Pride of Hertford

PRIDE OF HERTFORD: A SNAPSHOT OF ALUMNI TALENT We all know Hertford is a special place - PRIDE OF HERTFORD: I like to describe it, to each wave of freshers, A SNAPSHOT OF as the friendliest of Oxford colleges and that they are about to become members of a ALUMNI TALENT community that lasts for life. We are proud of our alumni; what they do and have done. So here is our celebration of the men and women who today’s students will join.

Our fellows are engaged in cutting-edge research across the kaleidoscope of disciplines; and Hertford alumni are spread across the globe working in all manner of institutions and organisations, with each person making an impact in a variety of ways. In a university that boasts world leaders, Nobel laureates, and even a dozen saints among its alumni over the centuries, each and every Hertfordian is carving out their own distinctive path.

Every one of you has a story to tell. Pride of Hertford is a small snapshot of some of those individual stories, about their background before Oxford, how they shaped the life of the college whilst here, and how their time at Hertford has influenced their career paths.

Pride of Hertford forms part of an ongoing living storytelling project, HertFolk – www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/hertfolk – that continues on the college website. There you will find more stories and fuller articles about our alumni, and you can contribute your story to the project by emailing [email protected].

4 5 Wanda Wyporska Tom Bashford 1997 1998

Wanda came to Hertford in 1997 to study for a Tom read Biochemistry at Hertford, before completing a Masters in Languages, and later DPhil in Modern graduate-entry programme in Medicine in London. He European History. She is now Executive Director is a specialist registrar in anaesthesia and critical care of The Equality Trust – the national charity at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and an Academic Clinical that campaigns to reduce social and economic Fellow at the University of Cambridge, with an interest in inequality for a fairer society. improving anaesthesia care in low income countries.

HISTORY & LANGUAGES BIOCHEMISTRY

I was lucky to have been mentored King’s Arms, ensured a balance of Here at The Equality Trust we are I applied to Hertford from a South good place. Academically strong terrifying, and I thought that was a by Professor Norman Davies at work, rest and play. In the summer of campaigning to reduce inequality, London technical college, as but not overbearing, friendly, good basis for an interesting life. the School of Slavonic and East 1998, when I awaited the outcome because the evidence shows that in my struggling (now deceased) irreverent, grounded. It gave me the European Studies, London, where I of my grant application to embark on societies with higher rates of income comprehensive had lost its sixth best of Oxford: lifelong friends, an During my junior medical training I gained a first-class honours degree my DPhil, I realised that I would have inequality, we see higher rates of form several years previously. This understanding of what academia spent a year with VSO working in in Polish Studies. He recommended been devastated had I not continued physical ill health, infant mortality, might imply ‘access programme’ looks like when done well, and the Ethiopia. This set the course for the I apply to Hertford for the Starun with my studies here at Hertford. mental ill health and incarceration. success, but as with all caricatures it confidence that comes from realising rest of my career which has focussed Senior Scholarship, but as for so We also see lower levels of social doesn’t paint an accurate picture. I’d that most successful people have no on how to improve anaesthetic many before me and since, it was In 2013, I published Witchcraft mobility, child wellbeing, and huge always been bewitched by the idea real idea what they are doing. care in low-income countries. I’m really Simpkin who clinched it for in Early Modern Poland 1500- health inequalities. We campaign of Oxford as an escape from Tooting. interested in how complex systems me. As an historian, I was drawn to 1800, which was shortlisted for an for cross-governmental inequality Interviews in December heightened On leaving, with an adequate degree deliver healthcare, and how these the beautiful buildings and sense of award. After Hertford, I worked at reduction strategies, legislation the agony of expectation. It snowed. I and a clear conviction not to become can be designed or re-engineered place; grand, yet not grandiose. the TUC on lifelong learning, was and transparency on pay ratios and was put up in a beautiful room in OB a biochemist, I worked briefly for to improve that care. I’m now at responsible for equality and diversity more progressive taxation. We are quad. Everyone I met was awesome. the Royal Society before enrolling another university, which is slightly During my first year studying for at the Association of Teachers and also the UK convener of the global I found in the King’s Arms my spiritual on a graduate entry course at St younger and further east than Oxford, a Master of Studies in Research I Lecturers, and campaigned on Fighting Inequality Alliance, we work and victual home. I was utterly, George’s Hospital Medical School pursuing a PhD in Engineering and enjoyed the various social events anti-bullying, sex and relationships with the Organisation for Economic irrevocably, hooked. The letter that in London. St George’s is in Tooting; completing my clinical training. I spend organised by the MCR and exchange education, homo-, bi- and Co-operation and Development fell through the mat on Christmas Eve this was disappointing. The course as much time as possible working dinners, which naturally I had to transphobia, and poverty. This was and politicians from all parties. I’m was heart-stopping. was otherwise ideal, and I left with a alongside the charities Lifebox and attend as the Bar Steward. Hertford’s excellent preparation for taking up delighted that we are also working much better degree in Medicine than Addenbrooke’s Abroad, who are close proximity to my beloved the role of Executive Director at The on school and college resources on Of course romanticism is a poor basis I achieved in Biochemistry. I headed dedicated to making a tangible Duke Humphrey’s Library, the Old Equality Trust. inequality, supporting teachers and for a relationship. Luckily Hertford off in the direction of Anaesthesia difference to safer surgery and Congregation House café, and the young people to challenge inequality, was, and remains, a fundamentally and Critical Care because it’s anaesthesia in their partner countries. because inequality is not inevitable. 6 7 Sherard Cowper-Coles Zoë Lee 1973 2004

Sherard Cowper-Coles is Group Head of Public Affairs Zoë had two ambitions for 2016: to complete her PhD for the HSBC banking group. After Hertford, where he and make her Olympic debut. She achieved both, read Classics, he spent over 30 years in the Diplomatic passing her PhD in March and winning silver with the Service, ending up as Ambassador successively to women’s eight at the Rio Games. Israel, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. He was knighted in the 2004 Birthday Honours.

LITERAE HUMANIORES GEOGRAPHY

I didn’t choose Hertford, but Hertford School above Beirut, which Nasser unpleasant Al Qaeda campaign. At 16 I was preparing myself for college rowing and the university with trialling for the Olympic team. chose me. It could not have turned had called the ‘British spy school’. My three final jobs all related to a career in sports physiotherapy. development rowing squad in my Thankfully I was successful in both, out better. There were some But we were evacuated from there Afghanistan – a beautiful country, While at sixth-form college, though, second year. Rowing was a really finding out that I had passed my PhD misgivings. On the day I arrived, the and I spent the rest of my time whose people had suffered and still I decided I was more interested in different type of team sport. on the same day that I helped qualify Dean had put a note on the college learning Arabic in London, Syria and suffer terribly, from too much foreign playing sport than learning about it, the British Women’s eight for the noticeboard headed simply ‘VOMIT’, Alexandria. Postings as a political intervention for too long. I was so and found geography and geology to In my third year I went to Tunisia as Olympic final. under which he had typed ‘I wish officer in Cairo, Washington and Paris pleased that Brad Pitt, who stars in be much more engaging. Eventually, part of my course to study deserts. I to see less of this around college in followed, interspersed with jobs in War Machine (about the misguided encouraged by good AS levels and recall standing on top of a sand dune. What I think makes Hertford special future’. But things soon picked up. I London, and later head of the Hong US intervention in Afghanistan), read my principal, I decided to apply Looking around all you could see is that the sense of community is tried almost everything, at least once, Kong department in the run-up to my book about it, and came to see to Oxford, where I initially visited was sand – it was unforgettable and absolutely college wide. When I and met so many people the likes of the handover in 1997. Then, in 1999, me in London for a briefing. Hertford, which coincidentally was I wanted to learn more! This without decided to apply, I knew that the whom I had never met before. I was pulled out early from a dream holding its open day. Straight away I doubt made me determined to pursue interview process would be tough posting to Paris, to work as head of When in 2002 a letter reached me in knew this was the college I wanted to a PhD looking at the movement of and that hundreds of equally able When it came to the afterlife, I always the office for the Foreign Secretary, Israel from Walter Bodmer saying that apply to. Without studying at Hertford, sand grains by the wind. students would be applying for a knew that I would love the Foreign Robin Cook. He was a difficult, but I had been elected to an Honorary I wouldn’t have started rowing, and place. But instead of letting this Office. I spent more than 30 very talented man, of whom I became Fellowship, I thought it was a wind- without that I wouldn’t have become My life changed when I started unnerve me, I tried to show the happy years there. I was offered a very fond. I then learnt Hebrew, and up. But it wasn’t, and I am so glad, an Olympic silver medallist. training with the senior GB team. I interviewers my personality and choice of learning Arabic, Chinese went as Ambassador to Israel during because it has enabled me, in a small had to be available constantly to train demonstrate that even if I didn’t have or Japanese, and chose Arabic, out the second Palestinian intifada – a way, to start repaying my debt to an I was determined to get a Blue in with the squad, cramming research all the answers I was intrigued and of vanity and ambition, because difficult but professionally very institution where I spent four of the netball. But after watching my friends into any spare time. Although busy wanted to learn. You never know I thought I could be ambassador interesting time. I was then sent happiest, and most productive and race in Summer Eights, I realised I and stressed, the two complemented where life might take you and it is in more countries. I was sent to to Saudi Arabia, for four years as stimulating, years of my life. wanted to row too. I found myself each other well. I had to balance much more fun if you’re enjoying the famous Foreign Office Arabic ambassador during a particularly balancing work with university netball, having my PhD ready for submission every moment. 8 9 Lucie Burgess (neé Whitford) Julian Whitehead 1993 1963

A student of the legendary Neil Tanner, Lucie read After reading Modern History as a Baring Physics at Hertford. Combining her studies with Founder’s Scholar, Julian went into a career in an active interest in digital strategy and consulting, military intelligence, after which he worked with Lucie went on to manage the strategy for the British Historic Royal Palaces. Now retired, he combines Library. She moved closer to Hertford, working at the his undergraduate passions with his professional Bodleian, and now works as Head of Personal Data experience as a writer. for the Digital Catapult.

