Alumni stories

Alumni stories

In this inspirational series our alumni share, in their own words, stories of overcoming challenges, setting up pioneering projects, and bringing about positive change in the world.

Mei Simmons (left), her recently-published book (middle) and Mei at her Cambridge graduation (right).
Mei Simmons (Girton 1999), studied Medicine at Cambridge, but was among the few in her cohort who was interested in mental health. Now, as a consultant child & adolescent psychiatrist and author, her passion for helping young people is stronger than ever.
Anastasia Christophilopoulou in the Fitzwilliam Museum beside a statue.
Dr Anastasia Christophilopoulou (St John's 2003) began life as a gymnast, and sought a career that shared similar elements of physicality. Now, she is a classical archaeologist and curator of the new Islanders exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum. She tells us about why archaeology is relevant to a post-Brexit Britain, and the power of collaboration and inclusivity.
heba bevan against a colourful background
Meet engineer Heba Bevan OBE (Jesus 2011), founder of UtterBerry, a company which makes small, wireless, ultra-low power AI sensors used in vast civil engineering projects like Crossrail. We chatted to Heba and found out more about her passion for involving women and girls in STEM.
Oliver with friends posing on Cambridge's mathematical bridge
Oliver Rieche (Queens’ 2013) is a human rights and environmental lawyer who was recognised last year as a Top 10 Future Leader at the British LGBT Awards. He tells us more about his experience at Cambridge, and his mission to add value to the LGBTQ+ community in his line of work.
Alumni museum selfies
After leaving Cambridge, our alumni go on to do amazing things, like working with museums around the world. From Shruti who uses nanotechnology to bring art to your home, to Jack, who brings Australian mammals to the world, meet six of our alumni who shared their #MuseumSelfie with us...
Brian Wang in front of a window with the London Eye in the distance
During the pandemic, junior doctor Brian Wang (Robinson 2012) founded a widening participation initiative to help underrepresented UK school students access medical school. Now, In2MedSchool has matched thousands of pupils with mentors across the country.
mariam olafuyi portrait
Mariam Olafuyi (Clare 2014) set up a social enterprise that helps Africans realise their dreams of accessing post-secondary education. This year, Mariam won a British Council Study UK Alumni Award for Social Action in recognition of her efforts. She reflects on the part Cambridge played in inspiring her.
Phyllis Agbo dressed in Team GB kit, holding a javelin and looking to her left.
Phyllis Agbo (Trinity 2004) competed internationally in athletics for over 15 years, mainly as a Heptathlete. This included representing Great Britain & NI in many European League fixtures, as well as England at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. She graduated with a degree in Natural Sciences.
Lord Chris Smith standing in a panelled wood chapel with stained glass above, wearing black robes with panels of red.
Lord Chris Smith (Pembroke 1969) was not only the first openly gay MP in the House of Commons, but also the first openly gay Cabinet Minister in the world. Now he has returned to Pembroke College as Master, where he broke another barrier to become the first openly gay head of a Cambridge College.
Dr Amineh Hoti (left); two men in Pakistan's Swat district (right).
Dr Amineh Hoti (Lucy Cavendish 1995) has developed peacebuilding initiatives in the UK and across the world. Amineh's programmes transcend disciplines to help communities from different faiths understand each other and live more harmoniously.
The Cambridge University Chamber Choir in 1975, next to Caroline Stephenson.
Before Caroline Stephenson (Newnham 1972) set up the Meadow Barns educational centre for sustainability in Cornwall, she’d already built an eclectic career in music performance and education. Her journey has been one of creativity, curiosity and resilience.
Susan Long next to the Syria Airbag Kit and Makerspace equipment.
Susan Long (Robinson 2005) has always championed the social benefits of manufacturing. Throughout her career, she has brought revolutionary manufacturing technologies to some of the world’s most challenging environments. But wherever she works, Susan’s guiding principles remain the same.
Rachel and Lawrence with The Overlanding Ambulance.
Rachel Nixon (Girton 2012) has worked as a vet in countries across the world. Now, to support the causes she cares about most, she is attempting to circumnavigate the globe in an off-road ambulance.
stethoscope
While lots of us have spent the past few months locked away at home, many members of our worldwide alumni community have been on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19. Read stories from medical professionals, philanthropists, and scientists who have contributed to efforts against the pandemic in a variety of contexts. 
