Connect

Words: Chris Hickman

Meet Ed Marshall (Biological Photography and Imaging, 2013) – the Nottingham graduate on a globe-trotting mission to preserve wildlife on some of the most remote islands on the planet.

If you’ve ever considered a career in conservation, you’re unlikely to find a job more apt than that of Ed Marshall. The Wales-based restoration ecologist quite literally conserves populations of native wildlife on remote islands across the world with New Zealand-based consultancy Wildlife Management International Limited (WMIL).

From his very first role on the Isles of Scilly to one of his most recent on Ascension Island – among the most remote islands anywhere on the globe – Ed, as a member of WMIL’s team, has helped thousands of seabirds, lizards and other species thrive, predominantly by removing invasive predators that would otherwise predate their eggs, young and even adults.

“My job covers everything from an initial feasibility study to community engagement, eradication and any biosecurity required after to protect the native species.”

“It’s one of these rare sectors of conservation where you can see the change pretty much as you’re doing the work.”

“I worked on a project on Pine Cay in the Caribbean to protect the Turks and Caicos rock iguana. Over the course of just four or five months of restoration we started to see lots of babies, not just iguana, but geckos and lizards called curly tails too!”

His boots are made for walkin’

Of course you are now wondering what myriad skills and attributes you need to secure a job travelling to some of the world’s most beautiful islands – believe it or not, it could
be as straightforward as possessing a cagoule and sturdy footwear.

“Above all else, you need an ability to work in the outdoors and be happy in all weathers. This line of work is becoming more common in the UK, but the projects always happen over the winter, so obviously it’s often in wind and rain. You’re outdoors for eight hours a day.”

“Another useful skill is GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping. The projects are becoming bigger, and the mapping requirements are becoming more and more complex. As an example, the LIFE Raft project I’m a part of in Northern Ireland has about 6,500-7,000 bait stations, and these all appear as little points on a map. Then you have to analyse every single point of data”

Ed, whose degree revolved primarily around photography, first entered into the conservation sector thanks to a volunteering placement six months after graduating – and the rest is history.

“A guest lecturer on my course was a past master’s student, and he presented a slideshow on everywhere he’d been on his travels, Costa Rica, Madagascar and all these other amazing places. I thought that’s what I want to do too.”

“It’s quite a daunting moment when you graduate and get your certificate. You’re like, ‘OK, I need to find a job now’.”

“Every bit of free time I had, I was out taking pictures, editing them and sending them off to try and get published. I was on the lookout for things that would be able to fit with a photography degree.”

Around the world in 10 years

Ed successfully applied for an internship offered by youth conservation group ‘A Focus on Nature’ to fill a placement on the Isles of Scilly, which combined his expertise behind the lens with more practical conservation work. A decade later and his passion has now seen him travel the world, ensuring the survival of generations of wildlife.

“Working on Ascension Island is interesting because when Darwin arrived there in the 1800s, they decided that the landscape needed trees planting. So the entire island has been terraformed. You go to the top of Green Mountain, an extinct volcano, and it’s all bamboo forest which is out of place.”

“Everything has been altered. Because there’s all these invasive plants, rats, mice and sheep feed on them and then disperse the seeds. So the invasive plants are actually being spread far and wide by the invasive mammals that are there too.”

Whether here in the UK on Lundy Island, where the Manx Shearwater recovered from just under 600 individuals in 2001 to over 25,000 individuals today, or on the Caribbean Island of Redonda where within just a few years of the project’s completion lizard numbers bounced back by over 1300%, the numbers underline the value of a career in ecological restoration.

So that’s trips to the UK, New Zealand, Caribbean, Ascension – are there any downsides to the work at all?

“Sometimes I feel awkward saying to someone ‘I work in the Caribbean’, because obviously everyone’s like, ‘oh, must be nice?’”

“But I think we spent about 10 days in Barbados, and most of that was in an office.”

