NETWORK UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019 MICHELLE DE LEON ITV PRODUCER AND FOUNDER OF WORLD AFRO DAY MY SHANGHAI DIARY WESTMINSTER STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF CHINA’S BIGGEST CITY WRITTEN IN THE STARS PROFESSOR LEWIS DARTNELL ON HOW PLANET EARTH HAS DIRECTED THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY WELCOME FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS CONTENTS WELCOME CONTENTS 4 16 IN TOUCH Some key findings from Your Alumni Survey and comments from our alumni around the world 6 NETWORK NEWS A round-up of news stories from across the University, including the latest research and alumni achievements 16 CREATIVE CREMATION Arthur Mamou-Mani, Lecturer in Architecture, constructed the temple for Burning Man 2018 18 BEING WESTMINSTER: ONE YEAR ON 26 40 An update from our Vice-Chancellor PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE FEEL YOUNGER THAN and President, Dr Peter Bonfield FRONT LINE YOU ARE? HERE’S WHY Photojournalism graduate Alessandro YOU’RE ON TO 20 Rota shares his experiences of SOMETHING GOOD YOUR ALUMNI WINNERS capturing conflict Research suggests that feeling younger We present the winners of this year’s than you are could be good for Westminster Alumni Awards 28 your health WORDS HEAL THE WORLD 22 Alumna Beatriz Buarque’s NGO is using 42 NOTES ON A BIG CITY: the power of words to inspire peace CLASSNOTES It is my pleasure to welcome you to this or would be happy to recommend the In this edition, you can read how MY SHANGHAI DIARY A selection of alumni updates from edition of Network magazine, our University of Westminster. We also Media Studies graduate Michelle The Westminster Working Cultures 30 around the world annual publication to celebrate the appreciate there are areas we can De Leon, founder of World Afro Day, programme heads to Shanghai CHANGING THE WORLD remarkable achievements of the entire improve and we will continue to share realised her purpose was to create WITH STYLE NETWORK Westminster community. It’s been a busy our plans with you. a positive environment and change Network talks to alumna, ITV producer UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER and exciting year for Westminster and We are delighted to support your views on Afro hair. We also catch 30 and the founder of World Afro Day, ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019 you, our graduates, continue to impress network with the launch of our new online alumnus and freelance documentary Michelle De Leon with your achievements and willingness community, Westminster Connect. This photographer Alessandro Rota between Editor: Jenny Stubberfield to be involved in university life. ‘one stop shop’ for all of our graduates projects and he shares what it’s like Contributors: Heather Ridal, John Maher, 34 Liene Strode, David Brooks and Alyssa We truly value your feedback and around the world is an opportunity to to document life in war-torn areas. IT GIRLS Martin. Thanks to all alumni, staff, students continued support of activities across the connect with fellow alumni through the Meanwhile on campus, Dr Peter Bonfield Westminster is encouraging more and supporters who have contributed to University and we were blown away with directory, to find out how you can give shares his thoughts one year on from women to pursue careers in technology this issue. Cover Photograph: Kacper Rudolf the response rate to Your Alumni Survey. back to the University and to expand taking up his role as Vice-Chancellor Print: Gemini Print Launched in February, the survey asked your network to achieve what you want and President. 38 for your opinions, feedback and ideas professionally. Westminster Connect is I very much hope you enjoy this WRITTEN IN THE STARS Alumni Relations Office University of Westminster so we can continue to offer you the a hub where you can find access to your edition of Network and continue AND DRIEST DESERTS Cavendish House very best opportunities to engage with alumni benefits and keep up to date with to stay in touch. ON EARTH 101 New Cavendish Street Westminster, both in ways to give back news and activities from around the Professor Lewis Dartnell discusses his London W1W 6XH and your personal and professional University. If you haven’t already signed latest publication and the upcoming T: +44 (0)20 3506 6245 development. We were so pleased to up, we look forward to seeing you online Chris Smith mission to Mars E: [email protected] discover that nine in ten of you have, soon at westminsterconnect.org. Director of External Relations 2 NETWORK | | ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019 ALUMNI MAGAZINE 2019 | | NETWORK 3 IN TOUCH IN TOUCH IN TOUCH YOU WOULD RECOMMEND YOU WANT ONGOING WESTMINSTER TO OTHERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT YOUR ALUMNI STAY CONNECTED Thank you very much for everyone’s Excited to have joined the support – thrilled to have won and @UniWestminster @uw_alumni We were thrilled to discover that an What