PHYSICS HISTORY

I was always fascinated by the Convention on Climate Change, and open science. I championed I was one of the very lucky Committee, where I was fortunate Kensington and the Tower of London. natural world, how things worked, I worked for Arthur Andersen in digital innovation at the Bodleian and generations who had their university enough on different occasions The job combined my knowledge of and the mysteries of the very large London as a business analyst during persuaded the University to invest fees paid for by the state and, having to meet and chat to the Prime security, with working in surroundings and very small, so studying Physics the dot com boom. I left to join in Bibliotech, an e-book distribution got an Oxford degree, was able to Minister, and various Cabinet of major historical importance where seemed natural. I had Neil Tanner Xilerate and spent a year investing platform. get a job with little difficulty. In my Ministers. I also acted in two Hertford I could indulge my lifelong interest in and Robin Devenish as tutors, who in exotic businesses like music pods case I was particularly fortunate plays, one of which was performed history, which had been developed were incredibly supportive and had in clubs, early progenitors of gaming In 2015 I began studying for an MSc because I was accepted by Hertford at the Playhouse. at Hertford. brilliant, inspiring minds. In the first sites and an online pharmaceutical in Computer Science at Birkbeck as a Baring Founder’s Kin Scholar. year, our play Three More Sleepless exchange. In 2006 I applied for a College. Studying in the evenings The College was rather basic when After Oxford I joined the Intelligence In retirement I combine intelligence Nights made the final of Drama role as Head of Strategy at the British while working and raising a family I went up in 1963, with no running Corps where I had a wide variety of and history by writing about the Cuppers at the Burton Taylor Theatre, Library where I led the development has been an enormous challenge but water for most staircases. Although interesting jobs mainly relating to history of intelligence. My first book which involved carrying an entire bed of the Library’s 2020 vision, a I’ll soon submit my thesis. In 2016 I a financially poor college, it retained the Cold War and counter-terrorism. was Cavalier and Roundhead Spies along Broad Street. The second year glimpse ahead to the knowledge joined the Digital Catapult as Head a certain style and the cutlery in hall I left the Army in 1998 having been and my most recent book is Rebellion involved many sleepless nights with systems of the future. of Personal Data and Trust, and later was solid silver. I read History and Chief of Staff of the Intelligence in the Reign of Charles II. I live in a people who are now lifelong friends, led the Digital Health strategy. The was fortunate to have Felix Markham Centre and then Deputy Director of village near Woodstock, so I am in and a summer in the Clarendon Lab Then I heard that the Bodleian was last year has been tremendously and John Armstrong as tutors who Defence Security. Following a spell easy reach of the Bodleian where I firing a laser at various wafer-thin recruiting a new Director of Digital stimulating; developing projects with both certainly had style, and would in industry I ended up with what was suspect I spend more time now that I materials. I won a scholarship, a and I was absolutely thrilled to get small companies working in emerging offer Madeira at tutorials. Oxford for me a perfect job of being Security did as an undergraduate! prized First, and the Atmospheric, the job. I was immensely proud technologies from artificial intelligence gave me the opportunity to have so Advisor at Historic Royal Palaces. Oceanic and Planetary Physics Prize. to be awarded a Senior Research to the Internet of Things. It also gives many experiences. These ranged My office was at Hampton Court Fellowship at Hertford in recognition me the chance to advocate for the role from a bit of rowing, the Officers Palace overlooking the Thames, but After working with the Secretariat of the research I led into digital and talents of women working in the Training Corps, and being a member I was also responsible for a number for the United Nations Framework preservation, open scholarship dynamic world of technology. of the Conservative Association of other wonderful palaces such as 10 11 Norman Perrin Emily Rayfield 1948 1993

A student in post-war Oxford, Norman came to Emily originally thought of reading Fine Art at Hertford as a Maths scholar, later switching to Oxford, but soon changed her mind and came to Engineering Science for his Finals. He went on to a Hertford to study Biological Sciences. Following career in the RAF, rising to the role of Air Vice Marshal a PhD in Cambridge, she has embarked on an and President of the Ordnance Board. academic career as a palaeontologist, and now works around the world in this field. She is also dedicated to promoting diversity in the scientific community.

ENGINEERING SCIENCE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

After five gruelling days of exam in a few weeks’ time when I had Missile Systems Engineer, and finally I originally wanted to study at the Palaeontology is not the dry and agenda. The percentage of ethnic papers, and an interview which dealt reached the age of 18, he asked what to Ordnance Engineer. A career that Ruskin School of Art, but I eventually dusty subject it was once perceived minorities, individuals from lower with many aspects of my life – but benefits had accrued. This brought me to Air Vice Marshal and settled on applying to study to be. My research has focused on socioeconomic groups and those not at all with the academic subjects culminated a week or two later President of the Ordnance Board. Biological Sciences. The Hertford the use of new technologies; using who identify as disabled reaching the – I was offered a scholarship to in being singled out for a special prospectus stated that the college X-rays to image the internal anatomy upper echelons of academia in STEM read Maths at Hertford, although I dessert at dinner: a solitary banana After retiring in 1986 I took was interested in female applicants of fossils and engineering analysis to (science, technology, engineering would eventually study Engineering was borne in on a silver charger. a job as the Director of the from northern state schools who reconstruct extinct animal functions and mathematics) subjects has Science. There are many anecdotes Telecommunications Engineering would like to study science. At that and evolutionary history. After yet to reach double figures. The about such interviews but the item So how did those three years and Manufacturing Association. point my mind was made up. I still completing my PhD and postdoctoral percentage of female Earth Sciences that stuck in my mind was when, contribute to the rest of my life? They The industry was burgeoning and recall the moment I opened my offer positions and fellowships in Oxford, professors has only recently reached towards the end, I was asked if I was enabled me to grow up in a mature it involved a whole new learning letter from Hertford, and the floods of Cambridge and the Natural History the double-digit mark; the situation ‘musical’, I blithely replied that, of culture that encouraged a flexible experience. I later became Secretary tears that followed. Museum, London, I arrived at the is worse in other physical sciences. course I was, because I had played approach to problems and General of a European confederation University of Bristol in 2005. All figures except gender diversity the bugle in the Boys Brigade. This situations when a change of direction of national associations who were We were told back in the early 90s have remained depressingly static produced a burst of merry laughter was needed. I learned that whatever embarking on their own version that biotechnology was the next My work takes me around the world, over the last ten years. There is and I left wondering whether that the context there is always someone of liberalisation in the face of big thing for biosciences. Lectures, to exotic locations, exciting fossils much more that needs to be done to was a good thing or bad. nearby who knows more than determined interference by busybody courses and practical sessions on and interesting people. I now engage encourage and foster diversity within yourself about problem-solving. That EU Commission staff plus( ça change). vertebrate evolution and anatomy, future generations of earth scientists the sciences. It’s a privilege and a On arrival, my ration book caused approach was to serve me well in That activity lasted for some nine to however, fostered my latent interest and palaeontologists in my role as challenge to be in a position to strive the bursar some anxiety, being my later RAF career, where over the ten years until I finally retired for good, in whole organism biology and lecturer, supervisor and mentor. I also for change and fight for others to have blue rather than the standard buff course of some 35 years I migrated to enjoy my life of bridge, crosswords, the biology of extinct animals – serve on the councils and executive the opportunities I was offered at the colour. Reassured that it would be from would-be Civil Engineer to and following Liverpool FC. palaeontology. committees of learned societies start of my university career. exchanged for the grown up version Aeronautical Engineer, and thence to and help steer their diversity 12 13 Eugenie Reidy Jurek Martin 2001 1960

Eugenie started at Hertford at the beginning Jurek read Modern History at Hertford, where he also of the millennium reading Archaeology and pursued an active interest in cricket. After graduating, Anthropology. Since graduating, she has been he moved to the US, initially as a teacher, before committed to international development and embarking on a career in journalism. He received an outreach with indigenous peoples. OBE in the 1997 New Year’s Honours. He now lives in Washington DC, and still writes for The Financial Times... if it doesn’t interfere with his golf.

ARCHAEOLOGY & ANTHROPOLOGY HISTORY

Struggling to choose between art After Hertford I went on to do a and particularly education has been. I arrived in Hertford in 1960 as a to which I had become addicted, my approach to writing, something and science, and wanting to travel masters degree in the anthropology It is heart-breaking to befriend and Meeke Scholar. My main tutor, ‘Felix’ with cricket, at which I’d been that brought me recognition in the and see the world, my eighteen-year- of development at SOAS (University encourage incredibly smart young Markham the Napoleonic scholar, reasonably good. It was this clipping form of two British Press Awards, old self learned through a better- of London) and then worked in people only to realise how much was already a legend in his own time. that Gordon Newton, fearsome editor though nothing like the 15 minutes informed friend about ‘Arch and Anth’. international development with a stands in the way of them getting The weekly sessions with him were a of the Financial Times, was reading of fame my wife and I enjoyed by It was a trigger for looking seriously focus on indigenous peoples. In the education they deserve, and minor art form, as he lisped ever more before interviewing me for a vacancy. becoming the first western couple to at Oxford, and Hertford – one of South Asia the highlights of this were a reminder not only to grab all the wetly, leaning further back in his chair He looked up and said ‘what’s a dance in public with the Crown Prince the few colleges that offered the staying with indigenous families on chances Hertford and Oxford offer, but until we all wondered when it would double play?’ Briefly I thought he and Princess, now the Emperor and course and which had a reputation the banks of India’s River Narmada also to embrace the spirit of sharing finally tip over, which it never did. was referring to something financial, Empress. In 1986, I was appointed for being a more down-to-earth and and touring a travelling children’s them as broadly as possible. about which I knew nothing, so I told foreign editor in London, the only less ‘powerhouse’ environment cinema in Pakistani Kashmir after I went straight from Oxford to him what it meant in baseball. He other job, apart from Washington, than others. In a spartan room in the 2005 earthquake. Then I worked I’m now based in Sydney, working for California because I was 21 and asked how a pitcher could make the to which I aspired, the spider in the OB Quad I couldn’t sleep before for NGOs in East Africa, with dusty, a fantastic foundation called Jawun wanted to get out of England. In three ball swerve and dip. I screwed up a middle of a marvellous web of well the interview, convinced I couldn’t happy stints of fieldwork living with that supports Aboriginal communities, years there I was a teacher, salesman piece of paper and demonstrated over 100 foreign correspondents possibly have read or learned enough nomadic pastoralist communities, including sending skilled people to and bartender, but I also started assorted grips. He said, you’ve no and staff. to be a serious candidate. Then in a before spending several years in the Aboriginal organisations that burst writing about all the wonderful things qualifications to join the FT, but wood-panelled study high above the Nairobi-based UNICEF regional office. with ideas and dedication but lack I’d seen and experienced (it was, you’ve just explained baseball to I was lucky enough to live in a golden cobbles, two professors drew me into This was a whole new education, not professional or technical capacity. after all, California in the 60s, sex, me better than anybody else, you’re age of newspaper journalism which is an almost conspiratorial discussion just in fascinating and fragile contexts Those people are corporate or drugs and rock’n’roll and much more hired, I’ll make you a journalist. on life support today. I am old school on Incan warfare psychology and like Somalia and South Sudan, but government employees who in turn besides). One, for my old home town in the sense that I believe journalism sacred Ganges oil lamps – leaving me in policy and bureaucracy too. Living get a re-education in Australia’s history, newspaper, the Berrows Worcester I spent time in New York, Washington, is a craft, not a profession. At my best I absolutely hungry for more. in Africa was also an education, not culture and identity. Journal, proved pivotal to my future and London. Next came Tokyo for was a pretty good plumber. least in what a rare privilege my life life. It was about comparing baseball, four years. I had to be innovative in 14 15 Ewen Maclean Lena Thu Phuong Nguyen 2006 2005

Attracted to Hertford by chance, Ewen studied Physics Lena read Oriental Studies at Hertford before going as both an undergraduate and a DPhil student. on to do further study in International Development. Having studied in Switzerland as part of his research, Following voluntary work in Vietnam and a position he is now based there permanently at the Large at UNICEF, she now freelances as an international Hadron Collider at CERN. development consultant.