It’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it.

Image credit: Ed Marshall

A message from our Vice-Chancellor

Welcome to this edition of Connect magazine, which is the final edition I have the pleasure of introducing. After seven years as President and Vice-Chancellor, I will be stepping down from the position to become the new Vice-Chancellor at the University of Leeds.

Since becoming the university’s seventh Vice-Chancellor, and the university’s first female V-C, I have seen the organisation through one of the most difficult periods in history as a result of the global pandemic. Despite the challenging wider context over the past seven years, it has been an absolute privilege to lead this great university.

I have been fortunate to work alongside brilliant and committed colleagues and students, and to collaborate with our world-class partners here in Nottingham, across the UK and globally. I am hugely proud of the work we have done here to build a culture of openness and inclusivity, of the positive impact our research is having on people’s lives and on our planet, and of the thoughtful and brilliant students and alumni who are going out into the world and making a difference.

Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane Norman, will be interim Vice-Chancellor from November and I am confident that we have clear ambitions ahead to continue to build on our successes. I know that Jane’s knowledge and expertise will help in the continued delivery of our strategic aims for world-leading research, excellence in teaching and an outstanding student experience.

It has been an honour to have been a part of the University of Nottingham, and I am confident that this university will continue to go from strength to strength.

Professor Shearer West
President and Vice-Chancellor

Nottingham recognised among world’s top higher education institutions

The University of Nottingham has been recognised among the world’s top higher education institutions that are driving positive global change. Nottingham has been ranked in the Top 200 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, which are the only global performance tables that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in the Top 100 for a number of individual SDG areas. Find out more about the university’s commitment to sustainability.

Sporting success for Green and Gold

As The Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year 2024, the university has not been resting on its laurels, finishing 2nd in the 2023/24 British Universities and Colleges Sports (BUCS) league table, breaking the 8,000-point barrier for the first time. There has also been Nottingham success on the international stage, with Sophie Unwin (Classical Civilisation, 2015) winning gold, silver and bronze medals at the Paralympics in paracycling. Two exciting new partnerships with Notts County FC and the Steven Gerrard Academy will also see elite-level football grace the pitches at Highfields over the coming 12 months too.

Nottingham remains a top university for leading employers

Graduates from the University of Nottingham continue to be among the most sought-after by the UK’s top employers. The Graduate Market is an independent annual review of graduate vacancies and starting salaries at the country’s top 100 leading firms, conducted by High Fliers Research. We are named as the third most targeted university in the 2024 report and are proud to have ranked within the top five for the past three years. Committed to giving our students the subject knowledge, skills and connections they need to succeed, we are also named as a top two Russell Group university for work experience (Rate my Placement Best Universities for Work Experience 2024). Find out more.

University of Nottingham Ningbo China celebrates 20 years

Our community of students, staff and alumni came together this year to celebrate the value of a truly global community with their birthday wishes to our China campus, which turned 20 this year. The celebrations culminated in a prestigious gala event held on UNNC’s campus in April, attended by over 1,000 students, staff, alumni and guests, with many more joining the celebrations online around the world.

The second year of our Your Nottingham Alumni Awards once again shone a light on remarkable members of our alumni community. The awards demonstrate how so many of you embrace the university’s values and make amazing contributions in so many different ways. Meet our 2024 winners and discover what receiving an award means to this year’s recipients.

2024 winners

“Receiving this award makes me very happy because it’s on account of my achievements and for things I’ve done to improve the lives of others, and it really does mean a lot to me. University was such a big part of my life and I met so many incredible people while I was here, to have the chance to speak about the things I’ve done since university and what Nottingham means to me, to receive the award is incredible.”

“It’s such a huge pleasure to receive this award! Having the chance to reflect on my time at university and think about the person it turned me into and how much I grew and developed during my time at Nottingham was a really nice moment, I’m so proud to be a Nottingham graduate. I was so excited to receive this award because it feels like such an honour to be recognised for the work you’re putting in, it was really special to me.”

