The Alumni Advisory Board

The Alumni Advisory Board

What is the Alumni Advisory Board?

The Board represents the views of Cambridge alumni and advises the University's Alumni Engagement team on how to best engage with the global alumni network of Cambridge.

Established in 2009, the Alumni Advisory Board is chaired by Martin MacConnol.

What are the working groups?

Three working groups support the Advisory Board.

The Communications Working Group specifically advises on alumni, supporter and donor communications. The Networks and Volunteers Working Group offers guidance on how the University supports Alumni Groups and volunteers. The Alumni Awards Working Group will support the launch of a new initiative to recognise alumni achievement.

Apply to the Board

Applications are now closed to join the Board and its working groups.

The Board meets twice a year in Cambridge, usually attended by the Vice-Chancellor. This is your opportunity to influence how the University shapes your experience as alumni.

Working groups meet more often, usually online. This is your opportunity to put into action the key issues that matter to you as alumni.

For any questions, please contact: aab@alumni.cam.ac.uk.

Introducing the Alumni Advisory Board

Board members

Martin MacConnol

Martin MacConnol

Magdalene 1987, History

  • Chair, Alumni Advisory Board
     
  • CEO of content marketing agency Wardour, 1996 to present
  • Non-exec chair of the Association of Publishing Agencies, 2008–2010
  • Non-exec director of the Professional Publishers Association, 2008-2010
  • Financial Times journalist, 1994-1996
  • Daily Express journalist, 1993-1994
  • Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts
  • At Wardour, Martin oversees marketing and communications programmes for organisations as diverse as the Royal Society for Arts, Deutsche Bank, Informa and the Church of England.
Margaret L Campbell

Margaret L Campbell

Newnham 1966, Modern and Medieval Languages

  • Emerita Chair, Alumni Advisory Board
  • Joined 2016
  • Former banker with JPMorgan and Senior Advisor HSBC in London and New York
  • Honorary Associate, Newnham College
  • Chair-US Committee for Newnham Alumnae
  • Formerly, banker with JP Morgan in London and New York (1971-2013) responsible for business with corporate clients, financial institutions and, latterly, central banks, sovereign wealth funds and multilateral institutions
  • MBA-Manchester Business School, 1971
  • Fluent in French, German and Spanish
  • Living in New York, US. Married with two children
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
  • Webmaster of the British Community Committee of France
  • Has held the positions of President, Hon. Secretary and currently Treasurer of the Cambridge Society of Paris
  • Also a founder member and Treasurer of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of the Netherlands 2006 – 2009
     
Headshot of Brooke wearing a white top and white background

Brooke Bornick

Clare 2016, MBA at Cambridge Judge Business School

  • Co-founder and investor who leveraged BigLaw and PE experience for early-stage investing and company building
  • Executive MBA from Cambridge Judge Business School (2016-2018), BA and JD from University of Florida, with studies at the Sorbonne and Moscow State University
  • Served two Florida Bar Foundation Public Service fellowships before starting career as commercial litigation and restructuring attorney, representing Fortune 100 companies, energy firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, and pro athletes
  • Transitioned to VP of Portfolio Management and Investments at boutique private equity firm, leading M&A, strategy and operations while growing healthcare portfolio 4-fold and retail automotive 50%
  • Advised Impossible Foods on go to market strategy, Deutsche Bank on LIBOR to SOFR transition for private banking, and Pearson Publishing on an award-winning legal tech project
  • Currently Co-Founder, GC and Head of Growth at Lodgeur, a Houston-based hospitality company. Brooke supported growth from incorporation to $1M ARR in 8 months and a successful business model pivot during COVID
  • Current member of Cambridge Judge Business School Alumni Advisory Council and CAMentrepreneurs
  • Living in Houston, Texas, US
  • Fun fact: Published research proposing bounty hunters as a solution to modern maritime piracy under international law
Headshot of Michelle

Michelle Bufton

PACE (formerly ICE) 2019, Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice (Natural Sciences)

  • Specialises in research and data-driven engagement strategies, with work on quantifying user interaction featured in conferences and publications, including the 22nd International World Wide Web Conference.
  • Early career in data-driven product development for nonprofits and Fortune 500 brands, including membership engagement strategies for the jQuery Foundation.
  • Interest in technology began during Andrew Mellon Foundation-funded residency at Middlebury College
  • Committed to widening access to entrepreneurial and technology skills, mentoring students and startup founders across technology incubators, arts colleges, and healthcare leadership in emerging technologies, data-driven leadership, and business strategy.
  • Fun fact: once lived in a hippie commune with a rogue emu named Louie in Atlanta, GA
  • Now lives in the medieval market town of Ludlow, Shropshire, with her son.
     
