestic and international projects across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India and Europe. Along the way, I’ve also contributed to the development of Academy players and mentored staff at different levels within the Club.

Now, as Head of Global Football Development, I lead a team of 64 staff and oversee programmes reaching over 75,000 participants annually. A key part of my role is creating clear pathways for coaches—ensuring they have the tools, support and opportunities to progress in their careers.

I am honoured to be a finalist for the Brunel Alumni of the Year Awards 2025 in the Rising Star Award category. Currently, I work as a mathematics lecturer at Buckinghamshire College Group. I started my journey there as a maths coach, and within just two months, I was promoted to a lecturer position. This rapid progression reflects my dedication to helping students succeed, and my college has even offered to sponsor my visa as a testament to the value I bring to the institution.

In Addition, I am also a Consultant at Multiverse, one of the UK's and USA's leading apprenticeship companies focused on data science and AI. I help apprentices by tutoring and marking their projects in Data Science and Business Analytics programs. I provide one-on one coaching to help them improve their skills and guide them through their learning. I also lead group sessions to encourage teamwork. In addition, I mark their projects and give clear feedback to ensure they meet the requirements and succeed in their apprenticeship.

 I am also proud to have been accepted as an associate member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), further solidifying my commitment to advancing in the field of mathematics.

Through my work in education, consulting, and professional development, I am passionate about bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. I aim to empower students and apprentices to apply their skills in meaningful ways. I am grateful for the recognition as a finalist for this award and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the fields of mathematics and data science.

Lina is an award-winning specialist solicitor in international family law, and currently an in-house solicitor-advocate at one of the most esteemed legal departments. With extensive expertise in international children’s law, Lina is widely recognised for her exceptional contributions to the field.

Lina has dedicated her career to representing and supporting vulnerable individuals, including children affected by international abduction by their parent, young people facing forced marriage and FGM, and women fleeing abusive relationships. She now represents children in complex family proceedings and conducts her own advocacy at the High Court, demonstrating expertise in navigating the complex intersections of family law, often including human rights, immigration, and international legislations and protocols.

As a first-generation graduate and lawyer from a BAME background, Lina has broken barriers to become a leader in family law and now mentors aspiring lawyers, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, empowering them to achieve their full potential. She has written various legal articles for family law, previously lectured at The University of Law and contributes to mentorship initiatives like the Young Legal Aid Lawyers Association.  

In 2023, she was honoured with the We Are The City Rising Star Award in the Law category (The Lynne Freeman Award) and was shortlisted for the YRes Rising Star Award. She was also named a Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer. In 2024, Lina was shortlisted for three prestigious Inspirational Women in Law Awards, including In-house Lawyer of the Year, Solicitor of the Year, and Mentor of the Year. Recently, she was ‘Highly Commended’ for the In-house Lawyer Rising Star Award at the Women and Diversity in the Law Awards. 

A cognitive neuroscientist and experimental psychologist, is a rising star in the fields of chronobiology and sleep research. Known for his groundbreaking theoretical framework on chronotype and his bold challenges to established principles in chronobiology and mental health, Dr Chauhan has received widespread recognition for his exceptional contributions. His accolades include the Early Career Researcher Award (2023), the Young Scientist Award (2024), and the Scientific Impact Award (2024), with another nomination for the latter in 2025. Dr Chauhan's pioneering research, published in prestigious scientific journals, has been adopted into university curricula across Europe, shaping the teaching and research landscape for future generations. His work continues to garner acclaim, solidifying his reputation as a leading authority in the field. Currently, Dr Chauhan is heading an international project aimed at addressing the global mental health and sleep crisis in collaboration with British Society for Personality of Individual Differences.

I'm Rubab Nasser, founder of Young Mindfulness. As a teacher, I saw more than just lessons being taught—I saw children carrying quiet pain into the classroom. I watched as big emotions were labelled as “bad behaviour,” and how those children were so often met with punishment instead of compassion.

What they needed wasn’t to be fixed.
They needed to be seen.

That realisation changed the course of my life.