“Nottingham has played a huge part in my life from my university days to Boots being a founding partner of The Hygiene Bank. The university’s values very closely mirror the values of the charity and so are very close to my heart. Very early on in The Hygiene Bank days, ‘I’ became ‘we’ and so this award is a humbling recognition to all those that have helped along the way.”

“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine receiving this award, especially as someone who has grappled with imposter syndrome for as long as I can remember. This recognition is a testament to the power of underdogs – that anything is possible, and anyone, regardless of background or ability, can become a changemaker. It has reaffirmed my belief that with passion, purpose, patience and perseverance, the sky is truly the limit to what one can achieve.”

“It was really exciting to find out I’d won! It’s nice to be acknowledged in this way, especially considering the University of Nottingham is where I started The Land Collective. Looking at the other alumni award winners and seeing the impact they’ve made in their own respective sectors, it’s really nice to be a part of that group. I’m really excited to see what the future holds and how I can come back to Nottingham to get involved in more projects.”

Edited: Myles Griffin and Chris Hickman

Tomorrow’s world must change. In the face of a global climate crisis, our choices impact the ecosystem’s future. Though difficult, the University of Nottingham has the expertise to drive sustainability forward.

Sustainability however doesn’t always mean higher costs or inconvenience. While benefits may not be immediate, change can lead to wider prosperity – locally and globally.

Professor Tom Rodden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, introduces how the university’s innovation centres and partnerships have laid the foundation for growing prosperity through sustainable advancements.

“Our research and knowledge exchange activities are essential for fostering innovation and driving local economic growth, particularly in the pursuit of sustainable advancements.”

Launched in 2022, the Zero Carbon Cluster (ZCC) brings together leading researchers to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and accelerate the application of zero-carbon heavy transportation solutions in both commercial and policy spheres. Through partnerships with industry and government, the ZCC aligns research priorities with real-world needs, ensuring sustainable solutions are deployed at scale.

In a major step, the East Midlands Freeport announced over £5m, match-funded by the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University, to establish the Zero Carbon Innovation Centre at Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus. This centre solidifies the region’s role as a global leader in green industry innovation, attracting international investment and supporting global businesses.

Achieving net zero will also require careful consideration of human behaviour, which is why we have launched a policy commission to explore a just transition to net zero. The commission has called experts from various sectors to share insights on who benefits, the role of communities,
and how to achieve this transition, with findings to be published in November.

The university, known for its world-leading zero-carbon research, is frequently sought after by government and industry for advice on green technologies, including electrification, net zero aviation, and low-energy solutions for buildings. Our goal therefore is to ensure this advice consistently drives impactful, positive change for people.”

Take a look through three examples of how our work is already benefiting wider communities.

Achieving net zero aviation

As global pressures to address climate change intensify, the aviation industry is flying towards a crucial crossroad. The UK, leading the charge, became the first major aviation sector to commit to net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. The University of Nottingham is a pivotal player in this transition, advancing sustainability research that promises benefits far beyond reduced emissions.

One of the university’s most groundbreaking initiatives is its £5.3m research programme focused on hydrogen propulsion in aviation. This project aims to develop a revolutionary cryogenic hydrogen-electric propulsion system, potentially transforming how aircraft are powered. The two megawatt prototype engine, leveraging hydrogen fuel cells and power distribution at extremely low temperatures, could significantly reduce emissions and set new standards in efficiency. This initiative positions the East Midlands as a global hub for low-carbon aerospace innovation, attracting investment and talent to the region.

In tandem, the university’s work on intelligent electrical systems offers another crucial advancement. By reducing the size and weight of onboard generators, these new systems can drastically lower energy consumption during flight. A reduction of up to 15% in generator size not only cuts fuel usage but also enhances overall aircraft efficiency, supporting the industry’s shift toward sustainability.

