Here is your monthly summary of some of the successes of Cranfield alumni:
- Curie Maharani Savitri (MSc Managing Defence and Security 2007) has been selected as one of the 11 panelists in the third debate of the 2024 Presidential Election (Pilpres).
- Mike Rosenburg (PhD Leadership and Management 2009) writes about the key messages from COP28.
- Melinda Topolcsik (Cranfield General Management Programme 2009) talks about the challenges of being a female leader and her role as managing director at one of the largest tire manufacturing giants.
- Dilshan Rodrigo (MBA 1996) has been appointed as as Deputy CEO of Union Bank. Rodrigo's career encompasses roles in insurance, investment banking, and apparel industries.
- Jedrzej Socha (MSc Finance and Management 2014) has taken the position of Director in the Griffin Capital Partner investment team. Also featured here.
- Professor Ogechi Adeola (Developing General Management Potential 2008) has been appointed as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kigali.
- Nigel Lemmon (MBA 1994) has been appointed as Chief Information Officer of Tosca, a leading global provider of reusable plastic packaging and supply chain solutions.
- Simon Maghakyan (PhD Defence and Security 2024) will speak in a virtual presentation on "Heritage in Peril: Artsakh's Cultural Monuments in the Aftermath of Invasion."
- Dame Rachel de Souza (Cranfield Advanced Development Programme 2009) reflects on her career as a headteacher, CEO at the Inspiration Trust and children's commissioner, her leadership philosophy and her experience of leading.
- Fin Underhill (MSc Advanced Heat Engineering 2023) and Laurie Cusick (MSc Renewable Energy 2023) share how Cranfield's specialised MSc courses and careers and employability support helped boost their sustainability careers.
- Dr. Salem Falah Al-Hajraf (Preliminary Course: Engineering (Part 1) 1997, MSc Computational Fluid Dynamics 1997) has been announced as the Minister of Electricity and Water, Minister of Renewable Energy, and Minister of State for Housing Affairs as part of the Cabinet lineup of Kuwait's newly-formed government.
- Rodnei Bernardino de Souza (Visiting research in the School of Management 2001) joins the team of advisors at Bright Consulting.
- Warren East CBE (Exec MBA 1990, Honorary Graduate 2011) has been appointed as Chair of C-Capture, a Harrogate-based climate technology company.
- Sandra Facanha (MSc Logistics and Transportation 1997) shares the skills needed to be an entrepreneur in Brazil.
- Linus Gregoriadis (Exec MBA 2002) explores the drivers of investment in website accessibility and the methods companies are using to test their digital properties.
- Dr. Hayatun Sillem CBE (Honorary Graduate 2023) is giving a talk as part of Imperial College London's science and policymaking series, which looks at how academic research interacts with policymaking and how to navigate that interaction as a researcher or academic.
- Libby Jackson OBE (MSc Astronautics and Space Engineering 2003) appears on BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live to share more about her journey to becoming The Head of Space Exploration at UK Space Agency, her two-week school internship at NASA, and the importance of space sustainability.
- Jose Crespo de Carvalho (Executive Development Programmes 2002 and 2005) will participate in the eighth edition of the Forum of Leaders for Talent Management, in a leadership talk themed 'why should you be led by me?'
- Paola Mena Jaramillo (MBA 2011) has been appointed as the new marketing manager for feminine care at Essity.
- Ismael Roig (MSc Industrial Engineering 1989) has been appointed as chief financial officer of ADM.
- Sir Jim Hockenhull (MA Military Studies 1996) talks about why he refers to himself as the 'Accidental General' and how his role can help support people.
- Arun Sharma (MBA 2011) discusses the KPMG Future of Work charter, the top power skills needed to succeed in 2024, and how generative AI is changing the landscape of work and jobs.
- Linus Gregoriadis (Exec MBA 2002) shares the findings from a report from London Research and Partnerize which looks at the partnerships and affiliate marketing industry, and explores why many CMOs are still limiting their investment in a proven channel.
- Simon Elliot (MBA 2002) has been elected to the board of the Association of Investment Companies.
- Irina Axenova (MBA 2011) shares the main challenges she faces as Head of Investor Relations at one of the world's largest lithium producers.
- Ricardo Rocha (MSc Manufacturing Technology and Management 2020) has been appointed as the regional CEO of the A.P. Moller Maersk East Coast region, South America branch.