PHYSICS ORIENTAL STUDIES

Oxford didn’t give me a great vibe at explained that I’d actually come for by the European Organization for I grew up in Poland, the daughter the support of Bjarke Frellesvig, job with UNICEF, which continued first. Coming from a rural state school the science open day, but if it was Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva. of Vietnamese immigrants. We and always felt there was a lot of for the next six years, taking me on in Scotland applying to uni down alright I’d still like to have a quick I spent three years in Geneva arrived in Warsaw on the eve of attention devoted to each student different assignments to various South wasn’t a particularly natural look around the quad. `Nonsense!’ completing my DPhil. I even got to the collapse of the Iron Curtain. academically and personally. I countries, ranging from researching choice, but my Dad and I had driven was the response: I had to join in be in the main auditorium at CERN Fifteen years later, Poland joined remember at one of the Orientalists’ the implementation of children’s down for the science open day and some of the Hertford activities too! as the Higgs Boson discovery was the European Union, and suddenly drinks, perhaps towards the end rights while based in the hills of I’d devoted the morning to checking Sure enough I soon found myself announced, and though my contact applying for a university in the UK, of my second year, a tutor asked Tuscany, to supporting external out some colleges I’d picked from ushered onto a guided tour of the with the college was much less than and perhaps even Oxford, became a whether I still did creative writing – communications in Thailand and the prospectus. college buildings, and on my return as an undergraduate, support was real possibility. something we talked about during the Philippines, to overseeing was introduced to Dr George Ducas, always there if needed. my admissions interview. a public financial management Hertford had made it onto my one of the physics tutors at Hertford, I attended a state school, where, support programme for the social shortlist of colleges by virtue of who was about to lead a tour around After finishing my DPhil I did a though teachers were extremely After Hertford, inspired by my welfare ministry in Myanmar having one of the largest number the university department. postdoc with the University of supportive, there was little by way of dissertation research on inequalities (Burma). Earlier this year I moved of physics tutors listed in the Manchester, and then returned to resources to help us write personal faced by the children of rural-urban to Berlin with my husband and I’m prospectus. It rapidly set about It was actually Dr Ducas who Geneva where I’m now working statements, navigate UCAS, or migrants in China, I went on to study now freelancing as an international demolishing my first impressions of introduced me to the field I work through a CERN Fellowship and prepare for admissions interviews. International Development. From development consultant. This gives Oxford. As I approached down Catte in now – particle physics – which I studying nonlinear-dynamics in Needless to say, I did not know there, I took a delayed gap year me the flexibility to pursue my other Street it became apparent some sort initially studied for my MPhys and the LHC. Looking back it’s funny to how to choose a college, but from in Vietnam, where I got involved interests (such as creative writing). of revelry was going on. A banner later for my DPhil. For this I was think I would be somewhere totally the first day I felt that the friendly in a project documenting how eventually appeared proclaiming lucky to get the opportunity to study different if a friendly student and and inclusive Hertford was home. schools in disadvantaged districts it was also the Herford College beam-dynamics in the Large Hadron tutor hadn’t shown me around a Hertford didn’t have a tutor for managed funding from international Open Day. Inside I was met by a Collider (LHC), the highest energy Hertford Open Day. Chinese Studies but I always had organisations. This then led to a cheerful student, to whom I hesitantly accelerator in the world, operated 16 17 Lucy Davenport-Broder Rob Williams 1991 1983

Lucy was initially nervous to apply to Oxford, but a From an early age Rob wanted to work in degree at Herford in English coupled with an active international development, and his college education extra-curricular life set her up for a career on the and experiences helped to equip him with the stage. She subsequently studied at the Royal Academy necessary tools to make a difference. He is now Chief of Drama and Acting and now pursues a busy life as Executive at War Child, a charity dedicated to helping an actress and voice-over artist based in Los Angeles. children affected by conflicts around the globe.

ENGLISH JURISPRUDENCE

I almost didn’t apply to Oxford at being heckled by school parties, every way possible because I’d been I applied to Hertford from inside of a was the boat club. I rowed in my first day I use the skills I learnt at the boat all. My fiercely Mancunian school or ‘sleeping’ in the rain in Exeter taught to work hard, always to strive family drama. My parents had gone year, was Captain in my second year club. Being men’s Captain allowed experience made me fear that such Gardens as Titania. to be better and to embrace risk. bankrupt and separated. We were and President of the club in my third. me to practice recruiting rowers, places were for posh people only – a suddenly homeless and I ended up I decided that I wanted to get as getting them the boats and coaches terrible reverse snobbery. But I came After Hertford, I went to the Royal In 2006 my husband and I moved to living with my grandparents. This many people on the river as possible, they needed, agreeing targets and down on a field trip and fell in love Academy of Dramatic Art (having Los Angeles, where we still are, now wasn’t the worst hard-luck story in and did! celebrating successes. with the place. There was a feeling of survived my last Hertford Final with two children (Ella and Louis), the world but enough to leave me it being somewhere where ideas and and my final audition for RADA, and a diversified career in both on- feeling precarious. Although I had So how much of that is helpful at Most of my career has been in aid, life were happening. scheduled on the same day). Two screen acting and voice-over work. no clear expectations of Hertford, War Child? Our job is to help children which is what I wanted to do at the weighty and stubborn institutions I have worked with some people on the interview turned out to be the caught in war zones. We run schools age of 18. I’ve worked with great I will be forever grateful to my years faced off – who would budge? my bucket list – Martin Scorsese, most intriguing conversation of my in refugee camps. We help child teams to respond to the Rwanda at Hertford for pushing me to my Well, in the end, I went into Jay Roach – and I’ve done a lot of life to date, and the offer letter that soldiers to leave their militia groups genocide, the Angolan civil war, limit – academically, physically (all sequestration with the Junior Dean ditch digging in-between (I’m very followed felt like a doorway to a and go back to their families. We Afghanistan, Sudan and now the Syria those night sessions!) and even of Hertford, who accompanied good at dying in several different much better place. provide psycho-social support to tens conflict. I was not a leader when I providing me with an informal career me to my audition in London and accents). I have just finished editing of thousands of children a year who came up to Oxford and I could easily training. I did over twenty plays whilst then returned to sleep over and and performing in the world premiere I studied Law. I knew already that have fled shelling, bombs and piles have missed that part of myself. at Hertford, including long summers write my paper at Julia Briggs’s of my husband’s play, Our American I wanted to be an aid worker but of rubble. But Hertford gave me a chance to doing open-air Shakespeare. This house the next day. It was quite the Hamlet, at the Commonwealth international development was not discover it. Whilst my tutors made me proved an invaluable preparation for transitional moment. Shakespeare Company in Boston. I offered as a degree subject in 1983. Hertford taught me how to work think, the college boat club gave me the rigors of the life of an itinerant know I wouldn’t have been on that From the stupendous amount of seriously hard, and the lawyer’s a chance to lead. Most of all, Hertford player. I shall never forget lying on Hertford gave me the scaffolding stage but for the hours spent in the reading required, I did learn how to eye for the big issue helps to figure gave me a lifeline from a difficult the stage at the Oxford Playhouse on which to build a career, and it Rad Cam or in Julia’s armchairs. spot the important bits, and that’s out what to do first in a crisis. More family situation. as the seemingly dead Juliet and had stretched and challenged me in been really useful. And then there obviously, as a Chief Executive, every 18 19 Bahi Ghubril Katie Targett-Adams 1989 1997

Born in Lebanon, Bahi studied Engineering Science Katie read Medieval & Modern Languages at Hertford, at Hertford, before embarking on a career in finance but felt her true calling in life was as a musician. She and as an entrepreneur. His company, Zawarib, is now pursues a busy life of music-making out of her rapidly becoming one of the most important travel and base in Hong Kong which sees her perform across mapping services in the region, and he maintains active Asia and further afield, including at Hertford where involvement in the financial sector as a consultant, now she was involved in the centenary celebrations of the dividing his time between London and Beirut. Bridge of Sighs.

ENGINEERING SCIENCE MEDIEVAL & MODERN LANGUAGES

I was born in Beirut, but spent my in various SMEs and personal For me, the work I now cover with My father gave me the middle name box outside of college as I was also One performance I will always school years in England before projects, along with pursuing an my company Zawarib combines my ‘Emma’ after his Cambridge college, preparing for my Finals. However, my treasure will be the Centenary successfully gaining a place at acting career that I keep up on the passion for my country, my skills in Emmanuel; when I wrote to the parents advised me to call back, and Celebrations of Hertford Bridge. Oxford to read Engineering Science. side to this day. In 2010, I launched presentation (and so acting) as well college asking if my five Scottish the rest is history. The college invited me to give a At Oxford I spent my extra-curricular Zawarib, a Lebanon-based mapping as financial acumen and engineering Highers would be accepted there, I concert before the black tie dinner time getting to know a wonderful service that has become the main experience to create projects that are received a disheartening response. My next break came after graduating, celebrations. It was a huge privilege array of characters from all walks of reference point for what to see and meaningful, engaging, adventurous, As my original dream faded away, when I was spotted singing and to let the echoes of my voice and life and nationalities, by participating places to go. audacious and passionate! All things Hertford opened the door to my playing at Stirling Castle and was harp fill the wooden walled room in in the various student activities that that Oxford helped me develop and own unique university experience invited to perform in Nanning, OB Quad, blending memories of a the University allows, from rowing I am inspired by people that set their celebrate. at Oxford. I appreciated Hertford’s China, by an embassy official. I student Oxford with my professional to acting to language clubs, science own agenda, creating a lifestyle welcoming attitude to diversity, which subsequently learned Mandarin, life. The following day’s performance societies and the Oxford Union. and objective (as well as evaluation In addition, I have set up a financial was palpable on day one as a fresher. made easy by my Hertford training, in the marquee ended up with dancing measures) that are self-created and consulting company in the UK, There is no ‘typical’ Oxford student and I am now based in Hong Kong. alongside Will Hutton, Hertford tutors, After Oxford, I embarked on a career not a copy-paste of something they based out of my flat in Covent at Hertford; just real people from all It turns out that there aren’t so many staff, supporters and friends - surreal as portfolio manager and investor believe they ought to be/follow. To Garden, which works with investment walks of life. harpists from Scotland singing in and wonderful all at the same time. in various banks and financial that end, individuality combined boutiques, family offices, small or Chinese across Asia, and so I found institutions in the city, which I with professionalism and dedication starting up hedge funds in analysing My passion for studying languages my professional niche, providing Recently I was approached by a supplemented with a variety of other to your own values and objectives their management structure, and didn’t equip me with a clear sense a cultural link for ‘East meets television director after a music projects. These ranged from theatre is of the utmost importance. It is advising on process, personnel, of vocation. My career path became West’. I have performed at many performance in Shanghai. She asked productions, launching a magazine invigorating to see in others and and often trade ideas and clearer when I was offered the governmental, diplomatic and British me to coach the Miss Universe China and record label, taking time off, infectious to all. That is what drives investments that make sense to opportunity to sing and play my harp royal events and given solo concerts candidates in performance skills on spending a year in Rome as well as me and inspires me. them or their clients. in Washington DC, an invitation I to thousands of people in China. the show. I am also now a fully-fledged time in Beirut, personal investments initially declined from the red phone British etiquette tutor in China. 20 21 Kerensa Jennings Athol Williams 1989 2015