The Nottingham Applied Materials and Interfaces lab’s research into lithium-sulphur batteries exemplifies the university’s commitment to innovation. These batteries, which are lighter and more cost-effective than traditional lithium-ion batteries, could revolutionise energy storage in aviation. Their ability to store more energy at a lower cost makes electric aviation more viable, accelerating the adoption of greener alternatives.

Additionally, the university’s collaboration with Boeing on recycling aircraft materials sets new sustainability benchmarks. This partnership has enabled Boeing to become the first manufacturer to recycle 100% of its excess carbon fibre, showcasing the potential for a circular economy within aviation.

Beyond environmental benefits, Nottingham’s research is poised to deliver significant economic and social returns to the East Midlands region as a whole. These advancements are expected to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and develop new skills through targeted training and education. The influx of international investment will also drive infrastructure improvements, enhancing transport, facilities, and utilities across the region.

Nottingham’s pioneering research in sustainable aviation is not only a key driver toward net zero emissions but also a catalyst for broader societal and economic transformation. As these innovations take flight, they promise a future where aviation is environmentally sustainable and a cornerstone of regional prosperity.

Driving Indonesia’s electric revolution

Indonesia is poised to become Southeast Asia’s electric vehicle (EV) leader, with the University of Nottingham playing a crucial role in this green transition. Known for its net zero propulsion research, the university is driving real-world impact through collaboration with Indonesia. However, the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels threatens its 2060 net zero target. As the world’s ninth-largest greenhouse gas emitter, Indonesia must balance reducing emissions with economic growth, making transport electrification vital to its sustainable future.

Here, the University of Nottingham’s role is indispensable.The institution stands as the UK’s leading centre for knowledge exchange with Indonesia, leveraging its expertise to support the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The university’s Faculty of Engineering has played a crucial role in developing policies and infrastructure plans for EVs in Indonesia, directly contributing to the country’s green transport strategy.

The forthcoming Net Zero Translation Centre in Bandung exemplifies this impactful collaboration. Set to be a hub for training and innovation, the centre will focus on several key areas. It will upskill workers to support the emerging EV infrastructure, provide training for SMEs, polytechnics, and high school students, and facilitate the adaptation of Indonesia’s extensive two-wheeler fleet into e-bikes and e-scooters. This initiative will not only bolster Indonesia’s EV sector but also create new employment opportunities and drive local economic growth.

Moreover, the centre’s alignment with safety standards and its proactive engagement with Indonesian policymakers ensures that the training provided will be both relevant and practical. By fostering local expertise and supporting industry development, we are not only aiding Indonesia in its quest for net zero but also amplifying the economic and social benefits of this transition.

In summary, the University of Nottingham is not just a research leader but a crucial enabler of Indonesia’s green future. Through its innovative projects and strategic partnerships, it is helping to forge a path towards sustainable development and a cleaner, more prosperous future for Indonesia and beyond.

Greener picture

As a global leader, it’s not just about what the university can achieve through research and teaching, but also our approach to the operation of a large and complex estate. Over the last decade, we have invested significantly in both new buildings and major refurbishments such as Florence Boot Hall, all with sustainability at the forefront. More recently we have set an ambitious carbon reduction pathway aligned to the 2016 Paris Agreement and are currently slightly ahead of our carbon budget – we have already reduced our carbon emissions by over a third in the last 15 years – but the task ahead is significant.

As well as a climate crisis we are also in a global nature crisis. Here in the UK for example, since the 1930s, nearly 7.5m acres of flower-rich meadows and pastures have been lost. In Nottinghamshire alone, a reduction of 97%.

The spaces between our buildings provide a unique and cost-effective solution. Many of the manicured lawns of yesteryear have been transformed into wild meadows, restoring habitats and leaving grass to grow longer. This creates more homes and plentiful food sources for wildlife, as well as providing spaces for our university community to enjoy.