I reduced my time in the classroom and created Young Mindfulness—a space where children can feel safe and begin to understand their emotions. These are fun sessions that take place in groups or 1:1 and involve breathing, learning coping techniques through crafts, and relaxation. I teach emotional wellbeing, not to manage behaviour, but to help children feel less alone and to develop healthy coping mechanisms.

I also knew that parents were also an important part of this puzzle. That’s why I created Feelings First—a parenting programme designed to help parents tune in to the feelings behind their child’s behaviour, and put their child's feelings first - only then can they expect to see a change in behaviour.

At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: when children feel safe, seen, and supported—they thrive. And when we stop asking, “What’s wrong with this child?” and start asking, “What’s happening for this child?”— everything changes.

1. All nominations must be made using the online Brunel Alumni of the Year Award online nomination form by 11.59pm on Thursday, 20 2025 March (UK time).
2. The nominee must have graduated from Brunel University of London or one of its predecessor colleges.
3. Nominations can be made by Brunel alumni, students and staff, as well as family members, colleagues or other members of the public. Self-nominations are also welcomed.
4. Nominations must detail how the nominee has demonstrated success and achievements in their professional career, significant involvement and contributions to their community, or an ongoing commitment and contribution to Brunel University of London through volunteering and advocacy.
5. If you’d like to nominate more than one person, nominations for different alumni across the award categories are welcomed.
6. Each individual nomination must be submitted for one award category only.
7. If required, the Alumni Relations Office reserves the right to move any individual nomination between the award categories.
8. If required, the Alumni Relations Office reserves the right to make a final decision on any individual’s eligibility for the awards.
9. Winners will be encouraged to undertake at least one activity for Brunel in the year of their award to benefit the Brunel community, such as providing an alumni profile or feature story, delivering a lecture or careers session, or the provision of advice and support to student groups, etc.

1. Previous Brunel Alumni of the Year Award winners are not permitted to be nominated again in any award category.
2. Brunel Honorary Graduates / Fellows of the University (unless the nominee also graduated from the University or one of its predecessor colleges).
3. Current members of the University’s Board of Governors or its committees. https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/administration/governance-and-university-committees/university-committees -  https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/administration/governance-and-university-committees/university-committees
4. Serving Politician or Heads of State.

• Short-listing of all eligible applications will be undertaken by staff members of Brunel University of London after the closing date for nominations and in line with the eligibility criteria to select the finalists for each category.
• Details of all finalists will be available here on the website and the vote will be launched via email and our social media channels including LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
• Votes for finalists may only be cast by members of the Brunel alumni community, students and staff. There will be a weighted voting system whereby votes cast by alumni will be worth 50%, staff 25% and students 25%.
• All alumni, staff and students will be allowed to cast one vote for one finalist in each category via our online voting form when made available - we’re afraid that multiple votes (either for one specific finalist or multiple finalists) will not be counted.
• The winner of each category is decided by the highest number of verified votes received from our alumni community.

• Winners will be announced at our on-campus Alumni Awards celebration on the 11^th June 2025. All finalists will be invited to attend - alumni, supporters, and nominators will be welcome to join our live streaming online.
• There will be an additional award decided by the Brunel University of London Alumni Advisory Board. The board will pick a winner for the Alumni Advisory Board Award from a list of runner ups.
• The winner’s announcement will be shared publicly via our channels and celebrated on our website, social media channels and pliations.

LLB Law - class of 2017

• Managing Director, Otermans Institute
• Former Vice President of the Union of Brunel Students (2017-18)
• Awards: Pride of Bengal Award 2019 - House of Lords; Global Leaders Award 2020 - Kolkata, India; National Campaign of the Year 2017 - NUS

