Amazing achievements from our alumni and supporter community in 2024

Moving on up: Empowering our communities to reach their potential

In March, 1,160 alumni, students, and supporters came together through a month-long programme of events and activities aimed at raising aspirations in education and employment. Keynote speakers included graduates Kim McGuinness, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, and Jimmy Nail, actor-musician.

The programme encouraged our community to participate in mentoring and fundraising challenges, connect with fellow alumni, and develop new skills to advance their careers. The programme had a lasting impact, with over 2,000 young people benefiting from its legacy, 235 alumni volunteering for community initiatives, and 102 recent graduates receiving career advice sessions.

Exploring AI’s impact on our world

In October, our community came together to explore how AI and emerging technologies are shaping the future of work and develop skills to enhance their careers in the age of AI

This year-long initiative began with global events held at our Newcastle, Singapore, and Malaysia campuses, uniting over 200 alumni, students, and supporters. Each event explored AI’s impact on healthcare, business, and environmental solutions, featuring alumni experts and industry leaders, including representatives from PwC and Womble Bond Dickinson. The next phase promises an exciting lineup of opportunities to explore cutting-edge AI developments and build valuable skills.

Our Great North Run team

In September, Team Newcastle—an incredible group of alumni, staff, and supporters, including Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President - participated in the Great North Run. Together, they raised nearly £7,000 to support students who need it most.

The team included twelve dedicated alumni, supporters, and colleagues, all united to make a difference for Newcastle students.

Enterprising Futures Academy launch

In September, alumnus Rob Wood (MBA, 1992) partnered with the University to launch the Enterprising Futures Academy. This initiative equips young people with the tools, confidence, and support needed to succeed in both life and business. Working with over 300 schools across England, the Academy provides practical resources, including recorded lessons, entrepreneurship toolkits, and a dynamic learning hub. It aims to embed enterprise and entrepreneurship into education from secondary school to higher education.

Alumni success at the Summer Olympics

Six alumni represented Team GB’s rowing squad at the Paris Olympics, bringing home an impressive four medals. James Rudkin and Tom Ford won gold in the Men’s Eight, while Emily Ford secured bronze in the Women’s Eight. Lola Anderson was part of the team that claimed Team GB’s first-ever gold medal in the Women’s Quad.

Both James and Tom are former members and captains of our Boat Club (NUBC)—Tom in 2014 and James in 2015. These remarkable achievements highlight the dedication, strength, and determination of our alumni and reflect the lasting impact of our Boat Club.

Graduate triumphs on The Apprentice

NUBS alumna Rachel Woolford (Economics and Business Management BSc, 2017) won The Apprentice earlier this year, securing Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment to expand her boutique fitness brand, North Studio. Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, North Studio has grown to two locations in Leeds and Harrogate, employing 18 staff and earning awards such as Fitness Studio of the Year at the Yorkshire Prestige Awards. Rachel plans to expand her business across the North of England.

Rawaa Qasha (Computer Science PhD, 2017) received the Outstanding Global, EDI, and Intercultural Contribution Award for rebuilding Mosul’s cultural heritage after its destruction by ISIS.

As an Assistant Professor at the University of Mosul, Rawaa fosters global connections through collaborations with international universities and organisations, including our University, UNESCO, and the British Library. She has played a key role in restoring Mosul’s ancient cultural heritage and preserving its historical legacy for the local community.

Mark Davis (Social Studies BA, 2000) received the Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Justice and Sustainability Award for creating Community Municipal Investments (CMIs), which have raised over £8 million for local net-zero projects.

CMIs are a groundbreaking financial product that enable individuals to invest as little as £5 in local sustainability initiatives, such as solar panels and energy-efficient housing. Through his collaboration with councils across the UK, Mark has not only helped raise millions for net-zero projects but is also spearheading a national campaign to unlock up to £3 billion for councils nationwide.

Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin (English Literature, Fine Art Drawing and History of Art BA, 2010) received the Outstanding Social and Civic Contribution Award for founding Bloody Good Period, a charity addressing period poverty.

Under her leadership, the grassroots initiative grew into a powerful organisation that distributes period products, provides reproductive education, and advocates for systemic change. Gabby co-convened the Government's Period Poverty Task Force, launched campaigns to make period products a human right, and created the podcast Stay in the Room to engage men in conversations about periods.

Graduate-founded Polybox secures £500,000 investment to revolutionise marketing analysis

In 2022, alumni Rojin Yarahmadi (Digital Business PhD, 2020) and Nikolaos Benopoulos (Digital Business PhD, 2020) created Polybox, a cutting-edge platform that offers marketing teams and agencies real-time analysis of campaigns across multiple channels on one platform.