Kerensa read Modern Languages at Hertford before Athol studied for an MPhil in Political Theory, focusing forging a diverse and successful career working for on the responsibilities that economic institutions have BBC and HRH Duke of York, as well as becoming a to promote social justice, especially in societies with the bestselling author. enduring effects of historical injustices. He now dedicates his life to fighting social and economic injustice, and has founded Read to Rise, a charity providing educational opportunities for children.

MODERN LANGUAGES POLITICAL THEORY

Going up to Hertford was the most to opportunities. Giving someone a Today I work at Buckingham Palace For the first 24 years of my life I money, I lived homeless in Boston justice and economic development intimidating and amazing thing I had chance in life is enormously valuable as Director, Office of HRH The Duke lived in poverty under Apartheid in until I managed to convince the in South Africa. Just as books and ever done. Neither of my parents had as is igniting a spark of interest that of York, and I run the newly launched South Africa, a system of complete university to create a scholarship for education had set me free, I set out A-levels or had gone to university, nor can help someone to realise their full digital equivalent of The Duke of race-based oppression, enforced me. In addition to MIT, I went on to to offer disadvantaged children a indeed had anyone from my family at potential. This is what fostered my Edinburgh Award, called The Duke violently and supported by its earn masters degrees from Harvard, similar opportunity. I founded Read to all, so when I made it, it took a little own lifelong love of literature. of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise beneficiaries. But I found freedom LSE, London Business School and Rise which distributes new books to while to get used to the idea. Award. Previous career highlights in books. I read whatever I could Oxford. In my autobiography, Pushing children and delivers a programme The texts I devoured as a student include being Programme Editor of find, with encyclopaedias and Boulders: Oppressed to Inspired, I that seeks to inspire them to read. From the age of 12, I had my heart set developed my flourishing passion Breakfast with Frost coinciding with dictionaries my favourite because describe how, knowing of my dream I believe that inspiration is a vital on Oxford after my headmaster had for poetry. I was particularly intrigued the life changing events of 9/11; my of the range of topics they covered. to study at Oxford, my younger element of education because an said to my parents ‘Kerensa’s a very and touched by the works of Rainer time as the BBC’s Election Results And I dreamed that I would study at brother bought me a university inspired person can rise above their bright little girl. If she works hard, I Maria Rilke. Indeed my fascination for Editor; and spending five years as the the best universities in the world, a jacket. I vowed that I would only obstacles. I know this first-hand. believe she could go to Oxford.’ his work features heavily in my debut BBC’s Head of Strategic Delivery. wild fantasy considering that I was wear the jacket once I was an Oxford To date we have worked with over novel, a psychological thriller called receiving an education designed for student, and I held onto that jacket 50,000 children. Looking back I can hardly believe SEAS OF SNOW. Likewise, my thesis If I could have a word with my manual labourers and that my high for 17 years before I could finally wear how life has unfolded since then. was titled ‘Persecution and Revenge nervous, anxious, insecure school was shut for months at a time it in 2015. In every possible way, While at Hertford my political I’m a bestselling author, professor, of the Innocents’, a psychoanalytical eighteen-year-old self, I would tell owing to political unrest. coming to Oxford and Hertford has theory studies focused on the role strategist, TV producer, and an study of Grimms’ fairy tales. My her life would be full of challenges been a life-long dream come true. that corporations ought to play in executive coach. I credit my time interest in archetypes and themes and difficulties, but also untold I acted upon this dream and promoting social justice. This pursuit at Hertford for so much of what I of good and evil was cultivated at opportunities. And I would quote persevered relentlessly. When I got After a successful international will form an important component have gone on to achieve. My time Hertford and again, this is the Rilke: ‘Life has not forgotten you, it accepted to study at MIT in the US, I business career, I retired from of my teaching, advisory work and as a student opened my eyes to the silver thread that runs through will not let you fall.’ begged for money just to get a flight business at 40 to dedicate my writing. wonder of the world, to possibilities, SEAS OF SNOW. there. Knowing no one, and without remaining years to supporting social 22 23 Gautam Patel Grace Newcombe 1999 2008

Gautam completed a Masters in Biochemistry Grace originally thought of studying Medicine at at Hertford and now works as a senior policy university, but the award of an Organ Scholarship manager in India for scientific research to at Hertford combined with a degree in Music has inform poverty reduction. He works closely with led to a career as an Early Music singer, ensemble government officials across India in implementing director, and researcher. effective poverty alleviation policies.

BIOCHEMISTRY MUSIC

The first night at Hertford I was notes, mind-maps, and advanced reducing poverty, so that policy is While I was still at school, I couldn’t for friendliness and openness. I was During my three years directing the daunted and tearful after my parents to scheduling weekly peer-group informed by scientific evidence. In quite bring myself to choose between delighted to be selected as the new choir and studying music, I found left. The Sutton Trust had originally discussions. My tutor was sharp, the same way that medicine has music and medicine. Studying Organ Scholar for Hertford’s excellent myself drawn further and further brought me to Oxford for a summer always to the point, and seemed benefited from nearly two centuries medicine was something of a craze in chapel choir. Musical direction and down the rabbit hole of ‘Early Music’, school the year earlier, which to enjoy extending the famed of scientific trials, the development my school-year, and an astonishingly organ playing is still something of partly due to Oxford’s thriving Early convinced me that hard work can individual one-hour Oxford tutorials sector has two decades of high proportion of my friends made a man’s world, and female organ Music scene. Eventually, thanks to overcome hardship. My first year at to two-hour: a mentally agonising randomised evaluations to measure the sensible decision to keep their scholars are a minority. This isn’t the combination of my academic Herford was a rush of trying to keep experience. This gave me a way to impact and cost-effectiveness. musical skills as an evening hobby, the boys’ fault, of course; it’s largely training at Oxford and my practical up, fuelled by cornflakes, bottled learn that out-lasted the chemical Where there is commitment, and to become doctors. I’m sure my due to England’s wonderful but experience as an organ scholar, I was pasta sauce (with anything), and not stench of the organic chemistry we work with governments and parents were quietly hoping for the rather one-sided tradition of child in a position successfully to apply to much sleep. laboratories. implementation partners to scale- same decision from me. choristers in cathedrals. I was proud the world’s leading conservatoire for up evidence-based approaches. to represent a college that chose the performance and study of Early I was far from prepared for study Oxford gave me the foundations of This includes a programme to build After much umming and ahing, actively to support and promote Music, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis at Oxford. In my first year, I did scientific thinking, being systematic stable livelihoods for ultra-poor various meetings with the school me as a choir director and organist. in Switzerland. I have since enjoyed not take the weekly reading lists in applying concepts and sharp in women-headed rural households careers advisors, and umpteen Hertford also had a female chaplain in five years in Basel, started a PhD at seriously; I thought the length was analysing details. Today, I apply in Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand, warnings of the financial insecurity of my time, and selected another female the UK’s top institute for research in to impress us. My low scores told these same principles of precision and urban community sanitation attempting to be a freelance singer, I organ scholar after me; it is a college Music (the University of Southampton), me I had been wrong. My first-year and logic in my work at the Abdul solutions being tested with followed my heart (what else can you that enjoys challenging the status founded my own medieval music failure instilled in me a new way Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab municipal governments in Odisha. do as a teenager?) and chose music, quo and levelling the playing field, ensemble, Rumorum (www.rumorum. of learning. I became the first to (J-PAL) in India. I work closely with It is great to see governments convincing myself that everything whatever your background. (But don’t com), and I am now working with reach the library, and very fast at state governments across India to recognise the need for quality data, would be fine. I picked Hertford for worry boys, it’s not only the girls who musicians and ensembles in Europe photocopying. I read thoroughly, disseminate research findings of robust analysis and evidence to its active choir and music society, its receive such support at Hertford!) which my pre-Hertford self would I underlined, made one-page what has been found effective in inform decisions. beautiful wisteria, and its reputation never have believed possible. 24 25 Rebecca Mills Cristopher Ballinas Valdés 2004 2003

Rebecca Mills studied Medicine before Cristopher is Professor and Associate Researcher in pursuing a career in orthopaedics. She has Public Policy at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo recently returned from a period of study and de México (ITAM), Mexico City. He is committed training in Sydney and is now combining a career to the development of disadvantaged people in in medicine with scientific research his country, and working for the improvement of government institutions.

