ULSTER GRADUATE The magazine for alumni and friends of Ulster University

Edition 40 U Winter/Spring 2018 Easkey Britton first lady of Irish surfing INSIDE Gary McCausland - a passion for property | 10 Ulster alumnae leading in the world of sport | Alumni adventures PLUS Impact of your support

URGENT - SEE BACK PAGE Tick the box to stay with us QUICK We have created 19 spin- Ranked in the out companies with a FACTS world's top 150 combined turnover of universities under 50 years old £21m by Times Higher employing Education 287 staff 190,000+ ALUMNI WORLDWIDE 93% OUR BELFAST OF OUR GRADUATES SCHOOL OF ART ARE IN WORK OR BOASTS FURTHER STUDY 6 MONTHS TWO AFTER LEAVING UNIVERSITY TURNER PRIZE DLHE Survey WINNERS OVER 24,000 students across 4 campuses in Northern Ireland, and 2 branch campuses in London & Birmingham TOP We host over 1,000 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM OVER 99 DIFFERENT % 3of universities COUNTRIES in the world

OVER TOP 2,300 25% STAFF MEMBERS WE INVEST Contact £40m Tel: +44 (0) 28 9536 7486 OF ALL UK UNIVERSITIES in research Email: [email protected] FOR OVERALL RESEARCH each year In this WELCOME issue... UNIVERSITY NEWS 2017 in a nutshell ...... 4 University appoints new Provosts...... 6 What’s happening at: Belfast and Jordanstown ...... 8 Magee ...... 10 Coleraine...... 11 Award-winning alumni...... 12 FEATURES Property expert, Gary McCausland...... 14 Students take time to mind their mood...... 16 Easkey Britton, First lady of Irish surfing...... 18 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Distinguished and honorary graduates ...... 20 Welcome to the 2018 edition of you can go online at ulster.ac.uk/ Corporate partnerships...... 22 Ulster Graduate, and in particular alumniandsupporters/ticktostay Ulster University Student Fund ...... 24 to our most recent graduates. to update your preferences and details. 10 Ulster alumnae leading in the world of sport...... 26 I hope you enjoy hearing of the There is great excitement in the impressive impact that Ulster air with the progress of the Belfast SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY University alumni continue to make campus, new developments at Support your University...... 28 around the world. Magee and Coleraine, as well as Stay involved...... 30 Wherever you graduated, wherever an ambitious new strategic plan you were based, I hope you feel leading us forward. Focused on the Alumni adventures...... 31 connected to Ulster University. next five years, the plan contains Giving back ...... 34 We are always keen to keep in touch stretching ambitions that will drive Ulster Graduate Edition 40 with you and to keep you up to date us towards our 50th anniversary Edited and produced by the Development and Alumni Relations Office, Ulster University, with what is happening. However, you in 2034 and move the University York Street, Belfast, BT15 1ED are going to have to act to preserve forward significantly as a major force Editorial: Editorial Solutions Ltd that connection. in delivering positive change and Design: RLA Group Ltd Print: Sterling Solutions Ltd impact, both locally and globally. New data protection laws are coming into effect in May 2018. If you don’t tell Inside this edition you will be able Available online at: ulster.ac.uk/alumniandsupporters us how you would like to stay in touch, to see that the University, its staff, We want our magazine to be fully accessible we will be limited as to how we contact alumni, students and friends make a and have therefore made it available in both you after this date. significant contribution to building a printed and online formats. If you need part or all of this magazine in an alternative format confident and forward looking society. That is why we are running our please do not hesitate to contact us. As you read the various stories I hope ‘Tick the box to stay with us’ campaign. you will be proud that you are an Ulster Views expressed are those of the contributors, Please read the back page of this not necessarily the University. Ulster University graduate and that you are inspired to magazine, tick the form that came cannot accept responsibility for any claim stay in touch. with this edition and return it using the whatsoever which may arise out of materials carried in good faith. freepost envelope provided. Or, Eddie Friel Director of Development Front cover image: Easkey Britton: BSc Hons and Alumni Relations Environmental Science, 2009 and PhD Life and Health Science, 2013 4 UNIVERSITY NEWS

Ulster University headlines

BT innovation: Howard Watson, CEO of BT Technology, from last year Service and Operations, with Alastair Hamilton, CEO of Invest NI, and The University continues to deliver outstanding research Ulster University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paddy Nixon and teaching, as well as encourage the innovation, leadership and vision needed to help our communities 3. NEW BT INNOVATION thrive. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the PARTNERSHIP extraordinary activities that took place in 2017. We partnered with telecoms giant BT to open a new £28m Innovation Centre. It will undertake more than 1. WORLD RANKINGS £7m worth of joint research, driving the creation of 25 The University was proud to be ranked in the top 150 new University research posts, alongside up to 50 new young universities in the world and joint fifth in the UK. graduate roles in the BT Belfast Global Development The University was also ranked among the world’s elite Centre. The research will focus on the Internet of Things, academic institutions for nursing in the QS World University artificial intelligence and data analytics for customer Rankings by Subject, and placed in the top 20 in the UK experience, cyber security and 5G communications. for four subjects (nursing, architecture/built environment, Invest NI offered support of £9m towards the project. agriculture/forestry and sports-related subjects). 4. SIGNIFICANT EUROPEAN FUNDING WIN The University secured €23m of European funding via the highly competitive INTERREG VA programme. It is being used for collaborative research in personalised medicine, renewable energy and connected health technology. The University will lead the research, working with other UK and Irish institutions and companies with existing global expertise in each sector. 5. BBC PARTNERSHIP STRUCK The University became one of just eight UK universities to form a major five-year research partnership with BBC 2. CONFUCIUS EXCELLENCE Research and Development that will analyse ways to AWARD FOR VICE-CHANCELLOR unlock the potential of data analysis in the media. It will be We were delighted to see Vice-Chancellor Professor at the forefront of machine learning in the media industry, Paddy Nixon receive the prestigious Confucius Individual helping create a more personal BBC that can inform, Performance Excellence Award at a ceremony in Xi-an. educate and entertain in new ways. The partnership brings The award recognised his commitment to the continued together experts from across the BBC and world-leading success of the Confucius Institute at Ulster University and to UK data scientists from Ulster University, the universities increasing positive awareness of China in Northern Ireland. of Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, Surrey, Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London, and University College London. 6. BIO-DEVICES LAB OPENS Ulster opened a £7.3m advanced biomedical engineering laboratory with the aim of offering expertise and state- of-the-art equipment to assist companies in developing prototypes for the biomedical, engineering, electronic device and aerospace sectors. It is the result of a strategic partnership between Invest NI, Ulster University, Randox Laboratories and Heartsine Technologies, which have come together to help businesses in this sector develop. Professor Paddy Nixon receiving the Excellence Award at a ceremony in China ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 UNIVERSITY NEWS 5

7. CLINTON CENTRE RENEWAL Ulster began an initiative with Dublin City University and the University of Massachusetts to enhance the Clinton Centre in Enniskillen. The universities will create a new, sustainable operational model for the Centre, in BT innovation: Howard Watson, CEO of BT Technology, keeping with President Clinton’s commitment to peace Service and Operations, with Alastair Hamilton, CEO of Invest NI, and and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The work Ulster University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paddy Nixon of acclaimed large-format portrait artist and Ulster alumnus, Colin Davidson, will be displayed at the Centre, as will his painting of the former president. President 9. MEETING THE CHALLENGE Clinton announced the initiative himself on a visit to The University secured its first victory in the popular Northern Ireland. University Challenge TV programme, beating St Anne’s College, Oxford by 175 to 90 points. As Ulster Graduate went to press, the team had advanced to the quarter finals with a further win over Warwick University. After losing in the first round against a strong Edinburgh side by just five points, they progressed to the second round as one of the highest scoring losing teams. Pictured with host Jeremy Paxman are Cathal McDaid (Literature) from County Donegal, Catherine Ritchie (Fine Arts) from County Armagh, team captain and Pharmacy student Iain Jack from Peterhead in Scotland and Matthew President of DCU, Professor Brian MacCraith; President Clinton; former First Minister, Arlene Foster MLA; Professor Paddy Nixon; Milliken (Education) from County Down. and Colin Davidson, Ulster University alumnus

8. BIG DATA INITIATIVE We launched Northern Ireland’s first data analytics 10. OUR UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY institute, responding to the explosive growth of data NOW COMPRISES: and building on the £30m already recently invested into data analytics-related research. Located at the current students Magee campus, with offices on the Belfast campus, 24,258 the Cognitive Analytics Research Lab brings together businesses, government and advanced research 15,824 full-time expertise. It cements the University’s international undergraduates reputation in the field, viewed by many sectors as the ‘new oil’ – 90% of the world’s data has been created 1,433 full-time in the last two years. postgraduates

3,353 part-time undergraduates

3,648 part-time postgraduates

34,100 Twitter followers 19,859 Facebook followers

Professor Paddy Nixon; Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan, 67,760 Ulster University; John Healy, Allstate; and Greg McDaid, LinkedIn followers Fujitsu, at the launch of the big data initiative 6 UNIVERSITY NEWS

The strategic plan re-shaping Ulster New Provosts University leading Ulster University has embarked on Five & Fifty, an ambitious strategic plan for the next five years on campus that will drive the University towards its 50th anniversary in 2034. identities Structured around four priorities, Academic Excellence, Global Vision, Civic Contribution and Operational Excellence, the strategy sets out a clear vision for the Five & Fifty includes within its philosophy the University and provides a fresh direction and purpose. notion of campuses with strong identities and the concentration of academic strengths. Three Focused on delivering a university that is innovative new Provosts have therefore been appointed and sustainable with a strong reputation for academic to support the Vice-Chancellor and to guide the excellence, its implementation has already seen the way forward at Belfast, Jordanstown, Magee University move from six to four faculties, a realignment and Coleraine. of disciplines and the creation of new supporting structures that allow each faculty to dovetail more Their key role is to be ambassadors for their efficiently with external market sectors and deliver campuses, creating distinctive campus identities teaching and research of the highest standing. and leading in delivering civic leadership and engagement with the communities in which the University is based.

