For Alumni, By Alumni

My experience as a Cardiff newbie – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 22 January 2024 by Alumni team

Nori Shamsuddin (LLB 1998) is a mother, self-proclaimed poet, hopeless romantic, and freelance writer. Here, she reflects on her experience of travelling to Wales for the first time from her home country of Malaysia, and her memories of settling in as an international student.

Running for your life – what running can do for your mental health – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 20 November 2023 by Alumni team

George Watkins (BA 2018) is a seasoned Cardiff Half Marathon runner and former Mental Health Officer at Cardiff University. In 2018, 2019 and 2022, he ran for #TeamCardiff, fundraising for vital Cardiff University neuroscience and mental health research. Here, George shares his journey with running and his own mental health.

Is this gap year really ‘well-deserved’? Or is that just post university imposter syndrome talking? – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 28 September 2023 by Alumni team

New graduate Lucy Robertson (BA 2023) reflects on her time as a student, and the idea of taking a post-university gap year instead of heading straight into the world of work.

What the Eisteddfod means to me Beti George (BA 1960) – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 26 July 2023 by Alumni team

Beti George (BA 1960) studied Welsh at Cardiff University and is a renowned Welsh broadcaster of television and radio. Beti shares her childhood memories of the Eisteddfod, and talks about what it, and the Welsh Language means to her.

What the Eisteddfod means to me Rhys Hughes (MA 2017) – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 25 May 2023 by Alumni team

Rhys Hughes (MA 2017) graduated with a master’s in Welsh and Celtic Studies, before embarking on a PhD in Arizona, USA. Having grown up in Wales, he shares his memories of the National Eisteddfod and how he stays connected to his Welsh roots whilst far from home.

From acting in the Sherman Theatre, to Professor at King’s College – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 23 May 2023 by Alumni team

We spoke to Professor David Mosey CBE (LLB 1976) about student theatre, football, and the law degree that led to his distinguished career: from Trower & Hamlins Solicitors, to King’s College London, to a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List 2023 for services to the construction industry.

Campaigning for excellence not empire – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 20 April 2023 by Alumni team

Simon Blake OBE (BA 1995) has spent the last thirty years working for organisations that tackle social justice, equality and stigma. He is now spearheading a campaign to break the link between the UK Honours system and Britain’s legacy of colonialism, to make it more inclusive.

What the Eisteddfod and the Welsh language mean to me – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 14 March 2023 by Alumni team

Dr Matt Jones (MA 2017) moved to Cardiff from Connecticut with a desire to immerse himself in Welsh culture and the Welsh language. During the 2018 National Eisteddfod held in Cardiff Bay, he was able to truly engage with this culture and see the language in full flow.

Lifting, talking and standing tall – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 23 February 2023 by Alumni team

Mental health professional Paul Regan (BN 2016) wanted to find a way to help men open up about their mental health. After teaming up with friend and fellow alum Charles Needham (BSc 2008), together they developed Stand Tall, a non-profit bringing free exercise and mental health seminars to their local community.

Completing my PgDip whilst living with Endometriosis – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 12 September 2022 by Alumni team

Nickie Broadbent (PgDip 2022) is a Neonatal Medicine graduate who was diagnosed with Endometriosis in 2014. She shares her experience of completing her degree during the pandemic whilst managing her condition, the benefits of remote learning, and her advice to others who may be experiencing Endometriosis.

From surgeon to tech CEO: why I pivoted my career to help save the NHS – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 20 April 2022 by Alumni team

Dr Owain Rhys Hughes (MBBCh 2005) is an ENT surgeon and successful healthtech entrepreneur, whose initiative Cinapsis is helping tackle the current NHS backlog crisis and reduce burnout across the healthcare workforce. He shares his experience of pivoting a career, the importance of collaboration and how making real change is possible.

How we can eat our way to a healthier planet – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 15 March 2022 by Alumni team

Steve Garret (MSc 2009) is the Founder of Riverside Real Food, weekly food markets that promote fresh, sustainable and local food. Steve is a passionate food activist and an award-winning social entrepreneur. Here, he explains why it’s important to eat locally and the benefits of shopping at local farmers’ markets.

Let’s talk about global polarisation: For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 15 February 2022 by Alumni team

Alexandra Chesterfield (BA 2003 and PGDip 2004) applies behavioural science to her work, to improve outcomes for individuals, organisations and societies. She works as the Head of Behavioural Risk at a successful bank and teaches as a guest lecturer at Jesus College Cambridge. Alexandra’s new podcast, Changed My Mind, and her book, Poles Apart, both examine and address the increasing polarisation occurring across the globe. Here she explains why this is such an important topic, and why now more than ever, is the time to talk about it.

From midwife to radio presenter – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 24 January 2022 by Alumni team

Lizzie Romain (BMid 2014) is a midwife at a private maternity hospital in London, but she’s always battled to balance her midwifery career with her more creative side. Just before lockdown in March 2020, she joined her local community radio station in West London and is taking the leap in 2022 and transitioning into a full-time career in broadcast.

Inspiring the next generation of scientists – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 23 November 2021 by Alumni team

Wendy Sadler MBE (BSc 1994) is the founding Director of science made simple – an award-winning social enterprise that offers science shows to schools and families to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Currently Senior Lecturer in the School of Physics and Astronomy, throughout the pandemic, Wendy has been working on a project called ‘Our Space Our Future’ which aims to increase the number of young people choosing careers in the space industry.

The value of a degree in humanities – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 20 October 2021 by Alumni team

Tim Edwards (BA 2005, MA 2007) is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at QS Quacquarelli Symonds, but his career path was far from pre-determined and he had no idea what he wanted to do when he first stepped onto campus as a religion and theology student. He explains how studying a humanities degree opened him up to a wealth of new experiences, a successful career, and life-long confidence in the skills he learned at Cardiff University.

Empowering rural communities through palliative education – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 18 August 2021 by Alumni team

Dr Abhijit Dam (MSc 2014) is the Hon. Medical Director at Kosish, the first rural hospice in India since 2005. He pioneered developments in palliative care and created a course for young women in rural communities, teaching them to provide palliative care for the elderly and terminally ill.

Life lessons from Leonardo da Vinci – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 14 July 2021 by Alumni team

Rose Sgueglia (BA 2008, PGDip 2009) is a writer, journalist and marketing consultant based in Cardiff. She founded Miss Squiggles, a digital magazine and content agency and her work has been published in GQ, La Repubblica, Yahoo and WI Life. Here she describes the unexpected life lessons she learned from a man who lived over 500 years ago.

Why being a School Governor is so rewarding – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 23 June 2021 by Alumni team

When Richard Ayling (BA 1968) retired from the business world, he still wanted to put his skills and experience to good use and discover a new way to contribute to society. Here, he describes the challenging and highly rewarding path he found himself on after applying to be a School Governor.

Why I joined a start-up (and why you should too) – For Alumni, By Alumni

Posted on 13 May 2021 by Alumni team

Alex Moir (BA 2018) is a marketing executive who, after graduating and working in bars in London to make ends meet, landed his dream job by taking a chance on a start-up company. Here he explains why he thinks start-ups can be a great way to get your career going.