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Alumni

The 30(ish) Awards

The 30(ish) Awards celebrate the change-makers, innovators, and rule-breakers in the Cardiff University alumni community.

Five years ago we set out to celebrate Cardiff alumni making a difference – the disruptors, innovators, change seekers, mischief-makers, and boundary breakers. What we got was 150(ish) remarkable winners whose stories continue to inspire. Now it’s your turn.

Nominations are open now

We'll once again be recognising a list of 30(ish) finalists who have made a positive contribution to their community, and all before they hit 30. Well, 30(ish).

About the 30(ish) Awards

Find out more about The 30(ish) Awards, who can apply, and when the awards night takes place.

Nominate or apply

Nominate a game-changing Cardiff alum, or apply yourself, for The 30(ish) Awards.

Previous winners

30(ish) Awards 2025

Read the stories of the 30(ish) winners who make up our final 2025 list of change-makers, innovators, and rule-breakers from the Cardiff University alumni community.

30(ish) Awards 2024

Read the stories of the 30(ish) winners who make up our final 2024 list of change-makers, innovators, and rule-breakers from the Cardiff University alumni community.

30(ish) Awards 2023

Read the stories of our 2023 30(ish) winners.

30(ish) Awards 2022

Read the stories of our 2022 30(ish) winners.

Winners’ stories

Putting Welsh music on the global stage

David John Roche (BMus 2012) is a musician and composer from Tredegar in south Wales who has built an international career showcasing music shaped by where he grew up.

Sketching a language

As a professional illustrator, part-time teacher, and the creative mind behind Sketchy Welsh, Josh Morgan (BA 2011) is giving the Welsh language a unique artistic voice.

From Pokémon to polar explorer

Polar explorer Prem Gill (BSc 2017) is passionate about outreach, climate change, and Antarctic seals.

Building strength, breaking barriers, and inspiring women in Pakistan

Roha Nadeem (MA 2022) is a sports presenter and broadcaster from Pakistan. She has built a high-profile career in an industry historically dominated by men.

Turning pain into purpose: a vision of accessible eyecare for all

Lucky Aziken (MSc 2023) is delivering affordable and sustainable eyecare services in Nigeria and Malawi.

The Music alum inspiring the next generation of young artists 

Guy Verrall-Withers (BMus 2013) is introducing opera to new audiences and giving young artists a platform to succeed. 

Championing positive change to mental health in the Muslim community

Jamilla Hekmoun (MA 2018) is chair of the Muslim Mental Health Alliance, and spent the pandemic working tirelessly to provide resources and support to the Muslim community.

A male wheelchair user poses for a photograph beside a train at the Bermondsey London Underground station.

“Offering people the freedom to choose how they travel”

An app which uses open-source data from the London Underground to determine if tube station lifts are operating is being developed by Cellan Hall (BSc 2019, MSc 2021).

The Cardiff graduate ‘shooting for the stars’

Dr Jenifer Millard's (MPhys 2016, PhD 2021) work as host of the Awesome Astronomy podcast and talent for sharing her passion, has rocketed her career into TV and radio.

Changing the future of ICU patient care

Dr Samyakh Tukra (MEng 2017) is the founder and CEO of Third Eye Intelligence, which has developed a unique and powerful artificial intelligence (AI).