Graduates making a global impact
To tackle worldwide challenges, such as climate change and conflict, we need solutions from every corner of the globe.
At Essex we bring the best minds, experiences and ideas together. This allows our community to learn from each other and discover how to overcome the seemingly insurmountable.
Our graduates take this knowledge across the world, making a difference by safeguarding our rights, our environment, and our future.
Our award-winning graduates
The British Council Alumni Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of graduates from UK universities.
Winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying in the UK to make a positive contribution to their communities, professions and countries.
Since the Awards launched in 2016, Essex has had 51 regional, national and global finalists, 20 winners and one lifetime achievement award.
We're immensely proud of their achievements and the impact they are making around the world.
Stephanie Case won the Social Impact Award for her work in supporting people in conflict-torn countries.
Sarai Lambert won the Business and Innovation Award for her successful corporate career in sales and technology.
Konstantina Bethani won the EU Entrepreneurial award for her educational work with refugees and children.
Narmin Akhundova was recognised for her work around food safety with the Professional Achievement Award.
Ugonna Igwilo was handed the Social Impact Award for her work in raising awareness around AIDS and Ebola.
Dr Muhammad Alzaidi won the Culture and Creativity Award for his research into linguistics.
Dr Faisal Al-Homoud won the Culture and Creativity category for his innovative English language teaching.
Qais Altoubi established the largest online learning platform in Oman and won the Business and Innovation Award.
Ankit Mehrotra won the Entrepreneurial Award for co-founding Dineout, the largest dining out and restaurant tech platform in India.
Yiping Xia's work around the world's first and largest smart bike share, Mobike, was recognised through the Entrepreneurial Award.
Ricky Gunawan's tireless campaigning to abolish the death penalty saw him earn the Social Impact Award.
An inspirational community of changemakers
At Essex, internationalism and making a global impact are at the heart of everything we do. They are the guiding principles that drive our education and research, and they are reflected in our graduate community.
We owe much of our international success to our graduate community of over 130,000, who come from all corners of the earth and represent more than 170 countries.
Across the globe, they are making significant contributions in the arts and media, business and economics, politics, law and human rights, science, environment and technology, sport, technology and entrepreneurship.
We want to tell you some of their stories.
Supporting refugees worldwide
In Vicky Tennant’s own words, Essex launched her into a stellar career which has seen her provide support, advice and expertise to people fleeing conflicts and disaster zones around the world.
The English and French Law graduate of 1990 trained as a barrister after finishing her degree at Essex, and worked at the Refugee Legal Centre where she provided free support to refugees.
Vicky joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2000 and found herself involved in the emergency operation in Pakistan in 2001, when it was inundated with Afghan refugees fleeing American bombings, which were launched in response to 9/11.
Vicky has been involved in numerous refugee emergencies around the world since, adding: “I’ve had so many incredible opportunities and I’ve been able to work with UNHCR in countries like Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.
“All have been in very different contexts. All of them were incredibly challenging and it hasn’t been easy in certain moments.
"The work has been incredibly rewarding and I’ve had great experience meeting lots of inspiring people.”
In 2022, Vicky’s hard work and determination was recognised when she was appointed the UNCHR’s representative to the UK.
She is now responsible for engaging with the British Government to ensure the protection of refugees in the UK and raise awareness.
“We all know the number of refugees globally and scale of crisis are growing, so it’s a really important issue,” Vicky adds.
“It’s not just governments, it’s not just humanitarian agencies, but all parts of society that need to come together to welcome and support refugees.
"Universities, academic institutions and students have a really important role to play and I’m really thrilled that the University of Essex – my old university – is playing its part in all of that."
"I think the Essex ethos of social justice definitely inspired me to think about how I could be a lawyer that made a contribution."
Vicky Tennant, UNHCR representative to the UK
Life-saving interventions
It’s no exaggeration to say Essex graduate Kola Alapinni isn’t just improving lives; he is saving them.
He was awarded the US Secretary of State's International Religious Freedom Award in 2024 for his legal work in his native Nigeria.
Kola has defied the threat of mob violence to challenge strict blasphemy laws in Kano and reverse a death sentence given to Muslim singer Yahaya Sharif-Aminu.
Yahaya was found in breach of the Sharia Penal Code Law after blaspheming in a song her shared on Whatsapp.
Kola has worked pro bono to successfully appeal Yahaya’s sentence, and is now seeking to have him freed from prison in a landmark case which would set a new legal precedent in Kano.
"The work we do can spell the difference between life and death."
He has also secured the release of a 13-year-old boy who was given a lengthy prison sentence for blasphemy and is providing free legal support to vulnerable members of society, who are typically on the wrong end of the Sharia Penal Code.
Kola, who studied LLM International Human Rights Law at Essex in 2006, has continued to challenge laws in the region, despite the threat of what he calls “jungle justice” – where mobs have targeted fellow lawyers working for people accused or convicted of blasphemy.
“Representing individuals appealing sentences delivered under the Sharia Penal Code is a calling and it isn’t made for every lawyer,” he said.
“Nigeria is going through a very critical time.
“Our country is facing a battle for its soul and one of the fundamental ways to restore the rule of law and order is to ensure and guarantee our religious freedom as clearly spelt out and enshrined in our constitution.”
"You can achieve anything you set your mind to. You came to the right place, Essex has given you the tools you need."
Kola Alapinni
LLM International Human Rights Law, 2006
Winner of the 2024 International Religious Freedom Award
Scientist protecting our precious corals
Emma Camp is a leader in the research, protection and preservation of the world's precious coral reefs, who credits Essex with giving her the skills to make a difference.
In 2024, she has been recognised for her contribution as a British Council Study UK Alumni Award finalist.
Since graduating with a PhD Marine Biology, Emma has built a successful career in coral science. As Future Reefs Team Leader at the University of Technology Sydney, she leads a team of researchers working to conserve coral reefs under increasing threat from climate change.
Her career took off after she discovered super corals, those naturally resilient to the impacts of climate change, on the Great Barrier Reef. Her discovery created a new area of research and uncovered new possibilities for reef protection.
She co-founded the Coral Nurture Program (CNP), a world-first stewardship partnership between tourism and science which seeks new conservation strategies for the Great Barrier Reef.
Since its inception in 2018, CNP has helped return over 100,000 corals to the reef. The Program was recognised by the United Nations Decade of Restoration in 2022 and last year received an award from the Ecological Society of Restoration.
Over the last eight years, Emma has secured $5.1 million AUD in funding, won over 13 international awards and was named a United Nations Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals.
"I am thankful for the UK education I received that has supported my career in coral science.
The lecturers, laboratories, aquariaum facilities and cutting-edge technology attracted me to Essex to study for my PhD.
It armed me with the skills to pursue a research career and look for new solutions to protect the world's coral reefs."
Emma Camp, PhD Marine Biology 2015
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Sixty Stories
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