MEDICAL SCIENCES POLITICS

I was fairly hesitant about applying I also had no idea that studying at My time living in Sydney also offered I still remember it clearly; I was one achieved more than I could have In addition to all this, I represent to Oxford – I didn’t know anyone Hertford would open so many doors the opportunity to continue the of many postgraduates arriving at ever imagined – I’ve worked at the Mexico in Kendo. It goes without that had been and particularly for to incredible opportunities for my Hertford spirit of ‘having a go’ at all Hertford and trying to find their way apex of the government pyramid saying that being part of the Oxford medicine. The course was very future career. I have just returned manner of sports, and so, naturally, to the lodge while avoiding tourists as Senior Advisor to three deputy Dark Blues provided me with a different from other medical schools, from 18 months in Sydney, where I I took up everything from beach and audacious bikers. I was in my late ministers in Mexico and possess competitive foundation that enabled with a heavy science focus. was funded by the Radcliffe Travelling volleyball at sunrise to twilight yacht twenties then and had been working extensive high-level experience in me to join Mexico´s first team and Fellowship to dual train as a scientist racing, and even found myself for the Mexican government as a mid- policy design and implementation. collect a decent amount of silverware. However, I decided to take a chance in a world-renowned orthopaedic enrolled in a highly competitive level bureaucrat for a couple of years. After graduating from Oxford, I was Most recently at the World Kendo with my ‘spare’ UCAS choice and, biology and engineering lab. Here, I SUPBALL league – a game unique to appointed as Deputy Director General Championships in Japan in 2015, I after being randomly allocated to developed a novel model of implant- Sydney that involves playing rugby/ I was delighted to be accepted at for Planning and Social Development finished among the top eight, and interview at Hertford and spending associated infection and furthered lacrosse on stand-up paddleboards! Hertford. It was renowned for its for the most vulnerable population won silver and gold medals at the a night in the bar meeting the other our knowledge of the mechanisms international, friendly and relaxed at the Ministry for Welfare. After that Latin American Championships. candidates, I remember feeling by which such devastating infections To the next generation of Hertford atmosphere, and for its long tradition I was appointed Associate Professor This triumph can only be compared quite certain that this was the occur. I hope that my work will medics, I would encourage you to in my discipline (Thomas Hobbes´ in Public Policy at Mexico City’s to beating Cambridge a few times college for me! I am now training as facilitate the development of new embrace the very different medical pathbreaking Leviathan was written ITAM where I teach and research on (although not as much as I wanted) at an orthopaedic surgeon, a career antimicrobial agents to improve education you receive at Oxford – there!). From the porters to the executive government, autonomous the Varsity Games. choice I firmly believe I would never patient outcomes worldwide. Certainly enjoy being quizzed relentlessly in Principal, everyone was attentive and agencies and public policy. It was have even considered had I not my science-focused undergraduate tutorials and learning to stand up for approachable. here that I developed the largest been emboldened by the Hertford education gave me the confidence to yourself. It will help you develop the investigation into autonomous tutorial system, and encouraged to take on this challenge and to value confidence you need to excel in your Hertford provided me with an agencies in Mexico, which has been believe anything was achievable, no taking time out of my orthopaedic future careers! exceptional environment for living published by Palgrave McMillan (2011) matter how competitive. programme to train as a surgeon- and for developing my academic and translated into Spanish in 2017. scientist. and professional goals. I have now 26 27 Steve Frost Barbara McGowan (neé Tedoldi) 1995 1984

Steve read Geography at Hertford, and has gone on to Barbara studied Biochemistry at Hertford in the a career of campaigning for diversity and inclusivity 1980s and initially moved into a career in finance, as core values for big corporations – and, not least, the working for Barclays and JP Morgan. However, she 2012 London Olympics. soon drifted back to science and medicine, and is now a Consultant Endocrinologist specialising in obesity at Guy’s & St. Thomas’s Hospital, London.

GEOGRAPHY BIOCHEMISTRY

I am still a ‘young’ 39-year-old, and I was aware I had been given 20 analysing the gender impact of the I ended up at Hertford largely by English scholars airy and cool, the thought of a further five years in I am fortunate to love what I do. I minutes. In fact, the session lasted World Bank’s economic policy on chance. My sixth-form tutor had been geographers lazy but fun. higher education was enough to embed human rights in corporate almost three hours and some of those coffee farmers. Since then, my work trying for 25 years to send a student suppress those feelings. Initially I decision-making to actually improve captains are clients, colleagues and has taken me to all continents and from our local comprehensive school My best memories of Hertford joined the city, spending two years decisions. We try to de-bias systems friends to this day. manner of places including diversity to Oxford, and in 1984 I was the lucky include getting tipsy on sherry with at Barclays as an investment banker and processes by challenging how and inclusion in Saudi Arabia! one to get a place. Having moved the college Chaplain, the excitement and three years at JP Morgan, in groups think, tackling blind-spots People still slightly mock me for my from Italy six years previously, my of early morning rowing on the river, New York, London and Milan. It and implementing nudges. We call choice of geography as a subject I am inspired by making a difference. knowledge of the English language the Pimms, Torpids and bumps, took me five years to pluck up the it diversity and inclusion or inclusive (isn’t it all colouring in and capital Of course that’s easy to say but I was still a bit rough around the edges the tuck shop, setting up the first courage to give up banking and leadership, and it has never been cities etc?) but in fact I loved it as a mean it. Hertford gave me a wonderful and Oxford, to me, seemed like a Oxford Women’s football team, the pursue a real passion for medicine. more important. discipline – to learn more about the foundation of intellectual rigour and place for the posh and privileged. memorable Hertford bar lock-downs, I secured a place at the Royal Free world and develop ways of thinking kind community. Now, I actively seek I will never forget my first Sunday Sunday lunch at the King’s Arms, Hospital in London and never looked One of my career highlights to date about it and trying to comprehend it. out smart people who care. I’ve night at formal dinner when I was and the weekly phone calls to mum. back. During my training, I had two was a scary moment but also one of It’s stood me in good stead, not least employed a gang of such folk in my made to wear a black gown, sit Memories with my new friends which wonderful children, squeezed in a PhD my proudest. I was invited to train the with the current changes à la Brexit company and I actively seek clients alongside clever scholars, drink were free of mobile phones, internet, and became a consultant and Reader fifty captains of the fifty ships in the and Trump and its direct relevance to and colleagues of such ilk. We have so Hertford wine and inevitably think emails and the shackles of social in Diabetes and Endocrinology. I Royal Navy on diversity and inclusion. my professional work today. much work to do. ‘what on earth am I doing here?’ I media. I guess the new generation am currently based at Guy’s & St The ban on LGBT personnel serving soon came to love the Hertford way. may struggle to comprehend… Thomas’s Hospital and specialise in had been overturned in 2000, but And consequently, my love of travel It’s important to be yourself, surround It was definitely not exclusive, with obesity. My experience in finance has the culture lagged behind the law. is definitely correlated with my love yourself with people who will let many students arriving from a variety Armed with a biochemistry degree I been useful for the post of Treasurer As I faced fifty intimidating souls of geography. At Hertford I undertook you be you and work hard doing of backgrounds which made the soon realised that life as a scientist for the Society for Endocrinology and in HMS Ark Royal’s mess room, all my dissertation with three fellow something you love. Hertford’s a great atmosphere friendly and relaxed. The was not for me. At the time, I was trying to comprehend the complexities cross-armed and staring intently, students in Tanzania. We were place to start that journey. chemists were inevitably geeky, the hoping to study medicine but the of the NHS. 28 29 Carolyn Hitt Graham Winyard 1987 1965

Carolyn studied English at Hertford before going Graham Winyard CBE FRCP FFPH read Medicine at on to a successful media career. Now she works as Hertford and the Middlesex Hospital, and spent his a television and radio producer, award-winning career in public health and management including newspaper columnist, and is co-founder of the six years as the Medical Director of the NHS in independent production company Parasol Media. England. Now retired, he is happily married and an In addition, she works closely with the Welsh active granddad. government to encourage applications to Oxbridge.

ENGLISH MEDICAL SCIENCES

It was never my idea to apply to going to let my prejudices and lack Hertford through life. Ability has to I decided I wanted to be a doctor effortless self-assurance of public persuade the Labour government Oxford, but it was the best idea of confidence hold me back. She be backed up with belief, and now in the fourth year of secondary school contemporaries. I passed the to include the National Institute for I never had. I’d grown up in the suggested Hertford and reassured I’m attempting to pay it forward by school, a decision based on nothing necessary medical exams but was Clinical Excellence in its NHS reform Rhondda Valley instilled with the me that the college was inclusive and becoming a Seren Ambassador more than doing well in science, an diverted by life and a broken heart programme, having previously notion that education was sacrosanct. mindful of the anxieties state school – a Welsh government project to abstract desire to ‘do good’, and the around finals; fortunately a third was developed the concept in Wessex. I My grandfathers, miners whose lives students might have. The memory increase the low numbers of Welsh fact that my grandfather had been not the barrier in medicine that it led reviews of prison healthcare and of were cut short by this brutal industry of my late mother’s tears of joy on pupils attaining Oxbridge places. a stretcher bearer in the Boer War. would have been in other fields. the Defence Medical Services, and for before I was born, saw education as learning I’d achieved a place is one I The project provides a network of I was the first in my family to go to the final eight years of my career was a the escape shaft. My father was the still cherish. regional hubs designed to support any university, let alone Oxford. I was I eventually chose public health as a postgraduate dean, responsible first in his family to go to university, pupils in developing their academic pulled out of a timed practical exam career and, like Oxford, this opened for the training of several thousand studying English and becoming a I remember the myriad opportunities potential and gaining access to the involving woodlice ‘for a bit of a chat’ amazing opportunities including two junior doctors. headmaster, and my mother became for extra-curricular fun. My coxing top universities. by Hertford’s now legendary medical years in Papua New Guinea mid- a nurse and then a lecturer. career was short-lived thanks to tutor Miles Vaughan-Williams, on the training. Challenging management The same intellectual curiosity kindled a near miss with a pleasure boat, It has been hugely rewarding to basis of which I was offered a place. posts in the NHS and the Department at Oxford has taken me into new fields Although it was a given I would go on but the college choir, orchestra talk to talented young people and of Health followed, culminating in in retirement. I belatedly discovered to further education, Oxford seemed and women’s cricket XI proved tell them: ‘Of course Oxford – and Oxford and Hertford were simply six years as Medical Director of the the thrill of academic study for its own a step too far. It didn’t help that my more lasting forms of recreation – Hertford in particular – is for you.’ astonishing. It was OK to enjoy NHS in England in the 1990s. There sake through a Masters in religions perceptions of the place had been as did providing cartoons for the Recently a mum got in touch to say intellectual discussion into the night. were the inevitable frustrations at SOAS. My developing Buddhist somewhat skewed by the lavish college magazine Simpkin. My early her daughter had not considered Enthusiasm was fine; you did not that come from working in large practice infuses my personal life and television adaptation of Brideshead broadcasting ambitions were also applying but I’d given her the have to pretend to be cool. Coming bureaucracies and with politicians, has led to my becoming lay treasurer Revisited in the early 80s – complete realised as I made my first student confidence to do so and now she has from a boys’ grammar school I was but also opportunities to think big of a Theravada forest monastery in with Hertford locations. But my radio reports on BBC Oxford. I have her place. I hope it turns out to be the dazzled by the style and élan of the and bring those ideas to reality. West Sussex. wonderful English teacher wasn’t taken the lesson of getting into best idea she never had too. female medics, and in awe of the Most satisfying was being able to 30 31 Jason Millar Sandy Oh 2003 1990

Jason read English as an undergraduate and From DJ-ing to banking to global experience initially pursued a career in publishing. However, design consulting, Sandy’s career path wasn’t he soon found his vocation in life as a wine planned, but they have all been stepping stones to merchant and expert, and now works as a director where she is now! of Theatre of Wine. He still uses his literary skills as a wine journalist, and in 2016 was awarded the Vintners’ Cup.