Headshot of Alison, wearing glasses, necklace and burgundy top with green background

Alison Chappell

Churchill 1979, Archaeology and Anthropology (Biological Anthropology)

  • Worked in the energy sector for the past 25 years, most recently as Head of Site Regeneration for RWE Generation, leading the regeneration of former fossil-fired power station sites across UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.
  • Currently working part-time overseeing a long-running fatal incident investigation for RWE
  • President of the Electrical Industries Charity
  • Non-Executive Director of Elexon Plc 2013 to 2019
  • Previous roles in energy included leading organisational change, diversity and inclusion, and continuous improvement for RWE. Based in Germany for 7 years
  • Early career in Marketing for Rowntree Mackintosh, Cadw, and Allied Lyons
  • Followed by 4 years as a Management Consultant with Coopers and Lybrand in the early 1990s, including several assignments in former East Germany and Czechoslovakia in the immediate post-Communist period
  • MBA from Warwick Business School, Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Change also from Warwick Business School
  • Part of the organisation team for Malvern Festival of Ideas. Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts
  • Interests include walking, reading, crafts, gardening and medieval music
Yuh Yng Chook

Yuh Yng Chook

Trinity Hall, 1993, Electrical and Information Sciences

  • Joined October 2021
  • Currently the Chief Growth Officer – Careers & Connect Platform of SEEK Asia . SEEK Asia is an extension of SEEK Ltd, and combines the two giants in job portal brands, jobsDB and JobStreet, under one roof.
  • In her new Chief Growth Officer role, Yuh Yng is broadening the scope of SEEK Asia to build a new Careers and Connect Platform that will grow digital communities at scale
  • Previously, Yuh Yng was the Country Manager for JobStreet Malaysia and Singapore. She grew the P & L by more than 3x during her tenure.
  • Past President of The Oxford and Cambridge Society of Malaysia from 2016 – 2019. She still sits on the Exco and is passionate about contributing back to the Alumni and the Malaysia society at large
  • Yuh Yng lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and has two daughters aged 7 and 10
Michelle Cooper

Michelle Cooper

Darwin 2015, MPhil Conservation Leadership

  • Joined July 2019
  • Currently the Threatened Species Policy Manager for Victorian Government, based in Melbourne. Michelle leads a team that manages IUCN assessments for species, communities and threatening processes and develops action plans to support conservation outcomes.
  • Co-founding member of the University of Cambridge Conservation Leadership Alumni Network (UCCLAN) Council and Emerita Chair. Michelle continues to work with alumni from the MPhil Conservation Leadership to support the implementation of their strategy.
  • Secretary, Cambridge Society Australia (Victoria) based in Melbourne.
  • Michelle has worked across the intersection of wildlife conservation and animal welfare in not-for -profit and the public sector, including at Zoos Victoria – a world-leading zoo-based conservation organisation fighting extinction through wildlife and community-based conservation initiatives.
Ellen Hallsworth

Ellen Hallsworth

Fitzwilliam College 2001, Social and Political Sciences (Politics)

  • Joined September 2023
  • LinkedIn
  • Director of Bradley REACH, a telehealth programme for adolescent mental health, based in Providence, Rhode Island, US
  • Previously worked at the Peterson Center on Healthcare in New York, US, and the Health Foundation and Institute for Government in the UK
  • Early career in academic publishing
  • MA in Hispanic Language, Culture & History, UCL (2014). Fluent in Spanish
  • Previously a Board Member for the National Neonatal Audit Program, one of the UK’s National Clinical Audits
  • Volunteered with several Brooklyn-based charities, helping older adults access healthcare and improving childhood literacy
  • Married with one daughter, aged 9. Lives in New York, US
  • Fun fact: One Ellen's proudest achievements is winning the holiday pie-baking contest at her daughter’s school in Brooklyn! 
Richard Morrogh

Richard Morrogh

Christ's College 1976, Land Economy

  • Joined September 2023
  • Secretariat of London Stock Exchange’s International Advisory Groups (2017-23)
  • MNTD of Citibank’s UK Pension Funds (AUM = £2.5 billion)
  • Founder and Liaison Officer of Citibank’s EMEA alumni network (2012-17). Ongoing adviser (pro bono) to Enterprise Alumni
  • Managing Director, Citi’s Corporate and Investment Bank (1990-2017). Directly reported to three subsequent CEOs and ran global “Voice of Client” initiative
  • Chief of Staff to former Dutch Minister of Finance and Director-General of World Trade Organisation (1997-2007)
  • Previously, VP at Republic Bank Dallas and Lloyds International (1982-90)
  • Lived or worked in Dallas, New York (twice), Brussels and Zurich. Travelled extensively in Africa, Asia and Latin America
  • Fellow of Royal Geographical Society and father to two teenage daughters
  • Fun fact: Richard's three all-time sporting highlights (where he was in attendance) have included Maradona’s Hand of God (Mexico - 1986), Brian Lara’s 375 (Antigua - 1994) and David Cone’s perfect MLB game (NY - 1999). The first two weren’t ones he was rooting for...
Matt Rhodes