Global Civic Vision Contribution

Academic Excellence FIVE & FIFTY VISION AND MISSION As Northern Ireland’s civic university, Ulster University will deliver outstanding research and teaching that encourages the innovation, leadership and vision needed to help our community thrive. Grounded in the heart of the community, Ulster University will: • Transform lives, stretch minds, develop skills Operational and raise ambitions. Excellence • Deliver globally significant research with local relevance. • Encourage a diverse university community. • Make a lasting contribution to society as a whole. ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 UNIVERSITY NEWS 7

PROFESSOR Belfast site defined as the campus of creativity, RAFFAELLA FOLLI innovation and entrepreneurship. Provost (Belfast and “I am particularly excited at the new possibilities that Jordanstown) a vibrant and expanded Belfast campus will bring for Leading the links to local developing our civic connections further. It is already a communities as Provost of visible symbol of regeneration, breathing new life into Belfast and Jordanstown is the northern end of the city and catalysing further Professor Raffaella Folli. investment and new opportunities for businesses and local communities. “Our campuses in Jordanstown and Belfast have always been huge contributors to the economy and the culture “Going forward under the Five & Fifty strategy there of Northern Ireland,” said Raffaella. will be many projects in the areas of sport, educational attainment and much more that will bolster our “With the move to the new Belfast campus we will see connections to the local communities of both locations, a refocusing of the academic strengths on our various further strengthening our position as Northern Ireland's campuses, with sport in all its forms remaining a core civic university.” part of the Jordanstown set-up and the reconfigured

DR MALACHY Ó NÉILL “This beautiful and historic campus encapsulates all the Provost (Magee) characteristics of a traditional academic institution but is the setting for cutting-edge research and teaching across Malachy has the responsibility a wonderful myriad of disciplines and specialist areas. of working with staff, students and the community to achieve “I see my role as an ambassador for the campus in this Magee's full potential as the context and, working with colleagues, to take advantage University of and for the city of of the unique identity of Magee in delivering the civic Derry~Londonderry and wider responsibility priority of the strategic plan. region. “I have a range of aims and objectives but to begin with I “My overriding priority is to ensure the continued am focusing on some short-term initiatives to maximise development of the campus as an integral part of the staff and student experience on campus and I’m also the University,” the Ulster alumnus said. “So I will be working with our partners to secure the medical school delivering actions that support our academic excellence for the north-west to bring the vision of this city as a and help our community thrive and grow. ‘UniverCity’ to reality.”

DR KARISE critical role in transforming lives, developing vibrant HUTCHINSON communities and in shaping modern society. Provost (Coleraine) “Within this the key priority for me is to work with “The heart of academic stakeholder organisations, staff and students to engage excellence at Coleraine is the local community and co-create a unique identity for focused around a diverse suite the campus that makes a meaningful impact towards of world-leading science and the wellbeing and economic prosperity of the Causeway health programmes,” said Coast region. Karise. “I see my role as leading civic engagement on behalf of “Alongside these, the campus has recognised teaching the Vice-Chancellor in the local area. In this way, I want and research excellence in a wide range of social sciences to underline the wider contribution of the University, not and arts disciplines including Education, Media, English, just in terms of academic excellence, but as an anchor History and Tourism. Given our status as Northern in the local community that translates into long-lasting Ireland's civic university, these subject areas play a economic and social prosperity.” 8 UNIVERSITY NEWS

Transformations at Belfast and Jordanstown There are many reasons why alumni should return to the Belfast and Jordanstown campuses, but chief among them in 2018 is to see and appreciate the amazing transformations that are taking place.

BELFAST Visionary new campus shaping up As the enhanced Belfast campus continues to make the generation of new ideas and the transformation of progress, the shape of things to come for the city and opportunity arising from those ideas into innovations the University is now very visible. The visionary new through a pronounced entrepreneurial effort. campus will be a centre of creativity, innovation and Entrepreneurial executive education at Belfast will entrepreneurship, providing a progressive practice- therefore act as an important enabler for more effective based learning and teaching environment supported business decision-making in environments increasingly by the best innovative technology in flexible spaces. characterised by volatility and uncertainty. The eventual co-location of diverse disciplines will The new campus buildings will provide UUBS with enhance collaborative opportunities for students, an opportunity to further this strategy, offering staff and partners. cutting-edge learning and teaching facilities through With Belfast and the Causeway Coast basking in Lonely which the University can co-create value between staff, Planet’s accolade as the best region in the world to visit students and businesses. in 2018, the buzz around the campus is palpable. Belfast is also the hub for the newly launched Creative Among the exciting forthcoming developments will be Industries Institute. This £20m initiative will bring the expansion of executive education in Belfast through together all strands of the University’s existing world- the Ulster University Business School (UUBS), which leading research and teaching expertise aspires to be the leading provider of across the breadth and diversity of entrepreneurial education, research the creative industries including: The creative industries is the TOP and impact in the UK by 2021. advertising and graphic design, fastest growing The focus of the Belfast animation, architecture, film sector of the UK economy. campus identity on creativity and broadcasting, product TEN design, creative technologies, It employs over 5% MOST and innovation is regionally of the entire Northern ENTREPRENEURIAL important and empowers UUBS fashion, music, drama and Ireland workforce, UNIVERSITIES to act as a catalyst between performing arts, photography contributing nearly IN THE UK and fine art. £1bn to GVA. ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 UNIVERSITY NEWS 9 BELFAST Design shop reveals arts treasures on Belfast campus Unique by name, unique by nature – a new art and design shop has been launched on the Belfast campus, giving students and alumni the opportunity to display and sell their work. The exclusive outlet, where customers are also able to commission items from students and graduates of the Belfast School of Art, provides a platform for emerging artistic talent from the University, helping them to gain exposure, make professional connections and “This is a tremendous project and a beautiful example of practise their entrepreneurial skills. a fruitful collaboration between students, staff and the Featuring pieces from many art and design disciplines University more broadly,” said Professor Raffaella Folli, including painting, photography, ceramics, sculpture, Provost of the Belfast campus. jewellery, fashion, graphic design, illustration, “It’s a very exciting new venture for the University and printmaking, textiles and fine art, the shop has changed the campus, because it harnesses student creativity to the face of the Academy Street entrance to the campus. staff expertise, creating an avenue for students to sell Fully student-led as an educational and recreational their work and for the public to enjoy a vision of the full platform for students, alumni and the general public, range of talent being fostered at Ulster University. it further connects Ulster University with Belfast and “Unique provides us with a simple but powerful Northern Ireland’s creative community. opportunity to welcome alumni, locals and tourists to the The Arts and Culture Society and staff from the Belfast Belfast campus to globally showcase the identity of this School of Art together with the Students' Union were campus as creative, innovative and entrepreneurial.” involved in the initial conception of the project, interior design students led the design of the space, MBA students advised on the development of the business DID YOU KNOW? case, while the University invested in placement students Our Belfast School of Art boasts 7 and provided a prime spot on campus for the outlet. Turner Prize nominees, 2 of whom have won the prestigious title. JORDANSTOWN a result of the new Belfast campus JUNIOR Celebrating development, but the site will retain a JORDANSTOWN crucial role in the Greater Belfast area. Jordanstown PARKRUNS The campus will retain its world-class Ulster University has just A Sunday morning parkrun event for sports facilities, which include the celebrated the last ever children aged between four and 14 Sports Institute for Northern Ireland, graduation ceremony at the years got underway last autumn at used as a training and rehabilitation Jordanstown campus – marking the Jordanstown campus. base by a range of elite home-based the beginning of the end of one Affiliated to the popular network of and visiting athletes. chapter in our history and the parkruns which take place all over start of an exciting new era. The University will enhance the the world, the 2k run forms part of sports facilities with investment As planning continues for the move the University’s plans to increase and Jordanstown will also keep to Belfast, the University is keen to sporting activity at all levels at its specialist FireSERT engineering celebrate the legacy of the Jordanstown Jordanstown. research facility and the Dalriada campus. A repository of stories and Kids of every ability are encouraged student accommodation village. photographs is being built and anyone to take part – from those taking their Transport links to and from Belfast who has memories they would like to first steps in running, to Olympians will be improved. The site will also be share is encouraged to email them to and juniors with more experience. developed with a mix of residential [email protected]. Simply register and join in: and community facilities. The University's presence at www.parkrun.org.uk/register Jordanstown will be scaled back as 10 UNIVERSITY NEWS

MAGEE Developments at Magee For alumni returning to the Magee campus to Ireland, which includes a lack of GPs, rising locum costs see old friends, here is a snapshot of what’s been and staffing problems. happening on campus. Having met with experts and educators from across the STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES world to find the best balance for a new medical school, Ongoing investment at Magee has provided Professor Hugh McKenna, who is leading the project, state-of-the-art teaching, research and support facilities. believes graduate entry intake is the best way forward for Northern Ireland. He said he is "optimistic" the school The developments have included a newly opened will come to fruition. teaching block, delivering additional facilities for the 4,300 undergraduate and postgraduate students The University is currently working through the eight attending the campus annually. The £11m building, accreditation stages required before it can be granted a situated adjacent to the library, provides a mixture licence by the General Medical Council to run the course. of new and flexible teaching facilities, including three A number of funding challenges will have to be met, and lecture theatres, 20 teaching rooms, open-plan student the University is currently seeking philanthropic support hubs and a café. for the project. Also in 2017 a new Nursing and Midwifery Council PARTNERSHIP WITH MANCHESTER competence test centre opened at Magee to meet UNITED FOUNDATION growing demands for overseas nurses and midwives who wish to work in the UK. It’s one of only three such centres The University has developed a partnership with the in the UK, reinforcing the University’s reputation for Manchester United Foundation, with the aim of using nursing excellence. football to engage and inspire young people to build a better life for themselves and unite the communities in MEDICAL SCHOOL PLANS ADVANCE which they live. Plans for the proposed new medical school at Magee are Based initially at the Magee campus as part of the progressing at pace, and with a fair wind the first cohort University’s aim of widening access and making a civic of doctors could be graduating by 2023. contribution to the local area, this unique partnership The University is aiming to have an initial group of brings together the expertise of the University with the 80 medical students in training by September 2019. high-profile Manchester United Foundation to deliver Introducing a new approach to teaching medicine in football coaching, educational programmes and personal Northern Ireland, the facility will be a graduate entry development, providing young people with opportunities medical school, where those who have an undergraduate to change their lives for the better. degree in any field can apply. Working together with local community networks, the As well as being a significant addition to Magee’s partnership will deliver projects ranging from educating portfolio of courses, the establishment of the school young people about the inner workings of a football club will help solve the systemic medical workforce problem to improving confidence, life skills and employability. being experienced in the north-west and across Northern ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 UNIVERSITY NEWS 11

