Cardiff University: Game-changing alumni recognised at awards

The University’s first 30(ish) Awards celebrated the achievements of alumni who have made a positive contribution to their community, and all before they hit 30. Well, 30(ish).

Eschewing the format of traditional ’30 Under 30’ lists, the awards were open to alumni under or over 30, who feel 30(ish). Designed to recognise the change-makers, innovators, and rule-breakers in the Cardiff University alumni community, there was an overwhelming response, with nearly 300 nominations submitted. Or 300(ish).

Alumni from across the globe and a wide range of industries, nominated themselves, or were put forward by their fellow alumni, staff, or colleagues.

After much consideration, 30(ish) winners were selected and invited to attend a special awards event on 20 October. Held at the University’s innovative sbarc | spark building, the evening was hosted by Chair of Council and alumnus Pat Younge (BSc 1987) and emceed by alumna Babita Sharma (BA 1998). Around 70 alumni, guests and staff attended this special night, with alumni travelling from the USA, Canada and Europe to receive their awards.

View a full list of winners and their nominations.

https://youtu.be/hZebLuBQwkk

Of the winners, eight received a further special recognition award. Categories included Community activist, Wales to the world, Equity activist, Environmental activist, Journalism and media, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.

Special award winners included:
Jamilla Hekmoun (MA 2018), community organiser, mental health advocate and volunteer, received the Community activist special award. Jamilla is chair of the Muslim Mental Health Alliance and worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide mental health resources to the Muslim community. She is passionate about helping reduce stigma around mental health and has shared her own experiences of mental health. Read more about Jamilla.

Dr Matthew Jones (MA 2017) who received the Wales to the world special award is an educator and Welsh cultural champion based in the USA. He is an Assistant Instructional Professor in the University Writing Program at the University of Florida, where he has forged transatlantic connections between Wales and the USA. Read more about Dr Jones.

Rania Vamvaka (MSc 2017, MSc 2020, PhD 2019-) received the Equity activist special award for her work as an LGBTQ+ campaigner and asylum-seeker advocate. Rania is the co-chair of Glitter Cymru and the founder and chair of Glitter Sisters, the enbys and womnx branch of Glitter. She has worked to protect the rights of queer people of colour and those seeking asylum. Read more about Rania.

The founders of CAUKIN Studio were recipients of the Environmental activist special award. Directors Joshua Peasley (MArch 2018), Harry Thorpe (MArch 2018) and Harrison Marshall (MArch 2018) help empower global communities through sustainable design and architecture, and their work educates and upskills local communities world-wide. Read more about the founders of CAUKIN Studio.

Chaitanya Marpakwar (MA 2011), award-winning journalist, received the Journalism and media special award. Chaitanya covers civics and politics with the Times of India in Mumbai and has covered a range of important environmental and political stories, winning awards for his investigative reports. Read more about Chaitanya.

Neurologist and innovator Dr Simon Thebault (MBBCh 2014) was named as the Innovation special award recipient. Dr Thebault’s research into neurological autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis is helping to develop more personalised treatments and improve care. Read more about Dr Thebault.

Myles Hopper (BA 2010), founder of recipe box company Mindful Chef, received the Entrepreneurship special award. As an entrepreneur, he’s shown it’s possible to balance purpose and profit, with the company donating 14 million school meals to children in poverty and are a carbon neutral business, championing sustainability and positive community action. Read more about Myles.

During the evening, winners and guests voted for the People’s choice award, which was jointly won by Dr Samyakh Tukra (MEng 2017) and Jessica Mullins (BSc 2011).

Samyakh is the founder and CEO of Third Eye Intelligence where they have developed a uniquely powerful AI system, that provides ICU clinicians with an early warning of when a patient will develop organ failure. Unlocking better, more cost-effective ICU care through early, actionable detection of patients at risk. Read more about Samyakh.

Jessica Mullins is an Occupational Therapist by day, but in January 2022 led a team (IN DEEP SHIP) rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to raise money for charity. It took 42 days, 4 hours and 54 minutes and they battled hunger, huge waves, dehydration, exhaustion and hallucinations. Read more about Jess.

Barry Sullivan, Head of Alumni Relations said: “Having never tried anything like this before, we had no idea what to expect but we were blown away by the response. We know Cardiff alumni are making the world a better place, but we’ve uncovered some amazing stories from across the globe.

I’m so grateful to the staff who took the time to nominate former students, and to the rest of our panellists for helping us make some really difficult decisions.

Thanks to our alumni volunteers, Pat and Babita, the buzz on the night was palpable. We witnessed old friends reuniting, and new networks being formed. Being Cardiff-made is what this lifelong community is all about.”