The idea for Polybox grew with support from our START UP team, which works with students and graduates to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality. With this foundation, Rojin and Nikolaos secured £500,000 in pre-seed funding from Northstar Ventures, Creative UK, and a group of angel investors, and won an Innovate UK Creative Catalyst grant enabling them to bring their vision to life.

Graduate finalist in the National Study UK Alumni Awards

Hamad Ali (Medical Genetics PhD, 2011) was a finalist in the British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards for his groundbreaking work in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) genetics research in Kuwait. He established Kuwait's first specialised laboratory dedicated to ADPKD research, where his team conducted a landmark study identifying the third most common gene responsible for ADPKD.

Hamad is now focused on prevention. By combining genetic insights with in vitro fertilization (IVF), he and his team have developed a pioneering approach to prevent the transmission of ADPKD to future generations, offering families new hope in managing this hereditary condition.

Graduate raises over £50,000 to fund new research into incurable blood cancer

Alumnus Peter McCleave (Physiological Sciences BSc, 1999) who was diagnosed with myeloma in 2017, has raised over £50,000 to support groundbreaking research. His efforts have included launching campaigns to encourage stem cell donations and raising awareness about the need for diverse donors. Thanks to Peter’s fundraising, the University will soon launch the North East Myeloma Genome Initiative—a cutting-edge project using advanced genetic and computational technologies to analyse the genetics of multiple myeloma.

Peter also founded the 10,000 Donors campaign to inspire people to join the stem cell register. His efforts have resulted in over 112,000 new registrations, leading to 21 confirmed matches and saving lives. More recently, Peter has focused on increasing stem cell donations from ethnic minority backgrounds through the Gob For Good campaign, which has garnered support from public figures such as DJ Trevor Nelson, actor Adrian Lester, and pop star and presenter Alesha Dixon.

Alumnus wins at UK Alumni Awards in France

Engineering alumnus Souhail Aboulfadile (Hydroinformatics and Water Management MSc, 2022) received the Science and Sustainability Award at the 2024 Study UK Alumni Awards in France for his contributions to sustainability and catastrophe modelling. Souhail completed a Master’s degree through an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, including a transformative semester at Newcastle University in 2022, which he describes as a ‘turning point’ in his studies.

His work focuses on climate resilience, using mathematical models to help communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters. His projects include flood risk modelling for Paris and assessing the vulnerability of hydroelectric dams in the United States.

PhD student wins Climate Investment Challenge

Will Ovenden (Zoology BSc, Wildlife Management), a current PhD student, and his team won the Emerging and Developing Markets Prize at the Climate Investment Challenge. Hosted by Imperial College Business School, the competition invites students to design financial solutions for climate challenges.

Their winning proposal, Project Miaro, is a microinsurance product that provides affordable insurance to households in Madagascar while funding mitigation projects such as seawalls and mangrove restoration. Project Miaro leverages government subsidies to improve accessibility and invests in risk-reducing projects to lower premiums over time. This innovative approach not only reduces government cyclone damage costs but also has the potential to transform communities in cyclone-prone regions.

Graduate embarks on a 1,000-Mile cycle challenge to support brain injury care and the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre (JWMDRC)

In August, alumnus John Haycock (Biochemistry PhD, 1994) undertook a three-week charity bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise funds for brain injury care and the JWMDRC.

Established in 2014, the JWMDRC is run by the University in partnership with the NHS. The centre focuses on applying genomic and translational medicine to improve outcomes for people living with brain injury and muscular dystrophy conditions.

Graduate-founded business Castore announces partnership with the University

Alumnus Phil Beahon (Law LLB, 2014) co-founded the premium sportswear brand Castore, which has recently expanded into the education sector through a landmark partnership with the University. As part of this collaboration, Castore will supply multi-sport playing kits, training apparel, and accessories to over 5,000 students across the University’s sports teams.

The brand's journey began with support from our START UP Founderships programme, which provided mentorship and funding in 2016 to help the fledgling business succeed. Since then, Castore has grown rapidly, securing a £1.2m investment this year and establishing itself as a leader in the sportswear industry.

Graduate-founded Equiwatt shortlisted for the 2024 Decentralised Energy Awards

Equiwatt, founded by John Fernandes (Engineering PhD, 2017) was shortlisted for the 2024 Decentralised Energy Awards for creating the UK’s first community-powered virtual power plant. Supported by the University’s START UP Foundership programme, Equiwatt’s innovative app rewards users for reducing energy use during peak times, promoting sustainability and energy efficiency.

They have been recognised by PwC UK as a top start-up driving progress toward Net Zero, Equiwatt empowers communities to collectively reduce their environmental impact.