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY Half a century has passed since the first students started at the New University of Ulster in Coleraine in September 1968. The University is planning a wide range of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the campus Chancellor, Dr James Nesbitt, with players from the University's in 2018. Alumni, staff, students, COLERAINE basketball teams: Emma friends and family are invited to McGuinness, David Tak Ho reconnect and get involved to mark The latest at Coleraine and Maireann McHugh the milestone. Ulster alumni returning to Coleraine will still feel the homely vibe, but If you have memories you wish to will also find a campus that continues to evolve. share, or any old photographs that could be used as part of our REGENERATION studio, sauna and steam room, wider celebrations, please With lecture theatres having been fitness suite and conditioning suite. send them to added, the library developed, new The recently opened Media Centre [email protected]. high-quality buildings erected and is another impressive added facility the old south building, former home – it includes the largest newsroom in RIVERSIDE THEATRE AT 40 of the Students' Union, now gone, Northern Ireland. the regeneration of the Coleraine The Riverside Theatre has marked 40 campus continues apace. Also within the campus grounds, a years since it was officially opened new enterprise zone has sprung up. during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee visit Last year saw the completion of a A first for Northern Ireland, it offers to Northern Ireland in 1977. brand new flagship sports complex hi-tech businesses tax incentives at the north end of the campus. and simplified planning procedures, As part of the anniversary Officially opened by the Chancellor, creating new opportunities for celebrations, the theatre opened up Dr James Nesbitt, it boasts eight economic and foreign direct its extensive archives to everyone multi-sport indoor courts, a fitness investment. online, underwent a rebrand and ran an impressive programme of events STEM VILLAGE showcasing local talent. Ulster University was one of the key The theatrical traditions first exhibitors at a STEM Village, part of established at the University in the the Airwaves Portrush show last year 1970s continue strongly into 2018 on the Causeway Coast. The event is a with a packed programme ranging major focus for the Coleraine campus. from the comedy of Jake O’Kane, a A range of interactive displays and school edition of Les Misérables, to tasks stimulated career opportunities dance, music, drama and art. in STEM subjects, showcased the ulster.ac.uk/riverside University’s expertise in health sciences and encouraged interest in the global aerospace industry.

Coleraine cost 16 shillings (80p), and from Coleraine to Back in the day Derry, 11 shillings (55p). For those alumni who can remember the early days at “I remember the Portrush–University (Ballysally) trains Coleraine, an old leaflet discovered by an Irish Studies graduate with great affection: it was the only railway service that, now living in Australia may bring back some memories. to my knowledge, would go back for a student if he or During a clear-out of his bookshelves, Nigel Sinnott she arrived on the platform as the train was pulling out. discovered a piece of paper he had used as a bookmark. It turned out to be a leaflet offering travel information to “And, of course, I remember Decimal students for 1970–71. Day at the University in 1971 when the UK and Said Nigel: “Those were the days when you could fly Ireland went over from from Belfast to London Heathrow for £10. Or you could shillings and pence to new take the ferry from Belfast to Liverpool, which I did once, pence. Exciting times!” for £2.50 (second class). A train ride from Belfast to 12 UNIVERSITY NEWS

And the award goes to… ALUMNI DIRECTORS AT FOREFRONT OF an Ulster LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE No fewer than eight of the 11 winners in the 2017 Institute of Directors (IoD) NI First Trust Bank Director of the Year Awards were Ulster graduates. graduate Female leaders dominated, winning over half of the titles available for the first time in the event’s history. The University’s standing increases when our graduates Awardees included BA Hons Philosophy alumna, Tina step up to the podium to be rewarded for their McKenzie of Staffline Ireland, who won the Mid-Market excellence and endeavours. Here, we celebrate alumni Company Director of the Year, Norah Anne Barron, an who have been recognised as champions in their field MSc Communications, Public Relations and Advertising and who continue to demonstrate leadership, drive, graduate who scooped the SME Director of the Year, commitment and a desire to make a difference locally, and Robert McConnell of CCP Gransden who lifted the nationally and internationally. Young Director of the Year. Robert graduated with a BEng Hons Engineering Management in 2008.

PRESTIGIOUS ACCOLADE LANDING A LANDSCAPE AWARD World-renowned Ulster graduate Oliver Jeffers has been Architecture graduate Barry Craig shone at the prominent presented with a Professional Achievement Landscape Institute Awards 2017 in London, scooping the Award at a prestigious British Council ‘New Landscape Professional of the Year’ title. ceremony in the United States. The chartered senior landscape designer works in The Alumni Awards celebrate Belfast for Amey, an international engineering and outstanding achievements made by infrastructure company employing 19,000 in the UK, business professionals, entrepreneurs Australia and America. He was recognised for his work and community leaders who studied as lead landscape architect on projects such as the in the UK within the last 10 years. Liverpool Connectivity Scheme and Ropewalks, the city’s As a renowned artist, illustrator and acclaimed ‘bohemian heart’. writer, Oliver was recognised for his distinguished and exemplary leadership and achievements in his industry, and for demonstrating the highest level of integrity and character in his professional career. The presentation took place at the global headquarters of the Institute of International Education in New York. ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 UNIVERSITY NEWS 13

CREAM OF BUSINESS TALENT The 2017 Belfast Telegraph Business Awards showcased the cream of Northern Ireland talent, which included Business Studies alumna, Naoimh McConville (top picture above), who celebrated with family members Conleth McConville and Brian McConville as MJM Group lifted the Outstanding Business of the Year accolade. NURSE OF THE YEAR MJM Group has collaborated with Ulster in a highly Learning disability nurse, Siobhan Rogan, won the RCN successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership developing Northern Ireland Nurse of the Year Award. advanced materials for maritime applications. Siobhan, who works in the Southern Trust, was Also on the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards podium nominated for her leading role in establishing Northern was Construction Engineering and Management Ireland’s first community-based fully integrated child and graduate Gareth Loye (bottom picture above), CEO of adolescent mental health service for young people with M&M Contractors, who won the Best Established Small/ intellectual disability. Medium Business Award. INSPIRATIONAL CONSTRUCTION Construction Engineering and Management graduate, Margaret Conway of McAleer & Rushe, became the first woman to be named CIOB Construction Manager of the Year. She beat 84 finalists to the trophy in the 2017 competition for her first role as a construction manager on a £22m nine- storey office block contract in Belfast city centre. The 9 Adelaide Street project was completed two months early in 80 weeks with a perfect safety record. Margaret’s win follows that of McAleer & Rushe colleague, BSc Hons Quantity Surveying graduate Paul Marlow, who won the same title in 2016. 14 FEATURES

Property expert bringing the passion home

High-profile property developer, Gary McCausland, is making a major contribution to the regeneration of central Belfast.

“First and foremost, I am Dublin Road, will have enough space to accommodate unbelievably passionate 3,000 office workers. about people and about life. The Grade A accommodation, hailed as a ‘quantum leap’ But property has always for Belfast, will inject tens of millions of pounds into the been something that I have local economy, create thousands of jobs and rejuvenate found really fascinating. an important part of the city centre. Because in this sometimes intangible, and now often, Gary is quite literally building a better Belfast. His virtual world, it is something company recently completed a new apartment building that remains very real. just metres away from One Bankmore Square on the Dublin Road. The Gallery, “a calculated risk which paid “It’s where we live, work, play, enjoy, eat, sleep. Deep off,” was the first new-build apartment block in the city down in everybody’s subconscious property is incredibly centre in nearly a decade. It recently scooped an RICS important. That’s something that I believe will never award for best residential project. change.” Property has always coursed through Gary’s veins. As a Gary McCausland, the man behind Northern Ireland’s young man, he aspired to be an architect, yet changed largest ever office block development, is taking time out career plans on the spot after sitting in on one fateful to talk to Ulster Graduate. meeting. During an A-Level work experience placement The highly successful property expert, former TV he witnessed a property developer briefing a project presenter, author, commentator and founder of the team and laying out what he wanted to achieve. London-based Richland Group, has had an exceptional Immediately, Gary recognised what he wanted to do. career immersed in the cut and thrust of real estate all “I was always fascinated by buildings and had a passion over the world. for property, so I wanted to get into an area where I With his latest project due to start in 2018, his talents could make things happen and come up with visions. are now set to bring world-class office accommodation That meeting was definitely the catalyst,” said Gary. to the centre of Belfast. When complete, his £65m One The experience made him steer away from architecture Bankmore Square development, a 12-storey, 250,000 sq and towards estate management at Ulster University, ft scheme on the former Movie House cinema site on the ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 FEATURES 15

where he earned a BSc but emerged into the housing black and above board, managed to bounce back, and crash of the 1990s and few suitable jobs. I’m still going strong today. He decided to do a Postgraduate Diploma in “People think property is really easy, but it’s actually Accountancy, and with a commendation under his belt very complex. You need to really take your time and his career was soon up and running – and it could so get projects right. There’s an incredible amount of due easily have been in accountancy. However, a year later diligence. You don’t need to be doing lots of deals, but he grabbed a Property Manager opportunity with Cable you do need to be doing the right ones. & Wireless, where he rose quickly through the ranks to “One Bankmore Square is one of those. It’s a massive a senior role in London. Gary was project and a massive challenge in an then head-hunted by MCI Worldcall, uncertain world. But I want to make it becoming their Estates Director, Find what you happen. I am very focused on doing these before moving to the Carlyle Group projects in Northern Ireland. I’m keen to as their European Property Sales are passionate use all my skills, learned over decades, Director. about and go and bring them back home.” At 33, though, and after buying and after it. Bringing those skills back home also selling literally hundreds of properties means a strong connection to the place across the world, he felt he had where it all began, and Gary maintains served his time in the corporate close ties with Ulster University as a world. It was time to strike out on his own. supporter, donor and as a Visiting Professor of Real In 2001 Gary founded the Richland Group, based in Estate, where he relishes the chance to share his passion Berkeley Square in London’s Mayfair. He focused on luxury with students. residential and commercial property, and several hundred “In my talks, I tell them I’ve gone into property because I million pounds’ worth of exclusive deals and development love it,” he said. “So, my best advice is always find what across the city ensued. Until the 2008 property crash, you are passionate about and go after it. Whatever it is, which, he admits, took the wind out of his sails. do it. You’ll do unbelievably well.” “That was a challenging time for anyone in property,” he said. “But I’m pleased I was able to keep everything in the 16 FEATURES