Nomination:
After completing his studies, Dev was elected as the Vice President (VP) of the Union during which he served in the University Council and Senate. As VP he accomplished and brought innovative ideas to Brunel. Firstly, he led the organisation of Brunel’s first South Asian Culture Week to celebrate cultural diversity of the large number of South Asian students at Brunel. For this, he was recognised and won a national NUS award on inclusivity. Secondly, he brought TEDx to Brunel for the first time. This was a major event in which 6 Brunel staff and students were able to speak on a global platform. The event was very successful, received a lot of positive feedback and directly helped the careers of the speakers. However, potentially his biggest success was co-leading the Brunel Bikes campaign. Here, the team raised over £80,000 in less than 5 weeks by liaising with students, staff, alumni, local partners, businesses and other relevant stakeholders. Due to this achievement, the team secured an additional £100,000 deal with Santander to create and implement the current Brunel Bike scheme that links Uxbridge, Brunel University London and Hillingdon Hospital. In the first few weeks after the launch, it was named as the most used scheme in the country. It has contributed extensively to Brunel and the local community as it provides cheap travel for students, it is environmentally friendly, and it has strengthened Brunel’s relationship with the local community. In recognition for his work, the University has even named a cycle after him.

Dev has also supported and led projects supporting other London based communities. For instance, he helped bring art exhibitions to support fundraising for Syrian refugees to Uxbridge, helped organise and execute community events in Bromley which was attended by over 1500 people and led and supported national campaigns for international students and young workers. He also worked and supported parliamentary events on similar issues.

Following his time at Brunel, Dev worked in legal consulting in London while continuing to work on several community driven activities across various parts of London. This work led to him winning the Pride of Bengal award at the House of Lords in 2019, where he became its youngest recipient; past winners have included Nobel laureates such as Amarthya Sen.

Following his passion for social innovation and community work, Dev has moved on from legal consulting to his own very interesting enterprise. About a year ago, Dev started a social education enterprise called ‘Otermans Institute’ which aims to upskill students of India, Nepal and Bangladesh with the use of tailored soft skills and transferable skills training. At present, he has already trained a few hundred teachers and thousands of students, mainly in India. Recently, Dev and his colleagues signed an MOU with the government of the state of Uttarakhand to train and upskill over 20,000 underprivileged students across that state. Therefore, Dev is currently scaling the operations and lobbying other state governments to implement his soft skills curriculum and teaching programme. His work throughout India was recognised by the Governor in January 2020 and he received the Global Leaders Award for Innovation in Education. For his projects, he always aims to link it back to Brunel and has taken several interns and teammates from the University. He also continues to actively advise and support students. He has always stated the impact of his Brunel days in influencing his work.

Already in a short time span and at a young age, Dev has touched and impacted on the lives of thousands of people in different parts of London and across South Asia. His dedication to the young people in these communities and passion for social change are obvious. Furthermore, his work has involved and positively developed several existing and former Brunel students. I am excited to see his work grow and the impact he has on so many. I admire his vision and strategy, dedication to his work, his speed of achievements and impact on the community for both his current projects and during his time at Brunel.

MSc Information Systems - class of 2002

PhD Information Systems & Computing Research - class of 2006

Job title:

• Personal Chair and Professor of Digital Marketing and Innovation, Swansea University, UK
• Co-Director of Research, School of Management, Swansea University, UK
• Director of Emerging Markets Research Centre (EMaRC), Swansea University, UK
• University Dean of Academic Leadership (REF Research Environment and Interdisciplinary Research), Swansea University, UK

Written by Dr Anabel Gutirrrez - Professor Dwivedi completed his PhD studies within an outstanding three year period with 14 publications accepted by the time of his viva examination and has gone on to contribute to the development of future generations at different levels. He started his teaching journey 12 years ago, delivering a range of modules from Information Systems to Social Media Marketing in both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Student feedback has always been outstanding and his supervisory style has been exceptional, contributing to the development of 20 doctoral students. The quality of his supervision was recognised in 2017 as a finalist of the annual Times Higher Education Awards “2017 Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year”. Additionally, he has been invited to more than 65 PhD examinations as an internal or external examiner. His constructive and robust style for examination has transcended to different universities where he has mentored and coached new staff and colleagues, making a difference not only to students but to anyone in academia who is looking to improve their research skills. 

His contribution to the sector has comprised of more than 390 publications in refereed journals, conferences and books in addition to the development of extensive collaborations and joint international projects with social impact with other universities and professional bodies. 