Lockdown road sign
Alumni worldwide reflect on their experiences of lockdown amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Hear from alumni from Qatar to Chile, Zambia to Greece and Australia to Japan.
Left: Charles Sherwood at Ama Dablam Base Camp in Nepal, right: Sidney Sussex College
Charles Sherwood (Sidney Sussex 1978) describes how secretly scaling up the college chapel led to a lifelong love of mountaineering, and a quest to conquer each continent’s most challenging climb.
Usha Akella
Poet Usha Akella (Lucy Cavendish 2016) realised that many South Asian diaspora poets experienced exclusion from the wider poetry community. This led her to set up Matwaala — a festival to give visibility and voice to South Asian poets.
Sarah Moore, King’s College viewed from the Backs, view over King’s Parade
Since studying history at Cambridge, Sarah Moore’s (King’s 1996) passion for fairness and equality for all, has led her to become an associate solicitor for one of the top human rights firms in the country.
Neil and Rachel Laurenson
Neil Laurenson (Homerton 2000) describes his time at Cambridge and his career path to date, including becoming a comedian, councillor and author.
Okechukwu Nzelu
Okechukwu Nzelu (Girton 2007) discovered a passion for writing and education while at Cambridge. Today he’s a published author and teacher who is encouraging and inspiring the next generation through his work.
From clockwise: Girton College library, Will outside King’s College, Girton College gardens
Will Lyon Tupman (Girton 2014) looks back on his journey from growing up in care, to studying at Cambridge, to returning once again to the city, to train for ordination with the Church of England.  
Sam Browne (Fitzwilliam 2011) and Alex Rose (St John’s 2008)
Sam Browne (Fitzwilliam 2011) explains how he and Alex Rose (St John’s 2008) co-founded 'Let’s Do This', the world’s largest online booking platform for mass-participation sports, and secured investments worth £4m from Usain Bolt, Serena Williams and YCombinator.
Sir Robert Brian Heap, with Dr Shehzad Jeeva and his wife, Amreen, and their children Amelle, Abran and Sibelle.
Shehzad Jeeva (St Edmund’s 2001) shares the values he learnt at Cambridge and how they continue to play a key role in his life and work today.
Churchill College
Keith Paton (Churchill 1963) ponders the nature of public and private success.
Lucy Cavendish College
Shazia Afzal (Lucy Cavendish 2009) describes how investigating inequality in second language learning led to setting up her own school for underprivileged children.
Shanya celebrating Diwali (left) and at the backs (right).
Studying for the Cambridge Master of Law (LLM) inspired Shanya Ruhela (St Edmund's 2016) to pursue her dreams, and move from the private sector into academia.
Kachi and Hughes Hall
Kachi Ginigeme (Hughes Hall 2012) shares how a scholarship made studying at Cambridge possible and helped to open doors at leading law firms.
Geoffrey and Fleur Winter
Geoffrey Winter (Corpus 1940) served in the Second World War during his undergraduate years at Cambridge. He shares his alumni story.
Alexandros Pamnani and Darwin College
Alexandros Pamnani (Darwin 2015) shares how he went from dropping out of school to working for the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.
Left: Sarah Laitung and Zahra Husain. Right: Jesus College
Sarah Laitung (Jesus 2003) co-founder of Humans in Finance (HIF), explains how she’s working to change the world of finance for the better.
Sumita speaking at the Trinity College celebration of the admittance of female students, May 2008. Sumita and Chater.
Sumita Singha (Trinity 1988) describes coming to the UK to study at Cambridge in the 80s, including being the first woman to wear a sari for graduation.
(Top-left) Alison flying; (Bottom-left) Alison as a Meteorologist; (Right) Alison in Antarctica
Alison Davies (Churchill 2010) was surprised to discover that a degree in Natural Sciences could lead to an unconventional career working as an operational meteorologist for the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Ekbal and Pembroke College
Ekbal Hussain (Pembroke 2008) describes how his passion for geosciences led to him working for the British Geological Survey. Today he studies earthquake movements to help understand the risks from future shocks to low-income countries.
