Category: City Alumni Stories

– In conversation with Ashley Hickson-Lovence Ashley Hickson-Lovence grew up secretly wanting to become a poet. He also wanted to be a football referee. In Your Show, a novel based on the life and career of former football referee Uriah Rennie, Ashley got to embrace both passions, and hopefully inspire children from marginalised backgrounds to break down barriers…Continue Reading Your Show – Pitch perfect novel about the Premier League’s first and only black referee

Amy Baker’s journalism degree launched her into the international language learning industry. After a decade of working in the sector, Amy decided to start her own media company with a focus on international higher education. This year, The PIE, now a global b2b media brand, celebrates its 10th anniversary.  It takes knowledge and grit to…Continue Reading From kitchen table to global brand – an interview with Amy Baker, CEO of The PIE

Dina Aboughazala (Interactive Journalism, 2019) recently won the Business and Innovation award at the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards in Egypt. Dina is the founder of Egab, which focuses on Solutions journalism and empowers reporters in the Middle East to create nuanced, high-quality journalism that provides the world with a different perspective. “I think deep down it was my…Continue Reading Award-winning work with focus on solutions

Dr Fauzia Idrees Abro (PhD, Information Security, 2018) is a Cyber Security expert and a champion of women in STEM. Acutely aware of how difficult it can be for women to get a higher education, she supports women’s success through her non-profit organisation WiSTEM in Pakistan. Fauzia also leads by example as CEO of her own…Continue Reading Championing women in STEM – An interview with Dr Fauzia Idrees Abro

Steven Walker (Journalism, 1981) worked as an Investigative Journalist in the 1980s with a special focus on social justice and anti-discriminatory practices. The contact he had with poor and vulnerable families at a difficult time encouraged him to change career and become a Social Worker. Steven recently published his 14th book “Children Forsaken”. “The book…Continue Reading To support and protect – An interview with Steven Walker

Gary Abbott (International Politics, 2021) was the first in his family to attend University. He was discouraged to apply due to “past misbehaviour and low grades” but felt driven to understand the world around him better and be socially mobile. Gary completed his degree at City last year and is now studying for his postgraduate…Continue Reading “I was told several times by teachers at school that university ‘wasn’t for me’…”

After five non-fiction publications and founding her own writing company, Elesa Zehndorfer (Exercise & Health Behaviour, 2000) loved every minute of writing her first novel; Upload. Research for a neuropolitics textbook became the catalyst for her story, and the novel was published in December 2021.   “The entire plot for Upload ended up being inspired…Continue Reading Textbook research demanded genre-crossing adventure thriller

An interview with alumnus Dr Mazen Al-Sinan (PhD, Civil Engineering; Construction Management), 2004) about his invention, which was recently patented in the US.   Dr Mazen Al-Sinan, based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, spent years working on an Artificial Intelligence-based solution of his own that could make a real difference. “This invention was a dream for…Continue Reading US patent for AI invention “could be a game-changer”

City’s Journalism alumni are well known for their excellent work, and this was demonstrated at the British Journalism Awards 2021 with several awards and special mentions. We caught up with some of the recognised journalists to hear their thoughts about the Awards, journalism today, and their time at City.   The British Journalism Awards, organised…Continue Reading City Journalism alumni celebrated at British Journalism Awards 2021

Dimitrios Mavridis (International Politics, 2010), Media Relations Manager for the UK Mission to the European Union, was recently awarded a British Empire Medal for services to British Foreign Policy. Dimitrios talked to us about his fast-paced job in Brussels, his time at City, and both the personal and professional challenges he has faced.  “I won’t…Continue Reading Medal awarded for fast-paced work in a complex environment