ENGLISH PPE

I grew up in Northern Ireland. It was After Hertford, I had a five-year stint In 2016 I won the Vintners’ Cup My romantic notion of English I enjoyed DJ-ing. When the DJ job me to leave banking and become a rural and quiet. I did a lot of reading in publishing. It seemed the natural for the highest mark worldwide in schools stemmed from a steady didn’t pan out (a fortunate thing with mentor myself. The experience made and dog-walking, and, when I was progression from an English degree, the top level of the Wine and Spirit diet of Enid Blyton books as a child. hindsight), I took the conservative me realise the importance of having older, arguing about politics which but in the end it wasn’t what I was Education Trust’s courses, the Level Growing up in Singapore, the thought route and landed at an investment a personal long term vision – not one probably helped with my tutorial skills hoping for. In an unexpected way, Four Diploma. It’s a tough exam – a of studying in Oxford or Cambridge bank. Over fifteen years, I was on dictated by peer pressure, but one later on. the collaborative atmosphere I had combination of theory and tasting seemed like a far-away fantasy; until high-pressure trading floors of that resonates with your innermost hoped to find in publishing is much – so I was chuffed to come out with I heard about a small group of British various banks trading bonds with being that makes you thrive. With my I packed a lot into my time at Hertford, more prevalent in wine, and I made the top mark despite a hideous tutors in a top Singapore junior institutional clients. knowledge and experience, I want not all of it academic. I remember the switch in 2011. question about pruning methods in college who were highly successful to help individuals and organisations talking lexicography with Charlotte Champagne. in fielding students to Oxbridge. I In spite of a successful corporate strive towards positive change for Brewer, Shakespeare with Emma Now I am one of three directors of eagerly applied to join their course, career, there was a side of me that better and sustainable outcomes. It Smith, and some brilliantly bizarre Theatre of Wine, an independent Although I have never really believed and it was through them I landed wanted to do my own thing. I started is with this purpose that I co-founded conversations with Tom Paulin about wine merchant, retailer and in inspiration, wine certainly comes at Hertford. and ran my own businesses four Nomadism (http://nomadism.co/). how John Clare’s ‘hatching throstle’s wholesaler based in London, where close. What could be more inspiring times, including once to open a bar shining eye’ is a rifle metaphor. Even I am responsible for retail, restaurant than Dionysus? When you taste The world can be divided into two and restaurant which finally allowed Would I have predicted that I would as a devout atheist, I remember the and event business, as well as buying things like Madeira from the 1858 camps of people: those who have a me to satisfy my earlier DJ ambition. be running a global experience design cool darkness of the chapel to which I and importing directly from areas as vintage and reflect that the grapes clear idea of what they want to be Most significantly, it was the third consultancy whilst building a house sometimes escaped when things got a diverse as Bordeaux and Greece. I were picked before Italy or Germany since they were young, and those venture that left the longest lasting and sustainable garden in Tasmania, bit much. I also remember walking into also write a regular industry-focused existed, when Queen Victoria was on who don’t. As a student, I was in the impact. In my final year in banking, Australia (more of the latter on my Blackwell’s on the day after my Finals column for Drinks Retailing, host the throne and Darwin announced his latter camp. After graduating with a I worked with a mentor to help me blog http://calyx.blog)? Absolutely not! and buying a ridiculous amount of wine tastings in our stores and theory of evolution, it is a profound PPE degree in 1993, I applied to be figure out what I really wanted to do You cannot predict the future but it books that I’d wanted to read for years private venues, and act as a wine aesthetic and cultural experience. a DJ at a Singapore radio station. I with my life. It was a revelatory and doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have but couldn’t quite justify before. judge and cellar consultant. lacked a career plan but knew that transformational process which led a plan. Hertford College Hertford College Alumni @HertfordCollege HertfordCollege Development Office, Hertford College, Oxford, OX1 3BW T: +44 (0) 1865 279428 | E: [email protected] | W: www.hertford.ox.ac.uk

Hertford College is a registered charity, number 1137527 | Sept 2017 Undergraduate Undergraduates Postgraduates teaching and in the different in the different Accolades for research academics divisions divisions Hertford’s academics

Professor Martin Maiden was elected to the American Academy of Medical Sciences and to a fellowship of the (UK) Academy of Medical Sciences.

Dr Catherine Redford has been awarded the British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award.

Professor Tony Wilson was awarded the 2015 Callendar Medal for his work on confocal microscopy by the Institute of Measurement and Control. Humanities Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences Social Sciences

Professor Claire Vallance has been recognised for her redesign of the undergraduate Humanities 34% Social Sciences curriculum with a divisional teaching award. Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences 33% Social Sciences 31% 32% Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences 30% Professor Hagan Bayley was given the Menelaus Medal by the Learned Society of 28% 28% Wales, awarded to people connected to Wales for outstanding work in engineering and technology. 25% Medical Sciences Humanities Alison Young received the title of Professor of Public Law in the University’s 2016 18% Recognition of Distinction exercise. Medical Sciences 17% Medical Sciences Professor Alison Woollard has been appointed the University’s Academic Champion 13% for Public Engagement – this is both a recognition of her work in bringing research 11% to a wider public, and her academic leadership in the field. Alison also gave the 2015 Haldane lecture to the Genetics Society, “Genetics as Revolution”.

Dr Kevin Hilliard won the title of “most outstanding lecturer in Humanities” at the Oxford University Students Union teaching awards. UK and Overseas Students

Four fellows spoke at last year’s Hay Festival: Professors Peter Millican, Emma Smith 65% and Mike Wooldridge, and Dr David Dwan. Overseas17% Overseas

Professor Emma Smith discovered the 235th copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio on the Isle of Bute, and won an award for her outstanding contribution to the teaching of English at National Association of English teachers. 83% Postgraduate 35% Professor Zhanfeng Cui has been appointed the University’s Ambassador and Undergraduate UK UK Director of Strategic Projects in China. 30 31 MEET SOME OF THE NEXT GENERATION: OUR POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARS

Andrea Caleo Eva Miller Senior Carreras Scholar, Senior Scholar in Assyriology DPhil in Theoretical Astrophysics Eva’s DPhil research focuses on the history and Andrea is a physicist who specializes in astrophysical culture of the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which conquered fluid dynamics. His DPhil project involves creating vast territories from its heartland in Northern Iraq models of the sun and other stars to explain recent between the 10th and 7th centuries BCE. Her work data on the internal rotation of these structures. He has centres on narratives about enemy punishment under published an original explanation for the rotation of the King Ashurbanipal, including flaying, beheading, outer solar radiative zone and subsequently gathered mutilation, and mockery, in both written sources evidence for the stability of this and other models. He and palace art. During Ashurbanipal’s reign, such has also acted as Tutor for the Astrophysics course for sources saw innovative experiments in both form MPhil students in Physics. and content.

Louis-David Lord Laura-Marie Töpfer Mann Senior Scholar, DPhil in Computational Neuropsychiatry Mann Senior Scholar, DPhil in Economic Geography Louis-David’s DPhil research in the emerging field of As China now holds the world’s second largest pool of financial computational neuropsychiatry is highly interdisciplinary assets, institutional investors have emerged as important and explores the intersection of neuroimaging, network new actors in Chinese finance but remain little understood. theory and computational modelling. He is interested in Laura-Marie’s research seeks to fill this gap by exploring new the dynamical interactions and consequences of human dimensions of foreign institutional investment and Chinese capital brain networks over many timescales. Louis-David market development. In a joint effort with her research team, her notably investigates changes in the brain’s functional latest work helped pioneer the debate on London’s rise as the first architecture in altered states of consciousness. Western offshore financial centre for Chinese currency and the consequences for its labour market. Undergraduate Undergraduates Postgraduates teaching and in the different in the different Accolades for research academics divisions divisions Hertford’s academics

Professor Martin Maiden was elected to the American Academy of Medical Sciences and to a fellowship of the (UK) Academy of Medical Sciences.

Dr Catherine Redford has been awarded the British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award.

Professor Tony Wilson was awarded the 2015 Callendar Medal for his work on confocal microscopy by the Institute of Measurement and Control. Humanities Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences Social Sciences

Professor Claire Vallance has been recognised for her redesign of the undergraduate Humanities 34% Social Sciences curriculum with a divisional teaching award. Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences 33% Social Sciences 31% 32% Mathematical Physical and Life Sciences 30% Professor Hagan Bayley was given the Menelaus Medal by the Learned Society of 28% 28% Wales, awarded to people connected to Wales for outstanding work in engineering and technology. 25% Medical Sciences Humanities Alison Young received the title of Professor of Public Law in the University’s 2016 18% Recognition of Distinction exercise. Medical Sciences 17% Medical Sciences Professor Alison Woollard has been appointed the University’s Academic Champion 13% for Public Engagement – this is both a recognition of her work in bringing research 11% to a wider public, and her academic leadership in the field. Alison also gave the 2015 Haldane lecture to the Genetics Society, “Genetics as Revolution”.

Dr Kevin Hilliard won the title of “most outstanding lecturer in Humanities” at the Oxford University Students Union teaching awards. UK and Overseas Students

Four fellows spoke at last year’s Hay Festival: Professors Peter Millican, Emma Smith 65% and Mike Wooldridge, and Dr David Dwan. Overseas17% Overseas

Professor Emma Smith discovered the 235th copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio on the Isle of Bute, and won an award for her outstanding contribution to the teaching of English at National Association of English teachers. 83% Postgraduate 35% Professor Zhanfeng Cui has been appointed the University’s Ambassador and Undergraduate UK UK Director of Strategic Projects in China. 25 Mr Simon Brewster Senior Research Fellow, Co-ordinating Tutor of Clinical Medicine Simon is a consultant urological surgeon, specialising in prostate cancer and other prostate disease. He currently researches the use of focal high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment of localised prostate cancer and the utility of MRI scanning to monitor prostate cancer. He co-authors the Oxford Handbook of Urology and edits the content of patient information booklets and webpages produced by Prostate Cancer UK. Simon also co-founded the Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Professor Dame Kay Davies Dr Lee’s Professor in Anatomy Kay’s research investigates the molecular basis of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy MEDICAL (DMD), a progressive muscle wasting disorder for which no cure yet exists. Her studies identified utrophin as a protein that could compensate for the lack of the muscle protein dystrophin – an absence that SCIENCES causes DMD. Kay has co-founded Summit Therapeutics, a drug development company, to develop this further and potentially to lead to the first cure for this disease, and more recently another company: Oxstem. Professor David R. Greaves Fellow and Tutor in Medicine Chronic inflammation can be a defining feature of many human diseases from coronary heart disease to rheumatoid arthritis. David’s research probes the role of chemokines – proteins produced during inflammation – in heart disease. This basic science research is uncovering novel pathways that can be targeted for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. M 25 26 27 Professor Rebecca Sitsapesan Professor of Pharmacology, Fellow and Tutor in Physiology, Pharmacology and Medicine The release of calcium ions from intracellular stores is of fundamental importance in cell biology, initiating and regulating

MEDICAL SCIENCES MEDICAL a wide variety of cellular functions, from muscle contraction to cell division. Rebecca studies intracellular ion channels, which are proteins that enable this calcium release process. Her work identifies the involvement of these proteins in diseases such as sudden cardiac death, high blood pressure, polycystic kidney disease, and osteogenesis imperfecta.