At the Riverside sports complex we have planted over 1,000 trees in collaboration with our sports teams. The lawned areas at Lenton Hurst and Keighton Hill have been transformed into wild meadows, and we have created a new woodland walk in the centre of University Park Campus.

Over the next two years as a partner of the Nottinghamshire-wide ‘Wild Campuses’* pilot we will be working to further increase the abundance and diversity of threatened species around our campuses. Crucially, it will also empower students, staff and young people across Nottingham to reconnect with nature and tackle the ecological crisis hands-on.

Find out more about the university’s commitment to sustainability.

*Wilding Campuses is a regional partnership project to restore local natural heritage, led by SOS-UK and made possible with the Heritage Fund and thanks to National Lottery players.

Words: Josef Bone

At Nottingham University Business School, researchers tackle big challenges that affect economies and societies across the globe, with the goal of making real and lasting impact for communities worldwide.

And while food might not be the first topic that springs to mind for business studies, recent work from the Business School has shown just how relevant it can be to contemporary challenges. Whether through academic research, hands-on community initiatives, or advanced data analysis, the school and its network is exploring the complex questions around what we eat, where it comes from, and how we consume it.

Who’s paying?

Dr Anne Touboulic, an Associate Professor in Operations Management, focuses on the growing gap between consumers and where their food comes from. Her ERSC-funded project, Inclusive Food, aims to rethink our food systems: creating sustainable supply chains, supporting farmers, and helping people to reconnect with the food on their table.

“Fundamentally, our food system is broken,” she says. “We live in a climate and ecological crisis. The farming sector is struggling massively. I think we’ll be lucky if we’ve got any farmers left at the end of this decade. Which begs the question, who is going to grow our food? And ultimately, without nature, where will we get our food?

“People are more and more disconnected to the provenance of their food. A lot of the diets that we see in the western world now actually are very remote from the raw food products.”

Ultimately, Touboulic calls for a re-evaluation of how we value food, and the people who produce it. In a world of cheap, ultra-processed food and unprecedented waste, she challenges us to consider a question that lies at the heart of creating more sustainable and equitable food supply chains for the future: “Who is it cheap for – and who’s paying?”

Can-do attitude

Jonathan Harper (Industrial Economics, 2003), founder of the social enterprise CanTeam, is using food as a powerful tool to bring people together and drive change. In 2023, he launched CanTeam to transform underused spaces into lively community hubs for social eating, helping to tackle social issues and unite communities along the way.

“I have always felt school facilities are underutilised after school, at weekends and holidays, and that they could play host to activities which bring young people and communities together,” he explained.

The project turns school canteens into after-school dinner clubs for students and parents, giving young people a chance to learn how to cook while promoting sustainable eating and better health. After successful pilots in London, CanTeam won the 2024 Big Change Education Challenge, which is now helping them expand their projects to other parts of the country.

“I do passionately believe, if we expose young people to cooking skills and trying diverse foods in a fun and informal way, we can transform food culture and create sustainable change,” he says. Harper’s goals are ambitious: working with schools, local authorities and catering companies to launch more CanTeam projects than McDonald’s branches in the UK by 2030.

“Food is both our biggest challenge and the solution to many of the issues society faces,” he says.

“We need to be more ambitious in scaling food interventions which can have a transformative impact on the health of our nation.”

Big data for good

For N/LAB, the Business School’s state-of-the-art teaching, data visualisation, and research facility, food – or more specifically, the data behind it – can reveal hidden insights that could lead to improving the health of our nation.

The Business School encourages students and researchers to think beyond traditional business models, focusing on how business can address complex social and environmental issues. As such, N/LAB’s “Machine Learning for Good” ethos is driving innovative applications of AI and data analysis in the retail sector.

One key study from the Lab this year, using anonymised data from Co-op loyalty cards, showcased how consumer behaviour data can predict health-related deprivation, childhood obesity, and future diabetes risks at a local level. The study found that the number of calories per pound spent, and the proportion spent on cigarettes, were important predictors of high levels of health-related deprivation in a certain area.

