Alumni profiles

Nick Golding had what he describes as a “circle of life” moment as he arrived at BU for his first meeting as a Board Member; almost 40 years to the day since he began studying in the same building.

Ngọc Đặng came to BU from Vietnam to study an MSc in Finance with Risk Management, and now works as a Vice President – Director of Sales for an educational consultancy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Since graduating with an MSc in Finance with Risk Management from BU in 2011, Alua Nurbayeva has gone on to build a career as an academic with an interest in entrepreneurship.

Having completed a degree in financial services at BU in 2002, Nathan Harris has recently returned to the region as a Partner with Strategic Solutions Financial Planners.

An internship at Deloitte in Moscow gave Boris a fascination with the opportunities that the finance world could offer him.

Roger Luxton’s career is testament to the fact that today’s qualifications can equip you for the jobs of tomorrow. 

Discover how a Master’s degree from Bournemouth University set Daniela Tumler on a path to an academic career in anthropology.

A 10-week internship gave sociology graduate, Jordan Lipman, the experience he needed to land his dream job in marketing.

Bournemouth University graduate and educationalist, Nhan Van Do, has made the national shortlist stage of the Study UK Alumni Awards, run by the British Council.

Kaustubh Phatak has drawn on the skills and experiences he gained during his MBA at BU to launch his own digital marketing agency.

BU graduate, Georgia Fearnley has launched a new website that encourages people to rent items they might otherwise buy and later get rid of.

Public relations graduate Lauren Martin is making a name for herself in the automotive sector, having won two awards for her work in the past two years.

We asked Maari to share why she chose to study at BU, and how her Master’s prepared her for what was to follow. Here’s her story.

BU graduate Nicolas Baxter is setting out to change the shape of the fashion retail industry with an online platform bringing together influencers, retailers and customers.

When Michella Rakotolahy Ep Ramarojaona enrolled on the MBA at Bournemouth University, she was looking forward meeting students from around the world.

Having become the first person in his family to attend university, Dean Pike has gone on to build a global career which has included living and working in Hong Kong for the past eight years.

Find out how Mine was inspired to study the MA International Marketing Management.

After completing the MBA course within a year with coursework, thesis writing and work placement Ciayi is now a digital marketing lead, brand and marketing consultant. 

Mark Arnold, Business Controller at Menzies Aviation PLC talks about his experience of undertaking and graduating from the Bournemouth University MBA.

In the seven years since completing his studies at BU, Charlie Ayling has progressed from a graduate scheme with Fujitsu to becoming the global technology company’s youngest serving marketing director.

In the three years since graduating from BU, Tyler Lee (he/him) has become a champion for diversity and inclusion in his workplace and beyond, resulting in a shortlisting for a national award. 

BU graduate, Scott Allen’s career journey is testament to the value of thoughtful planning and a clear focus.

Steve who works for manufacturing company EURAC Poole reflects upon his decision to study a business studies degree at BU turned out to be a sound one.

From an early entrepreneurial ‘side-hustle’ selling bikes online while studying for his degree, Colin Harrison has gone on to become Managing Director of his own digital marketing agency.

As International Publicity Manager for HBO, BU graduate Mikyla Baker manages the media interest in some of the biggest shows on television.

The recent lockdown has been a catalyst for creativity and new ventures. Joy Osula, who has used the experience to refocus her energies on building a business designing and making African-inspired fashion.

BU graduate Bukky Moemeke has combined her skills in marketing and a passion for sport to land a dream role with Premiership Rugby. 

Business studies graduate, Holly Bathurst, recently joined BU’s Global Festival of Learning in Vietnam to discuss how industry partnerships could support student employability.

As Director General for UK Visas and Immigration and Her Majesty’s Passport Office, Mark Thomson is at the forefront of delivering government policy relating to those visiting and staying in the country.

When Matt Lawrence decided to study at BU in the late 1990s, little did he know that it would begin a lifelong association with the university and region.

BU graduate, Alvin Mennie, is a big advocate of the value of work experience. Having completed his own work placement during his business studies degree, he is now supporting the next generation by offering internships to current students.

Business studies graduate David Richter went from BU to Director of Marketing at HR software company.

A work placement with IBM provided Steve Moss with the foundations for a career in HR management, which is about to take him Stateside.

A global sales and marketing company is growing its business with support from a pipeline of Bournemouth University graduates.

Ben co-founded a Germany-based digital agency, named a winner at the prestigious German Design Awards for three years running.

