Alumni news

Sunshine break sparked major new TV drama

It was while lying on a hotel sunbed in the Canaries that author Louise Doughty (English 1984) came up with the idea for BBC drama Crossfire, which follows three families caught in a terror attack at their resort.

The series, starring Keeley Hawes, is Louise’s first venture into TV scriptwriting, though her best-selling seventh novel Apple Tree Yard was adapted into a hit 2017 BBC series. 

“Crossfire is about ordinary people caught up in an extraordinary situation and how they behave,” says Louise. “Some behave more heroically than others; some are able to think things through calmly and others behave very impulsively. I hope that viewers will be forced to think: what choice would I make, and would I be capable of choice or would I behave entirely on impulse?” 

An Icon in Vogue

Multidisciplinary creative artist Eniafe Momodu (Economics & Philosophy 2019) was recently profiled by Vogue magazine as part of their Youthquake series, which spotlighted Generation-Z artists, musicians, actors and designers from across the world who are “radically reimagining the future” through their “boundless self-expression”.

Eniafe, who works predominantly in the fashion and creative industry in Lagos, Nigeria, is described by Vogue as a 'style icon', known for wearing colourful, eye-catching fabrics shaped into dramatic silhouettes. “What I wear isn’t really about how I look,” he tells Vogue. “I’m far more concerned what a garment says about me and what it says about culture, gender, sustainability and other facets of our society.”

Weaving a new future

Cousins William Gaunt (Textile Management 1988) and John Gaunt (Textile Management 1998) have been instrumental in breathing new life into the Victorian mill which has been in their family for six generations.

Founded in 1829, Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, west Leeds, has been re-invented as an exciting new work, leisure and arts space. It is now home to more than 90 companies as well as restaurants and an art gallery.

Sunny Bank’s rich archive safeguards the history of the mill, preserving the traditions of weaving through a vast collection of textiles, objects and stories. “We’ve restored 100-year-old looms which were originally from the University – and now run weaving courses on them,” says William. “These are the very looms which I learned on, all those years ago.”

Bradford’s new Chancellor

Celebrated broadcaster Anita Rani (Broadcasting 2000) has been announced as the University of Bradford’s next Chancellor. Anita, who was born and raised in Bradford, said the accolade was the “biggest honour of my life so far”, and added her time at Leeds “gave me so much”.

The Countryfile presenter will be installed to her new role in spring 2023. She added: “Who would have thought that a girl from a Punjabi family who grew up in Bradford would one day hold this position?” Anita wrote about her upbringing in her debut book, The Right Sort Of Girl, which was published last year and became a Sunday Times Bestseller.

Helping students connect

An app developed by Georgia Wheadon (Geography and Sociology, Industrial, 2019) is helping students make new friends and thrive during their time at university.

Umii enables users to tailor their profile to include information on their course, their interests, and their membership of various societies, to encourage meaningful matches with others. Each profile is verified by the student’s university to assure users that all members are genuine.

Leading the Society

Renowned author and psychologist Nicky Hayes (Psychology 1975, MEd 1981) was elected President of the British Psychological Society in July.

Following her graduation, Nicky had a spell as a social worker before training as a teacher and being among the first to teach Britain’s newly-introduced psychology A-level in the early 1980s. She was a key figure in the establishment of the Association for the Teaching of Psychology, which remains the UK’s main provider of professional development for teachers of pre-degree psychology.

She has served on a number of examination boards, taught research methods to students at undergraduate, Master’s and doctoral level – and has written more than 25 books on different aspects of psychology, including general textbooks and “teach yourself” guides.

Safer spacecraft

As a Surface Engineer at SpaceX, Juan Flores-Preciado (PhD Mechanical Engineering 2010) is a key figure in Elon Musk’s satellite communications and space exploration group.

At Leeds, Juan’s research project developed coatings to protect engineering components and infrastructure from both corrosion and erosion. With a responsibility for coatings, tribology, lubrication and corrosion, he now channels that expertise into protecting spacecraft for the Californian company whose long-term goal is to colonize Mars.

 Molecules of research 

Founded by two Leeds doctoral graduates, bio-technology firm the Aptamer Group develops molecules for research, diagnostics, and medicine. 

