ISSUE 16 SUMMER 2021
CATEGORY
University of Wolverhampton alumni magazine
Finding her voice Bestselling writer Abi Daré on the phenomenal success of her début novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice.
Molten ambition Glass artist Elliot Walker on his career so far, and what’s next after competing in the Netflix hit Blown Away.
Making the cut Editor Andrew Webber on seeing his work on the big, and small screen, from The Wedding Party to Come Dine with Me.
From the UK to US Women’s football coach, Laura Harvey on her career journey that’s led her to settle in Seattle. SUMMER 2021
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WELCOME
Vice-Chancellor’s Welcome Welcome to the summer 2021 edition of WLV Life, the magazine for graduates of the University of Wolverhampton. As a member of our alumni association, you’re part of a family of over 140,000 graduates from more than 130 countries across the world. It has been a privilege helping to lead this University for the last 10 years. While I have decided to retire from the University in the spring of 2022, I am incredibly proud of the University’s achievements as we continue to put students at the heart of everything we do, and I am confident that our successes and the successes of our alumni will continue for many decades to come. Following an unprecedented period since early 2020 with the global Covid-19 pandemic, we hope that you and your loved ones have stayed safe. This academic year continues to be very different for everyone, and I recognise that we are living and working through a time of uncertainty. As we are moving through the UK Government’s roadmap out of lockdown, we have been working together as a university community, in close collaboration with key partners in the regions we serve, and we are beginning to look forward to a brighter future, whilst recognising that the situation beyond the UK’s shores continues to be more challenging. We are extremely proud of the contributions that our staff, students and alumni continue to make to society. We are also always pleased to hear your stories, so if you have something to share, email us at: alumni@wlv.ac.uk And lastly, please consider updating your details using this QR code, so that we can update you with our latest news - we value staying in contact. Geoff Layer Vice-Chancellor
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In this edition of Life you can discover the latest investments the university has been making, including the sectorleading Marches Centre of Excellence for Health and Social Care on page 5. Our alumni continue to make waves across the world with their talent and creativity. Read about alumna, Abi Daré and her bestselling novel The Girl with the Louding Voice on page 20. Glass artist, Elliot Walker recently claimed top prize in the global glassblowing livestreamed reality show on Netflix, Blown Away, find out more about his work on page 24.
Discover accolade and award-winning alumni including education innovator, Herminder Channa, OBE (page 12), charity founder and British Empire Medal winner, Ceri Davies (page 41), and editor of the second highest grossing Nigerian film ever, Andrew Webber (page 8). Meet David Sidaway, chief executive of Telford and Wrekin Council (page 15), head coach of the United States U-20 women’s football team, Laura Harvey (page 18) and a range of our impressive alumni working across the globe including in Bostwana (Ratidzo Murwisi, page 34) and East Asia (Tanut Karnwai page 37).
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CONTENTS
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University news
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Our alumni in profile: 8
Andrew Webber, film editor
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Mandeep Mattu, architectural assistant
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Herminder Channa, executive principal
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Ratidzo Murwisi, compliance manager
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David Sidaway, chief executive, Telford and Wrekin Council
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Tanut Karwai: IBM technical specialist
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Laura Harvey, US women’s football coach
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Tom Burden and Axl Barber, new business entrepreneurs
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Abi Daré, bestselling author
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Elliot Walker, glass artist
Ceri Davies: More Mascots Please! founder and disability activist
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Shannon Kularathna, Google technical writer
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Israel Marfo, All change!.. for a new pharmacy career
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Investment: Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute
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International: Hong Kong’s Alumni Association
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Meet your Alumni Advisory Board
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International: Heidi Findlay, World Food Programme
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International: Egle Zaleckiene, EU policy officer
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Making a difference with donations
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Alumni news
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It’s time to dive in. Stay safe and stay in touch!
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
School of Architecture and Built Environment opens Our impressive new building opened its doors at the Springfield Campus in October 2020, as part of a £120 million regeneration of Wolverhampton’s former brewery site. We’re proud to say that the site is now Europe’s largest architecture and built environment super-campus, covering 12 acres and helping to herald a new and thrilling era in construction education. The campus also houses the West Midlands University Technical College and the Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills, and is central to the University’s vision of enhancing the student experience and supporting business growth.
The event was live-streamed
Official opening with Councillor Claire Darke, Mayor of Wolverhampton
Professor Mohammed Arif
Alumnus Liam Davies (ISG)
National Brownfield Institute – work begins Work has started on the University of Wolverhampton’s National Brownfield Institute, which will be a world-class facility that develops modern, innovative new work methods for the construction industry. The Institute will focus on practical methods of regenerating brownfield sites, through the pioneering work of professionals and research teams. Wolverhampton Council Leader, Cllr Ian Brookfield, spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony, saying, “This is a game-changing moment for the city as we break ground on the National Brownfield Institute development. “Once the NBI is built, it will enable Wolverhampton to secure its position as a world leader in sustainable construction, circular economy, and brownfield development, and will deliver new skills, jobs, and opportunities for local people.”
New NBI architect drawings
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
Vision 2030 The University of Wolverhampton outlined its exciting strategic plan for the next 10 years, which will focus on people and place to help the economy emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vision 2030 Inclusive. Innovative. Impactful.
The new plan, named Vision 2030, includes a list of goals that include a personalised approach to learning centred on individual students, research with clear benefits to society, and a network of science and innovation parks. To learn more, visit: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/ media/documents/Vision-2030-PDF.pdf
New Marches Centre of Excellence for Health and Social Care The new £5 million health and social care training centre opened at the University of Wolverhampton’s Telford Campus in May 2021. The Centre received £3.5 million Growth Deal funding from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and will give students hands-on, real-life experience of their future profession, ensuring that they have the skills and knowledge to benefit employers.
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UNIVERSITY NEWS
Race Equality Charter The University has been awarded a Race Equality Charter Bronze Award by Advanced HE, achieving national recognition. The Charter aims to improve the representation, progression, and success of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff and students.
Judo partnership extended The British Judo Association and the University agreed that their decade-long partnership collaboration will continue until 2032. The Association’s Centre of Excellence will remain based at Walsall Campus for the next three Olympic cycles, preparing athletes for Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028, and beyond. The next focus for the Centre will be the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. As part of this new partnership agreement, the University has submitted a planning application to extend the Centre of Excellence. This will see the introduction of more specialist facilities to support Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are based in the West Midlands.
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CATEGORY
British Art Show Wolverhampton will now host British Art Show 9 (BAS9) in January 2022, after new dates for the touring exhibition were announced by organisers due to the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions.
The event, which is the biggest touring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK, will take place in Wolverhampton between 22 January and 10 April 2022. City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Cllr Ian Brookfield, said, “The exhibition will be a great way to kick off 2022, a year which will see world-class events coming to the city during the Commonwealth Games, Wolverhampton Literature Festival, and big-name gigs at our newly refurbished Civic Halls.”
Knowledge Exchange Framework Research England’s Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) has confirmed that the University is one of the country’s top institutions for local regeneration and engaging with the public and community. KEF’s data looks at the performance for universities from different perspectives, including public and community engagement, working with partners ranging from big businesses to small local firms, and how they commercialise their research. The University of Wolverhampton was identified in the top 10% nationally for public and community engagement and also in the top 10% for local growth and regeneration.
Sandwell Aquatics Centre Students at the University of Wolverhampton will benefit from a partnership with Sandwell Council, centred on the Sandwell Aquatics Centre. The Centre, which is sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton alongside others, will provide a world-class leisure facility for residents in Sandwell for decades to come. As the exclusive higher education partner, the University will work with the council on legacy plans as well as workforce development and skills. Sports students will study and train within the state-of-the-art aquatics centre as part of their curriculum through the 10-year agreement, which will start in 2023.
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Sandwell Aquatics Centre (artist’s impression)
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IN PROFILE
A CUT ABOVE Andrew Webber always wanted to be a film editor – even before he knew what one was. Citing his father as his biggest inspiration, some of Andrew’s early memories had a considerable impact on his future career, cutting TV shows and feature-length films which have been sold to streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. Andrew says that his father was “the first editor he ever knew,” and explains how his parent recording Andrew’s favourite TV shows appealed to his young mind. Andrew says, “What he used to do is record a part and then pause the VHS, so the adverts or the presenter links were cut out. He would then un-pause the tape so when I would watch it back, it was as if it was a continuous show. “I never knew actually how my dad did it but I knew there was a magic to his craft, and that is basically editing: cut out the bits that people are not interested in so that you are left with the story.” From these roots, Andrew’s lifelong love of creating visual stories has taken him to some interesting, challenging, exciting places, and he feels lucky to have produced and directed programmes from all over the world.
Andrew at the BAFTAs 8
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Andrew says, “Back in 2014, I produced a lifestyle documentary series in the beautiful country of Jamaica where the host, comedienne Angie Le Mar, was welcomed into the homes of A-list celebrities like reggae stars Shaggy and Marcia Griffiths, to name a few.
“On top of that, I have just concluded on a historical documentary series for ViacomCBS, entitled The Great Escape which charts one the most audacious prison escapes of the WWII. This will be broadcast on Channel 5 later this year, so get ready for that one.”
“Shaggy was as bit of a character: full of banter and a very dry wit. He showed us around his home, we had lunch and he even showed us his collection of awards that he has picked over the years. I had such a great time out there.”
With such a range of big-name projects on Andrew’s résumé, you would be forgiven for assuming that his proudest moment was on the red carpet or at an awards show – but the truth is closer to home.
Andrew says that he puts his passion into every project he works on, regardless of its subject or his role within the production. Some of Andrew’s most satisfying work involved making his first short film in 2014, Second Wind, which he co-wrote and co-produced with his friend, Joshua Bailey. “Some would say it’s a passion project, but it was a passion project with legs and I felt so exhilarated by it. Being able to tell your story the way that you want to tell it is a beautiful feeling.” Andrew also worked on the film The Wedding Party (2016), which starred another of the University of Wolverhampton’s esteemed alumni, Adesua Etomi-Wellington. This just goes to show that a great education often results in great success.
