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Alumni

Alumni stories

Discover fascinating stories from our alumni community. Read about their impact and achievements, helping to shape the world and the lives of people around them.

Examined Life: Neville John (BMus 1957)

Examined Life: Neville John (BMus 1957)

21 October 2020

Neville John (BMus 1957) was born in Tumble, Carmarthenshire and studied cello at Cardiff University. He led a successful career as a music teacher and composer following his studies and recently celebrated his 90th birthday. In this Examined Life, he reflects on his musical family, his fondest memories of Cardiff and the historical disaster that inspired him to compose.

#TeamCardiff’s virtual fundraisers: Nelson Selvaraj

#TeamCardiff’s virtual fundraisers: Nelson Selvaraj

2 October 2020

Nelson Selvaraj (MSc 2015) is a staff member and former student who has just completed an impressive Great North virtual run to raise money for research at Cardiff University. Here he explains what motivated him to take on this test of physical endurance and shares his words of wisdom for those considering doing the same.

Meet the Researcher – Dr Sarah Lauder

Meet the Researcher – Dr Sarah Lauder

17 September 2020

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and each year around 55,000 people are diagnosed in the UK alone. Ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, we spoke to cancer researcher Sarah Lauder (BSc 2002, PhD 2007), a Research Associate at Cardiff University’s Gallimore Godkin Cancer Immunology Lab.

Building a sustainable future for both the environment and the economy

Building a sustainable future for both the environment and the economy

17 August 2020

Founder of award-winning start-up Ecoslurps, Gerwyn Holmes (BSc 2005), talks to us about reducing our reliance on single-use plastic, lessons learnt in business, the effects of COVID-19 and his advice for the Class of 2020.

Examined Life – Dino Willox (BA 1996, MA 1999, PhD 2003)

Examined Life – Dino Willox (BA 1996, MA 1999, PhD 2003)

17 August 2020

Dino was a Cardiff University student three times over and has always championed diversity and inclusion in Higher Education. Here, they reflect on their career, reminisce about Cardiff, and offer some valuable insight.

Love food, hate waste – eating ethically and the impact of lockdown

Love food, hate waste – eating ethically and the impact of lockdown

31 July 2020

Lia Moutselou (Geography and Planning 2002-2005) works as a senior policy manager for a water consumer watchdog and is one of the four directors of Lia’s Kitchen, a community interest company. Lia’s worn many hats and has been a lecturer as well as a student at Cardiff University. Here she discusses food waste, the food industry, new recipes and the world, post-pandemic.

Dealing with controversial monuments in Estonia and beyond

Dealing with controversial monuments in Estonia and beyond

23 July 2020

Federico Bellentani (PhD 2018) is a digital research manager for a Google Cloud partner based in Italy. His PhD research into controversial monuments has become increasingly relevant due to international protests and calls to remove statues. He discusses his findings from Estonia and his thoughts on dealing with controversial monuments across the globe.

Mercy Ships, the NHS, and healthcare systems across the globe – For Alumni, By Alumni

Mercy Ships, the NHS, and healthcare systems across the globe – For Alumni, By Alumni

16 July 2020

Leo Cheng (LLM 2006) is an oral, maxillofacial, head and neck surgeon who has spent most of his life travelling the globe and helping those from the poorest areas by performing free surgery and providing much needed medical care. He has now turned his attention and efforts to COVID-19 and reflects on his experience so far with the NHS and his concerns for those without a national health system.

Creative industries must move away from tokenism, superficiality and insincerity

Creative industries must move away from tokenism, superficiality and insincerity

26 June 2020

Joycelyn Longdon (BSc 2019) is a freelance marketeer and founder of BLACKONBLACK, a creative agency which champions diversity in the creative industries and supports creatives of colour. We talked to her about her work, the impact of COVID-19 and #BlackLivesMatter, and what the future holds.

Keeping people connected through art – For Alumni, By Alumni

Keeping people connected through art – For Alumni, By Alumni

22 June 2020

Artist and architect, Katherine Jones (BSc 2011, MArch 2013, PGDip 2015), explains how the power of nostalgia and connectivity can be encapsulated in both buildings and the art depicting them.