As a Brunel alumna myself, I met Professor Dwivedi when I started my PhD at Brunel University London back in 2004. Since then, I have great admiration and the honour of collaborating in different capacities, each time it has being always an excellent experience providing the most incredible opportunities for further collaborations. These are just a few examples that solidify my decision for his nomination. Recognising alumni who contributed to industry, politics, business, sport, and many other areas is as important as to recognise those excellent academics who are part of their formation. Professor Dwivedi professional achievements, extensive knowledge in his field, the human approach for decision-making and natural solidarity to the academic community and society makes him a worthy candidate for the Brunel Alumni of the Year Award.

Written by Dr Dhaval Thakker - Yogesh has made a great impact in academia and the research on digital marketing since his PhD at Brunel. In my opinion, Yogesh’s record is one of the best students to come out from Brunel, in particular, working in academia. He has 300+ referred papers, very high citations 10k+, and h-index = 56. He has successfully supervised 15+ PhD students, was nominated by the Times Higher for outstanding supervisor of the year for 2017, and has been an internal and external examiner for more than 65 doctoral thesis.

Yogesh has also carried out the editorship of prestigious journals and conferences in the field, and held a number of other prestigious engagements. He has shown outstanding leadership in research and admin roles and is certainly a role model for someone working in academia (and also an alumnus of Brunel) like me, and I strongly believe that he is a role model for many graduates looking to make academia and research leadership their career.

Written by Dr Inderjeet Singh - Professor Dwivedi is a pioneer in the area of e commerce/management and has published 221 refereed journal articles and 141 conference papers in the field. His research interests are in the area of Information Systems (IS) including the adoption and diffusion of emerging ICTs (e.g. broadband, RFID, e-commerce, e-government, m-commerce, m-payments, m-government); an interest in analysis of usage trends of IS theories and research approaches; and understanding the evolution of IS, e-government and e-commerce research. His work on these topics has been published in a range of leading academic journals including: Communications of the ACM, European Journal of Information Systems, International Journal of Production Research, and Journal of the Operational Research Society.

He has presented his research at key international conferences in Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America. He has co-edited more than ten books on technology adoption, e-government and IS theory and had them published by international publishers such as Springer, Routledge, and Emerald. He acted as co-editor of fourteen special issues; organised tracks, mini-tracks and panels in leading conferences; and served as programme co-chair of IFIP WG 8.6 Conference at the prestigious IIM Bangalore, India in 2013. He is secretary of IFIP 8.6 Working Group; a member of the AIM Scholar Pool; life member of IFIP 8 WG 8.5, 8.6; and an annual member of the Association of Information Systems.

Written by Dr Wafi Al-Karaghouli - I know Prof Dwivedi in an academic capacity, as we share many areas of interest, including chairing tracks at conferences such as EMCIS. Also, I have previously published with him a paper (“Dwivedi, Y., Venkitachalam, K., Sharif, A., Al-Karaghouli, W. and Weerakkody, V. 2011) on Research Trends in Knowledge Management: Analysing the Past and Predicting the Future. Special Issue, Journal of Information Systems Management, Vol.28: pp.43–56. (ABS 2*).

He is currently University Dean of Academic Leadership (REF Research Environment and Interdisciplinary Research) at Swansea University and has held many directorships roles at Swansea University. Yogesh finished his PhD studies in 2005 here at Brunel, his thesis entitled “Investigating consumer adoption, usage and impact of broadband: UK households”, a topic which is still current.

He has published widely in top ranking journals of the ABS ranking and is one of the top cited authors in e-Government and social media. He is known in both the Brunel Business School and Computer Science Department for his continuous collaboration with Brunel staff in research, publications & grants.

Written by Dr Yousra Asaad - Professor Dwivedi is a well-respected and very well established academic. He has long standing experience in teaching, research and management, and has been promoted to a Professor in a relatively short period of time. He is extremely well published in the field of digital marketing in prestigious journals and has been a director of research for a number of year’s ay Swansea University Business School, where he has revamped the research culture in the school to a more productive and enriching one. He has a great personality and is very helpful to colleagues and students - I think he is a fantastic candidate for this award.

