Networks and Volunteers Working Group

Networks and Volunteers Working Group

  • clare leaves sir cam

Image Credit Sir Cam

The Alumni Networks and Volunteers Working Group reports to the Alumni Advisory Board and offers guidance to the Alumni Relations team specifically on the network of Alumni Groups around the world.

Areas the Group is currently providing support on are:

  • Advising the Alumni Engagement team on providing appropriate support and services to the worldwide network of volunteer-led Alumni Groups
  • Supporting the Alumni Engagement team in its aim to recruit recent alumni to the Alumni Group network
  • Assisting with the planning of the Alumni Groups Global Leadership Conferences
  • Helping to identify, cultivate and, where appropriate, establish Alumni Groups. 
  • Consolidating the good working relations between the Colleges and the University

The Networks and Volunteers Working Group members are also there to provide extra support to all Alumni Groups. Whether you are having difficulty with arranging events or have an idea but don't quite know how to execute it, the members are there for all Groups to contact. 

The Working Group meets twice a year, but also works on projects in between meetings such as the resources pages for Alumni Groups.

Dr Victoria Kimonides

Dr Victoria Kimonides

Newnham 1993, PhD in Neuroscience

  • Account Technology Strategy Director for Enterprise Partner Group at Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe. Previously Customer and Partner Experience Director position for the same Region
  • Former Advisor to the Board at Hellascom International, Member of OTE (Hellenic Telecoms Organisation, Deutsche Telekom Group) where she was responsible for the development and implementation of the company's value-added services strategy across the organisation
  • Elected Member of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises General Council
  • Former Postdoctoral Fellow at Rockefeller University, New York, and had affiliations as a Research Fellow with Universities in Greece before making a career shift to business
  • Holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology from King's College London and is an Associate of King's College London
Tony Banton

Tony Banton

Trinity 1975, Law

  • Chartered Accountant with KPMG from 1978 – 2017, in Paris from 1982
  • Partner in charge of KPMG International’s Quality and Compliance Program 2006 – 2010
  • President of France’s Cricket Association 2009 – 2013
  • Treasurer of the British Community Committee of France
  • Has held the positions of Treasurer, President and currently Hon. Secretary of the Cambridge Society of Paris
  • Also a founder member and Treasurer of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of the Netherlands 2006 – 2009
Dr Joanna Bauldreay

Dr Joanna Bauldreay

Newnham 1976, Natural Sciences – Chemistry

  • Alumni Group Contact for the Manchester Association of Cambridge University Women (MACUW); former Chair and Treasurer of same and also member of Cambridge Society of West Cheshire and North Wales
  • Former team sport player, awarded cricket Half Blue and member of college and other hockey teams
  • MSc in Electrochemical Science, University of Southampton; PhD in Physical Chemistry, University of Cambridge; Post-doctoral research scientist, Electrochemistry, William Marsh Rice University, Houston, Texas
  • R&D Scientist in Royal Dutch Shell group since 1986; currently Aviation Fuels Development Manager within Shell Projects & Technology
  • Chair of the Emerging Fuels Group, Coordinating Research Council Aviation Fuels Committee and member of UK Sustainable Aviation Fuel Special Interest Group (SAF-SIG)
  • Member of several Institutes including Energy and Advanced Motorists
  • Enjoy photography, fly-drive holidays and choral singing, especially with Chester Music Society Choir in Chester Cathedral
Brian Beeston

Dr Brian Beeston

Selwyn 1958, Natural Sciences – Physical Metallurgy

  • Founder and then President  –Cambridge Alumni Society – San Diego, 2012 - 2019
  • President – Oxford & Cambridge University Society of San Diego, 2019 -
  • MSc in Metallurgical Engineering from University of Pennsylvania
  • Founder Captain on The Philadelphia Rugby Club in 1962 – still in operation
  • PhD in Materials Science from the University of Birmingham
  • Career in Technical Marketing in the scientific instrument and the semiconductor manufacturing equipment fields.
  • Marketing Manager, AEI Scientific Apparatus Ltd. UK, NY and San Diego, CA
  • Director of Marketing, Implant Division, Applied Materials, UK and Santa Clara
  • Married, Widowed, Two Children, One Grandchild, Remarried since 2014
  • Retired since 2004 and living in sunny San Diego, CA
Edward Ma

Edward Ma

Jesus 2000, Manufacturing Engineering Tripos (MET) MEng

  • Secretary-General of the Yidan Prize Foundation.
  • Member of the Executive Committee of The Friends of Cambridge University in Hong Kong and Chair of the Means Test Sub-Committee for the Prince Philip Scholarship.
  • President (2019-2020) of The Oxford and Cambridge Society of Hong Kong.
  • Member of the Executive Committee of the Outward Bound Trust of Hong Kong.
  • Member of the Board of the Peace and Development Foundation, an official partner of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in China.
  • Independent Director of the Board of Wuhan College, a private, non-profit university in China founded by Dr Charles Chen, one of the core founders of Tencent, founder of Tencent Charity Foundation and the Yidan Prize.
Janet Myers

Janet Myers

Gonville and Caius, 1989, Modern and Medieval Languages

  • Consultant Trainer, National Governance Association, an independent charity that aims to improve the educational standards and well-being of children and young people through supporting and promoting outstanding governance in all state-funded schools, including academies and free schools.
  • Chair, Cheshire West Governance Association, a voluntary, independent organisation established to support the work of school governors and trustees in Cheshire West and Chester.
  • Chair, Cheshire Academies Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust in the North West of England.
  • Secretary, Cambridge Society of West Cheshire and North Wales.
  • Former First Vice President, MBNA Europe, with managerial and leadership experience in customer service, marketing, project management, training and change management.
Graham Spooner

Graham Spooner

St John’s 1971, Economics

  • Deputy Chairman, Rotala Plc, an Aim quoted group which operates bus and coach services in England
  • Associate, Amberley Advisory, a firm of corporate finance advisers authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
  • Vice-President, The Johnian Society, whose members are alumni of St John’s College, University of Cambridge
  • Trustee ,The Honorary Treasurers Forum, a registered charity that provides best practice to charity treasurers
  • Director, Clevedon Pier & Heritage Trust, which operates the only Grade I listed pier as a social enterprise
Karena Vleck

Karena Vleck

St John’s 1986, Law

  • Consultant for a variety of different clients
  • Director British Rowing
  • Johnian Society Committee Member
  • Director, Varsity Match Company Limited. A joint venture between the Oxford and Cambridge Rugby Clubs charged with revitalising the varsity match.
  • Trustee, the Middlesex Sports Foundation
  • Interim Head of Legal at the Lawn Tennis Association (2018-2019)
  • Legal and Governance Director at the Rugby Football Union (2005-2016).
  • Partner and Head of the Sports Group at the London Solicitors, Farrer and Co (1990 – 2004).
  • Helped establish women’s rugby at Cambridge and played in the first and second rugby varsity matches in 1988 and 1989.