Andrew meeting Shaggy
Following the lull of the pandemic, during which many contracts in the film industry were slashed and projects shelved, Andrew is once again very busy. He says, “This year alone I have cut 4 episodes of one of Channel 4’s popular shows, A Place in the Sun. I’ve recently completed the edit of my forth feature film called Black Mail by director Obi Emelonye which is also very exciting.
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He says, “My greatest achievement so far would have to be seeing my name on terrestrial TV for the first time, in a show that people recognise. “When I first cut an episode of Come Dine with Me and it happened to broadcast on my daughter’s second birthday, I called my parents and said, ‘Watch Channel 4 now! My show is on.’ Nothing beats that feeling. I tried to call my mother back but she was too busy calling the rest of my family, telling them that my name was on the TV. You have got to love her.” Andrew’s on-screen influences are from 80s films such as Robocop, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Die Hard, and Aliens, but if he could work with anyone, it would be Spike Lee.
Andrew, on set
“Spike Lee’s films are powerful, and to craft one of them would be a dream come true. He has such a wealth of knowledge and the way that he captivates his audiences with intense performances is simply incredible.”
“Being able to tell your story the way that you want to tell it is a beautiful feeling”
At the 2015 Screen Nation Awards
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CATEGORY
Andrew with Sola Sobowale
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Andrew with family
Having taken a successful route into the entertainment industry, Andrew has some words of wisdom for anyone who wants to work in film and TV. He says,
want to be a director of photography, you should buy lights and a solid camera – whether you “beg, borrow, or save.”
“Master a craft. Identify what your strongest skill is, and what you equally have a passion for. Get into the industry and establish yourself, then transition to where you want to be.” Andrew also recommends investing in the equipment that will prepare you for your career, suggesting that if you want to become an editor, you should create an edit suite in your home, while if you
He adds, “Be a social butterfly. It’s no hidden truth that your skills will pay the bills, but it will be so beneficial if you can work a room and relentlessly promote yourself at a networking event. Trust me, the producers and the production managers will be calling you. “And finally, never, ever, ever give up.”
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TEACHING FROM THE HEART As far as modern female role models go, it’s hard not to be impressed by Herminder Channa OBE. At only 42 years old, she’s an executive principal, local leader of education and lead inspector for Ofsted, and a magistrate. In October 2020, she was awarded an OBE for services to education. Born and raised in Sandwell, it was her family who stressed the importance of education. Her journey with the University began with a BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences. Living at home during her first degree, it was following graduation in 2000 and marrying that Herminder decided to return to do PGCE training. “When my girls were 2 and 3 I noticed a flyer at a local playgroup promoting science and maths teacher recruitment. I went along to a taster session. Standing in front of the children, like on a stage, I knew instantly that teaching was going to be for me. 12
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“That year there was a big bursary for science teachers, and the University supported with childcare fees. I loved being back at University for a second time! The support and guidance I received from my course tutors and cohort was excellent.” It’s the transferable skills which she gained and built upon with the PGCE Science in 2005 and MA Leadership and Management in 2008 which she credits for providing the strong foundation to her career. However one thing that repeatedly shines through is her belief in treating people with respect and kindness. Only a few years after completing her MA, Herminder helped to found one of the first Sikh multi-faith free schools, Nishkam High School, in Birmingham, which gained Ofsted’s “outstanding” status in just 18 months under her headship. “Entering the profession, it was to make a difference to the life chances of young people. Very early on in my career I became interested in the development of the whole child and how education supports character development. “In 2011 Nishkam School Trust was writing its secondary school bid. The school’s ethos of “Maan Neeva Mat Uchi” (sometimes translated as: discard your ego and live with high morals) viewed education as more than simply a means to acquiring factual knowledge and exam grades. It’s a vehicle to engage with high human virtues and question the purpose of life and beyond. For me, this was revolutionary and an educational model which profoundly resonated with me.” But her influence isn’t only from her role as principal. Herminder is also lead inspector for Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) and a local leader of
Herminder with her husband education, which means she supports schools on their improvement journey as well as designing and leading educational courses. To top this off, she also serves as a magistrate, saying “It is a privilege to be able to serve my community”.
“The support and guidance I received from my course tutors and cohort was excellent.” When asked what she’s particularly proud of in her varied career, one thing clearly stands out – turning around the fortunes of Ark Boulton Academy (formerly Golden Hillock) in Sparkhill, south Birmingham. Appointed as the new head in 2015, the school had been at the centre of the “Trojan horse” scandal where a group of Muslim governors and senior teachers had systematically attempted to impose hardline Islamic principles in several schools in the area. Today the comprehensive has been transformed into one of the most popular secondaries in the city.
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“We supported our teachers to develop their skills beyond teaching and learning through our Ark Boulton Character Development Curriculum. As leaders it was our responsibility to create conditions to allow our staff to be role models and practise the virtues we want to see in our pupils. “In 2018 Ark Boulton achieved the Values-based Education (VbE) quality mark for underpinning universal positive human values such as respect, integrity, honesty and compassion within the curriculum and academy life. “It was awarded the Leading Aspect Award in 2019 – which recognises and celebrates leading educational practice and is awarded to schools offering cutting-edge delivery of an aspect of teaching and learning. An article in The Guardian published in October 2020 highlighted what can be achieved when schools have a values-led curriculum implemented “with love”. Teaching reflects her gift for reaching out to people – as proven in her current role. But what is also clear is that although a teacher herself, Herminder also continues to learn from others and from her own experiences, with a determination to use her knowledge to improve the lives of others. “On holiday in India I visited Ark Lajput Nagar III Primary School in Delhi. Educational standards in India are dismal, particularly for poorer children. Over a third of school-aged children don’t complete primary school, and over half leave without basic reading or writing skills. Average family income is £75 per month, and sanitation and dietary standards are poor. “I was completely taken back by the thirst for knowledge displayed by the children who just wanted to learn, despite all the challenges they faced. “When talking to the children their ambition to do well, go on and have good jobs so they could support their
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parents was so inspirational. The whole experience was truly humbling, I felt privileged to be able spend time with such motivated young people and committed teachers. It comes as no surprise to discover Herminder’s plans for the future include undertaking a PhD, and the topic, of course, is to improve school children’s lives. “I feel very passionately that all pupils should have a rich and balanced programme of character development. National programmes are fragmented across the country. Time dedicated and content vary hugely. Being able to contribute to a national character programme hugely excited me as there is much progress to be had in this field to support our children growing up in very complex and difficult times.” So what advice would she give to anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps? “Educationalists are responsible for shaping the minds and attitudes of the next generation, so it is imperative we know why we are entering the profession and what legacy we want to leave behind.
“It takes a big heart and a lot of love to help shape future generations for the betterment of humankind” Our profession is rooted in the understanding that we are here to serve selflessly without reward or recognition. “We must ask ourselves continuously what we are leaving behind for future generations, and what we are able to do for them now. Those entering the profession make a public promise which time and history will judge. Teaching is the only profession that creates all other professions. It takes a big heart and a lot of love to help shape future generations for the betterment of humankind. History is in the hands of our profession, let’s ensure it is peaceful and fulfilling for all.”
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CATEGORY
TELFORD’S FUTURE IN SAFE HANDS
If there’s one thing that can’t be denied it’s that David Sidaway is a determined man. To do a degree part-time, while working, and taking a pay cut to achieve your ambitions takes a special type of resolve.
Telford’s Southwater complex at night (above)
But that’s exactly what happened when David, now chief executive of Telford and Wrekin Council started his journey with the University of Wolverhampton, first by studying a HNC and then progressing onto the BSc Quantity Surveying. Even though David has worked for councils across three decades, he acknowledges he has an interest, and some would say flair, for the commercial world. And it is his talent for recognising and influencing that which has helped shape some of his key career successes. Telford and Wrekin Council is relatively new, in council terms, having been formed in 1998. With the confidence of success and his work with the commercial world ringing in his ears, in his mid-30s David knocked on the door of the then chief executive and said: “Please let me lead and deliver Southwater”. Telford needed to move the next level with a big part of that development being the need to deliver a heart to the centre of the town, connecting the significant retail, business and conference sector, the amazing town park and leisure facilities.
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What was needed was someone with a vision, and the drive and determination to see it through. Step in David Sidaway, who secured the £250 million Southwater project to oversee: creating a new beating heart for Telford town centre whilst incorporating and enhancing existing features like the town park. It wasn’t just hearts and minds that had to be won over – earth and water did too, as the new plans required the lake on site to be moved. The Southwater project has been an undeniable success – bringing in valuable new business and investment, but not at the cost to local people. And David is clearly a man driven, not only by ambition, success and a commercial mind, but by the absolute desire to serve the residents of the borough and to help people. David has an easy-going and approachable manner – but this isn’t something that should be taken for granted. He is clear to state the benefits of building positive working relationships to help ease transition and change.
Home-builder As ‘director of place’ at Telford and Wrekin, following the success of Southwater, he is particularly proud of the work to provide new housing for those most in need. He oversaw the creation of a wholly-owned housing company – run as a private company, but owned by the council. 500 new homes were built on brownfield sites, regenerating not only the land, but people’s lives. In 2015 David moved to a new role as chief executive of Stoke-on-Trent city council where he replicated the success of the housing project in Telford and Wrekin, this time creating 450 new homes in Stoke-on-Trent, once again transforming lives, providing jobs, and safeguarding services.
“The heart of everything I do is to serve the residents of our borough.” Another project David is particularly proud of involves one the single biggest employers in Telford and the surrounding communities: the Ministry of Defence. The MOD has had a site in Donnington since 1936. But in 2012 it was under threat of partial closure, taking vital jobs with it. Winning was a long battle, with the borough involved in a tough fight against Bicester in Oxfordshire which appeared to be named as the MoD’s preferred site. A drastic plan included buying up land that could accommodate the proposed expansion – and that’s where David’s skills and commercial expertise came in to play once more to secure land from the private sector to provide certainty and clarity for 16 investors.