It was while researching at Leeds that Arron Tolley (PhD Molecular and Cellular Biology 2010) and David Bunka (PhD Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 2003) recognised the need for molecules that could plug the gap where antibodies were unsuccessful or failed to perform correctly. 

Their company develops synthetic antibody alternatives called Optimer Binders and works to enable life sciences advances with partners including Cancer Research UK and large pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca. 

The recent expansion of their premises at York Science Park and a 40% increase in staff numbers are clear signs of their continued success.

By Royal Appointment

As Communications Secretary at Kensington Palace, Lee Thompson (Politics and Parliamentary Studies 2009) is responsible for the public image of William and Kate – their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales.

Appointed just two months before the death of the Queen, Lee took up the role after a spell as Vice President of Global Communications and Strategic Partnerships at media and entertainment group NBCUniversal. He had previously spent six years with the group’s business news network, CNBC.

Samaritan’s honour

The work of long-serving volunteer Monica Wyatt (Interpreting: British Sign Language 2009) was recognised with a special award to help mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June. Monica has volunteered with the Samaritans for nearly 37 years, providing life-saving emotional support to people who contact their helplines. She has also volunteered in the field of mental health and in the deaf community.

The Queen’s Jubilee Awards were made to 490 people nationally, celebrating outstanding volunteers who make a difference every day.

Jane's football success

For almost 25 years, Jane Bateman (French and German 1987) has been one of the most senior women in English football.

As The Football Association’s Head of International Relations, Jane has built networks across European and global football, taken a key role in bids to host major tournaments, and delivered programmes harnessing the sport’s power as a vehicle for social change.

She is now the International Relations Lead for the joint UK and Ireland bid to host Euro 2028. In addition, she is a Trustee of the National Football Museum which works to preserve and promote the heritage of the game, and a Trustee of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation, which supports victims of conflict worldwide.

Geology and life

Geologist Catherine Russell (PhD Fluvial Sedimentology 2017) was awarded a prestigious Fulbright-Lloyds scholarship to investigate the deep impacts of the human-modified landscape on day-to-day living in New Orleans.

She investigates the properties of man-made rivers when compared to natural systems, and the consequences of our activities on reservoir water quality. Catherine adapts traditional geological techniques to modern environments and investigates how plastic behaves as a sedimentary particle.

Charging forward

 As boss of EO Charging, one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of charging solutions for electric vehicles, entrepreneur Charlie Jardine (Design 2013) is helping create the infrastructure for a transport revolution.

With the UK ending the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 – and the recent rapid increase in the cost of fuel – there is already a growing need for individual drivers and company fleets to transition to electric.

Based in Stowmarket, Suffolk, but with a growing international reach, EO works with companies such as Amazon, Tesco and DHL, designing and installing chargers and cloud-based management software to help them support their own growing fleets of electric vehicles.

Sheriff Michael

As High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Michael Copestake (Law 1973) holds a title originating from before the Norman Conquest – and is entitled to wear this splendid regalia.

The original “Shire Reeves” enforced the King’s interests, notably in tax collection and law enforcement, their notoriety immortalised through the tales of Robin Hood.

Today, the High Sheriff is an unpaid Royal appointment for a single year – and corporate lawyer Michael is one of 55 serving in counties across England and Wales. They support the work of the police, probation, prison and emergency services and other agencies involved in crime prevention, particularly among young people. “Many parts of Derbyshire suffer from low social mobility,” said Michael, who is focussed on giving presentations to school children on careers and aspiration.

MP’s business role

Nusrat Ghani (MA Politics and International Studies 1996) was among the first appointments made in September by then Prime Minister Liz Truss. The Conservative MP for Wealden was appointed as Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, a role she retains under new PM Rishi Sunak. A former Government Whip, Nusrat was previously at the Department for Transport. Before politics, she worked for charities Age UK and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and for the BBC.

Poet’s honour 

Ian Duhig (English and History of Art 1987) has been awarded the £15,000 Hawthornden Prize for Literature for his New and Selected Poems. The book draws on material from 30 years’ work by the Leeds-based poet, with themes of community and family, racism and justice, place and folklore, music and language. 

Ian said he was “truly elated” to hear of the award: “It’s a real boost, and now I’m pushing three score years and ten, an encouragement to keep writing. I would like to think it is also an encouragement to other writers who started late, like me, to feel they can still grow and learn and be recognised for that.”