Recent Ulster University research, part of a global study into student mental health, revealed: 53% MIND of students had reported having a mental health problem 31% YOUR have had suicidal thoughts MOOD tackles students’ OUTSTANDING mental health CONTRIBUTIONS Most of the £35,000 raised for Mind Your Mood came from students, staff, alumni and friends running, relaying and walking in Ulster University set itself will now be able to impact on more the Belfast City Marathon, a first ever inter- apart and demonstrated its students with a wide-ranging series campus cycle and a football tournament. commitment to supporting of free workshops on subjects such There were some outstanding its students when more than as mindfulness, mental fitness and contributions, with two Ulster staff, 220 staff, students, alumni and resilience, conversations about Paul Quinn and Mark Kennedy, cycling friends came together last year depression, LGBT awareness and the 100 miles from Belfast to Magee to raise an amazing £35,000 to suicide alertness. on the Friday of the May bank holiday support a major new mental weekend and running the full marathon health initiative. NEW INSTITUTE on the Monday. The Mind Your Mood initiative, Staff from Santander Universities (and designed and delivered by students OF MENTAL Santander Bank branches), in particular who have lived through experiences HEALTH Chelsea Conway, Sarah McCarthy, Paddy of mental illness, has been put in SCIENCES Moohan and Noel McNally, stepped up place to support fellow students to raise funds with a series of events, struggling with anxiety, depression With one in four people including coffee mornings, participation or even suicidal thoughts. experiencing a mental health in the football tournament, charity cycles Managed by Student Support problem annually and with and the Belfast City Marathon. Noel but coordinated and delivered by Northern Ireland recording some even ran three marathons; the students, the programme runs of the highest rates of mental Belfast Marathon, the London across all four campuses and seeks ill health and suicide in the UK, Virgin Marathon and the Newry to educate and improve the mental Ulster University is building upon Marathon. wellbeing of Ulster students through its existing, world-leading mental Santander’s Relationship the funding and organisation of health research with its new Branch Manager, Paddy mental health workshops and other £5m Institute of Mental Health Moohan, said: “I was so resilience-building activities. Sciences. Bringing together impressed with Mind Your the University’s world-leading Research indicates that students Mood because it fitted in research expertise across a nowadays are experiencing with Santander Universities’ range of disciplines, the Institute more mental health issues than values and vision for helping will deliver research that will ever before. communities and students. transform the lives of those living We were delighted to support it.” The money raised in 2017 will allow with mental health issues. Student Support to significantly Noel McNally build on the success of the first year of its Mind Your Mood activity. Santander Universities is a major supporter of Ulster University, In conjunction with students and having provided over £1m of funding to date. This funding has been in response to identified needs, it used to support student entrepreneurship, mobility, widening access and internships. ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 FEATURES 17

ALUMNI JUMP ON THE for the 100-mile Ulster team ride, PEDALS TO SUPPORT where he was joined by his brother, CAMPAIGN University staff member and fellow alumnus Martin McGinn, who The subject of mental health is an played an integral role in making important one for Ulster University the cycle happen. Business School alumnus John McGinn, who is a partner in cross- John said: “It was really important border accountancy firm John for me, and the company to MacMahon & Co. support the campaign for a number of reasons. It highlighted Having lost a colleague, an important issue for the Rostrevor man is students, employers fully aware of the role and staff alike, that good mental raised vital funds health plays in and promoted the the workplace, positive benefits of in business, as a exercise. Anything Provost, Coleraine campus, Dr Karise Hutchinson student, and indeed John McGinn we can do to bring (second left), with fellow marathon runners all aspects of life. this message in front of John got behind the Mind people is very worthwhile Your Mood inter-campus cycle and John MacMahon & Co and I effort not just with sponsorship, but will continue to support initiatives also by hopping on the pedals himself like this.”

PANIC ATTACKS taking panic attacks daily – Someone who knows first-hand often involving 4am trips to just how frightening anxiety can be Antrim Area Hospital to have and how quickly it can take hold is my heart examined. I thought Ulster University Marketing student I was dying every single day; I’d Colin McKee, who coordinated the sit and research brain tumours, Mind Your Mood initiative during his heart attacks and was genuinely JOIN US IN 2018! placement year. convinced I was going to die. To build on last year’s success and ensure we can increase our “The symptoms just got worse After the loss of a number of people, investment in our students’ mental including a teenage friend, Colin and I then started suffering from wellbeing, we need more staff, started having panic attacks when depression. This made going students and alumni participating. he was 19. “I’d never had any signs to University and dealing with of mental health issues before nor the pressures of completing Please consider participating in the did I even think mental illness was a coursework, exams and Belfast City Marathon, any other real thing,” he told Ulster Graduate. presentations very difficult, marathon, or coming up with your exacerbating my anxiety and own idea to help raise funds for this “Then, I started to notice massive depression. increasingly important cause. changes in my thoughts and feelings, and these led to panic “I was finally diagnosed with Funds raised will help Student Support attacks. Before I knew it, I was health anxiety, but recovery develop this innovative initiative in didn’t happen for me overnight, 2018 and provide more interventions. and it won’t for anyone else either. This is why programmes For further information on the many like Mind Your Mood are so vital. ways you can help, please email [email protected] or visit Having a positive campaign and ulster.ac.uk/mindyourmood workshops on campus is helping to break down the stigma around mental health and encouraging Donate and make a students to access support.” difference right now! Donate by text message: Colin, who had previously given up Text Mood18 £10 to 70070. sports because of his panic attacks, Donate online via: impressively ran the Belfast ulster.ac.uk/donate Marathon for Mind Your Mood. – select Mind Your Mood. It is safe and secure. 18 FEATURES

Riding the waves of change From her base in the ‘blue spaces’ of Ireland’s west coast, Ulster alumna Easkey Britton travels to faraway places like Iran, India and Papua New Guinea to make a social impact through surfing.

There is something quite awe- brought back to Donegal from a trip biggest waves at Mullaghmore Head inspiring about a surfer who to America in the 1960s. The boards in County Sligo, a feat that earned chooses to take on some of the were intended as décor for the family her a performance of the year biggest waves that nature can hotel in Rossnowlagh. Instead, they nomination in the Oscars of surfing, create along the storm-lashed west kicked off a surf culture that thrives in the WSL Big Wave Awards. coast of Ireland in winter. Step on Ireland today. All the while, she has surfed – and to the board, Easkey Britton. With her family – and the Atlantic brought surfing – to communities The international surf pioneer and Ocean – behind her, Easkey grew up around the globe, fostering inspiration, Ireland’s first female big wave surfer on a surf board. It wasn’t long before empowerment and social change. relishes these terrifying cold-water her surfing prowess was bringing in “I’ve been in love with water for as mountains and the feeling of being a multitude of medals, awards and long as I can remember,” Easkey told drawn out of her comfort zone. For achievements, including a precocious Ulster Graduate. “The sea is the single the sea is where this Ulster alumna second in the Irish Woman’s National greatest influencer in my life and for comes alive, gets lost, learns, rises to Championship at the age of nine. me surfing is this playful medium challenges, works out and relaxes – Five Irish National Championships that allows me to indulge in that and it has always been this way. followed, and in 2005, aged 16, she passion and which has also allowed became the youngest Irish person to Dr Easkey Britton, environmental me to build a career. surf the famous Teahupoo in Tahiti, scientist, adventurer, leader and one of the most powerful and deadly “People may think it is utter madness, change-maker, comes from Ireland’s waves on the planet. chasing storms and getting excited first family of surf and has built her life around the ocean since the age Easkey made history in 2007 when of four. Her father and uncles were she became the first woman to surf “I’ve been in love with among the country’s first surfers, after the legendary Aileen’s Wave, off the water for as long as I they ‘liberated’ two surf boards that Cliffs of Moher. She also remains their mother, Easkey’s grandmother, the only woman to have surfed the can remember.” ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 FEATURES 19