Before finishing their studies, Jordan and Jordan began writing the business plan for Viewscape, a company specialising in virtual reality and 3D modelling.

Business Studies graduate Matt is now putting his skills to use working on cutting-edge projects.

After graduating with a Business Studies degree, Leah has launched a career in marketing and communications at Renault, where she completed her placement year.

Three BU alumni are offering Londoners the inside track on the capital’s venues with an app loaded with video content.

Business Studies alumnus Rowan says the experiences gained on his placement with Rolls Royce were invaluable in his future career development.

BU alumnus turned entrepreneur, Ahmed Khalifa, is helping other business owners boost their online presence.

Within two years of graduating, Dan Abberley’s career has taken him across Europe with one of the world’s largest car manufacturers.

An internship gave Ewelina a chance to use her social media skills to support the expansion of Mr Lee’s Noodles, and provided a route into full-time employment.

CakeDrop is designed to combat ‘Colin the Caterpillar syndrome’ (same cake for every event) and to connect office workers with independent bakeries around London.

When Nick Jemetta was invited to share a story of overcoming adversity during a public speaking workshop, it unlocked a new passion to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental ill health.

A degree in digital media and a focused approach to work placements paved the way for Maxine Bremner’s future career.

A digital start--up launched by a BU alumnus and supported by a team of BU graduates is making a name for itself in the virtual events space.

Two BU graduates, Farbod Shakouri and Daniel Mosaid, co-founders of Phantom Tech have created software that can be used by developers to create AR apps that draw on real-world data.

Yukun Wang studied her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at BU and is now working as a technical director (FX TD) for Cinesite VFX Ltd in London.

Since graduating from the MA in 3D Computer Animation at BU in 2014, Jie Da has contributed to some of the world’s biggest film releases.

Tara impressed PlayStation London Studio with her graduate showcase, following 20 years with the company she is now Studio Head and has volunteered at the BAFTA Breakthrough and Limit Break programmes.

Niki Mahon graduated from BU in 2012. She has built a successful business selling – and now designing and making – jewellery and home accessories.

A BU alumna, who came back from being paralysed during her studies to walk across the stage to collect her degree, has launched a new online learning platform inspired by her recovery journey.

After a 30-year career with one of the world’s largest IT companies, Nick Gunn has turned entrepreneur with the launch of a new venture.

Maz Islam’s university experience helped him to discover a new sense of direction, culminating in a first class honours and a place on a prestigious graduate scheme.

IT graduate, Pete Hill, is part of the team behind a recent start-up, helping people to generate cryptocurrency from their unused computer power.

Since graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Business Information Technology in 2005, Luke has combined his interests in IT and entrepreneurial flair to forge a successful career in web development.

When BU alumnus Simon Denning launched a company to help take the hassle out of organising stag dos, little did he know that it would go on to offer career opportunities for other university graduates.

As all eyes rested on Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games this summer, BU graduate Becca Yih was part of the team bringing the action to life.

A placement year in Germany proved to be the start of a global engineering career for BU graduate Chris Sturgess.

Despite not getting the A-levels required to make an immediate start on his degree in product design, Ross Pascoe went on to achieve first-class honours and has since forged a career with leading names in the world of design and engineering.

Mate Kalan who works for manufacturing company EURAC Poole looks forward to continuing his part-time Master's qualification.

Since graduating from BU in 2000, Max McMurdo has built a career as a designer, upcycler, entrepreneur and TV presenter. 

After graduating from BU with a BA (Hons) Design Engineering in 2017, Helen Bermingham has gone on to work for Dyson, a leading UK technology company designing household appliances. 

After graduating in MDes (Hons) Product Design at Bournemouth University, Dominic Keeley has developed an enjoyable career in the design industry and still finds time to support those looking to move into the field.

Currently on secondment to the RNLI, Abigail is now working within their Innovation Team

Alice, who graduated from BU in 2015, now oversees design and development for Afripads, a social enterprise based in Uganda.

Hannah graduated from the BA (Hons) Industrial Design at BU in 2016, with her placement ultimately leading to a permanent role.

Camila originally came to Bournemouth from her native Colombia to improve her English, before enrolling on the BA (Hons) Industrial Design degree at BU.

A mechanical engineering graduate is helping turn people’s ‘small space’ dreams into reality as a design engineer for a new business start-up.

Gemma, who graduated in 2017, completed her placement with NATS and has since joined the company’s graduate scheme.