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“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory”
The University’s regional learning centre, University Centre Telford: wlv.ac.uk/uctelford
The £130 million centre opened in April 2017, providing everything from food and medical supplies to clothing for servicemen and women officers both based in the UK and abroad on the front line. In total it is estimated to be worth between £7 billion and £8 billion over 13 years – but that figure could rise to £13 billion if the MoD expands the range of products handled. For Telford it safeguarded several hundred jobs and up to £60m to the borough’s economy.
Storms and pandemic Most recently, 2020 brought two major challenges to David’s leadership. Back at Telford and Wrekin Council following his spell in Stoke-on-Trent, David returned to the organisation in January 2020 only to be faced with the worst flooding the region has seen in decades in the February. The Ironbridge Gorge was battered by high winds and severe flooding from Storms Ciara and Dennis, which caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and livelihoods along the river and World Heritage Site, with the River Severn peaking at 6.8m in Ironbridge.
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Then, with tentative plans in place to welcome the return of visitors to the area, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. David was faced with the task of closing the council within a matter of hours, as well as redeploying hundreds of staff across other areas of the council. Determined not to be left catching-up on any national efforts, David and the team immediately oversaw plans to safeguard and support some of the area’s most vulnerable people. Within days a free school meals scheme was set up, weeks before the national system caught up. Meals were not only prepared by staff and volunteers, but packed and delivered to families’ doorsteps. The council and volunteers also sprang into action to support elderly and lonely people, coordinating users and volunteers in making phone calls providing companionship and support at a very difficult time.
services to people, through people and being a people-centric organisation is everything – a family.” But being David Sidaway, he’s clear that any progress will be not only for the benefit of communities and people, but with their support, co-design and buy-in. After all, if there’s one thing he’s demonstrated in his career, it’s that it’s easier to build upon friendships than to be at loggerheads when you want progress.
“Be relentless in your desire to achieve nothing great is easy.”
So what’s next? He’s intent on helping to do everything he can to continue an aspiring and ambitious vision for Telford and Wrekin and ensure its continued development. He views the council as a family with people at the heart of everything we do, saying, “We deliver
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FROM F.A. TO L.A. Football is an international game, and it’s not just the players who have the opportunity to head abroad for career success. Former Sports Studies student, Laura Harvey, has been a coach in the USA since 2013. Football (or soccer) may not be the biggest game in America, with basketball, baseball and American football all more prominent, but the sport has been steadily growing in popularity – and the women’s game is no exception. We caught up with Laura, 40, to see how life on the other side of the pond is treating her. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California and is under-20s (U-20) head coach for the United States Women’s National Team.
What are your memories of Wolverhampton? “I chose the University of Wolverhampton as it wasn’t too far away from home and Walsall Campus was very dedicated to sport, which I found very welcoming. I have a lot of strong memories about being at the university, mainly around the lifelong friends I made and the social aspect of what a small campus provided.” “My lecturers Kay Biscombe and Tony Lanaway stood out to me as they knew where I wanted to go in my career, which at the time was a hard career to see, as opportunities for female coaches in football were very restrictive.”
Tell us about your career so far. “After graduation I got a job as women’s coach for the local county football association (FA). I moved into becoming a head coach in a club environment at Birmingham City in 2006, joined Arsenal in 2008 becoming head coach in 2009.” “Arsenal was a huge aspect of my career and I stayed there until 2012. I moved to the USA in 2013 to join the professional women’s soccer league in Seattle. I stayed in the professional league in the USA until 2019 and then moved into a role in the international teams where I am head coach for the U-20 women’s team, and assistant coach with the senior women’s team.”
Have you always wanted to work within the sport sector? “I always wanted to work in football and don’t know what else I would be good at! I think the women’s game in England has exploded and there are way more opportunities now than when I left in 2013. America definitely still has tons of opportunities for people to come out here and utilise their experience in different environments.”
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Tell us about being head coach of the United States U-20 women’s national soccer team. “My role is to provide an environment to players that can help them develop in their career. The under-20 age group is the last age group you get to perform in a world event before moving into the senior environment, so this gives players a real chance to prove their potential on the world stage.” “The connection between the U-20 and U-23/ senior women’s team is huge as we have a chance to show the younger players what it takes to compete at that level.”
What would you say has had the most influence on your career? “I was lucky to have multiple people around me who saw something in me they thought could be good at coaching. My family and my first employer after university, Tom Stack, gave me every opportunity to succeed.” “I also think my small group of friends I’m still very close to: Rachel Dunlop, Gemma Ryan (was Adams) and Natalie Justice- Dearn, have had a huge impact on me. All three have stayed within the sports industry, Gemma works within sports development in a local council, Rachel has been a PE teacher in the Birmingham area and Natalie has been in a CEO role in different sports around the country.”
“I have a lot of strong memories about being at the university, mainly around the lifelong friends I made and the social aspect of what a small campus provided.”
How have the past year and the pandemic impacted you – and what’s next for you? “This past year I have been lucky enough to work with a group of staff across all of US Soccer on building what we want the programme to look like in the future. Not being out on the pitch has obviously been hard, but we’ve utilised the time well to decide how we want to improve our programme moving forward.” “I’m very happy in my current role and hope to get back out on the pitch with the U20s asap, to hopefully qualify for a World Cup.” “I love the way of life out here and enjoy exploring the country. Living in the USA was the best decision I made both from a career, and life, perspective.”
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POETIC JUSTICE Abi Daré’s New York Times bestselling debut novel The Girl with the Louding Voice started with an innocent protest from her 8-year-old daughter. Abi says simply, “I asked her to help unload the dishwasher, and she didn’t want to.” From this mundane moment there sprung a conversation about privilege, and the fact that none of us choose the conditions we are born into. Abi pointed out to her daughter that some girls in Nigeria, where Abi was born, are sent away by their parents to become housemaids. “It became a huge conversation,” Abi continues. “She asked, ‘Why would anyone send their child away to be a housemaid? Would you send me away?’ I went to bed with a lot of questions, because it really was valid for her to ask why anyone would do this.”
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The fight for justice is a part of me
Abi is friendly, confident, and warm in conversation. Her voice has a gentle lilt that offers a glimpse of her Nigerian roots. “It’s important for my children to realise, just as I realised quite young, that you don’t choose to be born into a family that can afford a good education. The fact that you have clean water running out of taps and you can eat whatever you want is not something that everybody can afford. You shouldn’t take it for granted.” The lack of control we have over our circumstances is a theme running through The Girl with the Louding Voice, which begins with the strong-willed, intelligent, but financially poor 14-yearold protagonist Adunni being told by her father that she is to marry a much older man. While Abi’s experience was certainly kinder than Adunni’s, having a parent force their will onto their child is something she can relate to. In Abi’s own words, her mother “tricked her” into leaving Nigeria to study Law at the University of Wolverhampton. “She said that coming to the UK would be a regular summer holiday. It was fun. Then, afterwards, when she had finished packing her belongings, she said, ‘You’re not going back.’ And I was like… what?” Abi’s mother had somehow applied
and received an offer letter for the Law degree without Abi realising. While this was far from a typical start to her student experience, Abi says that studying Law at the University of Wolverhampton helped to discipline her approach to work. This is an invaluable skill as an author, a head of programme development, and a mother. She says of her time at university, “The research and the coursework we’d get meant that I couldn’t just wake up one morning and hand something in and expect to get a good grade. I literally lived in the library. Studying Law also made me more of a lover of words than I thought I could ever be. But most importantly, I think it developed my love for justice.” Abi says that a fight against injustice is weaved throughout her fiction, and that the origin of this came from her Law studies. “The fight for justice is a part of me, and studying at the University of Wolverhampton really helped to bring that to light. I don’t think I would be where I am today without that, so I’m very grateful.” When she isn’t writing, alongside being a mother, Abi works in pharmaceutical technology and leads a team that she says is full of ‘very smart, intelligent people.’ On writing and her tech role, Abi says, “I enjoy both, so I’m trying hard to juggle writing and my career, but it’s not been easy. At the time when I could step away from my writing, there was a huge need to carry on with my day job considering all that’s going on right now. Despite her debut novel’s many achievements, Abi didn’t until recently plan to become an author.
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“I didn’t think I could become a professional; I didn’t think that I was anything like that. I love to write and tell stories and express myself through writing, but I don’t think it was until maybe 10 years ago that I realised, ‘This could be a thing.’ So I built my career around technology before I started giving my writing a real shot.
She adds: “Some of the things that have encouraged me to make a change in my life have been pieces of art. I think that storytelling is a powerful way to effect change.”
“When my book came out, I didn’t expect what happened with it to happen. I didn’t expect it to become a New York Times bestseller and to sell in over 13 territories.” While The Girl with the Louding Voice continues to gain new fans across the globe and receive deserved acclaim – including winning and being shortlisted for numerous prizes, receiving countless strong reviews, and being one of the books selected for the BBC series Between the Covers – Abi’s proudest moments have been altogether more personal ones. “I’ve had some readers’ feedback that have really wowed me. I’ve had people say that, after giving up on their education, they read The Girl with the Louding Voice and decided that they’re going to go back to study.” Additionally, a teacher told her that her book realistically captures the experience of her students, while readers from Nigeria have told her that, because of her novel, they will never look away if their neighbour employs an underage girl to work for them; instead, they will speak out. Abi is currently working on a new book that will explore the relationships between mothers and daughters, and the culture of silence that many young Nigerian women grow up in, all set against a backdrop of a riot that took place two decades ago.