"Every day you empowerment. The ground- “We are looking at the links are meeting new breaking adventure, captured in the between nature, health and surprises and inspirational film, Into the Sea, made wellbeing and how engaging learning new things." headlines all over the world. with nature and the outdoors can impact health and wellbeing both The trip prompted Easkey to at an individual level and within co-found Waves of Freedom, an by bad weather, which is when we communities across Ireland. initiative to support the development get the good waves in Ireland, but I of surfing in Iran, and she returned “The work is highlighting what like to think of it as a good addiction, several times to set up clubs, teach I’ve intuitively known all my life, a healthy addiction that gets under and bring equipment. The initiative the healing power of the sea. I your skin. I can’t not do it.” later morphed into Like Water, a believe there is huge potential and Yet there is more to Easkey Britton project expanding the philosophy implications in it for the island of than surfing. In the mix of any of surfing as a creative medium for Ireland. It feels like the start of attempt to define her, a quest to social change beyond Iran. what is going to become a really learn, a will to create change and to important body of research in the Since the Iran venture, Easkey has ‘be change’ in the world must also be years to come, so it is something I’d also found time to spearhead the considered. So too must an academic like to remain really involved in.” world’s first global Surf for Social aptitude that has earned her a first- Good Summit, graduate from the Alongside this work, surfing remains class BSc in Environmental Science internationally renowned THNK an ever-present, almost daily ritual, and a PhD in Life and Health Sciences, Creative School of Leadership, be an with the winter of 2017/18 dedicated specialising in human wellbeing and Oxfam Hero, take on ambassador to yet another project, this time coastal resilience, both at Ulster roles for Clean Coasts Ireland a film focusing on paddle surfing University. and surf brand Finisterre, plus the big waves off the west coast of “My academic side is born of a real deliver motivational speeches at Ireland. curiosity that comes from having international conferences. Through it all, Easkey stays grounded grown up being immersed in the Currently, she is a Post-Doctoral and humble about the change and outdoors and nature,” she explained. Research Fellow in NUI Galway, impact she is making on the world. “Every day you are meeting new surprises and learning new things, and so a hunger for knowledge developed that has both fuelled my “I think if we academic leanings and deepened constantly find ways my understanding of what I was to feed our curiosity, experiencing.” ask questions and It was while she was finishing up her PhD in the surf town of Portrush in be reflective, 2013 that Easkey began exploring we can always make surfing’s potential as a creative an impact.” medium for social change. Hearing there might be surfable waves in Iran, she travelled there with a friend, “I think if we constantly find ways to French documentary maker Marion where, as a member of a research feed our curiosity, ask questions and Poizeau. cluster for social innovation, be reflective, we can always make an Donning a 'hijab swimsuit' Easkey participation and policy, she impact. For me, it feels really good encouraged local girls, women and co-leads a work package on an to know that I’m having my own communities to try surfing for the interdisciplinary joint funded EPA/ impact, however great or small, in very first time, challenging cultural HSE project called NEAR-Health trying to make the ocean a better, restrictions and promoting aimed at connecting people with healthier place.” blue and green spaces. 20 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

"Thrilled and deeply honoured to be recognised by the University I graduated from in what seems like a lifetime ago." Distinguished and Honorary Graduates 2017

Every year Ulster University honours outstanding alumni who have not just made an exceptional contribution in their chosen field, but who have upheld the values the University holds dear – innovation, leadership, vision. We are delighted to profile our most recent distinguished and honorary graduates. DISTINGUISHED IN CREATIVITY AND First Trust Bank representative, Mark McKeown, said: ENTREPRENEURSHIP “We have been proudly supporting the Distinguished Graduate award since 2001 to help recognise the The Creative Director and founder of Emmy- invaluable contribution that graduates make to the nominated and BAFTA-winning children’s TV production lives of others and to society as a whole. We offer our company, Sixteen South, is the recipient of the congratulations to this year’s deserving winner, Colin First Trust Bank/Ulster University Distinguished Williams. As founder of the multi-award winning Sixteen Graduate award for 2017/18. South TV production company, now rated among the Colin Williams, who has created a range of appealing UK’s top independent TV production companies, Colin children’s characters and whose completely Northern and his team are helping put the Northern Ireland Ireland-produced TV shows are screened all over the world, creative industries sector on the map and we are graduated with first class honours in Design in 1995. delighted to award Colin this prestigious accolade.” He initially worked in advertising agencies before Colin succeeds last year’s Distinguished Graduate award establishing Inferno in 2002, a production company winner, Sonia Flynn, Vice-President of SoundCloud, the developing commercials and promotional projects for big world’s largest music and audio platform, which has over brands including Coca-Cola, Nokia and the BBC. 170 million monthly listeners. He started Sixteen South after finding inspiration while One of the few female watching Bear in the Big Blue House with his young managing directors in daughter. Since then his company has won more than 30 the technology sector major international awards and is rated among the UK’s internationally, she is top independent TV production companies with shows hailed as a role model like Lily's Driftwood Bay, Sesame Tree, a co-production for young women with the US team behind Sesame Street, and Pajanimals. considering careers in Under Colin’s direction, Sixteen South produces all its science, technology, shows in-house in Belfast and employs over 100 people. engineering and maths. His latest show, WildWoods, a comedy series aimed at four to seven year olds, premiered last autumn. The studio is also in production with Claude for Disney Junior DID YOU KNOW? worldwide and Pinkalicious for PBS in the US. The first students of Ulster Accepting his award, Colin said he was “thrilled and University's course in Animation, deeply honoured to be recognised by the University I the only course of its kind in the UK, graduated from in what seems like a lifetime ago”. graduated in 2017. ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 21

Ricky sets the PACE for Usain Bolt Former Ulster University student Ricky Simms has had a front row seat in the career of history-making sprinter Usain Bolt. Farah and Kenya's queen of the track Vivian Cheruiyot As Bolt’s sports agent, the Donegal man has been at the among others. His role sees him travel the globe. side of the Jamaican since he was a teenager. The former Irish middle distance runner graduated with While the charismatic runner has been burning up the a BA Hons Sport and Leisure Studies in 1996 and a PGCE track, smashing records and winning millions of fans in Physical Education in 1997 from Ulster University. along the way, Ricky has shone in the background as his agent, providing endless business and sporting Following his honorary graduation Bolt tweeted his opportunities for his client. congratulations to Ricky: Monaco-based Ricky is regarded as one of the most influential men in world sport. His sports management and marketing company, PACE, looks after the interests of a host of famous athletes, including the Jamaican sprint king, Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion Mo

Fr Gary Donegan Sally O'Neill, leading human rights Honorary Received the honorary degree of advocate Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his peace Received the honorary degree Graduates 2017 building and community work. of Doctor of Laws (LLD) for her Wendy Blundell OBE, Director UK , DoranBrowne overseas development work. Regions Institution of Civil Engineers Seán Doran ArtsPreneurs CBE, civil engineer Received the honorary degree of David Orr Received the honorary degree of Received the honorary degree Doctor of Science (DSc) for her Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) for his of Doctor of Science (DSc) for leadership of and inspiration to contribution to the English National his contribution in the field of young women in the field of civil Opera and international arts. engineering. engineering. John Irvine, journalist Professor Peter Sachs, academic, Professor William Campbell, Received the honorary degree of University of Applied Sciences in Biologist and parasitologist Doctor of Letters (DLitt) for his Kempten, Germany Received the honorary degree of contribution to journalism. Received the honorary degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) for his Doctor of Science (DSc) for his distinguished services to research. Dáithí O Ceallaigh, former Irish contribution to teaching, research Ambassador in London Fr Harry Coyle and internationalisation in digital Received the honorary degree of Received the honorary degree of electronics. Doctor of Letters (DLitt) for his Doctor of Letters (DLitt) for his contribution to the Press Council , director of PACE promotion and teaching of the Irish Richard Simms of Ireland and a distinguished Management language. diplomatic career. Received the honorary degree of Stephen Coyle, Chief Executive Officer, Doctor of Science (DSc) for his Martin O'Neill OBE, Republic of AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust achievements as a sports agent. Ireland football manager Received the honorary degree of Received the honorary degree of , successful recording artist Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his support Foy Vance Doctor of Science (DSc) for his Received the honorary degree for economic regeneration and contribution to Irish football. of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) for peacebuilding. his outstanding contribution to Michael O'Neill MBE, Northern Thomas DiNapoli, songwriting and the music industry. Ireland football manager Comptroller, New York State Received the honorary degree of Patrick Yu OBE, former CEO NI Received the honorary degree Doctor of Science (DSc) for his Council for Ethnic Minorities of Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his contribution to Irish football. Received the honorary degree support of the Northern Ireland of Doctor of Laws (LLD) for his peace process and for promoting US promotion of racial equality, investment in the region. diversity and multiculturalism. 22 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Corporate partnerships Ulster University’s wide range of industry partnerships continues to increase our students’ employability and drive economic development across Northern Ireland.

Growing Northern Ireland’s financial engineering pipeline Ulster University Business School has Professor Ian Montgomery and Martina Madden, O'Neills (centre), with Lyndsay Rodgerson further enhanced its relationship and Stuart Penrose from Randox and members of Ulster University GAA with the Chicago-based CME Group Foundation by securing significant Ulster, the GAA and showcasing Gaelic football and hurling, funding to establish a ‘Developing provided masterclasses and promoted Financial Engineering Pipeline’ Randox connect Ulster’s sporting excellence during project that includes support for one with China visits to Beijing, Wuhan and Huangshi. PhD and 10 MSc studentships. The University’s commitment The trip was supported by County The project will be collaborative to growing its international Antrim-based global healthcare across Ulster University Business networks and enhancing diagnostics firm Randox Laboratories, School and the Faculty of the student experience was which has been exporting to China Computing, Engineering and the highlighted last October as the since 1992 and supports a range of Built Environment and follows the GAA team undertook a historic other activities across Ulster University. success of the CME Group Financial promotional tour of China. Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Innovation Laboratory, which was Engagement Professor Ian officially opened in Jordanstown in The highly successful two-week August 2015. tour was aimed at providing our Montgomery said: “As an students with experiences of the internationally focused University It aims to address the skills gap by customs and opportunities in it is important to continually build focusing on the pipeline of potential China, enhancing links with Chinese new partnerships in China and to entrants to the Fintech industry academic institutions and increasing further enhance our many existing at various stages over a two-year the University’s sporting, social, linkages there. I am delighted at how period. It includes an extensive cultural and business engagement in this tour extended our work in the schools and community programme the country. country, reinforced our networks of educational aspiration and and provided excellent global attainment raising. With interest in GAA sports growing in experiences for our students.” China, the team played several games