Professor David Stuart Professor of Molecular Biophysics, Senior Research Fellow in Molecular Biophysics Viruses are attractive targets for study at the molecular level, as they are simple enough that it is HISTORY possible to achieve a rather complete understanding of their biology. David’s research particularly focuses on virus structure and virus-receptor interactions, basic puzzles of virus assembly, and virus evolution. In addition, he is interested in applying structural knowledge to help in the design of antiviral therapeutics and improved vaccines.

Professor Alison Woollard Associate Professor in Genetics, Fellow and Tutor in Biochemistry Alison studies molecular mechanisms of cell fate determination during the development of C. elegans, a transparent nematode worm that serves as an outstanding model organism for many different areas of biological investigation. Her research analyses the complex mechanisms by which cells become different from one another as an organism develops from egg to adult. She also has an interest in the biology of ageing and is modelling human neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, in worms. 22 23 MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES Dr Alan Lauder Professor Arnaud Doucet Lecturer and Tutorial Fellow in Pure Mathematics Professorial Fellow in Statistics Alan’s research looks at computational number theory, Many data analysis tasks involve estimating unknown with a particular focus on elliptic curves and modular quantities from given observations. When these observations forms. This part of number theory plays an important role are chronological, the relationship can be established as a in developing advanced cryptographic methods. function of time, such as the tracking of an aircraft using radar. Arnaud’s work in statistical inference – the establishment of a probabilistic relationship to deduce these relationships – has led to the development of novel sequential Monte Carlo experiments and their application to cases where the observed data is highly unstructured. STATISTICS

Dr Siddharth Parameswaran Clive Hambler MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES PHYSICAL MATHEMATICAL, Associate Professor of Theoretical Physics, Lecturer and Tutor in Biological Fellow and Tutor in Physics and Human Sciences Sid is a theoretical physicist studying “quantum Clive is an ecologist who researches and teaches condensed matter”: solids, liquids, and gases where issues in environmental management, with a specific quantum mechanics leads to complex cooperative focus on the reduction of extinction rates. His research behaviour. He is interested in phases of matter helped initiate the debate on rewilding, which he naturally described by the mathematical language of defines as restoration towards greater naturalness. He topology, and in what happens when they are driven examines the processes following habitat disturbance from their natural equilibrium state. Besides exploring and identifies the ecological impacts of energy policies. PHYSICS fundamental questions about the rich emergent Clive also has led research on biological mechanisms ZOOLOGY phenomena possible in nature, progress in these areas stabilising atmospheric composition. promises new routes to computing and electronics. Professor Pat Roche Professor Martin Maiden Professor, Fellow and Tutor in Physics Professor of Molecular Epidemiology, Fellow and Developing and using forefront instruments and telescopes Tutor in Biology to investigate the properties of cosmic dust and gas in a Martin’s research is focused on developing an understanding range of astronomical objects is a major research theme. of the biology of bacterial pathogens – microorganisms that Pat is the president of the council of the European Southern cause disease. Using a wide array of modern techniques, he Observatory, an intergovernmental organisation that strives to achieve a multi-disciplinary evolution-based approach operates the world’s premier telescopes in the Atacama to investigating biological problems. Martin particularly Desert in Chile. He also chairs the board of ALMA (Atacama concentrates on Neisseria meningitidis – a major cause of Large Millimeter Array), the first global astronomical facility. bacterial meningitis and septicaemia worldwide. He is highly involved in translational work, including vaccination. 20 21 MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES Professor Claire Vallance Professor Zhanfeng Cui Fellow and Tutor in Physical Chemistry Donald Pollock Professor of Chemical Engineering, Claire’s research group works on the general areas of chemical Professorial Fellow in Engineering reaction dynamics, time-of-flight imaging, and opto-chemical Zhanfeng conducts research on enabling technologies for sensing. They develop a variety of new experimental tools – regenerative medicine, including tissue engineering and including high-speed imaging sensors, ion detectors, and optical stem cell therapy. He led the China Regenerative Medicine sensing platforms – and use these to study gas-phase molecular International Technology Centre, where he focused on fragmentation pathways to explore new analytical methods for translating laboratory research into clinical applications chemical structure determination and to develop ultra-sensitive related to neural regeneration, diabetes, cancer and techniques for the chemical characterisation of tiny liquid samples. orthopaedic repair. Zhanfeng also studies new purification and formulation techniques for biological therapeutics, such as antibodies and vaccines.

Professor Michael Wooldridge Professor Tony Wilson MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES PHYSICAL MATHEMATICAL, Professor of Computer Science, Senior Research Professor of Engineering Science, Fellow and Fellow in Computer Science Tutor in Engineering Agents are computers that act autonomously on behalf Tony’s research centres on microscopy, imaging of a user. Giving these agents social ability and thus and applied optics. He has published extensively creating computers that can cooperate, coordinate and on the theory and implementation of scanning HISTORY negotiate with each other would be a massive leap optical microscopes and the development of forward in artificial intelligence. Michael’s research uses confocal microscopes. His work has also led to and develops game theory – the mathematical theory the establishment of two companies, Oxford COMPUTER of interaction between self-interested agents – to Optoelectronics Ltd. and Aurox Ltd. SCIENCE inform the design of these multi-agent systems.

Professor Manolis Chatzis Professor Fernando Alday Associate Professor in Engineering, Fellow and Professor of Mathematical Physics, Fellow and Tutor in Engineering Science Tutor in Mathematics All sorts of infrastructure elements are subjected to extreme One of the fundamental questions in contemporary theoretical vibrations, from bridges and buildings of major importance to physics is the search for the theory of everything. Fernando’s museum exhibits and hospital equipment. Estimating their reliability research centres on this by focusing on string theory as well as when they are subjected to extreme wind, earthquakes or human- theoretical high energy physics. This ultimate theory would unify induced vibrations is an important tool for their proper management. quantum mechanics, the theory of the very small, with general Manolis’ research uses numerical models and improvements in relativity, which governs the behaviour of big objects like planets. ENGINEERING measured data to estimate the risk of infrastructure elements being Fernando currently researches two directions where this attempt at SCIENCE compromised by vibrational excitations. unification has been successful: the AdS/CFT and AGT conjectures. MATHEMATICS 19 Professor Hagan Bayley Professor of Chemical Biology By studying the fundamental properties of proteins found in the membranes that surround cells and their internal compartments, Hagan’s research uses insights from different areas of science, such as protein chemistry, biochemistry, molecular genetics and biophysics. Hagan launched the spin-out company Oxford Nanopore Technologies, which has developed the first single- molecule, label-free method of sequencing DNA. Recently, he founded OxSyBio, which exploits 3D printing to produce synthetic tissues for medical applications. CHEMISTRY

Dr Mike Laidlaw Lecturer and Tutor in Inorganic Chemistry MATHEMATICAL, Mike’s research focuses on studying the electronic structure of cyanide-bridged mixed valence transition metal complexes. Originally through optical, nonlinear optical and electrochemical methods, his investigations currently centre PHYSICAL AND around using electron and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies to probe the extent and effects of partial delocalisation of a single electron between two indirectly connected metal centres in LIFE SCIENCES a model system. Professor Chris Schofield Senior Research Fellow in Organic Chemistry Chris’s work focuses on applying chemical principles and techniques in order to understand biology. One focus of his research group is understanding and combatting antibacterial resistance, including resistance to the clinically important penicillins. A second focus concerns understanding the details of how environmental factors regulate gene expression, with a particular focus on oxygen regulated processes relating to diseases including cancer and anaemia. M 19 16 17 SOCIAL SCIENCES Professor David Thomas Professor Alison Young Professorial Fellow in Geography Professor of Public Law, Fellow and Tutor in Law

David’s research explores the effects of past, current Alison’s research looks at theoretical issues in public and future climate change in dryland and desert law, particularly the constitutional theory of the UK environments. Not only has this work improved the and the European Union. She also focuses on a SOCIAL SCIENCES SOCIAL predictive ability of climate models, but his research comparative analysis of human rights protections. has also contributed to a greater awareness of Alison has published on the concept of sovereignty as the ways in which human activity drives modern invoked in the Brexit debate and recently completed a environmental change and how ancestral humans book on democratic dialogue. responded to past environmental changes, especially in Africa, Arabia and India.

Professor Alan Bogg Dr Radoslaw Zubek Professor of Labour Law, Fellow and Tutor in Law Associate Professor of European Politics, By looking at several aspects of law theory, Alan Fellow and Tutor in Politics explores issues such as the intersection between Radoslaw’s main research interests include migrant status and labour rights. His work was cited the comparative study of executives and by the UK Supreme Court in the Autoclenz v Belcher parliaments in Europe, and agenda-setting in case, which led the Court to make a landmark decision European parliaments. He also explores political on sham self-employment, and on illegality as a issues relating to Europeanisation and national bar to the race discrimination claims of trafficked compliance with EU law. LAW migrant workers. Most recently, his work was cited POLITICS with approval by the Supreme Court of Canada in its historic decision to recognise the right to bargain collectively as protected by the Canadian Charter. Matthew Windsor Junior Research Fellow in Law Matthew is currently writing a book on the professional responsibility of government lawyers who advise the state on international law and foreign policy. He also researches the intellectual history of the advisory function through a focus on the Mirrors for Princes literary genre and its approach to political ethics. 14 15 SOCIAL SCIENCES Professor Nick Barton Dr Arhat Virdi Professor, Fellow and Tutor in Stipendiary Lecturer in Management Palaeolithic Archaeology Arhat’s areas of expertise span the economics, Nick’s research is mainly based in North Africa and Europe, finance and accounting disciplines. His research is and centres on the study of early humans and past climatic mainly focused on risk management, the interplay SOCIAL SCIENCES SOCIAL change. One of Nick’s projects, as co-principal investigator, between (re)insurance and capital markets, and concerns the study of caves and looks at the timing of major the possibility of objectivity in financial reporting. changes in hunter-gatherer behaviour in North Africa over the last 100,000 years.

