Five Years of the 30(ish) Awards

Five years ago, we set out to celebrate Cardiff alumni making waves – the disruptors, innovators, change seekers, mischief makers and boundary breakers.

Since then, we’ve received over 1,000 nominations (and counting) and recognised 150(ish) standout winners from 22 countries and 21 nationalities.

Think you or someone you know belongs in our next cohort of 30(ish) alumni? There’s still time to prove it – make your nomination before the 21 June 2026.

As we mark our fifth year of 30(ish), we caught up with some of our past winners to see where their journeys have taken them.

Will Hayward (BScEcon 2011, MA 2017)

Columnist at The Guardian, editor of The Will Hayward Newsletter, and author exploring politics, place, and public life.

30(ish) winner in 2024

“Since I won the award my media company has grown significantly. We now have over 11k subscribers, premises, and several members of staff. I also just released my third book. “Who Cares About Wales”.

It all feels quite surreal to be honest. Even now the fundamental skills I honed at Cardiff Uni are still being used every day as part of my journalism.”

Roha Nadeem (MA 2022)

Sports anchor and journalist, championing inclusive storytelling and amplifying under represented voices in sports media.

30(ish) winner in 2024

“Looking back, I’m proud to say I’ve been busy with my podcast and digital content. Currently I am working on the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and creating cross-platform content around it. A couple of months back I started working with Wisden – one of the UK’s biggest and most credible cricket platforms. It’s been such a thrill exploring how to bridge connections between Pakistan and the UK through cricket and storytelling. My live sports show on PTV Sports, Pakistan’s state network, has also been keeping me busy.”

Jack Collard (BSc 2021)

Co-Founder of British Roundnet and Senior Planner at Lichfields, combining sport innovation with urban planning.

30(ish) winner in 2022

“Since being part of the 30(ish) awards in 2022, my volunteer work leading British Roundnet has continued to thrive. We successfully hosted the 2024 Roundnet World championships in Surrey with a team of 30, with 800 athletes attending from 34 countries. The sport has grown as a result, and we have just signed a sponsorship deal with FatFace to help promote our sport even further at both the grass roots and national team level.

I am also still very much using my degree from Cardiff University in my day job and became a chartered town planner with the Royal Town Planning Institute in February 2026.”

Sheilla Mamona (BSc 2016)

ITV News Trainee with a growing career in reporting and on screen journalism.

30(ish) winner in 2022

“Since receiving my 30(ish) Award, I’ve secured a place on the highly competitive ITV News Traineeship, as one of 12 selected from thousands of applicants. I’ve since begun producing and reporting for television, with multiple pieces broadcast, and continue to focus on telling stories that better represent people of colour in mainstream news. It’s been a really exciting step into TV journalism, and I’m really excited to see where it takes me.”

Sagnik Basu (MA 2019)

Creator and Executive Multimedia Producer at The Washington Post, supporting innovative, creator led approaches to journalism and storytelling.

30(ish) winner in 2024

“I am now the Executive Producer at the Washington Post, helping them figure out all things multimedia on the opinions side. There is a growing acknowledgment within the mainstream/legacy media to change their tactics to stay relevant, in the age of the creator economy. My job is to be a sherpa in that transition. I also make my own content on Instagram which establishes my new media presence. I am passionate about carving a new career for myself, which has only been done by media entrepreneurs – the executive who is also a creator. I like to create and I will always do so while helping other people and companies.”

He (River) Huang (MA 2013)

Co-founder of PingPong Digital Ltd, using visual storytelling to explore culture, identity, and global perspectives.

30(ish) winner in 2023

“Since receiving the award in 2023, it’s been a period of strong momentum and expansion for me and PingPong Digital.

A milestone I’m particularly proud of is partnering with Cardiff University (my own uni!) as a key client, leading its Chinese digital marketing and student engagement strategy.

Over the past two years, we’ve also broadened our scope beyond higher education, working with brands such as Uber Eats and LNER to help them better reach and resonate with Chinese audiences.

Most recently, we’ve been building the next chapter of the business – taking our expertise in cross-border marketing and applying it in reverse, supporting Chinese companies as they expand internationally with tailored, market-specific strategies. It’s been an exciting journey of scaling, diversifying, and redefining what cross-cultural marketing can look like.”

Maleena Awn (MSc 2017)

Director of Operations at Meridian Maritime Services Ltd, leading strategic operations in the maritime sector.

30(ish) winner in 2025

“It’s been an incredibly fulfilling couple of months since the 30(ish) Awards last year. I’ve had the opportunity to help drive an international collaboration between an educational body and a youth maritime association, with the intent of creating greater access to learning, networking, and opportunities for young maritime professionals around the world. Seeing its impact has been especially rewarding.

I’ve also had the privilege of mentoring students of the university, following paths similar to my own during my time at Cardiff. Supporting and encouraging students as they navigate their studies and early careers has been a genuinely meaningful full-circle moment. It’s been a humbling and exciting period of growth, learning, and collaboration, and I’m looking forward to what the years ahead will bring.”

Sam MacGregor (BSc 2020) and Danni Diston (BA 2019)

BBC Radio 1 DJs promoting culture and creativity through broadcasting.

30(ish) winners in 2024 and hosts in 2025

“Penblwydd Hapus 30ish awards! It was such an honour to be named as winners in the Journalism & Media category in 2024, and we were absolutely delighted to be asked back in 2025 to host the event! Cardiff University holds a special place in our heart as the first place we ever did a radio show together. Since winning the award, we’ve hit lots of dream milestones. From broadcasting our usual Radio 1 Weekend Afternoon show live from Glastonbury festival to spending summer 2025 hosting the famous Drive Time slot (Going Home) on the station. We have no plans to slow down any time soon! The 30ish Awards is a really fun evening and it’s super special getting to hear the amazing things that fellow alumni have achieved whilst bonding over a love for Cardiff.”

Feeling inspired and want to join the exclusive gang of 30(ish) winners? Apply to the 2026 awards before 21 June.