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I think that storytelling is a powerful way to effect change
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HOT STUFF 24
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Elliot Walker is a glass artist whose work is beginning to receive worldwide attention. It’s a far cry from his fledgling career as an artist while studying for a psychology degree in 2007, creating stained glass windows as a hobby which littered his bedroom with unconventional apparatus such as grinding and cutting stations and stacks of sheet glass and shards. Deciding to dedicate himself to glass making, Elliot studied at Dudley College before starting his MA Applied Arts with Wolverhampton School of Art, working at the Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley in the Black Country, and graduating in 2012. “My career has developed well since my graduation. I began working at the London Glass Blowing studio, under the expert guidance of Peter Layton and his amazing team, a year after university. Working and exhibiting in the gallery pushed my development like nothing else could have. I feel very lucky to have been a part of the team for eight years. “The inspirations of my work are wideranging, but come mostly from classical sculpture and painting. I’m a dedicated experimenter and constantly try to challenge myself and my audiences to abandon preconceptions of the material. “I do attempt to accurately represent my subject, but my use of glass as a material is always at the heart of my conceptual focus and creates an ambiguity or surrealism in the works.”
Still Life, © SIMON BRUNTNELL PHOTOGRAPHY This year, Elliot, aged 32, claimed top prize in the global glassblowing livestreamed reality show on Netflix, Blown Away. He secured a place in the reality show and took part with ten other glass artists from around the world in the second series of the show. The show pulls no punches and is bright, bold and crucially, compelling viewing with the enthusiastic intro setting the mood “… in North America’s biggest hot shop, we’re back to watch 10 exceptional artists fight fire with fire… if they can survive our fiery competition they’ll win a life-changing prize package that will establish them around the globe as Best in Glass.” In each episode, the glassblowers compete to impress a panel of art experts setting increasingly challenging briefs. The risk of being eliminated ramps up the pressure in an already boiling-hot environment where each competitor has their own furnace blazing at temperatures over 1,000 degrees Celsius. To anyone watching the show, it was clear from the first challenge, where he was named “Best in Blow” for his work Cognito Ergo Sum that Elliot was one to watch. Competing alongside artists from across the globe including Australia, Japan and America, some with over two decades of experience, Elliot was clearly going to be more than “the random British guy”.
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Still Life, © SIMON BRUNTNELL PHOTOGRAPHY
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IN PROFILE
“I’m a dedicated experimenter and constantly try to challenge myself and my audiences to abandon preconceptions of the material.”
As winner of the show, Elliot has been awarded two residencies, at the Corning Museum of Glass, and Pittsburgh Glass Centre that will allow him to work with a diverse set of artists, as well as use different facilities. However, due to the pandemic he has had to delay taking them up. He has his own studio with assistant and partner Bethany Wood in Hertfordshire. Having his own studio allows him to pursue his own sculpture and also take on larger commissions for a number of design companies and artists. The year of the pandemic brought mixed circumstances. Elliot got back in the country just before the borders closed: “I wasn’t really aware of exactly what was happening or how bad things were getting. Because I live and work with my partner Bethany, we were able to keep going through the pandemic – and it was quite a good thing for me – I had a big show with Messums Gallery, and we spent the year developing work for that. I really had time to focus on the show, and developed two new bodies of work. We were really lucky we were able to carry on.”
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Like many other artists and makers, lockdown has given Elliot an enforced period of creative space which he’s been keen to capitalise on. However he’s blunt about the reality that many other artists will have faced during the pandemic with their livelihoods at stake: “Without actually winning the show, and the prize money from that, I don’t know whether we would have been able to keep the studio open – it’s so expensive to run day-to-day. It all fell into place so I feel very lucky and blessed that it happened the way it did. Winning the show kept us afloat – you’re paying for things like business space, business rates, even though you’re making things that people don’t really need.” So what’s next for Elliot? He’s certainly a busy man. He’s working towards a show at Messums Yorkshire in Harrogate in June, followed by a joint exhibition with Bethany at London Glass in October, then another show In Gent, Belgium... although that still depends on the global situation with the pandemic. And at some point in the coming year he hopes to be able to take up those residencies… but that may have to wait a little longer. One thing’s for certain, Elliot Walker is a man who’ll certainly be kept busy.
Watch Elliot create one of his glass strawberries on his Artsfest session: wlv.ac.uk/artsfest Blown Away series 2 is available on
Still Life, © SIMON BRUNTNELL PHOTOGRAPHY
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My use of glass as a material is always at the heart of my conceptual focus and creates an ambiguity or surrealism in the works.
CATEGORY IN PROFILE
Techs, bugs and a rockin’ role Self-confessed “huge nerd” Shannon Kularathna has put his knowledge to great use. As a technical writer for what many see as the holy grail of tech companies – the mighty Google – Shannon works at the forefront of online and virtual innovation.
Shannon says, “One of the biggest challenges at Google is Impostor Syndrome, as I’m surrounded by incredibly skilled people who are the best in their fields. I have two years’ of experience as a technical writer, and there are moments when I feel like I absolutely do not belong. “A big part of it is to give myself a break, letting myself know that they wouldn’t have hired me if I weren’t a good choice.” Shannon grew up in Sri Lanka and studied an Engineering degree from the University of Wolverhampton at the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC), Sri Lanka, before moving to Toronto, Canada.
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Shannon explains, “I’m a technical writer on the Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) team. I write a lot of documents, including how-to guides, product overviews, feature launch documentations, conceptual information, and tutorials.” Working on the cutting-edge of technology and innovation is a rewarding dedication, and Shannon feels like his efforts make a real positive impact on the product users. While he can’t describe what he’s currently working on – TOP SECRET! – he writes content for feature launches and also works on bug fixes such as technical issues, which are often pointed out by users who click the Send Feedback button on Android apps and Google websites. Shannon says, “To be honest, I don’t think it’s really hit me that I work at Google yet. You get people from all walks of life, tons of different perspectives, and I personally feel a significant difference because of it.
Shannon, wearing his new-at-Google “Noogler” cap
His work focus has shifted from Engineering, to Aerospace, to considering a Master’s in Management Sciences, to a course that led him to his current calling: a Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing. Shannon’s studies took him to what he calls his first “real” office job in 2018, working as a technical writer at a Toronto financial services company. Armed with his engineering background and two years of professional experience, he then applied and embarked on a gruelling 3-month hiring process before securing his job with Google in December 2020.
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To be honest, I don’t think it’s really hit me that I work at Google yet...”
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Above everything else, have faith in yourself. You’re skilled, you’re worthy, and you can do this!
“Google also is a very large company with almost 135,000 employees, so it’s easy to feel siloed, or like you’re just a number. I will say they do a lot to make sure everyone feels heard and seen, especially during company-wide meetings.” A passion for all things tech spills over into Shannon’s free time too, as he is an avid gamer as well as a font of Google-based knowledge. He says, “I’m a HUGE nerd. I play Destiny 2 almost every day after work, and I’m also dabbling in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, and Cyberpunk 2077. “Luckily for me, my manager is a gamer too! It’s nice when your manager shares interests with you – it gives us a lot to talk about at our weekly 1:1s.”
Shannon’s journey from university to Google employee has only been possible because of hard work and a dedication to pushing himself. He agrees that a university degree is a great starting point, but emphasises the value that professional development gives to a career. He advises taking courses on sites such as LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, EdX, and Github. Giving back to the community and working on open source projects are also valuable boosts to a portfolio, as well as your own beneficial projects in your spare time. Shannon finishes by saying, “Don’t undervalue yourself, and don’t be discouraged if you don’t have some of the skills in a job posting – most companies hire on potential to learn and grow. Remind yourself that the worst possible outcome is that you don’t hear back about the application. “Above everything else, have faith in yourself. You’re skilled, you’re worthy, and you can do this!”
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ARCHITECT OF HER OWN SUCCESS
M
andeep Mattu is a role model for anyone looking at a career in architecture.
At 27 years old, the associate and architectural assistant’s career has gone up and up since she graduated with a BSc Interior Architecture and Property Development. She says choosing her journey into architecture has been “simple”, starting with playing with building blocks and Lego, which developed into a passion for buildings, colours, makeup and fashion led to a natural flair for interior design and architecture. Mandeep was impressed with Wolverhampton from day one. Nominated for a Women in Property Award during her first year and receiving the Outstanding Student Award by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, it’s clear that the environment suited her ambitions. After graduation, she quickly found her feet in the industry, supported by colleagues with over 30 years’ experience.
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“The depth of experience I receive is incredible which all leads to my progression in my own career. I’m fortunate to work with Nick Chapman (MCIAT) my mentor for the last six years. Starting off your career as a fresh graduate can be very daunting, going into a new office surrounded with very technical and experienced individuals, especially in a perceived male-dominated industry.
of my comfort zone.” Mandeep is rightfully proud of setting up a company in 2019 with her colleagues, TNM Architecture, which designs intelligent and practical spaces for clients’ needs. She’s acutely aware of her own place as a woman in an industry where women are still underrepresented, and part of her way of contributing to change is to write a blog on the topic.
“I’ve learnt from my mentors that your job title doesn’t define you; it’s your skills and passion for the work which will help you on your career path.”
“It’s a paradox that even in the 21st century, architecture can still be a challenging career path for women, and gender inequality continues to be a cause of concern. I’m lucky – personally I’ve never come across the battle of gender inequality in the workplace. However women still account for barely a fifth of UK architects – and that figure is falling.
“Nick made me feel comfortable and took me under his wing. We spend nearly 38 hours a week with our colleagues, so it’s super important to feel happy and confident in our work environments. Nick’s wealth of experience has been vital to my personal development and significantly broadened my knowledge and technical abilities. He has always pushed me out
“Maybe I’ve been one of the fortunate ones, with male mentors who don’t undermine you. If it wasn’t for the support I’ve received I wouldn’t be pushed to where I am today! Being at the forefront of setting up TNM Architecture with my colleagues has been a massive milestone in my career.
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How many 27-year-olds can say one of their company initial stands for their name? I even got the largest letter of them all!
City Campus Courtyard, which Mandeep helped redevelop
“I’m a strong believer in passionately pushing the younger generation to thrive and do better. At TNM we aim to raise the profile, represent the views and promote the progression of women in architecture. We believe this will have a positive impact on the built environment and secure a legacy of inspiration for future generations.”
Professional, and personal development are clearly important to Mandeep. She’s emphatic about how important education is – as well as making the most of the opportunities it affords.