Bournemouth University graduate, Gemma Alcock, is shaping the future of search and rescue with pioneering research into the use of drone technology.

Charley works as a Freelance Producer and Co-Founder of COOC Productions, which she runs with fellow BU graduate, Oliver Deacon.

Josh Wright’s journey to becoming an award-winning creative in the television industry has been something of a voyage of discovery.

In just over two years, BU graduate Ed Brown has gone from working part time for a digital start-up to becoming its Business Director.

A BU student between 1991 and 1995, BA (Hons) Media Production graduate Rhian tells us about her various experiences working on BBC productions as we celebrate the centenary of the public service broadcaster.

After graduating with an MA in Radio Production, Gillian has worked in various media positions in the BBC before moving into her current role.

As a freelance TV producer, Will has worked for the BBC many times since graduating in 2009. He is currently working on his sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing as a Senior Producer.

Harrison is an Audio Creative with the BBC's in-house creative agency, BBC Creative, and has been a member of the department's audio team for over three years. Previously, he was a member of the Pop Hub Station Sound team at the BBC, where he has held Producer and Assistant Producer roles for a little under two years.

Having completed her Master’s degree at BU’s Media School in 2020, Audrey Wang has gone on to launch a career as a TVC Producer for Eagle Media in Shanghai. Here she shares her experience of studying at BU with fans and followers on social media.

BU graduate, Hawwah is a senior producer and presenter with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, where she draws on the skills and experiences gained from her Master’s in Multimedia Journalism at BU.

Ben Thomas studied BA (Hons) Television Production at BU and has since co-founded House of Ace Productions Ltd. He reflects on his BU experience and his career since graduating in 2019.

BU graduate, Charlotte Blake, has combined her interests in sport and the media to build a career producing televised matches and tournaments.

Rich Senior made his debut on the Doctor Who episode titled 'Let’s Kill Hitler'. He has gone on to work on major TV dramas including Poldark and Silent Witness.

A degree in television production from BU has helped Rianna Gayle to forge a career working on comedy and entertainment shows across some of the UK’s biggest channels. 

Margot Jackobson, gives us an insight into her journey since graduating from BA (Hons) Media Production in 2017. Read about her career and daily life as a successful freelance lifestyle and travel photographer.

As a Television Production student who graduated in 2018, Harley shares with us her journey in gaining professional experience and achieving success with the Salisbury NHS communications team.

BU graduate and 2021 30 under 30 finalist, Ollie Tunmore, is helping showcase the diversity of London’s drag scene with the release of his second documentary.

Having completed her Master’s degree at BU’s Media School in 2013, Xinyue Wang has gone on to launch China’s biggest new media platform.

BU graduate Mollie Finn describes the past few weeks since being announced as part of a new line-up of Radio 1 DJs as “the biggest rollercoaster of my life”.

As International Publicity Manager for HBO, BU graduate Mikyla Baker manages the media interest in some of the biggest shows on television.

Richard Queree, winner of the Charles Parker Prize was inspired to produce ‘Projectionists’ which has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s New Storytellers Series.

Matt Hopkins and Ben Lankester met on the BA (Hons) Television Production course back in 2003 and went on to launch Progress in 2010.

A Master’s in Cinematography for Film and Television helped Dan Brown to secure a job with his top choice of video agency.

John Rosser has built a career as a documentary editor which has seen him work on some of the biggest shows on television.

Read Alma's journey from MA Film Production to being recognised as one of the best freelance project managers in the UK.

Hear how Rich went from Bournemouth to Google with the skills he learnt at BU.

Nathaniel Hawley is a television production graduate turned social entrepreneur who is helping people with learning differences overcome barriers to employment. 

David Lassman is a BA (Hons) Scriptwriting for Film & Television graduate and is now a full-time writer and published author.

Oluwaseun Olowo-Ake decided to study BA (Hons) Media Production at BU to gain the knowledge and skills to forge a career in the media industry.

Find out how a PhD from BU opened up a professional and academic career in music production for Titas, scoring more than 30 films to date.

Vidyut Patra has worked with some of the leading companies in the media and entertainment industry in India.

Georgina Baker chose to pursue a career in social work after working in support roles in health and social care and is now training to become an Approved Mental Health Practitioner.

For Chynna Toovey, an adult nursing degree from BU helped to fulfil her ambition to forge a career helping others.

