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Lifetime Achievement Award��

Jayanti Shah MBE, BSc Mechanical Engineering, 1971   ��

Jayanti has been an anti-racism campaigner in Southampton since 1968. In 2020, he received an MBE for services “to promote anti-racism in Southampton and Hampshire”.����

Jayanti has held prominent voluntary positions in the Southampton Race Equality Council and contributed to the work of the city's race sub-committee in the past. He is currently Director of Positive Message, co-founder of Black History Month in Southampton and trustee of Artswork. Jayanti was a city ambassador for 2025 City of Culture bid. He continues with the same message, “People are People” and in 2022, his TEDx talk was entitled “Anti-racism - when there is only one human race”.�� He is also an engaged member of Southampton’s alumni community, driving forward the .����

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Civic Award����

Veronica Gordon, BSc. Social Policy and Administration, 2005��

Veronica Gordon is a broadcast journalist turned social entrepreneur who uses her media skills, knowledge and insight to empower Black and underrepresented communities. She is the founder of Our Version Media (OVM), a Southampton-based social enterprise leveraging digital media for social good. Veronica combined her 15 years of journalism expertise (ITV regional news, BBC local radio, Unity 101 Community Radio, and digital media) with her 15 years of community activism to create OVM. Its mission is to amplify Black voices and tackle the harmful narratives perpetuated by traditional media. Veronica is also an award-winning radio personality and founder of Vibrant Vibes, Southampton’s leading African, Caribbean, and Black British community radio show.��

In 2024, Veronica joined the Code Committee for Impress, the UK’s independent press regulator, to contribute to a more trustworthy, fair, and representative media landscape.��

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Rising Star Award��

Dr Jahangir Alom BEM, BM6 Medicine, 2018��

Jahangir graduated with the Dean's Prize for Outstanding Contribution to the Faculty of Medicine. During his time at Southampton, he set up the Widening Access to Medicine Society (WAMSoc), working with over 1,000 school pupils in Hampshire. He was also the MedSoc President in 2016.����

Jahangir was National Clinical Lead for the Staff COVID-19 Vaccine Programme at NHS England, leading the engagement strategy that saw 147,000 of the most hesitant healthcare workers get vaccinated. Jahangir is the Programme Director of an international charity, Selfless UK, which delivers evidence-based global health projects in rural Bangladesh.��

Jahangir is a School Governor at Stepney All Saints School, a board member at the Institute of Public Policy Research and a full time emergency medicine doctor.����

He received an NHS Parliamentary Award and British Empire Medal for services to tackling health inequalities in the King’s New Years Honours List 2024. Jahangir is an expert in health inequalities and has provided commentary on the BBC, SkyNews, Channel 4 and CNN. ��

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Alumni Service Award��

Chris Spackman, BSc Maths and Computer Science, 1981

After graduating from the University, Chris started work at Honeywell writing software for power station control systems.�� He then led a team introducing ‘chip and pin’ cards into the UK with Barclaycard. This led him into a career in computer security and resilience with American Express and then advising on complex outsourcing deals with major multinational companies.����

Chris has volunteered for several national and local charities helping young people to reach their potential and older people stay independent. In 2016 he helped establish the University’s start-up accelerator and remains a volunteer business mentor, helping researchers and students bring their innovations to the market. He’s also worked with the to support its work helping undergraduates overcome challenges to thrive.������

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Pascal Ezeabasili, BEng Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2020��

Pascal joined the University in 2016 from Seven Kings High School in Ilford and spent four years taking advantage of all the opportunities Southampton had to offer: teaching English as a foreign language in China, completing internships both at the University and in China with technology giant Huawei, and volunteering for the Engineering Society as Vice President for two years.������������������������������������������������������������

Upon graduating in 2020, Pascal was among the first volunteers to take part in the University’s Graduate Ambassador Scheme, a programme that helps new graduates connect with current students to offer advice and support recruitment and employability at Southampton, stepping up to serve as a lead Graduate Ambassador in 2022. Pascal's personal journey resonates profoundly with aspiring students facing similar challenges. He has run several networking workshops for students, contributed to focus groups and panels and provided particular support to the University’s widening participation agenda, through initiatives like the and presentations to partner schools.��

Lifetime Achievement Award��

Jane Wernick CBE, BSc Civil Engineering, 1976��

Jane Wernick CBE is a structural engineer who likes to work on projects that give delight.�� She has played a leading in role in the design of many important projects both in the UK and abroad.�� These include the London Eye, the Kew Treetop Walkway and the Young Vic Theatre.������

She started working with Arup, the multinational firm of built environment consultants, before starting her course at Southampton.�� She worked there until 1998, being seconded to the permanent fabric contractor Birdair, in Buffalo from 1980 to 1981.�� She was Arup’s first female structural engineer to be made an Associate and an Associate Director.�� She ran their Los Angeles office from 1986 to 1989.������

In 1998 Jane founded Jane Wernick Associates, working on high-profile projects with architects including David Chipperfield and Zaha Hadid. She taught at many architecture and engineering schools, and has served as a member of various design review panels, the EDGE think tank, and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Building Futures Steering Committee. Jane was also the Chair of the Diversity Task Force of the Construction Industry Council.�� She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2009.��

Jane has received many awards and honours for her work, including First Woman of the Built Environment award in 2013 and the CBE for services to Structural and Civil Engineering in 2015.��

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Rising Star Award��

Tolúlope Ògúnremí, BSc Mathematics and Computer Science, 2019��

Tolúlope is the Founder of Coders of Colour, a social enterprise helping young people between the ages of 11 and 25 to access training in machine learning, app development and bridge the digital divide. She is also currently enrolled on a PhD in Computer Science at Stanford University, having secured two coveted fellowships.��

In her first year at Southampton, she established Coders of Colour alongside her programme of academic study. Coders of Colour aims to “empower and enable young people of colour to pursue a career in tech by providing them with a safe space for them to learn, explore and grow" and has delivered workshops with partners including Tate Britain and the Oxford AI society.��

Tolúlope’s doctoral research focuses on Natural Language Processing or NLP for low-resource languages, particularly in sub-Saharan African languages including her mother tongue, Yorùbá. She has built speech-recognition systems and trained natural language processing models for Yorùbá and other Sub-Saharan African languages as well as working on projects using Igbo, Nigerian Pidgin, and Nigerian accented English data.��

In 2021 she was named in the Forbes 30 under 30 listings in the Social Impact category for her work with Coders of Colour, the youngest honouree in the category.��

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Alumni Service Award��

Kaushal Shah, MSc Global Entrepreneurship, 2014��

Kaushal Shah is a successful entrepreneur, award-winning CEO and Founder of sustainable packaging company EnvoPAP and a dedicated volunteer who has shown continued support for the University.��

Kaushal was the first student to be endorsed by the University for the Graduate Entrepreneurship Visa for EnvoPAP, a sustainable enterprise that he started during his time as a student at Southampton. EnvoPAP produces environmentally friendly paper and packaging made from agricultural waste. Since graduating, Kaushal has gone on to win numerous awards for his work in business and sustainability.����

Kaushal regularly gives his time and expertise to support the next generation of entrepreneurs through a wide range of activities including talks, serving on judging panels and competitions, as well as providing one-to-one guidance to students.����

He also sits as a member of Southampton Business School’s Advisory Board, and actively participates in the University’s Social Impact Lab Advisory Board, through which he has been instrumental in connecting students with relevant business mentors. He has also helped students to learn in the ‘real world’ by allowing them to engage with EnvoPAP as a live brief.��

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Stephen Dulake, MSc Economics, 1990��

Stephen Dulake is Global Head of Credit, Securitized Products and Public Finance Research at JP Morgan Chase & Co. Stephen donated the first ever Ignite Scholarship in 2017, funding one student’s entire tuition fees and maintenance support. He wanted to provide a student with the same opportunities that he enjoyed at University, whilst not having to worry about their finances.����

The has since grown to become the University’s flagship widening participation and social mobility (WPSM) programme. The programme has raised over £1 million, supporting 90 students with financial support and access to the innovative programme of workshops, mentoring and internships.����

Stephen’s foundational support of the Ignite programme has made a difference in the lives of many of Southampton’s students already and will continue to do so into the future. Since Stephen made his original gift, hundreds of alumni and supporters have added their support to allow the Ignite Programme to develop and flourish. Stephen himself kindly donated a second scholarship in 2020.����

Each of the bursaries and scholarships awarded are life changing for the students. Stephen is actively engaged with the programme and always enjoys hearing how students are getting on, but has often said that his main wish is that his support will simply help students to enjoy their time at University and make the most of all the opportunities here.������

Lifetime Achievement Award��

Dr S Chelvan, BSc Politics and Law, 1998��

Dr Chelvan practices as an immigration and asylum barrister and has received national and international acclaim for his tireless work in defence of human rights. He is well known for his prominent and policy-oriented advocacy for minority and, particularly, LGBTQ+ rights.��

He now practices from No 5 Chambers in London, as well being an International Rights Officer with UK Black Pride Ltd, and a member of the board of trustees of Equal Ground: a Sri Lankan non-profit organisation seeking economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, and Questioning (LGBTIQ) community of Sri Lanka.����

Dr Chelvan became "Legal Aid Barrister of the Year in 2014", won Attitude Magazine’s Pride Award in 2018, and became a member of the UK Government Equalities Office LGBT advisory panel in 2019. He was also one of the faces of the Movement Against Xenophobia's 'I Am An Immigrant' campaign and has returned to the University on numerous occasions to deliver talks about his career, inspiring many students with his deeply meaningful work.��

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Rising Star Award��

Dr Kizanne James-McCarthy, MSc Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care, 2018��

Dr Kizanne James-McCarthy is a multi-award-winning leader, Chevening Scholar, women’s rights and health activist and physician with a passion for global health. She has been promoting family planning since she was at medical school through activities including voluntary talks on sexual health at institutions including prisons and developing an app and website giving information about contraception.����

In 2016 she was chosen to become a World Contraception Day Ambassador. Kizanne said: “Our work focuses on avenues to provide sexual health resources using digital media in developing countries. It all started with my role as World Contraception Day Ambassador for Latin America and the Caribbean, and now has led to the creation of our organisation called Access Sex Health. Our dream is to make sexual health services available to everyone.” She has volunteered with numerous third-sector organisations within the Caribbean and the United Kingdom, with a special focus on youth empowerment, women’s development and health. Her commitment to youth leadership and work in the field of sexual health is a shining example of both professional achievement and public good.��

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Alumni Service Award��

Jim Hubner, BSc Economics, 1956 and Monica Hubner - BA German, 1955��

Jim and Monica Hubner met as students at Southampton in the 1950s, and since graduating have stayed closely connected to the University. Jim often says that he feels as if he never really left.����

Jim and his late wife Monica were both active members of the University Council over many years. They both had a strong belief in the importance of the alumni community and its power to build meaningful relationships beyond graduation.����

Monica worked closely with the embryonic Alumni Office and lobbied successive Vice-Chancellors to give more resource to support alumni relations and for it to become a truly professional organisation. Jim has been a vocal proponent of the ways in which alumni can remain connected to the University and was an active member of the University’s London alumni branch.����

Jim has been a regular donor to the University since 1998 and started making larger special gifts in 2008. His ongoing generosity has supported various University funds, with student support and experience at the heart. The Hubners have shown a true commitment to the University, demonstrated over a lifetime.��

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James Vernon, MEng Electronics and Computer Science, 1987��

James Vernon has been a passionate supporter of a huge range of projects and priorities across the University, using his time, expertise and energy to help develop volunteering, mentoring, advocacy, enterprise and engagement in support of our students, research and infrastructure.��

James has been heavily involved with Future Worlds, playing an active role in mentoring founders, advising and showcasing enterprise at Southampton, investing in several of our start-ups. James has advocated for the programme and actively encouraged other alumni and contacts to support ambitious progress within Southampton-based companies.��

Together with his wife Mindy, James played a major role in the Centre for Cancer Immunology Campaign, funding the clinical trials unit, an important and central part of the facility which continues to transform the landscape of cancer research and treatment. James is also a significant donor to the Ignite Programme, the University’s flagship widening participation programme, supporting students to achieve success.��

James’s ongoing engagement with the University reflects the true spirit of service and ‘giving back’ in all its forms and has made an immeasurable contribution to the continued advancement of the University.��

The British Council ������ UK Alumni Awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of alumni based overseas, who have demonstrated the value of a UK higher education. Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a significant contribution and impact in their communities, professions and countries.  ��

Winners 2024��

Professor Khondaker Abdullah Al Mamun, PhD, 2012:�� Business and Innovation Award – Bangladesh  ��

Prof Justice Moses Kwaku Aheto, MSc Statistics, 2012 : Science and Sustainability Award - Ghana ��

Abbie Hughes, BA History, 2013: Business and Innovation Award -  UAE ��

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Finalists 2024��

Leonela Beltran Sauve, LLM, International Law & Legal Studies, 2017 and Chevening Scholar : Social Action Award - US ��

Faten Obeidat, PhD Audiology, 2019: Science and Sustainability Award - Jordan  ��

Yongjian (Win) Huang, PhD Computer Science, 2009: Business and Innovation Award category - China ��

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Winners 2023 ��

Asmaa Kamal, MSc Global Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, 2015: Business and Innovation Award - Egypt ��

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Finalists 2023��

Christina Margariti, MA Textile Conservation, 2002 and PhD Textile Conservation, 2009:��Culture and Creativity Award - Greece ��

Ukachukwu Kenechukwu, BSc Business Management, 2014: Business and Innovation Award - Nigeria ��

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Winners 2022��

Rohit Mukul, LLB, 2017:��Business and Innovation Award - India ��

Oluwafemi Adedipe, MSc. Business Strategy and Innovation, 2016: Business and Innovation Award - Nigeria ��

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Finalists 2022����

Yeshwanth Raj Parasmal, MBA, 2007: Business and Innovation Award - India ��

Damilola Teidi, MSc. Business Strategy and Innovation, 2014: Business and Innovation Award - Nigeria ��

Annalle Abuammar, MSc. Artificial Intelligence, 2020: Business and Innovation Award – Jordan ��

Winners 2022

Finalists 2022����