stood out most was the high level SURVEY 2019 University of Westminster be recognised amongst such great careers and employability mentoring incredible 90 per cent of you have, of interest in improving professional talented people from the University Alumni Association scheme. I hope to add value and or would be happy, to recommend our skills, with 9 in 10 indicating that they of Westminster – an institution that raise aspirations. In February this year, we launched University to friends or family, and we would like the University’s support with helped me shape my career to an alumni survey to learn about were equally happy to learn that 7 their career development. You also @uw_alumni this day. Dr Maria Kordowicz, your connection to and thoughts in 10 of our alumni are proud to specifically said that improving your @MariaKordowicz (Psychology BSc, tell people that they studied here. digital skills would be useful to your Mariam Ahmadi-Moghaddam 2005), Senior Healthcare Management about the University, as well as University of Westminster professional development. (Professional Practice in Architecture Professional, on signing up to Alumni Association to determine what engagement YOU ENJOYED YOUR TIME AT PgDip, 2011), Architect and Senior support a student through our opportunities and benefits we WESTMINSTER WE CAN DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY Associate at Weston Williamson, Mentoring Scheme. can continue to offer you to westminster.ac.uk on the news she had won the Outstanding Achievement Award best support your development We were pleased to receive the We’ve realised we need to find [email protected] in this year’s Westminster after Westminster. feedback that 93 per cent of you felt different ways of sharing information @ your time at Westminster had a with you as 40 per cent of you weren’t Alumni Awards. Thank you to everyone who took positive impact on your life. Almost aware of any of the benefits available Alumni Relations Office the time to complete the survey; we 80 per cent of you were satisfied with as a Westminster graduate, such University of Westminster ARE YOU MAKING were so pleased with the response rate. your overall experience as a student, as access to online journals and Cavendish House THE MOST OF Alumni all over the world shared their and 70 per cent of you achieved magazines through JSTOR and 101 New Cavendish Street YOUR ALUMNI feedback, with responses coming from everything you set out to during your discount on postgraduate studies. London W1W 6XH Such a pleasure getting the alumni who graduated as far back time with us. opportunity to share my experiences BENEFITS? as 1954. HOW WILL WE USE THESE RESULTS? of being a Female Leader today to Your feedback has been insightful YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED students who are in the same place and incredibly helpful as we look Your feedback won’t just stay with I was in just last year! Thank you • Expand your network, browse forward to enhancing your experience It was very promising to discover that the Alumni Team. We are working @uw_alumni for the opportunity! job opportunities and plan as a graduate of the University half of you would like to be more to share this information across the #wearewestminster. of Westminster. involved with Westminster and that 60 University to a range of stakeholders events through our exclusive per cent of you are interested in giving to ensure we’re offering beneficial Ethel Tambudzai, @etheltamb alumni platform, Here we share a summary of our back to support students, either through opportunities relevant to you and (Development Studies and westminsterconnect.org International Relations BA, 2018), key findings. mentoring, completing an alumni your development. I wanted to give you some positive • Save 15 per cent on a Masters Founder and Director of TAMBU profile or delivering a careers talk. feedback on the Westminster alumni or PhD at Westminster magazine which I really enjoy reading. GROUP was part of an inspirational It is always really inspiring to hear panel of alumnae at our ‘What It Takes • Come back to campus and of the incredible success of fellow to be a Female Leader’ event. use the libraries with your Through your responses, we know available for graduates to come launched Westminster Connect graduates of the University. alumni access card we need to work on making you, back and speak to students during – an exclusive hub for Westminster I also wanted to make a small plea • Receive discounts on gym our graduates, feel connected to teaching, and with our alumni event alumni to expand their professional – would it be possible to change the membership, room hire and Westminster and feel valued as speaker series What It Takes, this is networks, search for jobs, and offer packaging of the magazine from a summer accommodation members of our vital alumni an area we will explore further in and receive mentoring from fellow plastic wrapper to a paper envelope Once Proud, Forever Proud, to be community.