Matt Rhodes

Queens' College 1998, Modern and Medieval Languages

  • Joined September 2023
  • Chief Strategy Officer at advertising agency, House 337.
  • Specialise in behaviour change through communications - from recruiting more underrepresented and female young people to the RAF; to leading work for the English Cricket Board to launch The Hundred to new audiences and helping My Little Pony appeal to dads and boys as much as it does to mums and girls.
  • Previously founded and ran one of the first specialist social media agencies in Europe. An early pioneer in digital and social media in advertising he now focuses on the way AI will impact the industry and the way communications works.
  • Champion equality and diversity in the advertising industry - from creating award-winning campaigns for Pride in London to being featured as a senior LGBTQ+ leader in advertising.
  • Previously trustee of The Running Charity, using sport to support young people experiencing homelessness across the UK.
  • Fun fact: Matt used to run one of the largest Facebook pages in the UK - where dog owners talked to other dog owners as their dogs.
Phil Riddle

Philip Riddle

Trinity Hall 1970, History

  • Joined September 2023
  • Founder and co-ordinator of CAMScot, an on-line support service for Cambridge applicants.
  • Scottish alumni regional representative for Trinity Hall and committee member, Cambridge Society of Edinburgh.
  • Chairman, Edinburgh New Club Debating Society.
  • Fun fact: On his first day visiting Kyrgyzstan as an advisor to the Government, Phil was invited to a large and lavish wedding and asked to do a short speech in praise of the bride and groom. Facing over 100 guests and a bridal party he had never met before and devoid of good Kyrgyz anecdotes – and of the language itself – Phil somehow managed to convey his admiration for the couple and his hopes for their future. 

Formerly

  • PhD in Strategic Management, University of Edinburgh. University lecturer and teacher.
  • Honorary Professor, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
  • Voluntary Service Overseas consultant to the governments of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
  • OBE for services to Scottish tourism.
  • Chief Executive of VisitScotland (the Scottish national tourism agency) for 9 years and Chief Executive of EventScotland (major events co-ordinator).
  • Business Angel; steering start-ups, e.g.Optos.
  • Honorary Consul for the Netherlands in Namibia.
  • 23 years with Shell International Petroleum in UK, Brunei. Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, France etc. Roles included senior general management, organisational change, project development, trading, marketing etc.
  • MSc Management Studies, University of Edinburgh.
Kaidi Ru

Kaidi Ru

Hughes Hall 2017, Management

  • Global Future Energy Leader, World Energy Council
  • Africa Finance Corporation-Common Purpose Fellow
  • World Bank Group Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador
  • Member, UN Women 30 for 2030 Youth Leadership Network
  • Member, UNDP INSPIRO Young Entrepreneurs Network for Sustainable Development
  • YOUNGO Observer to the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee
  • Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts
  • Elected Associateship of King's College London
  • Previous CJBS EnterpriseTECH STAR Mentor and PHBS-CJBS Global Pitch Competition Judge
  • Fun fact: Kaidi enjoys writing and was shortlisted as one of 15 sci-fi writers nationally in China for the 8th Masters of the Future Award!
Photograph of Priya Shah

Priya Shah

Pembroke 2013, Business Administration

Priya has spent 19+ years working across the finance, policy, and venture sectors in the US, UK, and Indian markets.  She currently runs Theia Ventures, which is an India-based, early stage fund focused on energy transition, deep tech, AI and decarbonization. She is an early investor in India’s climate tech venture ecosystem and a Director on Sustainability Mafia, one of India’s largest climate founder coalitions.  

Before Theia Ventures, she built the Indian Fund arm of Yunus Social Business (YSB), a global impact venture debt fund founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, where she led investments into companies such as S4S Technologies (Earthshot Prize Winner 2023), Rangsutra, Virohan, SMV Green, Just Organik and Hasiru Dala. Prior to YSB, Priya spearheaded strategy, capital raising, and special projects at a clean-tech, venture-backed, growth-stage company, Simpa Networks.  She began her career at Bloomberg LP in New York and later at Asia House in London. She has led independent consulting projects at impact start-ups and investment firms, such as Acumen and British International Investment.  