BA Industrial Design & Technology - 2014

Since graduating from Brunel, Solveiga is the Founder and Director of Mimica, a company developing a biologically accurate smart packaging solution that reduces food waste and improves food safety. She has gone on to make huge waves in the design world. Her product - Mimica Touch - began life as a project at Brunel. The concept was originally devised as part of her final-year project at in order to help the visually impaired, who cannot read dates on traditional food labels. However, she soon discovered that her design could revolutionise food labelling for all and make a huge impact in the food packaging industry. The product is designed to provide a more accurate method of determining whether food is still edible. The food label contains gelatine which breaks down at the same rate as the food inside the package. Once the food is no longer safe to eat, the user will be able to feel bumps on the label and will know to dispose of it.

Solveiga is also the Founder and Director of her own freelance design studio - Design By Sol Ltd. - which undertakes projects of a wide scope, as well as developing in-house projects in the areas of industrial & product design, packaging design, graphic design & information architecture and user experience design. In addition, Solveiga is also a Visiting Lecturer for UCL, a Board Member of Fast Forward 2030 and a Fellow at Unreasonable - an organisation, investment fund and private global network dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs.

Part of Solveiga’s incredible journey has included working with the Central Research Laboratory, a thriving facility in Hayes, West London, supported by Brunel to assist design start-ups. She is an enthusiastic supporter of Brunel, always keen to give back and inspire the next generation of designers and entrepreneurs. Solveiga has provided videos and profiles, and regularly joins us for events on campus, such as our Global Entrepreneur Week panel, discussing her unique perspective on what it means to be an entrepreneur and sharing tips and guidance for those looking to start / grow their own business. Her passion for supporting Brunel students is driven by the desire to encourage more students to take their own ideas seriously and see that they can really change the world; something she sees as the whole point of design.

Solveiga has achieved numerous accolades, along with a great deal of industry recognition, including being named as MIT Inventor of the Year 2017, Leader of Tomorrow 2016, Mayor of London Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015, Top New Talent 2015 and Start-up of the Year 2014. Her awards to date have included the Hawley Award 2016, Shell Staff Inspiration Award 2016, Platypus Award for Innovations in Taste 2015, Smart Future Award 2015 and the James Dyson Award UK to name a few. Solveiga was also named as one of the ‘1000 Most Influential Londoners 2014’ and has been a key speaker at TEDxHult London.

We are delighted that Solveiga's inspirational design and entrepreneurial success have been formally recognised and rewarded. 

Tim studied Industrial Design at Brunel at the courses’ inception (1989), and was part of the first year to graduate from the programme. He went on to have a successful career in design before starting his own business, Integrity, in 1997. The company has two main objectives: outstanding client service and a dynamic workplace environment. The first aim drives them to provide a complete service to clients to achieve consistency across all aspects of their brand, ensuring that the values of the client organisation are properly represented in all aspects of their business. The second objective is to create a great place to work, where people are valued for their strengths, and where the benefits of teamwork create a strong culture around helping others to do their very best for clients. Integrity provides brand services to well-known companies, including Waitrose, Volkswagen, Virgin and CenterParcs, and also in the public sector for police forces, universities and the NHS.

Tim credits the skills and thinking that Brunel instils in its designers which helped him shape both the company and its unique service offerings, focusing on brand implementation - bringing brand vision to life. This also led Tim to look to Brunel in 2003 when he decided to take on his first placement student, and marked the beginning of a long and fruitful employment relationship with Brunel.

In the years since, Tim and Integrity have employed many placement students, as well as taking on a growing number of graduates. Currently, Integrity has 13 Brunel alumni amongst their staff of 19 people. During their involvement with Brunel, Tim has employed 14 placement students, six of whom returned to Integrity for permanent employment after graduation, and 18 Brunel alumni as graduate employees. This translates into 88 years-worth of employment, with total salaries paid to Brunel graduates and undergraduates of over £2 million! At Integrity, Tim has created an environment that encourages and nurtures development in young graduates. Four out of the five members of the company’s current senior team originally joined as new graduates. Three of them are Brunel graduates and two undertook placements at the company during their time as students.