With a flexible approach to working life TNM was well-equipped to weather the pandemic. Projects were still running on site and taking off, supported by the team home-working. So what’s next for Mandeep?
“I regret not going on Exchange or volunteering internationally whilst at University. Experience like an international internship or new language can really make your professional portfolio more competitive in the job market.
“I graduated in interior architecture and passionately want to push that forward. In our quieter spells I set up Interiors by M. It’s an offshoot of TNM to showcase our interior skills and how we incorporate colours, textures, furniture etc to create a space that works for our clients. I’m currently completing the next stage of professional qualifications, MCIAT (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists).
“Put your education first. As students we have a tendency to forget the importance of learning, especially in the midst of managing deadlines. But if you have the chance to taste-test different programmes and learn from experts in diverse fields you can tailor your path to whatever industry you’re interested in.
“I’ve learnt from my mentors that your job title doesn’t define you; it’s your skills and passion for the work which will help you on your career path.”
“Personal development never stops and I’m continually striving for extra qualifications or programmes I can be part of, for example I recently took part in the Black Country Chamber of Commerce business development programme. It’s important to develop my knowledge in order to help our business grow, especially being a young professional in a startup company.”
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TNM project in Staffordshire
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BAR BRILLIANCE IN BOTSWANA Ratidzo Murwisi, 32, or Ratie as she likes to be called, is an inspiring young woman with a keen business brain and a passion for enabling others to be successful. Originally from Zimbabwe, but currently living in Gaborone, Botswana, she’s a compliance manager for a financial services company in Botswana called Olympia Factors Commerciale.
Uni days
“I chose to study at the University of Wolverhampton firstly because it was one of only a few universities (the other being Oxbridge) offering the specialist degree which I wanted to study. “The second reason was I was I was keen to learn from Chris Turner, who is co-author of the Unlocking Law series we used throughout our degree. He turned out to be one of my first year lecturers as well as my tutorial advisor. I learned a great deal from him. “Being at the university also allowed me to explore a different side of my basketball career. I was the only African on the university women’s basketball team which led to a BIG cultural exchange with my teammates who have become lifelong friends. I learned to treat my body very differently, especially because our coach was also a nutritionist who taught us how to care for our bodies in a wholesome way.”
Post-graduation journey
“Since graduating, I’ve travelled quite a lot. I moved to Manchester in September 2011 to start the LPC at Manchester Metropolitan University. I worked pro bono at a law firm called Gateleys, which gave me an idea of what working life would be and also further solidified my desire NOT to be a litigator! “After my LPC, (in 2014) I secured an internship at a Pan-African Bank in Cairo, Egypt called Afreximbank in the corporate finance and advisory department. It turned into a year-long, full-time job and is where I discovered my interest in the world of financial services. 34
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Ratie’s basketball team in Zimbabwe
Home turf
“In 2015 I returned to Zimbabwe to pursue my bar exams and registration. I was doing these part-time whilst gaining experience in the Southern African legal system. In Southern Africa they use the Roman-Dutch legal system as compared to the English Common law system that is used in the UK. I had to get training in litigation (much to my dismay), but I was happy to know I had not made a rash decision in deciding not to go into litigation. “I worked at a Zimbabwean firm for two years before moving to DLA Piper Zimbabwe (Manokore Attorneys). This is where I thrived in corporate practice and advisory. I gained so much technical experience from my time there which I believe will be useful to me in the future.”
Giving back
“I am a strong believer in volunteer work – it builds character and if you are willing to do something for free, and you do it well, the compensation will certainly follow. I do most of my volunteer work with my passions. I currently mentor young entrepreneurs and assist them with strategic planning of their businesses. “I had always known that I wasn’t a “vanilla” type lawyer. Advisory allowed me to use my financial acumen as well as my love for law in an effective way. I also got to rub shoulders with some very brilliant minds. I was one of the few employees under 30 in the bank during my time there who wasn’t an intern.”
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“Whilst in Zimbabwe I worked with a non-profit organisation call iBelieve Sports. It focuses on helping high school kids get scholarships in the USA through sport (mainly basketball, tennis and rugby). We had a partnership with the NBA called the Luc Mbah a Moute Foundation (named after the
Cameroonian professional basketball player). He runs skills camps worldwide and helps kids get into the NBA Academy and various university sports programmes. “This led to me working with the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe as their legal advisor and social media manager. I have a YouTube channel and I helped the union do the same for their various media channels. I am now on the Federation of International Basketball (FIBA) Zone 6 media team.”
Using her influence
“Part of my volunteering includes being an influencer for the Tony Elumelu Foundation (a non-profit organization). It runs a programme funding 1,000 entrepreneurs and their ideas. They get training to get their startups off the ground and become prepared for Series A funding or pitching for international investors. As an influencer, I give information on my various platforms (Instagram/ Whatsapp/ LinkedIn) about the foundation and any initiatives they are running. “A great mix of things have influenced my own career. For example, meeting Tony Elumelu in 2015 whilst I was at Afeximbank, or Vusi Thembekwayo (the South African venture capitalist, global business speaker and entrepreneur) in 2019 at an event. Africa has so much potential and I believe only us Africans can change it in the most effective way. I would like to be involved with people and organisations that are changemakers.”
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Visiting the pyramids, in Egypt
University basketball team
Pandemic and beyond
“The pandemic has greatly affected the business as our main business function is factoring, which largely depends on exports. With borders opening and closing so frequently, it’s been very hard for most of our clients to make money. However looking to the future, I want to build my consulting (advisory) practice. I’d like to work largely with startups and help them build and grow their startups efficiently and strategically. I believe Africa has such potential and we can do great things.”
“I am a strong believer in volunteer work - it builds character” Parting words of wisdom
“If I were to give advice, I’d say: with everything that you do BE INTENTIONAL! Life is about choices, but informed choices. Research as much as possible about whatever institute/ country/business you want to work in. Use LinkedIn – it’s such a powerful and useful tool with access to more info. If you can, do as many internships as possible so that you know what you do and don’t enjoy, as the idea of something can vary hugely to the actual doing of the job.”
At the investiture of new Afreximbank president in Cairo
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IN PROFILE
BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE “AI is not new, because we have been using mathematics for more than 1,000 years,” says data science and AI technical specialist for IBM, Tanut Karnwai. “AI is more than a math story. It tells a history of two great civilisations of hardware and software.” Tanut’s comments challenge a common misconception about artificial intelligence: that it is something unique to the 21st century. He elaborates, “If we have a single equation or question, it’s called mathematics. But if a student has to solve a problem ten times to learn an answer to a question, and they learn from question 1 the way to answer question 2, and then question 3, and so on, then that’s how the machine learning in AI works, too.” Tanut credits the University of Wolverhampton with having given him his first opportunity to study applied artificial intelligence. His graduation project explored using AI to detect the movements of arm muscles to understand the sign language that the gestures correspond with, in real-time.
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Speaking at TechFin Asia, December 2019, in Seoul, South Korea
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I always learn new things in this role, because the IBM brand gives me the opportunity to interact with new people.
From studying his bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering in Singapore, Tanut then studied postgraduate Engineering & Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Tanut now offers his technical expertise to one of the largest tech companies in the world, IBM. Tanut says, “My learning goal has never changed: I want to design electronic devices that communicate seamlessly. “I work with customers and people from different spheres in engineering and science. Because we have to succeed together, I always appreciate collaborating with them and benefiting from their enthusiasm and knowledge. I always learn new things in this role, because the IBM brand gives me the opportunity to interact with new people.”
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The area of AI that Tanut finds most interesting involves the way data is used in business, and creating business value using both hardware and software. Business has shifted towards a digital economy, and Tanut’s clients are being forced to consider the risks involved with both staying the same and changing the ways in which they handle their data – and whether AI can help them do this. Tanut says, “One of the things that IBM is concentrating on worldwide is innovation, and my role requires a lot of networking with sector leads. “I help customers or consult with students at university on how to understand data and information. To make better decisions, we need as much information as possible, including all market research, customer surveys, and cost-benefit analysis.”
At Qiskit Camp in Japan, 2019
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CARDBOARD KINGS Graduates Tom Burden, 27, and Axl Barber, 26, met while studying for BA Business Management with sandwich placement. During their studies they shared their aspirations to become entrepreneurs. Benefiting from the University’s business support programme SPEED, they’ve since started their own company: the UK’s first digital marketplace dedicated to corrugated cardboard packaging, Rightbox. We caught up with them to see how they’re getting on.
Before we find out about your new business – let’s go back to your student days. What made you choose to study at Wolverhampton?
Axl: The new business school (Lord
Swraj Paul building) actually attracted me to the University of Wolverhampton. We were the first cohort of business students to gain access to the building. Being my local university also worked out perfectly for me.
Tom: I had decided to continue working full-time alongside my course, so it was important to stay local. Like Axl, I was very impressed with the facilities at Wolverhampton and was excited to get started in the business school. A standout memory for me was working with Axl and other students to raise funds for Compton Care. We worked together to create an event where we raffled off sporting goods to Wolves fans, including a signed top and matchday ticket. It was for a great cause and was really enjoyable both on the day and in preparing for the event. SUMMER 2021
What made you decide to start your business together? How did you hear about the SPEED programme?
Tom: Axl and I are both very
entrepreneurial in nature: we’d regularly discuss business ideas, so it was inevitable we’d work together at some point after our studies. On placement (working at a corrugated cardboard packaging company) I started to learn more about the corrugated packaging industry, and the opportunity in the market just became clear. It wasn’t difficult to convince Axl because he’s very open-minded and driven, so from the basis of the idea, he knew we could make it work. Axl brought the SPEED programme to my attention. We’d already spoken about developing a business together, so when we found out what SPEED had to offer, this encouraged us even further.
Axl: I completed six months of my
let us know what they’re currently using and we find competitive quotes from reputable suppliers. If needed, we can also offer a full consultation to review their packaging and advise if any improvements are required.