KPMG offers fast-track to accounting success Ulster University has teamed and then specialise in particular The partnership is going from up with KPMG to offer students areas of accounting suited to their strength to strength and KPMG embarking on the Graduate career path. is now offering two additional scholarships in the 2017/18 Diploma in Accounting the Shauneen Martin became the first academic year, providing full fees opportunity to be a ‘KPMG Fast KPMG Fast Track Scholar, completing for the postgraduate course and in Track Scholar’. her Diploma in Accounting and addition offering invaluable work- The Diploma enables graduates graduating in summer 2017. She based learning opportunities. from non-accounting and diverse is now working with KPMG in their academic backgrounds to obtain a Lanyon Place office in Belfast. general introduction to the subject, ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 23

developmental extra-curricular PwC supports activities such as work placements, volunteering, or studying abroad. students’ Gaining an EDGE Award helps competitive to boost graduates’ career opportunities through evidence of EDGE key transferable skills that are highly Leading professional services firm sought after by employers. PwC is helping to build students’ Stephanie Gowdy, Student employability prospects after Recruitment Senior Manager from signing up to support Ulster PwC said: “Supporting the EDGE University’s EDGE Award. Award reinforces our commitment EDGE Award accreditation is a to helping students develop coveted recognition of students and build their skills. We see this who enhance their academic partnership as an investment in the Shauna McCloy, Ulster University, future labour market.” and Stephanie Gowdy, PwC Student study through the completion of Recruitment Senior Manager Legal innovation first Two international law firms the legal process and promote greater our systems and the way we do have joined forces with Ulster economic efficiency and improved things while deepening our strong University to create and support access to justice. relationship with Ulster University.” developments in legal innovation. The Centre was established with Jason Marty, Global Chief Operating The Legal Innovation Centre, launched funding from leading global law firms Officer of Baker McKenzie, said: “This last year, is at the forefront of Allen & Overy and Baker McKenzie, new Centre directly connects to the advancing the use of technology- both of which have established bases opportunities and challenges facing driven innovation in legal services in Belfast in recent years. The Centre the legal industry, providing tangible and legal education globally. A has also received sponsorship from impacts in how we build our teams, collaboration between the School of Invest Northern Ireland. technologies, and business while also contributing to the work of the Centre Law and the School of Computing, Jane Townsend, Partner and Head of with direct benefit to the people and Engineering and Intelligent Systems, it Allen & Overy’s Legal Services Centre legal system of Northern Ireland and is the first centre of its kind in the UK. in Belfast, said: “This collaboration beyond.” It will undertake research on supports our commitment to technological innovations to improve continually improve and enhance

Maya would not have been able The gift of an to complete a Master's degree without being awarded the Barnett unexpected Scholarship. She returned to future full-time education at the same time that her son started school, Maya Frost was the first winner becoming a great example to him of the Barnett Pharmaceutical about the benefits of hard work and Sciences Scholarship in 2013, motivation. a scholarship supported by Norbrook Laboratories. Maya said: "The Barnett Scholarship After completing a Masters in was the gift of an unexpected Pharmaceutical Science at Ulster future which enabled me to pursue University, Maya went on to my chosen career. The impact has complete a PhD in the Republic been very positive, providing me of Ireland. In addition to lecturing, with the confidence to follow my "Providing me with Maya has presented her work at dreams and move forward without the confidence to international conferences. compromising on my goals." follow my dreams."

2015

24 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Your gift Shaping the 40 2015 health and 35 gives a lift to wellbeing 30 of children 25 2014 students 2013 20 More alumni giving 15 2012 = more students helped

10

5

0 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 The Gateway Scholarship is aimed Gateway FT Gateway PT Travel Sport VC Award specifically at adults with limited 235% increase in funds awarded to students financial resources who want to return to education or would like to improve their employment prospects by attending Offering a range of financial support to help our university for the first time. students in a variety of ways, the Ulster University Student Fund is a key channel for enhancing their The scholarship has been a major help to BSc Health and Wellbeing student academic experience. Natasha Howlett who has turned her The Student Fund helps to bring down life around from addiction. Becoming the barriers that prevent people with pregnant with her daughter, now 18 years ability and drive, especially those 100% old, was the catalyst she needed and she has never looked back. from low income families, from of every gift going to university and reaching goes directly to Natasha now works part-time to educate their potential. It transforms help students primary-school children on the risks of substance abuse and the implications futures by helping our students on health, family and community and push towards or fulfil their ambitions is undertaking her degree at the Magee and their potential. campus so she can continue this work Every gift – large and small – is hugely worthwhile, professionally. appreciated enormously and used to ensure maximum She believes her BSc will not only benefit impact. her life and career, but will also shape the future of others. “I feel that education is More and more of our alumni are realising the impact the key in helping our young people make their donations have on current students and are healthier choices for their futures,” she stepping up to support the Student Fund. said. “This is something I now believe in Please consider joining them and give a passionately.” gift to help a deserving student. Income to the Natasha added: “I cannot express what Student Fund has this scholarship means to me. Not only will it help me to avail of all the TRIPLED opportunities I am given by studying at Ulster University, it also represents in the last 5 a real, and much-needed, vote of You can make a gift today years confidence in my chosen path. I am also at ulster.ac.uk/donate or proud to be setting a good example for my email us at [email protected] daughter to follow. I am deeply humbled and thankful for this support.”

ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 25 Magee bot set to come out fighting

Thanks to funding from the Student Fund’s Vice- Chancellor’s Award, a team of engineering students from Magee embarked on a project last year to build a robot to go into the ring in combat competitions. Second year engineering students working on the robot Magnitude Interest in the project at Magee was very high, and it bladed rotating weapon, capable of top speeds in excess wasn’t long before Team Magnitude was taking the idea of 800mph, is also built into the bot. forward, led by Jonathon Burnside. The robot project has been a great success in exposing The build process for the robot utilises all the machine students to the challenges of the manufacture of facilities available on Magee campus and is developing complex items. the engineering students involved in many ways. As the move from design on computer screen to real object is Jonathon Burnside said: “There is no way this project not an easy process, the learning experience is a unique could have moved forward at the rapid pace that it did and valuable support for the future career aspirations over the 2016/17 academic year without the of students, requiring them to employ a range of Vice-Chancellor’s Award funding. mechanical and manufacturing engineering to electrical “It has been an amazing experience and the team would and electronics skills. like to thank sincerely the Student Fund for supporting The team is developing a heavyweight two-wheel drive their aspirations and playing a large part in establishing robot featuring the ability to run upside down. A twin- this exciting and rewarding pursuit on campus at Magee.”

Thank you for 937 taking the call

A million thanks to all Ulster alumni who took the time to speak to our students during the 2017 £71 telephone campaign. It was our best campaign ever, with students chatting to nearly 1,000 graduates. The telephone campaigns are hugely valuable to our students, offering the chance to gain practical advice from £6,586 our alumni, like you, about careers and life beyond Ulster. The Development and Alumni Relations Office runs this campaign each year in the spring term, to ensure more students can benefit from the experience. Total As a Business with Marketing student, Adrian Boyd worked on the telephone campaign and said £68,287 of the experience: “Working on the BEST TELEPHONE telephone campaign was highly enjoyable and allowed CAMPAIGN EVER current and graduating students like me to engage with business leaders. Advice provided by alumni has shaped my career path and helped me develop a five-year plan. During the campaign, I was also offered internships and mentorship for consultancy services." If you receive a request about speaking Following the campaign Adrian graduated with first-class to one of our students, please do honours, before securing a position in a marketing agency consider taking the call. in Belfast called Market Resource Partners, where he was It can be very rewarding promoted after three months. Adrian has since started a and enjoyable for both company helping small businesses with marketing strategies. students and alumni! 26 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

10 Ulster alumnae leading in the world of sport

The Women’s Rugby World Cup and UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship held last year on Irish soil for the first time showcased the merit and appeal of female sport. Ulster University alumnae are well ahead in the race as the female influence in world sport continues to rise.

Marissa Callaghan

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC Marissa Callaghan FDSC Sports Coaching 2010 ADCert Performance Analysis and experience of the top tier of the game Coaching Practice 2017 as the Northern Ireland team aims for glory at Gold Coast in 2018. Noleen Marissa is the current captain of works as a Performance Pathway Northern Ireland’s international football Officer with Netball NI and is also team and is intent on inspiring the an accomplished, all-Ireland winning next generation of female footballers. basketball player. Alongside her international career, she holds several notable coaching roles. KARATE MASTER She is the Female Football Ambassador Carol Duffy for the Irish Football Association and BSc Hons Sport and Exercise Academy Director at Cliftonville Ladies. Sciences 2012 PGCE Physical Education 2013 GETTING TECHNICAL AT Now a teacher in London and inspiring GOLD COAST her school’s netball team, Carol Clare Houston Noleen Lennon (right) represented the Irish Senior Ladies FDSC Sports Coaching 2009 National Karate Squad from the NETBALL INTERNATIONAL age of 18, earning a world ranking There are 70 nations and of 19 in her weight category. She Noleen Lennon territories competing in the 2018 won European bronze at both the BSc Hons Sport and Exercise Sciences Commonwealth Games in Gold British and Belgian Open Karate 2006 Coast, Australia, and in the thick of Championships and competed at all the planning for the 18 sports and This experienced Northern Ireland European and World Karate Premier seven para sports, will be alumna international earned European League events. She is a past recipient Clare Houston. Originally from Championship silver as part of the of several Ulster sport scholarships Ballyclare, County Antrim, Clare is Northern Ireland netball team last and last September, Carol scooped the Technical Officials Manager with autumn. Noleen also played at the last both the Kent and England Netball the organising body, Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Teacher of the Year awards. Commonwealth Games Corporation. and will bring her knowledge and ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 IMPACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 27

TOP ALL-ROUNDER UEFA TOURNAMENT WORLD RANKING Louise Galvin DIRECTOR TRIATHLETE Second-year Masters in Sport and Sara Booth Aileen Reid Exercise Medicine student BSc Hons Sport, Exercise and Leisure PGCE Physical Education 2008 A qualified physiotherapist 2001 The most successful Irish triathlete and highly successful all-round Having been Tournament Director of all time, Aileen competed in sportswoman, Louise represented for the highly successful UEFA two Olympic Games for Ireland Ireland in the HSBC Sevens World European Women's Under-19 and a Commonwealth Games for Series and was part of the 15s Championship held at venues across Northern Ireland. She was ranked in squad in the 2017 Women’s Rugby Northern Ireland last summer, former the top 10 in the world from 2013 World Cup held in Ireland. Louise international player Sara is continuing to 2015 and has a number of world has excelled across a range of her work to drive participation levels series medals to her name. Now sports, having captained UL Huskies and raise the profile of women’s living and coaching in Australia’s to multiple titles and Ireland at football with the IFA. As a player, Gold Coast, her influence and underage level in basketball. Louise she won 12 Premier League club impact in Irish triathlon will be felt played GAA football for her home titles, two Irish Cups and debuted for for years to come. She would have county of Kerry, winning the Northern Ireland at age 15, going on loved to have competed in the 2018 Munster Championship and National to captain the team and win 33 caps. Commonwealth Games on her League as well as representing She also played in America. doorstep but was forced to retire Munster at interprovincial level. from competition last year through Louise is also a past recipient of a injury. Student Fund Sports Scholarship. TAKING CARE OF RUGBY BUSINESS Fiona Hampton MOST CAPPED IRISH BSc Hons Communication, SPORTSWOMAN Advertising and Marketing 1999 Shirley McCay With overall responsibility for the BSc Hons Sport Studies 2009 multi-million pound commercial ADCert Management Practice 2015 revenues at Ulster Rugby, Fiona The most capped Irish international takes care of business behind the sportswoman, the final cap total for various teams who line out for the this hockey legend is still rising and province. As Head of Sales and will continue at least until the World Marketing she ensures the club’s Cup in London 2018. Shirley reached financial stability and strategic the 250-appearance mark for Ireland growth. With the final stages of the in a EuroHockey win over the Czech Women’s Rugby World Cup played at Republic in Amsterdam last year. Ulster’s Kingspan Stadium, Fiona was heavily involved in its delivery from the bid phase to its record-breaking conclusion.