- Kate Ledwoch (PhD Applied Phycology, MSc Biofuels Process Engineering) has been promoted from Senior Scientist to Laboratory Manager at Genesis Biosciences. This key promotion will help drive innovation and ensure quality in the environmentally friendly microbial and antimicrobial product ranges.
- Jehaan Ismail (Residential Executive Development Programme 2004) has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director to the Board of Bank of Ceylon.
- Bolai Agbede (MBA 2002) has been appointed as acting group CEO of Access Holdings Plc.
- Barbara Costa Pinto (MBA 1999) has been appointed as BPI's executive director of sustainability.
- Dr David Oxley (DBA 2018) shares the five trends to watch in the future of work.
- Walter Bratinga (Executive Development 2006) has joined the management board of Selena Group as Chief Commercial Officer.
- Dr Amir Gohardani (PhD School of Engineering 2012), Dr David Kusuma (PhD Health 2012) and Atul Deshpande (MBA 2010) have been named as USA finalists for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2023/24.
- Kirsty Pinell (MSc Motorsport Engineering and Management 2007) shares how guidance from several positive influences and inspirational figures throughout her life, including a guest lecture with Chris Aylett during her studies at Cranfield, helped her build her career in the manufacturing industry.
- Ole Trumpfheller (MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management 2009) joins Maersk as Head of Area North Europe Continent.
- Lieutenant General Sir Benjamin Bathurst (MA Military Studies 1996) has been appointed as the next Governor of Gilbraltar.
- Jack Hathaway (PgCert Flight Dynamics 2011, MSc Flight Dynamics 2014) recently became a NASA astronaut. The achievement, marked by a ceremonial graduation, highlights his journey from South Windsor to potential space missions.
- Ankita Vashistha (MSc Finance and Management 2009) has been named as one of 43 women torchbearers of India’s startup investment space.
- Tony Geheran shares insights into his leadership journey and the strategic initiatives at TELUS.
- Bolaji Agbede (MBA 2002) has been featured in this article highlighting the women leading seven of Nigeria’s major banks for her work at Access Holdings.
- Barbara Costa Pinto (MBA 1999) has been featured in this article highlighting women who have reached management positions in Portuguese companies this year.
- Omobola Johnson (DBA 2013) is featured in this article looking at the 10 female VC Execs backing Nigeria’s billion-dollar startup ecosystem for her board memberships and role as Senior Partner at TLcom Capital LLP.
- Aishatu Bubaram (Women’s Leadership Programme 2023) has made the list of fifty inspiring women in Nigeria for the year 2024.
- Tony Geheran shares insights into his leadership journey and the strategic initiatives at TELUS.
- Dr Sarah Qureshi (PhD Aerospace 2016) has been named as one of the top 10 women in manufacturing from across APAC.
- Kate Raison (Exec MBA 2020) is featured in this article where her mother shares what makes UKSO stand out and how they are helping hundreds of students from all over the world gain entry to top UK universities.
- Paul Terry (MBA 1993) is an IQT Vancouver/Pacific Rim 2024 speaker.
- Anoosheh Ashoori (MSc Aerospace Design 1981) shares his story about being held hostage in a prison in Iran and finding joy in life’s simplest pleasures.
- Hilde Viroux (MSc Medical Technology Regulatory Affairs 2009) has co-written an article looking at how to overcome challenges to sustain your certification in EU MDR compliance.
- Bose Dasan (MBA 1983) welcomes the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) announcement for dividend pay out and what impact this could have.
- Violeta Kordatzi (MSc Automotive Engineering 2016) is one of six scientists who make up the tech think tank – an expert group formed by Syriza leader Stefanos Kasselakis.
- Bolaji Agbede (MBA 2022) is featured in this article which looks at her career journey from Executive Trainee at Guaranty Trust Bank to Head of HR at Access Bank Group.
- Becky Davies (Cranfield Talent Development Programme) shares insight into the hospitality industry and her leadership style as Director of Ten Locks Drinks. She has also launched her first own brand Pod Pea Vodka, a sustainable vodka made from peas.
- Abdelwakil Benabdi (MSc Aerospace Dynamics 2022) joins Bastien Tonnellier on podcast ‘Les ingenieux’ to talk about how his curiosity guided him from an interest in sports to remarkable academic and professional achievements, including an internship at Alpha Romeo in F1.
If you've been featured in the media, don't forget to share your successes with us so we can include them in our quarterly roundup. Email our Alumni Communications team including a link to the website or press release.
Check out last quarter's summary (October to December 2023) here.