Did you always want to have your own business and be your own boss(es)?
placement in the SPEED offices so I was familiar with how everything worked. I also spoke with Gavin Bhandal (SPEED’s project development officer), so when it came to starting a business SPEED was a programme we applied to!
Axl: From a young age I have always
Tell us a little bit about your company.
fort builders as children, it’s in our DNA! But I’ve always wanted to build something from scratch and been entrepreneurial in nature and that’s why Axl and I probably get on so well. I’ve kept a notepad by my bed side for years now as I’ve found that’s where I come up with a lot of my ideas.
Tom: We set the business up right
in the middle of a pandemic and a cardboard shortage, so it’s been quite an introduction to the world of starting a business! RightBox is the UK’s first digital marketplace for corrugated packaging. Essentially, we’re the ‘Compare the Market’ for companies who buy cardboard boxes. Companies
been entrepreneurial, from staging football matches in my back garden and charging parents for tickets to working in sales and now starting a business.
Tom: I think we’re all cardboard-box
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What’s influenced your career, and what are you particularly proud of?
What’s next?
Axl: From the area I grew up in, to the people I have met
packaging industry. We’re very entrepreneurial and ambitious, so we’re always looking for ways to disrupt other markets!
along the way, entrepreneurship and business has always been embedded in me. On Patrick Bet-David’s (CEO of PHP Agency in America, a $150 million company) YouTube channel, Valuetainment, he covers business, sales, marketing and finance, which has had a huge impact on my development. Starting any type of business from the ground up is difficult but we’ve made a great start and managed to get some really exciting clients on-board within a short period of time.
Tom: It sounds cliché, but my parents have always
encouraged and backed me in everything I do, so I owe them a lot of credit. I also remember reading Richard Branson’s book and being inspired by his attitude towards risk. We’ve recently been nominated to represent University of Wolverhampton at the Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards for 2021 which is something we’re both immensely proud of.
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Axl: To build RightBox and continue to disrupt the corrugated
Tom: Exactly what Axl has said: we’ll continue to work hard
to build the company and help companies save money on cardboard boxes! We do have some great plans on building the brand and creating a group of RightBox companies, but you’ll have to wait and see what the journey brings for RightBox.
If you are a business start-up or have registered your business in the last 12 months, get in touch and find out if the SPEED project can support you here: speed@wlv.ac.uk
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COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY CRUSADER CERI Early Childhood Studies and Sociology graduate, Ceri Davies, is the volunteer founder of More Mascots Please, a community interest company (CIC) and a self-employed disability activist and coach. The 31-year-old lives in Kingswinford, and chose to study at the University of Wolverhampton as due to complex needs and happy family life, she wanted to study somewhere with an easy commute.
“My degree helped with More Mascots Please (MMP) as studying early childhood studies joint with sociology gave me a grasp of both fields, ideal as with MMP we work with disabled, disadvantaged and life-limited children in the early years. “I was in my second year when I came up with the concept of MMP. I was typing one-fingered on my laptop and an image
of a giant green dog mascot came into my mind, and from that point I have supported children and families who need much help and support! “The biggest hurdle I have had to overcome is that my daily life has constant challenges, with disability issues every day. So I run MMP to distract myself from any negatives or discrimination that I face as a disabled person. These happen to me many times, and I try to always turn those negatives into positives. “I’ve run MMP since 2009 following a series of sad events. My beloved uncle passed away after a motorbike collision, then my friend, fundraiser and Pride of Britain winner, Liam Fairhurst, tragically passed away from cancer. This gave me the motivation to start fundraising for children’s cancer charities and carry on his work. In 2013 my local council for voluntary services helped me to register MMP as a CIC. “Since then, we’ve helped over 1,000 disabled, disadvantaged and life-limited children in the West Midlands. We achieve this by facilitating mascot appearances, as well as face painting, balloon modelling, nail art, tattoos and costume make-up. “We also do numerous fundraisers throughout the year like pub quizzes, raffles, and psychic nights with all profits going into the CIC to provide trips and gifts for the children. Every year we have a large Christmas party free to all families, with party food, entertainment, gifts from Santa and all of our services.
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“During the pandemic, I’ve been shielding for over 12 months and MMP has been unable to deliver its usual party services. But we adapted, doing doorstep-only services or video birthday messages from our lookalikes. For Christmas we received funding to record a video message from Santa and do doorstep gift deliveries for our service users. We’re really hoping to celebrate with a big party this year! The pandemic has also delayed the official ceremony for Ceri to receive an award for meritorious service: she was awarded a British Empire Medal by Her Majesty the Queen in 2020 for services to disabled, disadvantaged and life limited children and families. “I am extremely proud, and I feel highly honoured to be chosen by the Queen and her staff in her cabinet office. I am also incredibly grateful to the people who nominated me for the award. “My ambition is to help the children and families who are in the most vulnerable situations. I receive so much positive support from others. Seeing and mixing with other disabled people who have made positive changes for those with disability in the community, improves my outlook despite everything that I have faced.” As for what the future holds, Ceri, like others, is looking to rebuild services following the Covid-19 pandemic and to return to profile-raising and activism. “We’ve been heavily affected by the pandemic. I want to ensure as many children within our target group get gifts, trips, and treats, and that my staff are well trained and working professionally with families. In terms of my personal journey, I will be working on my abilities as a public speaker, and getting involved and working alongside other disabled activists to ensure disabled peoples’ rights, wishes and freedoms are upheld. “I’d urge others to join our movement
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to campaign for disability rights and freedoms within the social care sector so that we can all live the life we choose to lead, regardless of how disabled individuals may be.”
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NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR BUS DRIVER Pre-registration pharmacist Israel Marfo turned a corner on his previous career when he decided to study at the University of Wolverhampton. After working as a London bus driver for over half a decade, in 2015 Israel, 41, decided that he wanted his life to take a new route. He was done driving public transport and wanted to become a pharmacist. Israel says: “It was my love of chemistry that made me want to do it. “The fact that two substances can be combined to make something completely different occur, even to the extent of curing diseases, has always been mind-blowing to me. “I just wanted to move into that field.”
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Israel doesn’t miss his previous career, but is glad to have worked with “lovely people”, some of whom he says will be lifelong friends. During Israel’s University studies, he served as the president of the Pharmacy Society and especially enjoyed the annual pharmacy ball. While his Pharmacy course was rewarding and Israel wanted to acknowledge the “wonderful work that the lecturers at the University of Wolverhampton do”, Israel is overjoyed to now be working as a pre-registration pharmacist. He says: “Helping people get the best out of their medicine and the interactions with doctors and other healthcare professionals is priceless. I can now make a difference to people’s lives in a whole new way.”
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CYBERSECURITY GUARDS This past year of lockdowns has seen cyber-attacks soar. Police data revealed that UK businesses experienced a 31% increase in cyber-attacks in May and June 2020, while cybercrime reportedly cost the world the equivalent of around $1 trillion throughout the year. The Midlands Centre for Cyber Security, or Cyber Quarter, is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council. The aim is to provide office space for cyber business, advanced training options to tackle threats in cyberspace, and, through the Wolverhampton Cyber Research Institute (WCRI), to expand our understanding of the high-tech world of cyber-crime, offering better defence solutions against this growing threat.
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While the facility aims to help businesses protect their data, its research is less about solving the problems of a single computer and more about protecting the smart cities of the future. Prof. Prashant Pillai, Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Wolverhampton, says, “We try to look at what we call ‘security at large’, which is when you have a large number of devices, a large number of users, a large amount of data – and a large number of [potential] attacks, all together. “It’s not about looking at one phone, or how to protect a laptop – not that we couldn’t do it – but more like asking what would happen if all of London became completely connected, and somebody attacked it.”
University of Wolverhampton Centre for Cybersecurity, Hereford
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Fighting cyber-crime
University of Wolverhampton Centre for Cybersecurity, Hereford
Fighting cyber-crime
The WCRI has 20 academic staff members from the School of Mathematics and Computer Science performing cybersecurity research across areas such as healthcare, transport, and infrastructure, and investigates the impact of the now-commonplace Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT describes how physical objects are now often fitted with sensors and software that connects them to the internet, and the phenomenon is spreading at a rapid pace. As a result, Prof. Pillai emphasises what could potentially be at stake if organisations – and countries – ignore the threat of largescale cyber-attacks. He continues: “An ICU (Intensive Care Unit), is all made up of electronic systems now. If one of these gets attacked, then the unit can’t operate on people.
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“At the research institute we also do a lot of work around automotive systems, including self-driving cars and aviation systems. Planes fly for much of the time on autopilot now – so what happens if those systems are attacked?” The potential consequences of ambitious cyber-attacks are terrifying: airplane GPS signals being switched off, largescale healthcare system blackouts, and citywide traffic light systems malfunctioning. It’s for these risks and more that the Cyber Centre is not just a unique addition to the University’s already ground-breaking offering; it’s also a force for good, as it strives to protect the world against a very real threat. Prof. Pillai says, “The Cyber Quarter is creating a buzz and eco-system around cyber-security, and that’s quite
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Chris Woods, founder and CEO of CyberQ Group
“THE CYBER QUARTER IS CREATING A BUZZ AND ECO-SYSTEM AROUND CYBERSECURITY, AND THAT’S QUITE IMPORTANT.” important. We want to be clear and say that, while we aren’t the only ones who do cyber, we want to bring all the best minds together in that one space.”
businesses from cyber-attacks, providing services that focus on the micro side of cyber rather than the macro – an equally important element of cyber as a whole.
As Prof Pillai says, the Cyber Quarter provides office space for other associated businesses that focus on all things cyber, who will provide all kinds of state-of-the-art solutions and tech.
Chris believes that 2020 has shaped the future of cybersecurity, and says: “Technology is now centre-stage with everyone working from home, and this has increased the threat landscape. All our data is now in the cloud, and businesses can fold if they suffer attacks or fail to follow regulatory standards.”
