The contribution of BU聽graduates to communities both near and far were recognised last week at the presentation of our annual Alumni of the Year Awards. The nominations and the final winners reveal the inspirational stories of聽our聽graduates who have gone on to make an impact in line with the university鈥檚 stated purpose of inspiring learning, advancing聽knowledge聽and enriching society.聽聽
Nominations for the awards encompassed a wide range of聽roles聽and sectors from journalism and palliative care to investment banking and sustainability, demonstrating the breadth of careers followed by聽BU鈥檚聽alumni.聽The nominations also show聽how we boost skills through our graduates.聽After a challenging judging process, the four worthy winners were announced recently:聽
Rob Mitchell, Advancing Learning Award:聽As Commercial Director of AFC Bournemouth, Rob聽has been聽key in the development of the聽partnership between the club and BU聽during the past nine years. He has continued to support the university since graduating and facilitates聽placements and real-life experiences for students聽at the club.聽In addition,聽Rob uses his skills to support the wider community; he was聽instrumental in the聽expansion聽of community girls鈥� and women鈥檚 football聽and聽he聽played a central role in the聽British Council China UK Football Study Programme聽that AFC Bournemouth and 正澳门六合彩资料 partnered to deliver for聽four聽consecutive years.聽
Rob commented: 鈥淚t is an incredible honour to be given this 正澳门六合彩资料 Alumni of the Year Award. I look back at my time at 正澳门六合彩资料 with great fondness and know that without my degree, I would not have been able to progress my career in football. I am delighted that my relationship with BU has been able to continue through the official partnership that AFC Bournemouth has with the university and very much enjoy working with students on various projects. It is rewarding to know that these experiences go a long way in supporting a student鈥檚 success at BU, as well as in their future careers. I hope to inspire others to know that through hard work, dedication and desire, you can achieve great things.鈥�
Robert Clark, Advancing Knowledge Award:聽Listed in the ENDS Top 100 Most Influential Environmental Professionals that have made the greatest impact, Robert is a fisheries and conservation manager with a proven record of delivering novel and effective solutions to marine environmental issues. Robert is Chief Officer of the National Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities and, since taking on this聽position聽in 2021, has played a key role in the development of national policy relating to fisheries management and the protection of marine areas. Robert is clearly contributing to the聽safeguarding聽and preservation of聽a sustainable environment, as well as having a positive impact on the local economy through his professional career.聽
Robert responded: 鈥淭hank you so much! I am honoured to receive this award. I would like to thank my lecturers and all the staff at 正澳门六合彩资料, who inspired me to pursue a career in coastal management and provided such an excellent multidisciplinary education. I have been fortunate to work in a career I love and with people who have taught me a great deal. It has been a privilege to work with and on behalf of the local community and with many brilliant people. I am proud of what they have achieved to put the local fisheries on the global map for sustainability.鈥�
Dev Mistry, Enriching Society Award:聽Since graduating only seven years ago, Dev has worked his way up through junior positions to his current聽role as聽Global Internal Communications Manager at DICE, a fan-centred ticketing app. In addition, Dev聽is passionate about increased racial聽and LGBTQ+聽equality聽and throughout his career has supported and led equality, diversity and inclusion activities, participated聽in聽external speaking opportunities聽and earlier this year, took聽part in聽BU鈥檚聽award-wining聽DRIVE Change聽programme.
In response to his award, Dev said: 鈥溦拿帕喜首柿� has played such a huge part in my life and career, helping me to get roles I'd only ever dreamed of 鈥� while being supported by the university and alumni throughout my journey. Coming to 正澳门六合彩资料 was the best decision I made, and it gave me the chance to thrive both professionally, creatively and more importantly, personally too.鈥�
Beatrice聽Bou茅, International Alumni Award:聽Beatrice has thrived in the high-pressured, male-dominated environment of the advertising industry to become Global Head of Media for the De Beers Group, where she is driving digital transformation, operational excellence and accelerating the transformation of the business into one that is better positioned to realise the opportunities ahead. Beatrice also supports positive change in the organisation through her contribution to its diversity, equality, inclusion and sustainability strategies. Throughout her career, she has聽helped creative and cultural industries to thrive.聽However,聽Beatrice has never forgotten her time at聽BU聽and has inspired our聽students with numerous guest lectures, live briefs and recruited students for internships and full-time positions.聽聽
B茅atrice commented: 鈥淚 am humbled to have been nominated by Dr John Oliver and delighted to have won the International Alumni Award. I came to 正澳门六合彩资料 from my native France to study an MA in Marketing Communications after graduating from my four-year degree in Business Law. The year 1999 did not disappoint. It was a milestone year in my life. For a start it was the first time I enjoyed and thrived at school! It allowed me to grow, to believe that I could try anything and gave me the toolbox to blossom in my career.鈥�
Jon Goode, BU鈥檚 Head of Alumni Relations, summed up by saying: 鈥淥ur Alumni of the Year Awards have become a high point of the university calendar, providing an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of BU鈥檚 graduates and share their inspiring stories. This was the first time in a number of years that we have been able to present the winners with their awards in person, so it was a good chance to get to know them a little better, as well as to network with the judging panel and award nominators. Thanks to all those who attended and contributed towards a memorable event.鈥�
笔濒别补蝉别听visit the website聽for more information about the Alumni of the Year Awards and this year鈥檚 winners.
