OM of the Year Award

Earlier this year, the Club introduced the OM of the Year Award to recognise the impact that Old Marlburians have on society and to shine a light on how OMs live Marlburian values long after their time at school.

Rosie Richards (EL 2010-15) was the first winner of the award due to her outstanding contribution to the non-profit scene. Having known Rosie for over 10 years, Imogen Bath’s (EL 2010-15) nomination said that Rosie’s ‘unwavering commitment to affect change makes her the perfect candidate for this award’. Since leaving Marlborough, Rosie has worked with several charitable organisations and is passionate about achieving long-term change for some of the world’s most pressing issues. She is particularly passionate about the refugee crisis and has dedicated her career and studies to make a difference to refugees around the world.

After Marlborough, Rosie studied Theology and Religion at Oxford University where she discovered her passion for world religion and understanding why people have different beliefs and faiths. This was the moment that Rosie knew, after university, she wanted to pursue a career with the primary purpose of helping people, which sparked her career in humanitarian aid. Initially, Rosie worked with a series of international aid programmes, starting in Tanzania for three months as part of Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), then International Citizen Service (ICS) and National Citizen Service (NCS) before going back to university to study for a Master’s in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. For three years, Rosie worked with SolidariTee, the largest student-led charity fighting for long-term change in the refugee crisis. Starting as a Regional Officer, she progressed to Director of Strategic Operations, Recruitment and Management, and was responsible for managing over 900 volunteers at 60 universities across 10 countries. Rosie also joined their Board of Trustees where she assisted in developing the grant-giving strategy and selection criteria, and conducted interviews with over 30 different NGOs to determine who would receive next year’s round of grants. In 2020, Rosie moved to the capital of Jordan, Amman, to work for the Centre for Victims of Torture, an NGO that supports anyone who has experienced torture, largely refugees fleeing state violence, and is dedicated to healing survivors of torture and violent conflict. Rosie designed, launched and managed the NGO’s first social media account and two mental health awareness campaigns. As well as dedicating her career to helping people, Rosie also volunteers as editor for Our Streets Now, a feminist, intersectional magazine that campaigns for the safety of marginalised genders. This magazine platforms research of women and non-binary people. Rosie’s commitment to the magazine highlights how she doesn’t shy away from tough subjects. Rosie is now stepping away from humanitarian aid and plans to move back to Jordan to start a graduate scheme in mental health social work with Think Ahead, a two-year integrated Master’s and training programme to become a fully qualified social worker.

‘Rosie knew, after university, she wanted to pursue a career with the primary purpose of helping people, which sparked her career in humanitarian aid...’

New OMAIN head needed!

OMAIN

Seeking the next unicorn? Wanting to share hard-won wisdom? Connecting OM Entrepreneurs and business angels from across the Marlborough College community

OMAIN acts as an introduction platform between entrepreneurs and potential investors with a meaningful Marlborough College connection. Through an online portal, events and other communication mediums, OMAIN makes potential investors aware of possible investment opportunities in OM linked companies. Should a company and an investor conclude an investment agreement following an introduction through the OMAIN network, then the company receiving the investment makes a donation of no less than 5% of the capital it raised to the Marlborough College Foundation. For more information and online application forms visit: www.marlburianclub.org/omain

OMAIN itself takes no fees for making introductions, does not act as an adviser, undertakes no due diligence of the parties or business opportunities involved, nor does it recommend investment opportunities.