One such business is the award-winning CyberQ Group, where University of Wolverhampton alumnus (BSc Computing, 1999) plus founder and CEO of CyberQ Chris Woods has his work cut out for him. CyberQ’s role is to protect people and
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Chris advises businesses to consider who has access to their data, but says that it isn’t just companies who should be concerned;
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it’s the average person on the street, too. He says: “Individual privacy breaches can affect mental health, like revenge porn, email breaches, or personal details being leaked from certain websites.” With the rate of cybercrime rising, Chris’s bold next plan for the CyberQ Group is, he jokes, “world domination.” The company is expanding out into the US market and gaining traction in the Asia-Pacific, with offices now in Manila and soon to be opening in Australia, too. When Chris is asked the origin of the name of the CyberQ Group, he has plenty to say: “’Cyber’ is our ‘why’. We only do cybersecurity, and we protect
our clients’ data and reputation. The ‘Q’ is for innovation. I’m a big James Bond fan, and the character Q in the the film Skyfall is quoted as saying, ‘I’ll hazard that I can do more damage on my laptop sitting in my pyjamas before my first cup of Earl Grey than you can do in a year in the field.’” With such influences, it’s a relief that Chris is on our side, fighting the good fight!
Prof. Pillai adds, “The research that has grown within the school that is backing the Centre is definitely an achievement, because three years back there was no cyber research being done at the University – and now there is a lot. “Already the Cyber Centre has created a buzz, where both private sector and public sector companies want to find out what’s happening, and how they can get involved.”
As for the work of the Cyber Centre as a whole, the future is bright for both the University and those at risk from cyberattacks.
I’ll hazard that I can do more damage on my laptop sitting in my pyjamas before my first cup of Earl Grey than you can do in a year in the field.
Q, Skyfall
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HONG KONG ASSOCIATION’S MAGNIFICENT 21 YEARS 21 years is an impressive achievement for any anniversary, but especially for two learning institutions based 6,000 miles apart. The University of Wolverhampton’s construction course partnership with City University of Hong Kong has stretched across two decades, which has seen its annual student intake grow from fewer than 50 to about 160 today. While the big 20-year anniversary event was thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic last year, in 2021 the Hong Kong alumni association will celebrate the partnership’s successes. The courses, which will be extended in October 2021, are highly regarded both at home and abroad, and their “fly-in faculty” model is a unique methodology that has stood the test of time. Lecturers and tutors are flown in from the UK to teach in English, giving students the best of two world-class universities. Conrad Fung, tutor and joint venture partner with City University, and Anthony Kam, alumni association chairman, do all they can to guide graduates to become successful professionals. Anthony says, “The alumni association was established in the year 2000 – even earlier than the UK alumni association. When I visited the UK, I mentioned to the previous ViceChancellor that I’m the chairman of the Hong Kong alumni association, and she joked, ‘Wow – that means you’re the global chairman!”
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Conrad Fung, Hong Kong Alumni Association
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Hong Kong Alumni Association Boat Party The alumni association holds regular events throughout the year, but it isn’t just a social group – the association plays a key part in each graduate’s professional development. Conrad says, “We organise seminars or workshops for them, which are run by, for example, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). “We also have social gathering dinners with committee members every month, so we have a very close relationship and connection with each other.” Dr Paul Hampton, Head of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton, and Dr David Searle, lead tutor for City University of Hong Kong, have been working in partnership with the Hong Kong institution for 14 years and 15 years, respectively.
Alumni reunite
Dr Hampton says that the partnership between Wolverhampton and Hong Kong started because of relationships formed by staff who’d had positive experiences studying in Hong Kong themselves. He says, “The partnership has remained strong through lots of challenges including Covid-19, and it’s grown from strength to strength. “We’ve now built in the professional body accreditation which has happened over the last six or seven years, and we’ve got most if not all of the accreditations here from Hong Kong.” Dr Hampton says that it’s a big enough milestone to reach a decade in a relationship, so he, Vice Chancellor Geoff Layer, and many dignitaries around the region are keen to celebrate what he calls a “remarkable partnership” of 21 years.
Anthony Kam (right), Hong Kong Alumni Association ambassador
Did you study with the University of Wolverhampton in Hong Kong? Get involved, get in touch! Email: alumni@wlv.ac.uk SUMMER 2021 LIFE MAGAZINE
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He adds, “If you’ve been impacted, inspired, or have seen this as a stepping stone to your success, please come along and join us to share your memories and stories and join this magnificent celebration.” The anniversary event is due to take place on Thursday 2 December, and is planned to go ahead whatever the global situation at the time, whether in person in Hong Kong or via a special virtual celebration online.
21-year celebration event. Save the date: Thursday 2 December 2021 50
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MEET YOUR
ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD Our newly-formed alumni advisory board will amplify the voice of our global alumni community, representing and supporting you after graduating. The assembly includes all of the University’s international ambassadors, and will meet three to four times annually. Each meeting will focus on a different topic to help decide what the University should be doing more of and focusing on, and how our global team can better represent our proud alumni, increase engagement, and encourage volunteering. The board will also discuss and decide actions that will be beneficial to achieving the University’s goals moving forwards. Having met for the first time in March 2021, let us introduce our new board.
CLAIRE TILT
DAVID WEDGE
HEAD OF ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT STAFF & CLASS OF 2020 COUNTRY: UK
ALUMNI RELATIONS MANAGER STAFF & CLASS OF 2003 COUNTRY: UK
AYESHA BAL
SEAN KYNE
ISRAEL MARFO
MARTA RIOS
CLASS OF 2017 COUNTRY: UK
CLASS OF 1997 & 1998 COUNTRY: UK
CLASS OF 2012 COUNTRY: UK
CLASS OF 2017 COUNTRY: UK
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KRISTIAN THOMAS
RACHEL TOOR
MATT WESTON
CLASS OF 2019 COUNTRY: UK
CLASS OF 2014 & 2017 COUNTRY: UK
CLASS OF 2011 & 2013 COUNTRY: UK LIFE MAGAZINE
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JASMEET DHIR
ISABEL GONZALES
AIDA JAIS
CLASS OF 2012 COUNTRY: INDIA
CLASS OF 2014 COUNTRY: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
CLASS OF 1997 COUNTRY: MALAYSIA
CHIMA VICTOR KALU
ANTHONY KAM
CLASS OF 2010 COUNTRY: NIGERIA
2001 & 2015 HONORARY FELLOWSHIP COUNTRY: HONG KONG
MOHAMED ABDUL MUEEZ
SONIYA NIGAM CLASS OF 2020 & 2021 COUNTRY: INDIA
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CLASS OF 2016 COUNTRY: SRI LANKA
IBRAHIM SAHIB FATHIMA NUSHANI CLASS OF 2019 COUNTRY: SRI LANKA
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FEEDING THE WORLD Heidi Findlay is driven by a desire to help people, and there are few organisations that could claim to be more helpful than the World Food Programme. The World Food Programme (WFP) is the planet’s largest humanitarian organisation, serving to reduce hunger and build food security across the globe. Heidi, who is 52 and has been living in Geneva since 1991, says, “We always say that the best thing that could happen would be to go out of business, having solved the problem of world hunger.” Heidi has worked for the WFP since 1992, and says that her proudest moment was last year in 2020, when the WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This was for the organisation’s efforts to combat hunger, its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas, and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict. She says, “This honour was extremely unexpected, but we were all so excited and proud to have this recognition.” Working in a pandemic has, of course, created the need to change the way the organisation works, and has resulted in more teleworking, a large reduction in face-to-face meetings, and a near-absence of staff travel.
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We always say that the best thing that could happen would be to go out of business, having solved the problem of world hunger
Heidi never planned to become an expatriate, or to enter the career she has, but she has no regrets about where her path has taken her. She says, “I realise now two important lessons. Firstly, don’t be afraid to leap into the unknown. The first job you may take (after university) may not be ideal, but it can be a stepping stone to finding your own particular niche.
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“Secondly, don’t be put off being part of a culture that it not your own. An expatriate life can be very enriching, and in a city such as international Geneva it is possible for many foreigners to be influential and useful members of society in their adopted homeland.”
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EU EGLE’S MISSION Egle Zaleckiene loves working with a diverse range of colleagues, and there are few organisations more diverse than her employer – the Council of the European Union. Her current role as a policy officer for the EU in Brussels is the result of her overcoming some stiff opposition.
Egle, who comes from Lithuania, says, “I passed the European Personnel Selection Office competition, which is responsible for selecting staff to work for the EU institutions. These competitions attract many applicants – on average, there are 30,000 applications, from all over the EU.” Egle says that her most significant contribution to the EU so far took place throughout a tenure within the Cabinet of President Mr Van Rompuy. At that time EU was going through a rather difficult economic crisis. Working with the President’s team, she spent countless hours supporting the development of policies to help the EU’s economy recover. Despite this highlight, Egle believes serving the EU is about far more than just economy: it appeals to her sense of ethics and community.
but a European family sharing similar values. “Another rewarding moment during my tenure in the Cabinet was when the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the causes of peace, reconciliation, democracy, and human rights in Europe.” Egle feels primed to help tackle the world’s problems, and says that her experiences as a student at the University of Wolverhampton studying Public Health enhanced her comprehension and abilities to do this. She adds, “As a mid-career professional, my studies at the University of Wolverhampton enriched my knowledge of public health, particularly in how to eliminate inequality gaps and provide populations with equal access to health and social services.”
She continues, “As a citizen from a state that is a newer member of the EU, as Lithuania joined in 2004, we really respect many EU values such as human rights, freedom, equality, and human dignity. For me, it is not always about economy SUMMER 2021
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Yoda Skywalker Guardiola Messi Dr Dre Eminem
You ?
Become a mentor Inspire a generation During these challenging times, why not share your expertise and experience with those who need it? Encourage, motivate, and guide a student towards a bright, exciting career.
Become a career mentor: wlv.ac.uk/mentoring 56
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MAKING A DONATION
MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Alumni and supporters of the University from around the world make a valuable contribution to our research, our special projects, and the lives of our students and graduates. By making a charitable donation, alumni are ensuring that projects important to them like Pancreatic Cancer Research, the Children’s University, and the Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies, can continue to complete world-class research and change the world around us for the better. We asked three alumni about the projects they support and why they donate to them.