KICKING ON Rakia Alouane BSc Hons Health Physiology 2017 Now in preparation for the 2018 European Championships in Estonia, international taekwondo champion Rakia graduated just last year. After the Europeans, she plans to take a Masters in Sport. The martial arts expert managed to complete her degree while also competing in three European competitions.

Shirley McCay Aileen Reid 28 SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY

Alumna “Because of this experience, and with the support of ambassador many amazing professors at Coleraine, I rose to the top of my class in my final year and graduated with inspiring first-class honours, subsequently being awarded a full scholarship for a PhD. After four years, I graduated the next with my doctorate and following six years working at generation Ulster University as a faculty staff member in Coleraine, I emigrated to the US to live out my international dream in Whether you graduated last year higher education.” or you are one of our more mature alumni, there “Today, I love my job and my life, and although my are many ways to stay connected with Ulster A-Level results were not what I had hoped for, I did not University after you leave – and becoming one of allow them to define me. That, along with my extremely our ambassadors is one. positive Ulster University experience, is why I remain Engaging with students – and fellow graduates – as a keen to help the next generation of students.” key city or regional contact can be fun and rewarding. Currently working with two Ulster students and a Offering support, sharing your story, inspiring leaders of graduate, Emma believes the ambassadorial role the future can have a huge impact and is a great way to is significant in the alumni network: “Students and support your University. graduates often need a little support and advice if It was the chance to share her story that attracted considering studying or relocating to a particular US-based alumna Dr Emma Fleck to becoming an geographical area, so I think we can make a real international ambassador. difference by our acts of encouragement, supplying Now Associate Professor of Management at contacts, offering career development support – Susquehanna University’s Sigmund Weis School of anything that can give students and recent alumni a leg Business in Pennsylvania, Emma bounced back from up as they begin to carve out their chosen careers. what she describes as “not her finest moment” when “I have found it a very positive describing her A-Level results, to take on an International way to engage with students Business degree at Coleraine, which led to the and graduates who need a bit opportunity to spend a year studying in the US. of help. I’d say just do it. Get in “It was an amazing year in the States, and I came back touch with the University and a stronger student with a plan to travel and see the get going.” world,” said Emma.

Ever thought of mentoring a student or fellow graduate? It can JOIN OUR mean anything from a Skype or Facetime call, exchanging a few GROWING emails giving industry advice, to honing a job application, meeting MENTORING face-to-face or even offering a period of work experience. COMMUNITY Find out more at ulster.ac.uk/alumnimentoring or contact: [email protected]

Please continue to tell your friends and relatives Destination Ulster from home and abroad about the – top of the world wonderful experience students can have when they As all Ulster University graduates know, when come to study at any you studied there, you lived in one of the most of our campuses. A beautiful parts of the world. warm welcome and This has been confirmed by Lonely Planet, which has one of the most rated Belfast and the Causeway Coast the best region wonderful University in the world to visit in the coming year. Coupled with experiences to be National Geographic voting Donegal, less than four miles had anywhere in the from our Magee campus, as the Coolest Place on the world is always on Planet in 2017, Ulster has an awful lot to shout about. offer. ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY 29

How you can offer work experience opportunities Make an Could your company benefit from This could involve: a talented student or graduate? • A simple workplace visit Are you in a decision-making role or impact with • A few weeks' work experience can influence those who are? Help • A year-long placement us open doors to more local and a student • An international internship international companies who can • Virtually any other kind of help improve the employability of placement employability opportunity our students and graduates. From IT and manufacturing to engineering and the creative To offer a work experience opportunity at your organisation, industries, more and more please contact us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you. of Northern Ireland’s leading employers are keen to offer Ulster University students IMPACT EXCELLENCE AWARDS opportunities for work Ulster University’s inaugural Impact placements. Excellence Awards recognised leading organisations across a wide range Placements offer extremely of sectors for their commitment to positive benefits on both sides of pioneering research and graduate the equation. For students they employability in 2017. Among the are essential to enhancing their awardees was Titanic Foundation Ltd, employability and forming a bridge Dr Paul Clark MBE, television presenter and which scooped the Placement Employer between the classroom and the Ulster honorary graduate; Catherine McCooey, Ulster University graduate; Maeve Moreland, Impact Excellence Award for an workplace. Titanic Foundation Ltd; and Gren Armstrong, organisation with up to 50 employees. For employers, the benefits range Invest NI from playing an active role in shaping the skills of the future workforce, to gaining opportunities Tick the box to Keeping your connection with us is as to snap up student and graduate STAY WITH US simple as ticking a box. By doing so, you’ll get the maximum benefit from being a talent and making an impact on There’s too much to member of the alumni community. society by preparing young people lose by losing touch for the world of work. Please read the back page of the New data protection laws are magazine, tick the form that came A great many Northern Ireland coming into effect in May 2018. with this edition and use the Freepost firms employ Ulster University If you don’t tell us how you would envelope provided, or go online to graduates, often in high-profile and like to stay in touch, we will be update your preferences and details at: leadership roles. As their career limited as to how we contact you ulster.ac.uk/alumniandsupporters/ paths frequently started with a after this date. placement, BSc Economics with ticktostay Finance student Thomas Gallen is hoping to mimic their success. Alumni benefits and services include Thomas managed to secure his placement year with global • Connect and grow your network professional services firm PwC, • Keep your University email with a role in finance, sales and • Free access to the University libraries deployment in its PwC Augment • Enhance your CV by volunteering business unit. (e.g. as a mentor, guest speaker, “On my third day there, I was on international ambassador) a project for an investment bank,” STAY CONNECTED • Invitations to exclusive alumni said Thomas, “so the amount of events responsibility I have been given has Ulster University Alumni • Engage students on placements, been a huge surprise, but a great Ulster_Alumni one. I feel I have developed a lot of work experience or internships Ulster University Alumni key skills during my Ulster University • 10% off further study (*criteria apply) placement year.” ulster.ac.uk/alumniandsupporters • and much more... /ticktostay 30 SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY

As part of our exclusive series of INSPIRING EVENTS events for Ulster University alumni and supporters, Jon Snow, the face of Channel 4 News since 1989, dropped in for a conversation with Professor Paul Moore last November. The conversation, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Fund, explored Jon’s career, observations on journalism in a digital age, fake news and social Tommy Bowe media against the backdrop of recent events including Brexit and the US presidential election. Alumni and guests were delighted to hear from Jon and meet him; an opportunity not possible without being connected to the University. Other such guests have included Ulster University alumnus, honorary graduate and Ulster rugby player Professor Paul Moore and Jon Snow Tommy Bowe.

7 ways to stay involved with YOUR University As a graduate of Ulster what you gained never leaves you – and it can be used to help others who are following in your footsteps. Here are seven ways you can give back to your University as an active member of its alumni community.

1. BECOME A MENTOR 5. BE A GUEST SPEAKER Offering mentorship and guidance to current students The University regularly seeks people from various and recent graduates finding their way could help industries to deliver talks and workshops. Students love someone get over a road block in their career or secure to hear from people out in the ‘real world’. their first job. 6. ORGANISE A CLASS REUNION 2. BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL AMBASSADOR Be the one to arrange a class reunion – it keeps the If you are based overseas you can help open doors, offer University’s networks going. It doesn't have to be big. A local advice and be a key point of contact in your area. few drinks somewhere nice creates the opportunity to Sharing your story and experience can prove very valuable catch up. to students and graduates. 7. MAKE A DONATION 3. VOLUNTEER – SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE Donating is one of the most important forms of alumni Volunteering to help review CVs and application forms, giving. It could mean anything from a life-change for a becoming a member of a board or committee or simply student, a breakthrough in research or an addition to giving a hand during careers fairs, graduations and arts and a University building. No matter how big or small, your cultural events is always welcome and worthwhile. donation will make an impact.