We are delighted to hear of Tim’s success and cherish his ongoing relationship with Brunel. We are very proud to present the award to him this year.

We received more nominations than ever before for the 2015 Alumnus of the Year. We saw an impressive range of alumni achievements and many examples of alumni continuing to support Brunel students through various types of volunteering. From the shortlist, you voted for your favourites, and after a close contest, we are pleased to announce that this year’s joint winners are Greg Duggan (Sport Sciences 2008) and Damien Kennedy (Sport Sciences 2008).

Greg and Damien met at Brunel where they studied Sport Sciences together. After graduation, Greg went on to teach at The Charter School in Southwark, while Damien joined Barking Abbey Basketball Academy as Head Coach.

Then in 2012, thanks to their shared interest in good nutrition, they had an idea for a great tasting but healthy ice cream. They founded WheyHey - the world’s first high-protein ice cream, which is low in fat and uses natural sweetener xylitol, which has no insulin response and is recommended by dentists.

The response to their product was incredible. When their first large order of 1,000 pots came in from Holland & Barrett, the pair struggled to deliver such a substantial volume. The batch sold out in just three days and the customers wanted more. Wheyhey was a huge hit but they had to work tirelessly and pool all their resources to try and meet the demand. Eventually they managed to scale up their production and grow the business.

The company, which is now forecast to turn over £2.5m this year and employs nine full-time staff, was able to grow thanks, in part, to social media. But, in recognition of their innovation and pioneering approach, they also won the Virgin Media Pioneer Award. This programme gives exciting new companies a range of resources and opportunities to help develop their businesses.

The ice cream has a growing number of celebrity fans including supermodel David Gandy and One Direction’s Harry Styles. Greg and Damien have also recently developed Coco Pro; a new protein-rich coconut water that is designed to provide the ultimate recovery drink.

Despite the incredible success of their business, Greg and Damien recently found time to return to Brunel to speak to students in the Entrepreneur’s Society to share their experiences and advice.

We are delighted to hear of their success and very proud to present the award to Greg and Damien this year.

Hannah Critchlow graduated from Brunel in 2003 with a BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology, with First Class Honours.

During her studies here, Hannah was an exemplary student and was awarded three university prizes for ‘Best Biologist’.

Hannah went on to complete a PhD in Neuropsychiatry at the University of Cambridge, where she was also awarded a Magdalene College, Cambridge University Fellowship.

Inspired through her work as a nursing assistant at St Andrews Psychiatric Hospital, she went on to work as Strategic Manager for Cambridge Neuroscience. On secondment she helped steer and coordinate the re-launch of the British Neuroscience Association between 2010 and 2011. She credits her eye-opening experiences working on the ward with leading her to pursue a career in neuroscience and her desire to educate the public.

In 2013 she was named as one of Cambridge University's "inspirational and successful women in science".

Hannah now works as a presenter on the weekly BBC radio programme The Naked Scientists. Hannah along with her fellow presenters are "a media-savvy" group of physicians and researchers from the University of Cambridge who promote science to the general public in a fun and accessible manner,stripping it down to its bare essentials.The programme is aimed at those aged 14 and upwards and Hannah has explored topics as wide-ranging as Smallpox, sleep deprivation, Alzheimer's and morality.

Earlier this year in recognition of her work, she was named as one of the UK's 100 leading scientists by the Science Council. She was featured in the 'Communicator Scientist' category for her "energy and enthusiasm for communicating complex science issues in an accessible way".

Hannah continues to share her love of science through a busy public speaking schedule which has included appearances at schools, literary festivals and science festivals among others. Her ability to engage audiences is exceptional.

Hannah has just started working with Headcase, a new mental health awareness project, empowering people through open discussion and knowledge about the brain.

Jordan (BSc Industrial Design, 2007) studied Industrial Design at Brunel. During his placement year he worked for leading design consultancy iDC before he returned to Brunel for his final year to lead the team that coordinated the Made in Brunel show. By 2007 he had graduated with a first class honours degree and started his own business, Naked Creativity.

