Alumni achievement awards

The Alumni Advisory Board Change Maker awards 

This award recognises 6 alumni, 1 alumnus from each of our 6 schools. The award recognises alumni who for example have, introduced a new or ground-breaking concept to their field, those who have founded or joined a company and gone on to make a significant impact at a global level, as well as those who can demonstrate innovation and creativity and the ability to deliver lasting results. The winners will be featured in the Change Maker brochure, as well as being showcased on our Change Maker wall of fame and invited to the Change Maker dinner following the awards. The winners of this award are selected by our Alumni Advisory Board.

Lucy Quist graduated from our BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree in 1999 and is now a managing director at Morgan Stanley and author of the book The Bold New Normal. 

She said, "I just want to say that it’s not always about where you've come from it's about where you can go. Sometimes we are boxed in by saying 'oh look how far you have come, you done so well'. But we need to think about how much further we can go because sometimes there’' a lot more inside of us that we realise."
Danielle Jawando graduated from the BA Creative and Professional Writing degree in 2009 and MA in Imaginative Practice degree in 2012. Since then she has worked on Coronation Street and her debut novel And The Stars Were Burning Brightly has won a number of awards. 

She said, "Studying at UEL was a truly life changing experience for me. It was where I found my passion and my place in the world. It’s the people that make UEL and I’m truly thankful to have been taught by three of the best."
Talal Rafi graduated from the BA Business Management degree in 2013 and is now a leading expert on entrepreneurship, reduced inequalities and gender equality in Sri Lanka and a World Bank climate ambassador. He was unable to attend the awards. 

Nicole Posho Bellow graduated with a BSc in Early Childhood Studies in 2016. Since then she has launched Sphere Support which helps women and girls who have been victims of domestic abuse enhance their skills and build new lives. 
She said, "Thank you so much for this great opportunity. I didn’t think I would win this award because there’s a lot of people who are achieving a lot. Being a student at the University of East London was amazing and I would thank everyone who helped me to get to this place."

Dr Vasiliki E Kalodimou graduated from the BSc Human Physiology degree course in 1999 and has since been engaged in research into the regenerative properties of stem cells in Greece and author of two patents. 
She said, "Winning this award would not be possible without receiving the inspiration I received from my tutors and from whom I have derived the strength to challenge myself to perform better. I would like to tell students you should never give up. Even if you are convinced it is over, it’s not unless you want it to be and the example of that is me, standing in front of you."

Dwayne Fields graduated from the BA Psychology, International Development with Career and Business Management degree in 2014. He has thrown himself into many physical challenges, including becoming the first Black Briton to walk over 400 miles to the magnetic North Pole. His work with disadvantage young people has been acknowledged by the Queen and earned him the Freedom of the City of London. 

He said, "I've been fortunate enough that I've been able to see through some of the challenges I faced and come out the other side slightly better off. My plan is to keep doing that for many people, especially young people, as I can going forward and that's why I spend as much time outside as I can. UEL just keeps giving and so thank you. It's such an honour."