Georgina Baker chose to pursue a career in social work after working in support roles in health and social care and is now training to become an Approved Mental Health Practitioner.

Kate Williams completed her undergraduate degree in nursing from BU in 2008. Kate worked within health promotion before taking on a commissioning role. She returned to BU in 2022 to complete her return to nursing practice.

Roisin Cook is using the skills and knowledge she developed at BU to help people lead healthier and more fulfilling lives as a Digital Health Coach and Registered Nutritionist.

James Savage completed BU’s Return to Nursing Practice course, designed to support adult, children’s and mental health nurses who no longer have a ‘live’ registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council to return to the profession after a break.

Kwilole has used skills developed at BU to forge a career in healthcare communications and also lead a charity supporting children orphaned by HIV.

Jess graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Midwifery in 2020 and now works as a Midwife for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

James graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Nursing (learning Disabilities) in 2008 and is now an Advanced Clinical Practitioner with University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.

Chynna graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing in 2019 and now works as a Staff Nurse at Poole Hospital.

Nicola graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology in 2017 and now works as an Assistant Psychologist at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Abbie graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology in 2017 and now works as an Assistant Psychologist for an NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.

Donna Castle has worked on some of the UK’s best-known public health campaigns and lobbied to deliver significant changes in government policy.

As an SU President during the late 1970s, Dorset Institute alumnus Bruce Selby Bennett campaigned to deliver changes that would pave the way for the student experience we know today.

BU graduate Kym Provan decided to train for the legal profession after having a family, and has since pursued a rewarding career working for those affected by clinical negligence.

From conducting interviews as a magazine journalist to interviewing suspects as a police detective, Roy Kimber has used the skills developed at BU to lead a varied career.

The sleepless nights of early parenthood helped to inspire BU graduate and police officer Adam Smart to write his first book.

Ilgin began to research postgraduate legal qualifications at universities in the UK, as a means of improving her English skills and developing a global business perspective.

Find out how Arnesh was inspired to study the Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law.

A postgraduate law qualification has helped Keziah Gitonga pursue her passion for social justice by taking up a role with the British Red Cross.

Paul completed the LLB (Hons) Law and postgraduate Legal Practice Course at Bournemouth and is now a Senior Solicitor, specialising in family law, in Stowe Family Law’s Winchester office.

Ana had been working with Brazilian tax law for almost five years, but decided to take the LLM because she wanted to grow as a tax professional.

A BU graduate, who now works as an onboard photographer for whale shark tours in Western Australia, has been named British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023.

A diagnosis of dementia prompted Veronica Ashby to embark on a series of new learning challenges, which included completing a Master’s in The Green Economy at the age of 82.

A degree in politics, coupled with experience of working in the media, has helped Pétur Magnússon to build a career as a national broadcast journalist.

Bettina, from Denmark, applied to BU after deciding to travel overseas for her higher education.

A degree in politics from BU has ignited an ambition to work in campaigning for Guy Palmer.

Ayra Syamsul studied BA (Hons) Sociology and Social Anthropology and graduated in 2022. Here, she tells us more about what attracted her to the course and what she’s doing now.

Rose Green has pursued a career in helping others since graduating from BU and today is a Specialist Support Worker for The Liberty Project.

In 10 years since graduating from BU, Luke McMillan’s career has taken him across the world to support humanitarian efforts in areas affected by conflict and natural disaster.

Brian graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Protection and is now responsible for the protection and promotion of Hengistbury Head – a site of international archaeological importance.

Aakanksha Singh Devi completed a Master’s in Multimedia Journalism in 2009 and is now Associate Vice President, Content Operations at LBB (Little Black Book), one of India's leading online shopping sites.

Back in the summer of 2012, I started my BU journey as a fresh-faced, nervous 19-year-old. As a huge bookworm who loves writing, my degree choice felt right; I was enrolled on the English degree, excited to study my favourite A-level subject in depth and learn more about a subject that I loved. 

Gav Topley is drawing on his personal and professional experiences to lead ground-breaking research which could inform policy on the recruitment of under 18s into the UK armed forces.

From conducting interviews as a magazine journalist to interviewing suspects as a police detective, Roy Kimber has used the skills developed at BU to lead a varied career.

Donna Castle has worked on some of the UK’s best-known public health campaigns and lobbied to deliver significant changes in government policy.

A BU graduate is campaigning to make the web more accessible for those with disabilities with the launch of a new book.

