Stories and Successes

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

King's Birthday Honours 2023 - Alumni

Several Cambridge alumni who have made outstanding contributions across a wide range of areas including nursing, archaeology, conservation and foreign policy have been recognised in the King's first birthday honours list.

interns with alison traub and debbie prentice

Managing mental health - Mei Simmons

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.

Archaeology as a tool for today —Anastasia Christophilopoulou

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

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

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

Building bridges, not borders — Oliver Rieche

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.

Museum Selfie Day 2023

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

Medical matches — Brian Wang

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.

Representation matters - Mariam Olafuyi

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.

Sport gave me another string to my bow — Phyllis Agbo

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.

Celebrating difference - Lord Chris Smith

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).

A blueprint for world peace – Dr Amineh Hoti

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.

A new kind of education – 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.

Making a future for all – Susan Long

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.

Rachel and Lawrence with The Overlanding Ambulance.

The travelling vet – Rachel Nixon

Rachel Nixon (Girton 2012) is attempting to circumnavigate the globe in an off-road ambulance.

Alumni on the frontline

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.

Alumni Letters from Lockdown

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

In search of the world’s most magnificent mountaineering – Charles Sherwood

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.

Success is ‘we’ not ‘I’ — 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

How my history with Cambridge led to a life in law – Sarah Moore

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.

Parties, programmes, politics, poetry and alliteration – Neil Laurenson

Neil Laurenson (Homerton 2000) describes his time at Cambridge and his career path to date, including becoming a comedian, councillor and author.

Zadie Smith, Teach First and debut novels - 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

Care, Cambridge, the Church and I - Will Lyon Tupman

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)

Fenner's, start-ups and sport-star investors - Sam Browne

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.

Values for life: the impact of my Cambridge experience - Shehzad Jeeva

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.

The true measure of success - Keith Paton

Keith Paton (Churchill 1963) ponders the nature of public and private success.

Investigating inequality in second language learning - Shazia Afzal

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).

Community for life - Shanya Ruhela

Shanya shares how studying for the Master of Law led to a change in career.

My experience at Cambridge - Kachi Ginigeme

"My time in Cambridge stirred in me a genuine desire to give back and encourage people, from similar backgrounds or otherwise, to believe that they can reach higher." - Kachi Ginigeme (Hughes Hall 2012)

A friend for life and incendiary bombs: going up in wartime - Geoffrey Winter

Geoffrey Winter (Corpus 1940) served in the Second World War during his undergraduate years at Cambridge. He shares his alumni story.

A passion for learning - Alexandros Pamnani

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

Giving a platform to people transforming the world of finance - Sarah Laitung

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.

Bringing India to Cambridge - Sumita Singha

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

From the seas to the skies - Alison Davies

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).

The quake doctor - Ekbal Hussain

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

Dancing with our alumni - Simon Chan and Danielle Ainsworth-Patrick

Computer Science graduates Simon Chan (Fitzwilliam 2002) and Danielle Ainsworth-Patrick (Fitzwilliam 2007) have been teaching Collegiate Shag (a 1930s dance from the USA) with Cambridge Swing Dance since 2016. We met up with them to find out about life after graduation and how they discovered their love and talent for dancing.

Why volunteer? - Kai Yuen Wong and David Peace

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.

The Naked Mathematician - Tom Crawford

Tom Crawford (Queens' 2012) shares his alumni story from PhD via BBC and CUP (Cambridge University Press) to St Hugh’s College Oxford.

Where minds meet, innovation begins - Vivian Chan

Scientist-turned-entrepreneur Vivian Chan (Trinity Hall 2007) explains the thinking behind setting up a scientific discovery search engine.

From Trinity to the Tropics - Andrew Lorey

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.

Living and breathing science - Victoria Kimonides

Victoria Kimonides (Newnham 1993) explains why she’s passionate about representing alumni as part of the Alumni Advisory Board.

Following the path less trodden – Charlotte Green

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

The traveller - Michelle Le Cheminant

Michelle Le Cheminant (Newnham 2003) tells us her alumni story, which takes her from Guernsey in the Channel Islands to working in London as a registrar and volunteering in Lusaka, Zambia.

The life changing magic of Cambridge - Diego Oliveira Sanchez

Diego Oliveira Sanchez (St Edmund’s 2013) tells us his alumni story: 'This is the story of how Cambridge changed my life...'.

Glasses for the masses - John Friedman

An anthropologist’s attempt to improve access to vision care...everywhere.

Not all those who wander are lost - Sam Sudar

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

Mentoring and broadening horizons - Promise Knight

Promise Knight (St Catharine's 2007) tells us about her childhood in the Nigeria and in the UK, and how Cambridge made her challenge her perceptions of herself.

Esuna outside the UN headquarters in New York.

A journey under the star of the nomadess - Esuna Dugarova

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)

The joy and power of camaraderie - Vinayak Dalmia

Vinayak Dalmia (Darwin 2006) tells us about taking second chances, the magic of technology and why he still uses abstract thinking skills to this day: “Cambridge taught me about the joy and the power of camaraderie. Although my studies were challenging, I soon realised I wasn't alone. In tackling common problems, I found lifelong friendships.”

Pembroke College (left) and Christopher Dobbing (right)

Harder to breathe: finding solutions to air pollution - Christopher J Dobbing

Christopher Dobbing (Pembroke 2008) explains how his entrepreneurial journey started at Cambridge.

The spirit of curiosity: finding a home at London Fine Art Studios - Maria Moorwood

Maria Moorwood (Emmanuel 1997) describes how she forged a career working in the Arts.

Felicity Rutland with the 2016 Lightweight squad

A volunteer's story: rowing crews and 'welcome dos' - Felicity Rutland

From hosting boat crews to organising events for new students ‘coming up’, Felicity Rutland (née Oates, Girton 1968) explains why she loves volunteering for Cambridge University.

Taking part and giving back - Eloise Skinner

Eloise Skinner (Murray Edwards 2010) shares about her admissions experience, undergraduate life, enthusiasm for learning and passion for volunteering.

Mechanical engineer to start-up entrepreneur - Christopher Pavlou

'Bittersweet' is the term that my friends and I use to describe our time at Cambridge. The highs were euphoric; the lows were tough...

Katie Paddock and Corpus Christi College

A room of my own - Katie Paddock

Katie Paddock (Corpus 2006) tells us about her emotional experience of admissions, lost friends and getting a room of her own. “I can’t imagine being the person I am, in the position that I’m in, without the opportunities, experiences and support I received whilst at Cambridge.”

Sebastian Manhart and a corridor at Queens' College

Small players, big changes: why I chose a start-up over the UN - Sebastian Manhart

Sebastian Manhart (Queens' 2014) tells us about his time at Cambridge, changing his mind about a job at the United Nations and his new venture at a non-profit technology start-up. “I have at least double the hours and earn a fraction of the pay, but I get out of bed every morning with a big smile on my face, loving the work I do and the impact I can have with it.”

Jessica and her mum, Joanna, on graduation day

A journey to journalism: coming full circle - Jessica Labhart

The first of our alumni series - Jessica Labhart (Homerton 2008) talks about her time at Cambridge, the lifelong friends she made and her journey to becoming a journalist. “I’m the first person in my family to go to university. I was the nerdy kid at school, the only one in its history to make it to Cambridge.”

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