ARCHAEOLOGY

Dr Richard Povey Dr Elizabeth Baldwin Stipendiary Lecturer in Economics Associate Professor, Roger van Noorden Fellow Richard’s primary research is on the and Tutor in Economics consequences of altruistic motivation in economic Elizabeth’s work on consumer preferences for theory. He uses game theoretic modelling indivisible goods introduces “tropical geometry” techniques and social welfare analysis to show to economics. This has exciting applications, for HISTORY that altruism can have negative as well as positive example, in the design of auctions in which multiple effects, and that there may exist a “socially different goods are sold simultaneously. She also optimal level of altruism” for society as a whole. works in environmental economics: in recent work, BUSINESS SCHOOL He is also interested in evolutionary game theory she considers the importance of irreversibility of and optimal taxation theory. investment and endogenous technical change AND ECONOMICS in determining the timing of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Dr Steve New Dr Jamie Lorimer Associate Professor in Operations Management, Associate Professor in Human Geography, Fellow Fellow and Tutor in Management and Tutor in Geography Steve’s work currently has two main threads: operations There is an invisible world of lifeforms that live in, on and around improvement and supply mapping. Three particular angles in us. Jamie’s current research develops new ways of engaging his current work are: understanding the topology and structure people with this microbiome, exploring what happens to how we of supply networks (especially in the global automotive understand ourselves and our homes when we become aware industry), finding ways of identifying and eliminating the use of microbes. He also focuses on the rise of probiotic approaches of forced labour in the supply chain, and tracing the invisible to human and environmental health, which use living organisms virtual supply chains that sit behind Cloud Computing. to rewild everything from human bodies to nature reserves. GEOGRAPHY 12 Dr Jieun Kiaer Young Bin Min-KF Associate Professor of Korean Language and Linguistics, Senior Research Fellow

HUMANITIES and Tutor in Oriental Studies Jieun’s work on Korean linguistics argues that the syntax – the emergence of rules governing structure of words in language – is not random, but rather driven by efficiency and expressivity. She has fully developed this thesis in her most recent book Pragmatic Syntax. She is also actively involved in Korean pedagogy, creating textbooks on Korean language and linguistics. SOCIAL HISTORY SCIENCES

S13 10 11 HUMANITIES Dr Kevin Hilliard Dr Benjamin Skipp Lecturer and Tutor in German Lecturer and Tutor in Music Kevin conducts research into eighteenth-century Benjamin is a musicologist and performer. His doctoral HUMANITIES literature and the intellectual history of leading research was on minimalism and he has written recently on German figures. His book Freethinkers, Libertines and the music of Arvo Pärt. Benjamin’s academic interests include Schwärmer highlights how the tension between these music historiography, analysis and the music of Haydn. He three types and the religious orthodoxy of the period is also working on projects relating to the intersections of shaped eighteenth-century German literature. performance and the theory of music. MODERN LANGUAGES MUSIC

Dr Katherine Lunn-Rockliffe Professor Peter Millican Fellow and Tutor in Modern Languages Professor of Philosophy, Gilbert Ryle Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy Katherine’s main research interest is nineteenth- century French poetry. Her first book, Tristan Peter’s main research focus is early modern Corbière and the Poetics of Irony, was a study of the philosophy, especially David Hume. He has also unconventional poetic wit of Corbière, a Breton poet published on themes such as metaphysics and the HISTORY of the 1870s. More recently, she has shifted her focus philosophy of religion. These interests easily mix, to the Romantic period, and is currently writing a book because Hume’s arguments still play a major role on the idea of progress in Victor Hugo’s verse. in discussions of topics such as rationality and the basis of morality. Peter is also extremely active in outreach on the boundary between philosophy and PHILOSOPHY computer science.

Dr Oliver Noble Wood Professor Bjarke Frellesvig University Lecturer in Golden Age Spanish Professor of Japanese Linguistics, Fellow and Literature, Fellow and Tutor in Modern Languages Tutor in Oriental Studies

Oliver’s research focuses on the literary and visual Bjarke’s principal area of investigation is the history of the culture of sixteenth and seventeenth-century Spain. Japanese language. His work over the past few years has His particular interests include canonical writers of focused on the syntax of Old Japanese (dating from the eighth prose and poetry (notably Cervantes, Góngora, and century AD) and on creating an electronic annotated corpus, the Quevedo), the reception of classical authorities, and Oxford Corpus of Old Japanese, of the extant texts from that links between literature and painting in the period. period. Most recently, he has been co-editing a Handbook of Historical Japanese Linguistics with contributions from over ORIENTAL 50 authors, which is expected to be published in 2018. STUDIES 8 9 HUMANITIES Professor Emma Smith Dr Ingrid Rembold Professor of Shakespeare Studies, Fellow and Tutor in English Junior Research Fellow in History Emma’s work focuses on drama from the sixteenth Ingrid’s current project seeks to reassess the reform of HUMANITIES and seventeenth centuries with a particular interest in monasteries in the time of Charlemagne and his successors, Shakespeare. Her work investigates the critical function of a formational period for the development of monasticism Shakespeare in culture – how scholarly consensus emerges and ideas of governance. She is also completing a book- and interpretations of Shakespeare do certain cultural work length study from her PhD dissertation, titled Conquest and at different moments. In 2016, Emma authenticated the Christianization: Saxony and the Carolingian World, 772-888. newest discovery of a Shakespeare First Folio, which was found in the collection at Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. Her lectures are available on iTunes U.

Dr David Hopkin Professor Giora Sternberg Fellow and Tutor in History Associate Professor of Early Modern History, David’s research focuses on the social and cultural Ellis-Barnard Fellow and Tutor in History history of modern Europe. He studies oral culture, such The celebrated ceremonial of Louis XIV’s court as songs, tales and riddles, in order to uncover the characterises the importance of status symbols in early lives of an illiterate majority in history. He is currently modern Europe. Giora’s first book, Status Interaction HISTORY conducting research into the lively work culture of during the Reign of Louis XIV, examines how the daily lacemakers in Catholic Europe by studying the songs objects and acts of court became symbols of status, they sang collectively. These songs give great insight used by both monarch and courtier to emphasize their into the lives of an otherwise almost hidden social social positions and to further their political agendas. HISTORY group: poor women. His current work investigates the role of writing practices in these and in other ancien régime struggles.

Professor Ian McBride Professor Christopher Tyerman Foster Professor of Irish History Professor of the History of the Crusades, Senior Research Fellow and Tutor in History As Foster Professor of Irish History, Ian holds the only endowed chair of Irish History in the UK. He has a broad interest in the Studying crusading as a cultural, religious, political history of Ireland between the seventeenth and twenty-first and social phenomenon of medieval Western centuries, especially its politics, culture and intellectual life. He Europe, Christopher lectures and publishes widely on currently holds a Leverhulme Major Research Award, enabling him various aspects of the crusades, from motivation and to spend two years researching and writing a study of the impact perception to their social and intellectual structures. of the penal laws on eighteenth-century Ireland. The persecution suffered by Irish Catholics during the Penal Times ranks as one of the central components of Irish national mythology. 7 Professor Charlotte Brewer Professor of English Language and Literature, Fellow and Senior Tutor Charlotte’s research focuses on the history and editing of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), in particular its quotations and quotation sources. Looking at how the OED has changed from its first publication (1884) to the present enables her to investigate the OED’s successive treatment of canonical literary writers, such as Shakespeare, Chaucer and Austen, and its influence on literary and linguistic history. Charlotte also works on dictionaries’ changing reflection over time of cultural ENGLISH phenomena more generally, such as sexuality and politics.

Dr David Dwan Associate Professor, Fellow and Tutor in English David focuses on the connections between literature and the history of political thought in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, paying particular attention to Irish writing. His first book, HUMANITIES The Great Community, explored the history of cultural nationalism in Ireland from Edmund Burke to W. B. Yeats. David is currently completing Liberty, Equality and Humbug: The Political Thought of George Orwell for Oxford University Press.

Dr Catherine Redford Access and Outreach Fellow, Career Development Fellow in English Catherine researches one of the lesser-known themes in Romantic literature: The Last Man. Her other work examines wider depictions of apocalypse, and representations of ruined cities and underground spaces in Romantic and Victorian literature. She has recently written a short guide to the Gothic novel. Catherine spends 50% of her time on access and outreach work with schools. H6 7 4 5

Will Hutton Principal

Will Hutton has been researching and writing on the links between innovation, ownership structures, and industrial strategies for more than 20 years, forming the core of a number of books, including The State We’re In, Them and Us and How Good We Can Be. He currently co-chairs the Purposeful Company Task Force, initiated by the Big Innovation Centre and supported by the Bank of England, whose ongoing research into what drives corporate purpose informs government and company policy alike. Will’s work on executive pay resulted in the invitation to lead the Fair Pay Review in 2010, and he has also chaired commissions on ownership, the creative industries, and the NHS.

Hertford College, like other Oxford colleges, is a student, staff and fellows’ experience; and developing charity: its trustees are its fellows. My task, as Principal, its strategy. I’m the college’s ambassador to the is to promote the best interests of the college as a place outside world, in the university and beyond, and work of advanced study, learning, education and research – closely with the Development Office, fellows and old ensuring that it is soundly and prudently managed to meet members to generate successful fundraising. those ends. Rather than being a chief executive, I lead I preside at public functions and host events. through persuasion, and I’m accountable to the fellows as trustees through the college’s Governing Body. It is, in short, an all-encompassing and challenging job. But although demanding, it is fun (in the main!) I chair the college’s key committees (including its and very worthwhile, with the additional reward that Governing Body) and foster all aspects of college life: it is located in one of the most beautiful spots in effective day-to-day running; ensuring the best possible the country. 3 Inspirational teaching and pioneering research A snapshot of the college and its academics in 2016–2017.

A college is a microcosm of the wider university. The intimate environment creates serendipitous crossovers, inter-disciplinary collaboration and inspiration. No college better exemplifies this than Hertford. Our fellows and tutors are deeply committed to academic excellence alongside a longstanding ethos of fairness and opportunity.

All tutors at Hertford are engaged in research: they don’t just teach their subjects, they reshape them. It is because tutors are at the forefront of investigation into their subjects that the tutorial system is so precious. It means that students get the benefit of insights from those who are leading their disciplines, and they develop a more rigorous approach to argument, reasoning and research.

In this publication, we showcase the breadth and diversity of academic excellence and research within the college. We hope you’ll agree with us: Hertford has a lot to be proud of. HERTFORD’S ACADEMICS: INSPIRATIONAL TEACHING AND PIONEERING RESEARCH