This data-driven approach could prove more efficient than current methods of assessing local levels of deprivation, such as the Indices of Deprivation (IoD), which are only updated every four to five years. Studies like this open the door to more timely and targeted interventions, allowing policymakers to make decisions based on real-time consumer behaviour and personal data.

Dr Roberto Mansilla, Assistant Professor in Social Data Science, explains the potential of digital footprint data: “The sort of digital footprint data we leave behind us – and entrust companies to be guardians of via their loyalty card schemes – is still pretty much untapped. Yes, data can provide valuable insights into consumer behaviour, preferences, and trends, but it can serve purposes beyond pure marketing.”

N/LAB’s research around loyalty card data has also resulted in studies predicting things like respiratory illnesses, period pain, or dietary deficiencies, as Mansilla explains in this video:

As Touboulic points out, there is no “one size fits all” solution to these complex problems, but these initiatives showcase a holistic approach to transforming food systems. They tackle not just immediate challenges like nutrition and public health, but also broader issues such as community cohesion, sustainability, and social inequality.

By reconnecting communities with their food sources, encouraging social eating, and using big data for public good, the Business School is helping create a more sustainable, equitable, and healthier food future.

Words: Joanna Sippetts

We all need a bit of inspiration on our travels, so who better to provide it than our team of International Alumni Ambassadors?

Our 106 volunteers are based in 19 countries across North America, Africa and Asia. They help establish and grow localised alumni networks, as well as providing invaluable support for our international events. Joanna Sippetts (Human Geography, 2022) is our ambassador in Los Angeles and shares her highlights in the city, where she works as a marketing associate.

“I love to play tennis and surf at Huntington Beach – it’s not called Surf City USA for nothing!”

“Heisler Park is a beautiful oceanfront park. It’s lovely to meander around and have brunch or even take a picnic, particularly at sunset.”

“The Getty Museum is the most wonderful place, and I love exploring it with my friends. You take a cable car to get there, and it holds some of the most amazing art, sculptures and exhibits from all over the world.”

You can follow our Instagram account @nottinghamalumni for more My city content, or visit our website if you would like more information about becoming an International Alumni Ambassador

A golden reunion

We were delighted to welcome our Classes of 1973 and 1974 back to University Park Campus for our Golden Reunion event in May, bringing together almost 100 alumni to mark 50 years since graduating from the University of Nottingham.

Volunteers make a difference

Our volunteers make an outstanding contribution to our university community. Over 1,200 of you have volunteered your time and expertise to support our programme over the last academic year, helping over 7,250 current students and 2,400 alumni to thrive. Thank you!

One of the highlights this year was the Black Industry Connections and Empowerment Programme (BICEP), which returned for a second year to support students from Black heritage backgrounds to prepare for careers, develop their personal and professional networks and build a sense of belonging at university. With the support of our invaluable alumni mentors, students have benefited from mentor sessions discussing a wide range of topics including effective communication, identifying personal and professional goals, and leadership skills; with specific events focused on student mental health and financial sustainability. BICEP will continue next year and we look forward to working with many of you as the programme grows.

Visit our website to find out more about volunteering

Nottingham University Business School at 25: The Second Quarter Century

Nottingham University Business School has been celebrating its 25th anniversary this past year with a series of alumni events around the world. From London to Lagos, New Delhi to New York, Shanghai to Singapore, the Second Quarter Century event series saw graduates around the globe come together to reconnect, celebrate the past and look to the future, with insightful discussions on topics such as sustainability, digital transformation and international development.

Growing a legacy

Thanks to a legacy left to the university, we have enhanced the Walled Garden on University Park Campus. It now includes a ‘Legacy Wall’ featuring plaques that acknowledge supporters’ contributions and their wider impact on the community.