She holds an MBA from Cambridge Judge Business School and a BA in History from Brown University, where she is closely affiliated with alumni initiatives on gender diversity, international scholarships, and climate-focused entrepreneurship. She is actively involved as a mentor, advisor, and thought leader with several think tanks, university labs, accelerator programs, and foundations on climate tech innovation, a Board Member on the University of Cambridge’s Alumni Advisory Council, and an advisor to Brown University’s Young India Leadership Council and Women’s Launchpad program.
 

Rosalind Skillen

Rosalind Skillen

Girton College 2016, Modern and Medieval Languages

  • Joined September 2023
  • Marine Policy and Advocacy Officer at BirdWatch Ireland
  • Active campaigner and advocate for climate action and nature recovery for several years
  • Held multiple roles across the environment sector in Northern Ireland and has represented the views of young people as a youth delegate at climate change conferences, including COP26 and COP27
  • MSc in Environmental Policy from University College Dublin and BA in French and Spanish from the University of Cambridge. As a linguist, Rosalind is interested in the role that communication and creativity can play in the environmental movement, and she writes a weekly column called 'Nature Matters' for the Belfast Telegraph
  • Fun fact: Rosalind enjoys sea swimming - even in the cold Irish sea!
Headshot of Annette with her hands crossed looking at the camera

Annette Spencer

Newnham 1988, Classics

  • Chief Executive of the Association of Corporate Treasurers since 2023
  • Previously Director of Policy, Marketing & Events at the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries (2018-2023)
  • Earlier career spent in communications and policy roles at FTSE100 and multinational companies in financial & professional services, and roles as Head of Corporate Communications at the Financial Conduct Authority and Director of Communications at The Investment Association
  • President of Newnham College Roll (alumnae) 2021-2025 and Roll Committee member 2014-2025
  • Fellow and Chartered Practitioner at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR); Chair of the CIPR Corporate & Financial Group 2012-2014
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
  • Author of the ‘Financial Communications’ chapter in The Public Relations Handbook 6th edn (Routledge, 2021)
     
Headshot of Seth Thomas in suit and tie

Seth Thomas

Trinity Hall 1992, International Relations

•    Joined July 2025

•    Currently with Standard Chartered Bank in London, covering public & regulatory affairs.

•    Previously served at Bank of England, working on international policy and engagement under Governors Carney & Bailey (2015-22).

•    Part of the founding class at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford – Master of Public Policy (2012-13).

•    Worked at an American global bank for nearly two decades, advising financial institutions and government clients.

•    Recent Cambridge involvement includes: Policy Fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy (2015–2019); participant in the Institute for Sustainability Leadership (2022); and engagement with the Institute of Continuing Education.

•    Other past positions: Chatham House governing council; Welsh Government’s Economy Department advisory panels; Wales in London board. Also volunteered with Teach First and the Seren Academy.

•    Fun fact: My first job after school was driving an ice-cream van on local beaches, it remains the best view that I’ve enjoyed at any workplace
 

Dr Carina Tyrrell

Dr Carina Tyrrell

Murray Edwards College 2009, Clinical Medicine

  • Joined September 2023
  • LinkedIn
  • Partner at Sana Capital - healthcare and technology venture capital investor, founder, and NED/advisor to companies.
  • Featured on the front page of The Times for helping to deliver the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Previously, investor and Chief of Staff to the ex-President of Samsung, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, and a background as a physician scientist.
  • Governor for Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and President’s Fellow of Murray Edwards College.
  • Fun fact: Carina represented the United Kingdom at Miss World.
Owen Williams

Dr Owen Williams

St John's College 1974, History

  • Joined September 2023
  • Lived in 14 US states and 6 countries outside the US
  • Attended Dartmouth College (AB), Yale University (PhD) Yale Law School (MSL) as well as St John’s College Cambridge
  • Received fellowships from Harvard Law School, NYU School of Law, Yale Law School, and the Huntington Library in California
  • Spent 24 years in investment banking (Salomon Brothers, Goldman Sachs, and First Union)
  • Served as a college president (Transylvania University) and president of a college consortium (Associated Colleges of the South)
  • Currently on four non-profit boards (Morehouse College, Amelia Island, Constitution Foundation, EverScholar)
  • Fun fact: Owen produced and helped film a documentary called The Secret War, about Russia’s war in Afghanistan, which involved him traveling with a group of Mujahideen for over two months in 1984.