4. HELP SECURE A WORK EXPERIENCE You can find out more via: OPPORTUNITY ulster.ac.uk/alumniandsupporters Or contact us at: No matter where you work, you can help those following [email protected] your footsteps into your industry. Help open the doors and ask – could your company offer a placement/work experience? It benefits both student and company. ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 ALUMNI ADVENTURES 31

Alumni adventures

Sarah McCormack BSc Hons Environmental Science 2000 PhD Engineering 2004 Sarah McCormack (second from right) portrayed with other female academic leaders Sarah McCormack has been immortalised in a group portrait as one of eight outstanding female scientists working in Ireland today. Commissioned by the Royal Irish Academy and Accenture, and unveiled by the then Scott Dubin Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald TD, the painting was part MSc International Business 2002 of the Academy’s recent ‘Women on Walls’ campaign to make female academic leaders more visible. Now Since arriving from the USA to complete his MSc, an Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin, Sarah Scott has built a career providing critical logistical focused on solar energy for her PhD at Ulster University. and operational support to humanitarian and development projects in a host of complex and Gearoid Devaney insecure environments, including Darfur, Iraq, South Dip HE Hospitality Management 1997 Sudan and Liberia. As Team Lead for Warehousing and Distribution with Chemonics International, Belfast-born Gearoid was one of the judges in the he supports US Government-funded public health Decanter World Wine Awards in May in London. initiatives, ensuring uninterrupted supplies of vital Judging has become a regular duty for the elite wine health commodities around the world. Scott is expert, who in 2009 became one of fewer than 300 also the project lead on a cutting-edge initiative to people worldwide to pass the notoriously tough Master utilise drone technology for delivering much-needed Sommelier exam. Gearoid is now a director of Flint medicines, lab samples, blood transfusions and Wines, an exclusive independent merchant based vaccines within hard-to-reach regions of the world. in London. A regular speaker at industry events, he also runs staff training for restaurants, hotels and gastropubs, hosts tastings and masterclasses and examines for the Court of Master Sommeliers in the UK and in Asia. 32 SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY

Nuala McAllister LLB Law with Politics 2011 Nick Boyle Aged just 28, Nuala was elected Lord Mayor of BSc Informatics 1989 Belfast in May – the first young mother to be sworn Under founder and CEO Nick Boyle, in as the city’s first citizen. She took the theme of Lightsource Renewable Energy, the 'global Belfast' for her year in office. largest owner, operator and developer of solar installations in the UK and Europe, announced it was expanding into the US market. Nick’s drive and

Phil Taggart vision has taken Lightsource from six BA Hons Media Studies 2008 employees in 2011 to over 300. His Usually found tearing up company is based in Holborn, London, the night-time music scene with offices in San Francisco, Mumbai, as a BBC Radio 1 DJ, Phil Belfast and Dublin. got to play Glastonbury last year with his own live set on Kate Loughran the BBC Music Introducing LLM Human Rights Law and Transitional Justice 2015 stage. The Omagh-born After graduating with distinction in her Master's in alumnus is a major 2016, Kate headed for Johannesburg, where for a influence on “hugely valuable” six-month period she became a legal introducing researcher for Justice Froneman, a prominent judge at new bands the Office of the Chief Justice in the Constitutional Court to a wider of South Africa. She went on to take up her current audience in research assistant post in the Democratic Governance the UK. and Rights Unit at the University of Cape Town.

Micah Jones BA Hons Architecture 2007 MA Architecture 2010 Architecture graduate Micah was featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs last September with his ‘supershed’ design. His principal motivation for the project was to accommodate his growing young family, but it was also a childhood dream to build his own house. Presenter Kevin McCloud described the house as “One of the finest rural houses I’ve seen: pragmatic, ecological, unpretentious and full of joy.” ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY 33

Sara Hall BA Hons Combined Arts 2003 Sara’s autumn/winter collection of luxury tweed capes and coats featured in Vogue. Sara initially started designing and producing capes for children in 2014, but later launched Sands & Hall, which specialises in luxury ready-to-wear women’s outerwear collections in Irish and British tweeds and cashmere.

Tiernan McCann MPharm Hons Pharmacy 2014 Well-known GAA player Tiernan has chosen to work as a pharmacy locum in Dublin to facilitate his inter- county football career. He combines work with frequent trips back to his native Tyrone for demanding training sessions.

Roy Turkington Peter Johnston BSc Hons Biological and Environmental Studies 1972 BSc Hons Public Relations 2011 Roy, who is Professor Emeritus at the University of Among Peter’s milestones last year was the rebranding British Columbia in Vancouver, received a major award of Kalo, the technology start-up he founded in 2014 to from the Canadian Botanical Association last year for a help 'gig economy' companies manage their freelancers. lifetime of achievement in his field. In the past year, the company also more than doubled The Lawson Medal is the most prestigious award the its number of enterprise customers, hired several key association can confer. In a remarkable 37-year career, executives, and announced it would complement bases the plant ecology scientist published over 150 papers, in London and San Francisco by opening an office in and supervised or co-supervised an astounding 14 Belfast as the first tenant of the city’s new hi-tech PhD and 15 MSc graduate students. Lauded as the Ormeau Baths co-working space. In 2017, Peter made embodiment of a ‘keen and passionate mind’, Roy’s the Debretts 500 List, being named as one of the most former students can be found in faculty positions across influential people in Britain. Canada, the USA and the UK. 34 SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY

Alumni who invest in our students Supporting our students by ensuring they have access to all the opportunities that have the potential to enrich their academic experience can make the world of difference. Your support contributes significantly to our graduates going out into the world of work as confident, skilled and experienced individuals, playing a role in the development of our society, locally and globally. This is a key motivator for many alumni who decide to give. It represents an investment in Northern Ireland’s development and future.

Sundeep Dr Joan Boyd Bhandari BA Hons American BSc Hons Combined Studies 2006 Science 1987 PhD Arts 2010 PGCert Digital Media Communication 2015

Sundeep has lived and worked across the globe, in a After a successful career in journalism variety of roles with organisations such as Barclays Bank lasting many years, Joan returned and Standard Chartered. His impressive career led to to Ulster University as a mature “The Student Fund his most recent role as Global Head of Internal Audit student, finding her course can change their (responsible for Asia, Africa, Middle East, UK and Europe) hugely rewarding and thoroughly lives by providing for Standard Chartered. Having recently moved back to enjoyable and eventually gaining a money when it’s London from Hong Kong, he is passionate about helping PhD. She is a firm supporter of the needed.” young people gain the skills, belief and confidence required Student Fund and the help it gives to secure employment. He volunteers for an organisation students to get qualifications, jobs which aims to deliver joined-up, high quality careers and opportunities. advice and broker high quality work experience and Joan admits to being in awe of young students who apprenticeships that improve outcomes for young people. work long hours in part-time jobs to get through university After reading about the Ulster University Student Fund and mature students with families who make financial in a previous edition of the Ulster Graduate, and hearing sacrifices to get qualifications and better jobs. about how the Fund helps students access life-changing “The Student Fund can change their lives by providing and career-enhancing opportunities, Sundeep was money when it’s needed,” she said. “Even £20 a month to motivated to give. the fund can go a long way and I’d urge people to donate.” He says, “Post-graduation I was not aware of the impact Joan has taken part in the University’s telephone such a Student Fund could have on a young person’s life. campaign to give advice on study and careers and is One day, when I was interviewing students keen to mentor current students. She attends the annual for recruitment, I met a student who Degree Show and made a point of being at the opening was the recipient of such funds, of the student-run design shop, Unique, at the Belfast and his story was very moving, "I would encourage campus, which sells original pieces by students and and made me reflect on the my fellow alumni to alumni ranging from sculpture to scarves. contribute also and to impact such support can have. I would encourage my fellow “Studying at Ulster made it possible for me to change help make a difference careers from a job which was no longer challenging. I to the University that alumni to contribute also and to help make a difference to the support the Student Fund to help other people do the supported you." University that supported you.” same or to get started on a career.” ULSTER GRADUATE | Edition 40 | Winter/Spring 2018 SUPPORTING YOUR UNIVERSITY 35

Dr Stan Neal, John Springhall Lecturer in Modern British/Imperial History Respected scholar’s proud legacy in Modern History

Those thinking of supporting modules I am delivering Ulster University and who have also given students want to make an impact on the opportunity to study a particular area of interest areas of British imperial can look to the late Dr John history, particularly in Springhall for inspiration. Asia and the Pacific, that they have never studied Dr Springhall joined the then New before. As a result, the University of Ulster at Coleraine in legacy of John Springhall 1970. He was a pioneer in the field continues to enhance the of youth studies and wrote widely student experience and on imperialism, decolonisation the teaching programme in and British and US popular culture. history at Ulster." He had a real skill for bringing the subject to wide audiences through an Professor Ian Thatcher, approachable style. Research Director, History, School of Arts and Humanities, John sadly passed away in 2015, but Leave a legacy said "Stan is an inspirational and had made the decision to leave a You can help build the outstanding addition to teaching legacy in his will to Ulster University, Ulster University of the at Ulster and is as passionate specifically to support work in the future by leaving a legacy. about his subject as John was so School of Arts and Humanities. this fits perfectly with the spirit of If there is a school or library Through prizes, bursaries, funding his legacy." that you would like to benefit, for research trips and an annual a scholarship you would like lecture, his legacy will reach all levels “John’s generous gift to set up, or research you of work in Modern History at the will have a significant would like to support, you can University, including undergraduate, establish your personal legacy postgraduate, early career scholars, impact on the students by leaving a gift in your will. You staff and the wider public. and staff, being can also leave a non-specific In addition, a portion of the legacy used to promote the gift which means we can direct has been used to appoint Dr Stan knowledge that John your donation to priority areas at any given time. Neal as a fixed-term John Springhall clearly cared so dearly Post-Doctoral Lecturer in Modern Any gift can have a British/Imperial History. Stan says about, and ensures that tremendous impact "Being appointed the John Springhall his contribution and on Ulster University. Post-Doctoral Lecturer has been memory lives on for Every situation is a fantastic opportunity for me, many, many years to unique, so if you're interested allowing me to gain more teaching in finding out more, contact experience following my PhD and come.” the Development and Alumni to complete peer-reviewed research Relations Office on+44 (0)28 articles in top academic journals. The 7012 3208, or giving@ulster. ac.uk or speak directly to your solicitor who will advise you. CBP00013053011173124

Tick the box to STAY WITH US There’s too much to lose by losing touch Ulster University’s Development and Alumni Relations Office strives to make your connection to the University rich and rewarding. We keep you updated on career opportunities, exciting news, and exclusive events. New data protection laws are coming into effect in May 2018. If you don’t tell us how you would like to stay in touch, we will be limited as to how we contact you after this date. Keeping your connection with us is as simple as ticking a box. By doing so, you’ll get the maximum benefit from being a member of the alumni community.

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