Inspirational alumni shine at awards
6 October 2023
2023 30Ish Alumni Award winners announced
Two alumni from the School of English, Communication and Philosophy have been named winners at the second 30Ish Alumni Awards.
Bleddyn Harris (BA 2014) and James Dunn (BA 2012) were among the recipients at a special ceremony hosted by Cardiff University’s new President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner and featuring emcee Matt Barbet (BA 1997, PgDip 1999) at the University’s innovative sbarc | spark building on 5 October
Eschewing the format of traditional ’30 Under 30’ lists, the awards are designed to recognise the change-makers, innovators, and rule-breakers among the Cardiff University alumni community under or over 30, who feel 30(ish).
The two English Literature graduates were recognised in the Wales to the World category.
Bleddyn Harris (BA English Literature, 2014) was recently named as one of the Top 100 Changemakers in Wales and has been recognised on the Pinc List as one of Wales’s most influential LGBTQ+ people since 2019. As Founder and Editorial Director of LGBTQYMRU, Bleddyn works behind the scenes to promote and amplify the stories of LGBTQ+ people in, of, and from Wales to a global audience.
Now working for a tech multi-national, James Dunn (BA English Literature, 2012) is a non-executive director at Disability Sport Wales and an audit member for Coleg y Cymoedd. A former advisor for National Assembly Wales, he has led the negotiation of trade deals worth £2bn to the UK economy for the UK Government and organised trade missions abroad generating opportunities for Welsh exports.
James Dunn was also awarded the Wales to the World special recognition award, presented by The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Bablin Molik (BSc 2001, PhD 2008, PGCE 2014).
Bleddyn Harris and Mared Parry (BA 2018) were named 2023 People’s Choice winners, following a live vote.
23 Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences alumni featured among the glittering list of winners, highlighting the diversity of career paths pursued by Cardiff humanities graduates.
Congratulations to all the inspirational alumni recognised in this year’s 30Ish Alumni Awards list.