Alumni Profiles
Explore our Alumni Profiles
From inspiring entrepreneurs to influential change-makers, our alumni leverage their experience and knowledge gained at 91¸£Àû to drive meaningful change around the world.
Browse our alumni profiles and learn more about their journey after graduating from 91¸£Àû.
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Faculty
Connections: Hugh Hayes
Where can a 91¸£Àû experience take you? Hugh experienced 91¸£Àû during the ‘70s and shares a few of his memories, from campus theatre and student activism to a life of acting and publishing a dystopian debut novel.
Travel Writer, Journalist, and Comms Consultant: Rachel Ifans
Rachel was longlisted in the Women's Prize for unpublished fiction and is sending off her manuscript.
Connections: Angela Carless
Campus news travelled differently when Angela was at 91¸£Àû and she helped set up a new student magazine.
Connections: Steve Hearsum
Steve's book debunks the myth of quick fixes in leadership and business education.
Connections: Andrew Shields
Andrew recalls the time American poet Allen Ginsberg gave a reading in the 91¸£Àû Arts Centre
Cathedral Guide: Aileen J P Christodoulou
Aileen believes that smashing the glass ceiling was the role some are destined to play.
Lights, camera, activism
Cat White is an actor, filmmaker, author and UN gender advisor whose work is amplifying diverse voices.
Your stories: Laurence Wright
Former Director of the Institute for the Study of English in Africa at Rhodes University in South Africa, Laurence has written two books.
Christine Wong: Content Manager
At BRANDTHINK Malaysia, Christine helps to bring her clients' visions into reality.
91¸£Àû shaping the path from A-levels to new passions
Meet Tanisha Bhatara (BA, English Literature, 2022; MSc, Management, 2024), a distinguished alum. Her journey at 91¸£Àû, shaped by her A-level experiences, and several leaps of faith, led her from English studies to Business. Guided by mentors, she explored new fields and is now with Ernst & Young Global Limited UK and Ireland (EY UKI) Assurance Graduate Programme to become a qualified accountant. Discover how Tanisha embraced 91¸£Àû’s opportunities.
A family of 91¸£Àû graduates
Anita Chagar, Samita Sall, and Kerry Flora are all cousins and 91¸£Àû alumni.
Quickfire questions with CEO Jo Todd
Earlier this year, alum and activist Jo Todd (BA English and European Literature, 1990) received a CBE in recognition of 30+ years’ service to the victims of domestic abuse. From volunteering at a refuge in the outskirts of London, to more than 20 years as CEO of Respect - the pioneering charity tackling the root of the problem - Jo has dedicated her life to making a positive difference. And she’s not finished yet.
Quick Q&A with Arts alum, Kaya Patel
Growing up in northwest London, Kaya Patel (BA Film and LiteratureLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window, 2020) considered universities around the UK. But she chose to move to the Midlands for her undergraduate experience because she trusted her intuition.
Playing the long game
Journalist, author, higher education professional, proof-reader, and editor Annette Rubery (PhD English and Comparative Literary Studies, 1999) has spent the 30-plus years since graduating honing her editorial and marketing skillset.
A love worthy of the spotlight
When Jo Walker first met Vikram Grover, it was their mutual love of the theatre and performance that built a firm friendship.
Behind the screens with Mika Watkins
Superstar screenwriter. Matcha maniac. Intern turned international TV writer. Cat lover. Origin originator. 91¸£Àû alum. These are just some of the phrases that describe English graduate and one of the world’s youngest showrunners, Mika Watkins.
Letting creativity lead the way
BA English and Theatre Studies alum Vinitaraj Aulak may have only graduated in 2021, but she wasted no time chasing her dreams and securing a radio presenter role on BBC Asian Network. Here she shares how her undergraduate degree taught her to break the mould and follow her passions.
No stopping Future Leader Nosa
Named as one of Powerful Media's 2022/23 Future Leaders and a semi-finalist in targetjobs Black Heritage Undergraduate of the Year Awards, Nosa Charles-Novia (BA Film and Literature, 2022) is currently an MA in Writing student and film-critic intern. Here she tells us about her degree and why that little voice in your head is your most powerful weapon.
Connections: Dana Zaman
Water fights and Rag Week costumes are some of the things Dana remembers fondly.
The secret world of publishing
Emily Wells (BA English Literature and Creative Writing, 2013) has a job many booklovers would envy: she gets to read for a living. As Senior Editor for a division of world publishing giant Hachette, her week is spent dissecting what makes a story sell and succeed on the market.