The Walled Garden is a special place to many, so the nature of the improvements has been subtle and in keeping with the existing character. Developments include better accessibility, new plants and seating. It will continue to provide a peaceful space that can be used for contemplation and reflection by the wider university community to support the mindfulness and wellbeing of our students, staff and alumni, while also celebrating the impact of legacy giving.

Did you know alumni can write their will for free?

Thanks to our partner Octopus Legacy, Nottingham alumni can make their will online today, over the phone or in person for free. Visit our website to find out more.

If you would like to speak to someone about leaving a gift in your will, please call: +44 (0115) 951 3997 or email: legacyenquiries@nottingham.ac.uk

Our alumni programme, Connected we thrive, is designed to help you to grow and thrive personally and professionally. Many of you have attended one of our webinars, live talks or networking events this year, supporting you to develop your skills and grow your networks. 

Here’s a look back at some of this year’s highlights and a look ahead to what’s coming up next. Plus, visit our website to find out more information about our upcoming events, and discover our content library, which is available for you to catch up and explore more of your alumni programme online. 

Webinars

More than 500 of you have attended one (or more!) of our webinar live streams this year, with many of you who shared your feedback telling us you learned something new. This year our webinars have covered a broad range of topics:

How to embrace and overcome imposter syndrome

Anna Mosley (Management and French, 2005), High performance coach, shared how to understand and overcome imposter syndrome and embrace opportunities.

How to build your career confidence

Julie Littlewood (Biomedical Sciences, 1999), Personal performance coach, shared how to define your career goals and build an action plan with practical steps to move forward.

How to grow your ‘growth mindset’

Dr Maria Toledo-Rodriguez, Associate Professor in Neurosciences, shared how you can transform your “fixed mindset” beliefs into “growth mindset” actions.

This year has also seen the introduction of Nottingham University Business School’s Global Alumni Insights series, bringing you perspectives from sector-leading academics and alumni. The first webinar in the series explored the financial technology sector:

Global Alumni Insights: Fintech

Fintech professionals Jordan Buck (Geography, 2009), Darshan Desai (Management, 2017), Tatenda Furusa (Business and Management, 2017) and Ting Ting Wu (Banking and Finance, 2016) shared insights into this rapidly growing sector and its impact on the global economy.

Our content library is available for you to catch up and explore more of your alumni programme online. Find out more here.

Live talks

This year we launched our Live talk series, bringing you unique insights and new perspectives from your university community. More than 100 of you have attended our events in Nottingham, with many more joining online. Those of you who shared your feedback rated them on average 4.8 out of 5 stars! We were joined by two inspirational speakers for our live talks this year:

Reaching your potential

Paul Gurney (Management Studies, 2001), Founder and CEO of BecomingX, shared what it takes to succeed at the highest levels and what we can all do to become high performers in our lives. Find out more.

Reimagining failure

Alexander McLean (Law, 2007), Founder and CEO of Justice Defenders, shared how to reimagine failure as a gateway to success and how setbacks can lead to growth. Find out more.

Networking

We’ve held a number of global networking events this year across a wide range of locations, with many of you joining us to connect with fellow alumni and grow your networks, including at our series of events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nottingham University Business School.

Alumni survey

Shape your  alumni experience

For the past four years, we’ve asked for your feedback in our annual alumni survey to help us to keep improving your alumni programme. Thank you to everyone who has shared their feedback – your input has helped us to shape opportunities for your alumni community and bring you an exciting range of content and activities, including:

• More opportunities to connect with fellow alumni at our global networking events.
• More professional development support with our expanded range of webinars, business insights events and new series of talks.
• More news about the university, the subject you studied, and your region, with updates in our monthly newsletter and on our social media channels.

Continue to let us know what you think and help shape your alumni programme for the next year and beyond in this year’s alumni survey. It’s open until 31 January 2025 – it should only take around 10 minutes of your time but your answers are invaluable to us.

Share your views