As Doctor Who fans eagerly await the release of the new series in 2020, BU graduate Sheila Wickens is part of a team busy putting the final touches to the show’s visual effects.

If you’ve listened to commercial radio over the last decade or so, chances are you’ll have heard BU alumnus Chas Rowe (or Charles Rowe) reading the news headlines.

Learn how Amanda's degree was excellent preparation for all that she has gone on to do.

Journalism alumni Tracey Blake and James Pinniger have launched a business that connects student babysitters with families in need of term-time care.

Having started his first business aged just 14, it’s little wonder that Matt Hughes graduated from BU with a new venture as well as a degree under his belt.

BU alumna, Katrin Kolbeinsdottir, is celebrating a double milestone as she prepares to launch her debut novel entitled ‘The Skeleton Sisters’, one month after graduating.

Having forged a career in newspaper journalism, Penny returned to university to study MA Corporate Communications and broaden her professional horizons.

In just over ten years, Nick Cloke went from a work placement with Dorset Police, to returning as its Head of Communications & Engagement.

Sarah – AKA The Gluten Free Blogger – began blogging while studying Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University.

Marketing Communications graduate, Kyle Gouveia, loved studying in Bournemouth so much that he decided to stay and build his career in the area.

BU alumna, Poppy Hatrick, is currently working as a Publicity Assistant for Oxford University Press (OUP) in New York.

From providing mentoring to delivering masterclasses, Caroline Hopkins has maintained strong links with BU since graduating with a degree in public relations in the mid-90s.

A PR degree from Bournemouth University helped Abi Lepp fulfil a long held ambition to work in the entertainment industry.

Find out how BU public relations graduate, Vera Markova, is supporting the zero waste movement.

Within a year of graduating, Lucy became the Brand Manager for the UK’s number one-selling alcoholic ginger beer.

Psychology graduate Abbie Barnes is proof that, when it comes to launching your career, you get out what you put in.

Anahita Khalajabadi completed her BSc (Hons) in Clinical Exercise Science in 2019 and is now on track to become an occupational therapist.

Having volunteered to support the media team at AFC Bournemouth throughout his university studies, Tom Bennett has gone on to build a career in the top-flight of English football. 

A BU graduate who overcame personal difficulties to become a sporting world champion has published a book sharing her life story.

BU graduate Bukky Moemeke has combined her skills in marketing and a passion for sport to land a dream role with Premiership Rugby. 

Ekow Elliott and Beng’yela Ngwa, who met while studying at Bournemouth, launched Volta Sports, along with Ekow’s brother, Kobina, to help raise the ambitions of young people.

Every year BU supports talented sportspeople to excel in their studies and sport. As our class of 2019 prepare to gradate, we caught up with two former sports scholars to find out what’s next.

Ashley's determination and success is proof that with the right support anything is possible.

Having recently completed her degree in tourism at BU, Amanda Hauso Sandven is drawing on her skills and experience to run her own business.

Volunteering at the 2012 Olympic Games while studying at BU has led Eunjung Kim to pursue an academic career which is shaping approaches to volunteering around the world.

Having set his sights on joining a values-led organisation, BU graduate Micah Douglas is proud to be working for a brand on a mission to tackle modern slavery.

Marta talks about her experience as an international student and why Event management at BU was perfect for her. 

Tobi was drawn to Bournemouth University due to it being ranked as one of the top 20 universities in the UK for tourism and hospitality.

Murtala Alamai from Nigeria, talks about his experience of studying MSc Tourism Management and Marketing at BU.

BU alumnus Andy Stuart is celebrating 30 years with Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), where he has progressed from a UK-based sales role to becoming the company’s President and CEO.

Matt Symonds is Regional Managing Director for CH&Co, which provides the catering at more than 700 locations across the UK and holds a Royal Warrant for catering services to HM Queen.

Double BU alumna, Illana Smith, is bringing the tastes of Sri Lanka to the UK with a business selling spice kits to curry connoisseurs.

Find out how an MSc Tourism Management and Marketing course helped Yeyen gain new skills and a global perspective.

Angelique explains how her Master’s degree gave her more confidence, developed an undiscovered gift for public speaking, and helped her define her future ambitions.

Growing up on the island of Barbados inspired Bournemouth University graduate Jamie-Lee Abtar to follow a career in travel marketing.

A passion for travel and a desire to be her own boss inspired Emma Durkin to launch a holiday company specialising in Arctic and Nordic adventures.