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L-R: Mary Akugizibwe; Ujjaini Chatterji; Florence Marcus; Ana Maria Mojica-Millan; Dr Oleksandra Molloy

A shared foundation 

Connecting our winners is the shared foundation gained at Nottingham, an environment which enabled them to expand their ambitions, discover their purpose and develop skills that have helped them in their career journeys so far.

“Coming back to Nottingham gives me joy,” said Florence. “Remembering a place where I was empowered, remembering the place that shaped the work that I’m doing. The research I did here actually shaped what I am currently doing in Nigeria. Today I am considered a gender and social inclusion expert. All of this is because of the work I did in my dissertation and my study at Nottingham.”

“I learned a lot at Nottingham about the importance of continuous learning for teachers, so that kids can learn from the latest educational models from around the world,” said Ana. “Before my master’s, I thought the only way to improve education was on campus, in the field, teaching every kid. But here I learned that it can also be about the design of policies. It made me think about how to learn more about this, because now I don’t just want to make change in my hometown. It made me think bigger, not just in my organisation, but in the whole system.”

"When I came to study Human Factors at Nottingham, it really broadened my outlook," said Oleksandra. "I came from an aviation background and initially saw Human Factors quite specifically through that lens. But at Nottingham, I realised how widely those principles could be applied across different contexts. It opened a whole new window of opportunity for me.

"What I valued most was that the university didn’t just teach you academically; it taught you how to learn. It taught me to think critically, analyse problems, ask questions and look at challenges from different perspectives. Those are qualities you carry with you for life, both professionally and personally."

Passionate about making a difference

Our winners are making an impact across a number of areas, striving for change within their sectors, while also building their careers as leaders in their field. We asked about their priorities within the spaces they are working, and what changes they hope to see in future.

“We’ve all seen the current fast-moving pace of AI and technology,” said Mary. “Recently I was at the UN’s Global Dialogue on AI Governance, which was the first of its kind. There are few professionals in the sector of AI governance and policy and ethics, yet they are the most required. We need more professionals in that area to advocate for the interests of the most vulnerable, the humans before the tools, so that it does not negatively impact communities and the people we are serving. The international sector is also currently affected by the global financial crisis, and that has a direct impact on the most vulnerable communities. As leaders graduating from reputable institutions like this, we are challenged to go back to our countries and governments and shape policies that will influence a positive shift into more support to the most vulnerable around the world.”

“I’m currently working on political reform, ensuring that the political parties in Nigeria are inclusive when it comes to gender and social inclusion,” said Florence. “I believe that this reform, the work we’re currently doing, is going to open up opportunities and will lead to inclusion, especially for marginalised groups in Nigeria. What I would like to see in the future is full implementation of disability laws in Nigeria. I believe this will make the country a better place for persons with disabilities, especially when they are able to enforce these rights that are codified in paper.”

“The biggest change I would like to see in my profession is to have more younger women from diverse backgrounds coming in,” said Ujjaini. “I want to see them join me and work together in achieving the aims that we go forward towards because there is a lot of work to do in human rights law. There is immense opportunity in understanding and pursuing constitutional law jurisprudence, and that shall remain incomplete if we are not able to involve more women from diverse backgrounds.”

“In Latin America, in the Global South, the quality of education is low,” said Ana. “That makes the cycles of poverty and lack of opportunities repeat again and again. I hope that in 10 years, we can change that and give good opportunities to these kids. In my case, I want to finish my PhD and become Secretary of Education in my state and Minister of Education in my country, so I can change the system and give opportunities to the most vulnerable kids in my country. Education changed my life, and I want to replicate that for every kid in my town, in my country, in the world. You have to take advantage of those opportunities to help others.”

"I am passionate about using research, innovation and emerging technologies to strengthen defence and national security, and translating knowledge into practical solutions that can inform capability, policy and decision-making," said Oleksandra. "At the same time, I am committed to increasing the participation and leadership of girls and women in STEM, particularly across aviation and aerospace. As these fields continue to evolve, we need both innovative technologies and diverse talent to shape the future, and I want to help create the opportunities, visibility, and confidence for the next generation of women to not only enter these disciplines but lead them."

The meaning of being an award winner

For each of our winners, receiving the Your Nottingham Alumni Award is not just a personal recognition, but a celebration of the communities they serve. Their achievements reflect Nottingham’s ethos – empowering graduates to make a positive impact and inspire others, wherever their journey has taken them next.

“It’s a great joy to see that someone sees what you are doing and feels it is worth being celebrated, acknowledged and commended,” said Florence. “It’s not just for me, but for the people we are doing this work with, the people that we are doing this work for. I feel it’s a win for all of us.”

“I feel it is more than just being given an award, but also a sense of encouragement to continue the work I’m doing,” said Ujjaini. “It builds a renewed enthusiasm to once again go back to the field and do the work that I’m doing.”

"By accepting this award, I want to demonstrate to students the art of the possible," said Oleksandra. "I also want to encourage, particularly girls and women in STEM, to pursue these careers and remain courageous and curious – courageous enough to take opportunities when they arise, and curious enough to keep learning throughout their journey."