Naked Creativity is a central London design consultancy with a five-strong team of creative and technicalJordan Chitty individuals all passionate about web, graphic and branding design. Over the last six years, the company has gone from strength to strength with clients including Virgin Wines, London South Bank University and Olympic Delivery Authority.

Jordan has maintained strong links with Brunel. Since the launch of Naked Creativity, he has taken on students from Brunel for year-long work placements, providing invaluable practical experience of working within the industry. This is a crucial part of the student experience and in offering these placements Jordan has helped launch the careers of a number of his fellow alumni. He has also gone on to employ two Brunel graduates on a permanent basis. Last year he helped develop the Made in Brunel website.

Jordan is a great role-model for Brunel students. Not only has he made a great success of his own business, but he has also shown outstanding commitment to the university both during and after his studies. He continues to make a genuine and significant difference to the lives of our students.

Ross (BA English with Drama, 2007) took leading roles in many of the Arts Centre’s musical productions and continued his vocal studies and involvement in university concerts following graduation.

In 2009, he was accepted on to the Royal Academy of Music’s MA in Vocal Studies and began performing with the prestigious RAM Song Circle in 2011.

He is now a member of the RAM’s prestigious Royal Academy Opera Course. His recent operatic roles include Claudio in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict, Papageno in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and the title role in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. He has also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and the International Handel Festival in Goettingen, Germany.

The award recognised Ross’s exceptional achievements, his on-going support to the Brunel community, and for being a fantastic role-model for current Brunel students.

Nathaniel (BEng Mechanical Engineering, 2001) is an entrepreneur highly committed to helping people realise their dreams. One of his most compelling traits is his dedication to helping young people rise above crime and make a positive difference in their own lives as well as in the lives of others in their community. 

In 2006, he founded the company The Safety Box to help youths tackle the growing problems of anti-social behaviour, bullying, low self-esteem, crime and violence in society. In 2007 he was the first double award winner of the Enterprising Young Brits competition. 2008 saw him feature on the BBC’s The Last Millionaire TV series. By 2009, he was a speaker at Jamaica’s first Youth Diaspora Conference. Then come 2010 he represented Great Britain as a youth delegate for the G20 Toronto Young Entrepreneur’s Summit and in 2011 he featured in the JP Morgan Black Power List.

During all this time, Nathaniel has remained connected with and supportive of Brunel University, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps. He is a tremendous role-model for Brunel students and frequently speaks at events and engages with Brunel students to inspire them.

Peter (Economics and Business Finance, 2001) is an entrepreneur and founder of the travel website Where Are You Now, aka WAYN.com. He was awarded for his business success and his huge commitment to helping others - particularly students at Brunel - in achieving their goals.

As a Brunel student Peter was already an entrepreneur, having experimented with setting up companies before he graduated. WAYN is now one of the world’s largest travel and lifestyle social networking community, with a presence in 220 countries. Membership has grown from 45,000 users in March 2005 to over 21.8 million today.

Since graduating Peter has been extremely supportive of Brunel and its students. He regularly comes to the University to assist with judging projects and to give inspirational talks to our current students. Peter has also been a strong supporter of the Brunel Entrepreneurs’ Society advising many aspiring entrepreneurs. .

In 2009, Brunel made its inaugural award to Heather Fell (BSc Physiotherapy, 2004), one of Britain’s leading Modern Pentathletes in recognition of her outstanding sporting achievements, particularly her silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Heather is one of Britain’s most successful pentathletes, achieving notable success, including taking the 2003 World Junior Championship, whilst studying for her BSc in Physiotherapy at Brunel.

Coming through career-threatening injuries in 2006, Heather showed not only determination, but also a serious aptitude for multi-tasking as she was training for five events while holding down three jobs in order to meet the costs of being an international athlete.

This dedication clearly paid off as Heather won medals in the World Cup, the European and World Championships, qualified for the Olympics which culminated in a fantastic Silver medal at the Beijing Games, taking her to the top of the World rankings.

Throughout all this, Heather has remained tremendously supportive of Brunel and is a great ambassador for the University. .