DR CLIVE HICKMAN and the Hickman Educational Foundation – scholarships for student engineers Honorary Doctor of Engineering, BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering. “I set up the Hickman Educational Foundation so that I could help others to pursue an engineering career. Engineering has been a great career choice for me and afforded me the opportunity to help others to hopefully have similar success. It was only natural that the University of Wolverhampton should be a beneficiary, as it was there (in what was then the polytechnic) that my engineering career began. I am eternally grateful to the lecturers who supported my development, in particular Tom Eastopp, who was my thermodynamics tutor as well as the head of the engineering department.
REBECCA KELLY brain tumour research MSc Forensic Science, BSc (Hons) Forensic Science
“The University of Wolverhampton has a very special place in my heart as I gained my Bachelor of Science Degree and Master’s Degree in Forensic Science here. During that time, I lost my brother to brain cancer and the University offered me bereavement counselling. Not only has the University shaped my education and future, but has supported me to its utmost ability. A donation to support Brain Tumour Research is the least I could do to thank them for that. “I hope for further research and knowledge in neurooncology to battle the diseases that could potentially affect our lives. Only 2% of national funding for cancers goes towards brain tumours, despite being the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in under 40s, so this is an extremely required and worthy cause.”
“I hope that the undergraduates and postgraduates I support will go on to have stellar careers in engineering.”
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ADEDAPO FASINRO Graduation prizes for women in civil engineering. BEng (Hons) Civil and Transport Engineering. “My experience at the University of Wolverhampton really shaped my life and has contributed to the woman I am today. My lecturers were very helpful and were very approachable, so I’m giving back to the University that shaped my future by encouraging women that are taking the civil engineering course. “I hope my donation will encourage more women to take up a course in civil engineering and encourage them during their studies. It is motivating to students to know a woman has graduated from the same male-dominated course, so it will inspire them to keep going despite the challenges they face. I am a strong believer in being the change you want to see, so I believe by doing this there will be an increase in women in engineering.” There’s a wide range of projects that need your help, so if you’d like to make a donation of any size visit: wlv.ac.uk/donate or contact Terry Gibson, development manager at: t.gibson@wlv.ac.uk
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ALUMNI NEWS
ALUMNI IN THE NEWS Student sweethearts It is often said that your student years create lasting memories, and that’s certainly true for Joss and Jeff Granger. The Grangers met at the University of Wolverhampton while studying, and now, 46 years later, they’re married and Joss still works in the University library. Joss remembers their time studying Biological Sciences fondly – especially the night she met Jeff at a Biology Department social. Jeff spent the evening handing out wine vouchers, some of which he and friends had photocopied, and met his future wife in the process. Joss says: “I met Jeff when he gave me and my friends bootlegged vouchers for extra wine, and was hooked by his blue eyes!” Much of their time as students was spent socialising at the Students’ Union and bar, relishing the lunchtime Pie and Pint offers, and enjoying a range of performers. These days, the couple love to travel. Despite 2020’s dramas making their planned trips to Namibia, Canada, and Alaska impossible, Joss remains excited: “It doesn’t stop me planning for 2022 – hopefully something with water and sea involved!”
Campus romance What better place for a couple’s prewedding photoshoot than at the first place they met? For Ravina Heer and Rajan Sharma, that just happened to be the University of Wolverhampton’s campus, because this 3-year-strong married couple met while they were studying. Ravina says, “We first saw each other on the 3rd floor in the silent zone in the library. Doing our work together became our dates, basically, when we would have coffee and lunch breaks together.
Both Rajan and Ravina pursued careers that directly followed on from their courses. Rajan studied Biotechnology and is now a microbiologist, while Ravina studied Human Resource Management and is now a business manager. Before their wedding three years ago, they arranged a pre-wedding photo shoot on campus, which they “wanted to be a memorable marker of where we met.” Ravina adds, “During our first lecture when they introduced us, they said that the University could be the place where we meet our life partner. I remember that I laughed, but it’s so true.”
“We supported each other to thrive while we were at uni.”
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Lawfully married Wolverhampton holds a special place in the hearts of Virinder and Amarjit Bains, who are happily married with two children. Not only did the University of Wolverhampton provide Virinder and Amarjit with their degrees, but it’s also where they found love. At the start of Virinder’s Law degree – which she says led her into her current role as a Senior Crown Prosecutor in the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit at the Crown Prosecution Service in the West Midlands – she was adamant that she would return to Singapore after she had graduated. However, things changed quickly once she met her soulmate. Virinder continues, “Love is blind, as they say! My husband proposed, I said yes and signed on the dotted lines, and here I am. I still haven’t gotten used to the UK winters though!” When asked if she has any advice for how to keep a long-term university relationship fresh and healthy, Virinder says, “Having respect for each other is key. Support each other through challenging times – it’s all about togetherness and teamwork.” Their motto? “Teamwork, makes the dream work!”
China alumni friends Most people make lasting companions while they study at university – but few move thousands of miles and still manage to keep them. Kathy Burleigh was a widowed mature student studying Ceramics at the University of Wolverhampton when she became friends with fellow course-mate Christin Zhou, who she has stayed in close contact with ever since. Kathy said, “I remarried in Changsha China. My husband is an International Environmental Law PhD soon to graduate. “I have always kept in touch with Christin and, although I have moved around in China, we have been in contact all those years.” Christin introduced Kathy to fellow Wolves alumni Yulia Zeng, and these days the trio still meet up for “very enjoyable” meals in Kathy’s home city of Shenzhen. The three also enjoy trips together whenever the can. Kathy adds, “They came to lunch here over Spring Festival and we talked textiles and ceramics – much to the boys’ boredom! “I love living in China, especially Shenzhen, and look forward to living here for some time to come.”
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Empowering art
In March 2020, prolific and respected sculptor Christine Charlesworth was contacted by Winchester University, who wanted to commission a life-size sculpture of Greta Thunberg. After pitching her vision, Christine was chosen and has since given life to her idea. Christine says, “I have depicted Greta standing on a block, with her one foot over the edge to show her vulnerability and shyness. “Greta is a confident speaker and very bright, but she has had to cope with quite a lot in her life, and therefore standing up in front of huge audiences was quite a big thing for her to achieve.” Christine’s past year has produced other incredible work, including a life-size sculpture of the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison for Epsom town centre, and one of fellow suffrage movement member and composer Dame Ethel Smyth. Christine adds, “Two years ago I had decided to retire, as the pain of arthritis in my hands was so great. They are just as painful now, but I am so pleased that I have had these wonderful opportunities to continue and to create three new sculptures of women.”
Toasting success From the game-changing controversy of TV’s Brass Eye back in the 90s, to the quirky brilliance of the more recent Toast of London, director Michael Cumming has never played things safe. Michael says, “I never wanted to be a ‘jobbing’ director, and I’ve been lucky enough to do interesting things on TV, alongside my own more experimental work.” Two of Michael’s recent works – King Rocker and Toast of Tinseltown – certainly fit this trend. King Rocker is an effortlessly watchable documentary with a huge heart, and tells the story of the British post-punk/ alternative rock band The Nightingales.
Michael says, “The only real difference is that this time, Toast will be making a ‘tomfool’ of himself in Hollywood, rather than Soho. The show has still got all the unusual characters, situations, and plot twists it always had – just more Americans for Toast to be annoyed by. Oh, and more sunshine to irritate him, too.” Michael is currently directing the sitcom Sandylands with Sanjeev Bhaskar, David Walliams, Simon Bird, and Hugh Bonneville. King Rocker will be released in selected cinemas from November, and Toast of Tinseltown will be shown on BBC1 in early 2022.
Michael, a lifelong Nightingales fan, had directed the pilot for Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle series. When, during a chance conversation, University of Wolverhampton senior lecturer and ex-Nightingales guitarist Alan Apperley mentioned to Michael that Stewart Lee is also a Nightingales fan, the idea for King Rocker was born. Michael says, “The film – which used chance and coincidence as part of its style – came about by pure chance as well.” Off-kilter comedy fans of Matt Berry’s hilariously arrogant character Steven Toast will be excited by the prospect of his return in Toast of Tinseltown.
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ALUMNI NEWS
A musical life An accomplished musician who has performed thousands of gigs as well as played in a band with ex-Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant will have a fair share of stories. Drummer Andy Edwards says, “One that springs to mind was back in 2000 when Robert decided to turn the tearoom in Dudley Zoo into a musical venue for one night. “Once we had soundchecked, me and keyboardist Timmy Vegas decided to climb into the actual zoo part. To cut a long story short I fell into one of the animal ponds, perhaps where the penguins live.” Having played drums and guitar from the age of 12, Andy’s musical CV is impressive. He’s currently the course coordinator for Music at Kidderminster College, plays drums alongside ELO’s Bev Bevan in the band Quill, and has been receiving great reviews for the most recent album released by progressive rock band Rain. Andy says, “I am most proud of the albums I have helped create that have affected people around the world. By far the great motivation for me for doing music is to create and make some sort of artistic statement.”
Food, art, and football Wolverhampton art teacher and painter Stuart Mayor has taken a creative opportunity to raise money for a great cause while honouring a local hero. Stuart recently raised £640 in his third charity art raffle, after having painted a stunning portrait of Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Nuno Espirito Santo. He says, “I chose Nuno because he has made a huge difference to my football club, and contributed so much already to the city and the charity. “I wanted to help the Feed Our Pack charity, as Nuno himself said it was important for us all to do our little bit if we can. “ On February 21 2021, Nuno famously made a personal donation of £250,000 to Feed Our Pack, a project addressing food poverty in Wolverhampton. Stuart adds, “Some people are not as fortunate as myself. I know my children will have a meal on the table, and can’t begin to understand the struggle many households have/are going through.” The painting was won by a local Wolves supporter.
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64
LIFE MAGAZINE
SUMMER 2021
