Leeds alumni in 2025

Celebrating Leeds women 

From trailblazing record breakers to pioneering scientists, we shared six stories to celebrate International Women’s Day – as well as your tributes to inspirational Leeds women. Read about: 

• The trailblazing DJ – After recovering from bowel cancer, Adele Roberts (ND Pharmacology 2000) is making the most of a second chance at life.  
• The cancer researcher – Dr Sigourney Bonner (Human Physiology 2014) established Black in Cancer to tackle inequalities in both cancer research and treatment. 
• The Paralympic hero – A doctor once warned that Laura Sugar (Sports and Exercise Science 2012) would never be able to do sport. At Paris 2024, she retained her title in the para canoe 200m sprint event. 
• Your tributes – “I felt very privileged and blessed to learn from the best.” You shared your tributes to women at Leeds who made a difference to you.

Hundreds of alumni volunteers fly the Leeds flag in China 

Our Chinese alumni demonstrated their love for Leeds when they spoke with prospective students at events in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.  

A record number of volunteers - nearly 300 - helped us share why the next generation of students should study at Leeds. Meet them, and read how they made a difference to those following in their footsteps

Celebrating 10 years of IntoUniversity 

The University has celebrated 10 years of partnership with a programme supporting young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Leeds.

Alumni support has helped IntoUniversity centres offer a safe space for young people from the least privileged neighbourhoods across the UK to learn, explore and succeed. Find out more about the celebration

Thanks To You: you ignite the spark

Our Thanks To You magazine celebrates the impact of the alumni and supporter community.

From scholarships helping students most in need, to gifts enabling innovation and enterprise, your support makes remarkable things happen.

Explore some of the stories from the 2025 edition, including:

• An encounter on Dragon's Den
• How a student start-up used AI to improve X-ray diagnosis
• Alumni volunteer and Vogue’s chief critic Sarah Mower MBE shares her experience of studying at Leeds
• How a pioneering wellbeing programme is providing vital support to Leeds students.

100-year-old film transformed the University 

This year marked the 100th anniversary of a major University fundraising campaign which led to the most significant legacy we have ever received.

The 1925 campaign – which included our first fundraising film – urged Yorkshire folk to dig deep. Lord Brotherton's £100,000 gift to the appeal funded our magnificent library. Read more and watch the film in our Brotherton Circle Newsletter 2025, which thanked those who have pledged a gift to the University in their will. 

The Wedding Present return to Leeds 

On their 40th anniversary, The Wedding Present ignited an LUU stage for a concert to mark the occasion with many alumni in the crowd. Listen to a special podcast episode as lead singer David Gedge (Mathematics 1981) talks about life in Leeds in the late 70s, the inspiration for his music, and 40 years of life in an indie rock band 

Meet the Leeds Pride 25 

From artists to academics, writers to data scientists, activists to business leaders, members of the global Leeds community have long been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ progress.   

For Pride Month 2025 we celebrated 25 pioneering LGBTQ+ individuals and allies from the global Leeds community who have inspired others, helped bring about lifechanging laws, and been firsts in their field.   

Meet the Leeds Pride 25

Volunteers' Week 2025

Volunteers’ Week was a chance to celebrate the incredible people who have supported Leeds this year.

From speaking at offer holder events in China, to hosting reunions, to supporting others through mentoring, explore the diverse ways alumni and supporters are making an impact

Laidlaw Library turns 10  

The University’s youngest library is now a decade old. Thanks to the 2,300 alumni and supporters who contributed to the Laidlaw Library’s £26 million cost, the library has made a huge difference to the experience of thousands of students. Discover 10 fascinating facts about the Library 

Leeds alumni and Live Aid – 40 years on 

Live Aid's 40th anniversary took place in July, and we delved into our magazine archive for a special feature from 2010.

Live Aid Event Co-ordinator Pete Smith (Sociology 1974) describes the negotiations and near-disasters - including levering Paul Weller out of the opening spot because Bob Geldof insisted that Status Quo open with Rockin' All Over The World - as we discover how he helped galvanise the world's approach to aid

Yorkshire’s finest - have you visited them all?

In August, we asked our alumni to share your favourite spots in the county to celebrate Yorkshire Day.

From mountain summits to perfect villages, enjoy our global community's favourite places in Yorkshire - a place you'll always belong, no matter where you go in the world.

Jack Maitland: the man behind the medals 

Triathlon coach Jack Maitland still remembers the moment he was introduced to 14-year-old Alistair Brownlee. He recognised that there was “something different” about the Yorkshire lad. 

In the years that followed, Jack oversaw a period of unprecedented success as Head Coach at Leeds Triathlon Centre, and helped transform athletes like Alistair into medal winners. Discover his journey to become triathlon’s super coach

Remembering the Duchess of Kent

When the Duchess of Kent’s death was announced in September, tributes flooded in from scores of Leeds alumni, academics and supporters.

The Duchess was the University’s longest-serving Chancellor, but during her tenure she also secretly became a primary school music teacher in Hull. 

We pay tribute to her in the latest Leeds magazine

Fifty years of the Edward Boyle Library 

In 1975, the doors opened to the Edward Boyle Library – then named the South Library – a brutalist structure which divided architectural enthusiasts yet soon became an iconic part of the Leeds campus.

To celebrate the milestone read Leeds alumni memories from the ‘Eddy B’ – and take the opportunity to share your own 

University alum becomes President of Ireland  

Catherine Connolly (MSc Clinical Psychology 1981) became the country’s 10th president after Irish voters went to the polls on Friday 24 October.

Read more about Catherine’s journey from studying at Leeds to becoming head of state 

Leeds in the USA

Our new Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Shearer West hosted popular receptions in New York City and San Francisco. She called for all our alumni across the USA to play a part in the University's vision for the future. Guests learned about exciting research at Leeds in health tech, climate and sustainability, the arts and creative and cultural industries.  

Our San Francisco event proved once again that magic moments happen when we get together. Sixty years after last seeing each other in Leeds, Derek Bell (Electrical Engineering 1964) and Bryan Street (Chemistry 1962) were delighted to catch up with each other. 

Mount Everest record-breaker returns to campus 

After conquering Everest for the 19th time, the world’s most successful expedition leader Kenton Cool (Geological Sciences 1994, Hon LLD 2018) returned to campus to speak to students about life on top of the world.  

Read about how he honed his climbing skills in Yorkshire, what it’s like to reach the summit of Everest, and how life has changed in recent years on the mountain.