Simon and Danielle outside Fitzwilliam College
Simon Chan (Fitzwilliam 2002) and Danielle Ainsworth-Patrick (Fitzwilliam 2007) are Collegiate Shag teachers with Cambridge Swing Dance. We spoke with them to find out about life after graduation and how they discovered dance.
Kai and David
We spoke to Kai Yuen Wong (Fitzwilliam 2002) and David Peace (St Catharine's 1966) to find out more about their lifelong passion for volunteering.
Queens' College and Tom Crawford
Tom Crawford (Queens' 2012) shares how he’s using social media to make maths fun and accessible to everyone.
Trinity Hall and Vivian
Scientist-turned-entrepreneur Vivian Chan (Trinity Hall 2007) explains the thinking behind setting up a scientific discovery search engine.
Trinity College and Andrew
Andrew Lorey (Trinity 2015) describes how the opportunities and experiences he gained at Cambridge were vital to securing a job at Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Hawai‘i.
Victoria and Newnham College
Victoria Kimonides (Newnham 1993) explains why she’s passionate about representing alumni as part of the Alumni Advisory Board.
Charlotte Green and Robinson College
Charlotte Green (née Cook, Robinson 2008) shares how taking a risk and trusting her instincts paid off in establishing a career in digital marketing.
Michelle Le Cheminant and Newnham College gardens
Michelle Le Cheminant (Newnham 2003) has always had wanderlust and today is supporting the training of Zambian anaesthetists.
Rowing
Diego Oliveira Sanchez (St Edmund’s 2013) shares how discovering rowing at Cambridge was a turning point, impacting all areas of life.
John Friedman
Anthropologist John Friedman (Darwin 1998) describes how field work opened his eyes to the implications of visual impairment in low income countries. Today he’s part of a charity working to help close the visual divide.
Sam Sudar in front of the Senate House
Sam Sudar (St John's 2011) explains that studying an eclectic combination of subjects helped him discover his true passion. Today he’s developing an app for a global health project.
Promise Knight (St Catharine's 2007) with a photograph of St Catharine's College
Drawing from her own experiences, Promise Knight (St Catharine's 2007) realised how much mentoring can change a person’s life. Today she has set up her own foundation to mentor young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Esuna outside the UN headquarters in New York.
Since childhood Esuna Dugarova (Churchill 2005) was driven to learn more and see the world. Today she is working for the UN in New York and inspiring girls to pursue their aspirations, while remembering their roots in today's globalised world.
Vinayak Dalmia (left) with Darwin College (right)
Vinayak Dalmia (Darwin 2006) explains how he was inspired through his studies at Cambridge to find a solution to some of India’s healthcare needs. This lead to the development of an 'Uber-like' ambulance app.
Pembroke College (left) and Christopher Dobbing (right)
Christopher Dobbing (Pembroke 2008) explains how his entrepreneurial journey started at Cambridge.
Maria Moorwood
Maria Moorwood (Emmanuel 1997) describes how she forged a career working in the Arts.
Felicity Rutland with the 2016 Lightweight squad
Felicity Rutland (née Oates, Girton 1968) shares the joy of opening up her home to Cambridge rowers.
Eloise
Eloise Skinner (Murray Edwards 2010) describes her journey from growing up in a council estate in London’s East End to working for a leading law firm. Today she’s helping other young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to fulfil their potential.
Christopher Pavlou
In search of making a tangible impact on people’s lives, Christopher Pavlou (Jesus 2009) shares how he took the leap from working for a multi-national company to joining a start-up.
Katie Paddock and Corpus Christi College
Going to university was something Katie Paddock (Corpus 2006) had never even considered until, encouraged by the enthusiasm of her Head of Sixth Form, she submitted an application and held her breath.
Sebastian Manhart and a corridor at Queens' College
Sebastian Manhart (Queens' 2014) explains why he turned down working for the UN in favour of a non-profit tech start-up.
Jessica and her mum, Joanna, on graduation day
Jessica Labhart (Homerton 2008) was the first person in her family to go to university. She describes her experiences of application, interview, studies, graduation and career.