From Newcastle. for Alumni. INSIDE
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ISSUE 21 | AUTUMN 2019 Arches INSIDE: Power to the people Cold war on waste Igniting the NCL spark From Newcastle. For alumni. CONTENTS NEWS & FEATURES ALUMNI BENEFITS 3-4. 23–24. Thank you Chancellor Skills for success 5–6. 25. Honorary degrees: Igniting the spark Summer 2019 26. 7–8. Going out to work Waging cold war on plastic waste 9–10. PHILANTHROPY Power to the people 27–28. We’re proud of the achievements of the 11–12. Building excellence: University and our alumni community and NUMed Malaysia’s Sir Terry Farrell enjoy taking this opportunity to celebrate decade of excellence 29–30. these ongoing successes with you. Catalyst for change: Helen McArdle CBE As the University continues to drive ALUMNI towards its Vision of harnessing academic COMMUNITY 31. excellence, innovation and creativity to Professor solve some of the greatest challenges 13–15. Jimmy Steele facing society today, we’ve created a Class notes Memorial Fund new style for your magazine to reflect this global ambition. 16. From Newcastle. 32. Opportunity knocks We hope you enjoy the read! For the world. 17–18. Alumni are the 33–34. It’s good to pride of Newcastle keep in touch 19–20. Alumni events TERI WISHART 21–22. • Director of Advancement Staying connected • Society spotlight Photography by: AllMarkOne, Jeffrey Cheng, Dru Dodd, John Donoghue, Mohd Hanafiah Kamaruzzaman, Eleanor Killner, Lightbox, John Millard Photography, Tempest Photography Designed by: Altogether, Newcastle upon Tyne. Masitano Sichone, Printed by: Statex Colour Print. Freya Tweedy, Mike Urwin, ©Newcastle University, 2019 Simon Veit-Wilson, The University of Newcastle upon Tyne Wardour, Jooney Woodward, trading as Newcastle University Thomas Yong 1 Newcastle University alumni magazine FOREWORD Arches There has never been a more Our alumni continue to remain vital to the academic, personal, and professional exciting time to be part of development of Newcastle. The recent Newcastle University. From its launch of NCL spark, our online networking and mentoring platform for alumni and founding in 1834, a core part of students, will enable us to continue supporting our grounding has always been and connecting our students and alumni a focus on excellence in our wherever they are in the world. teaching, our research, and the This issue of Arches celebrates all of our impact we have on our world. achievements made not just within Newcastle University, but across our networks around the Our students and graduates are at the heart of world. We showcase some of the wonderful our vision driving our ambition to be great, not accomplishments made by our alumni and only locally in the North East of England but some of the excellent opportunities on offer also globally, all over the world. to our students. Our graduates are our greatest achievement, I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Arches. and the various programmes we offer our alumni are designed to keep us connected as well as support individual journeys. The connection our University makes through our alumni communities drives the resoundingly international reach of our University, cemented by our presence in Newcastle, London, Singapore, and Malaysia. Bringing a truly global outlook to our excellent teaching and student experience, our research and discoveries have a huge impact across the globe. Our research is world leading and engages the areas of society that demand attention, from developing sustainable energy systems in PROFESSOR RICHARD DAVIES Sub-Saharan Africa, to pioneering a technique Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) to produce clean fuels from plastic waste. We are the only Russell Group University to be leading on two out of 12 Global Research Hubs set up to tackle the world’s toughest challenges. We’re proud to lead on the UKRI GCRF Living Deltas and Water Security and Sustainable Development Hubs. www.ncl.ac.uk/alumni 2 NEWS & FEATURES Thank you Chancellor This summer, Newcastle University said farewell and thank you to retiring Chancellor, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson. rofessor Sir Liam Donaldson has The painting was unveiled at a reception Pretired after 10 years as Chancellor following Sir Liam’s honorary degree ceremony. of Newcastle University. During the evening, Folk and Traditional To mark the occasion, he received an honorary Music student, Maisie Cowburn-Bannister, Doctorate in Humanities and Science. performed Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright and Forever Young by Bob Dylan, in tribute to In accordance with tradition, the University Sir Liam, who quoted Dylan’s lyrics at his also commissioned a portrait of Sir Liam to inauguration ceremony in 2009. hang in King’s Hall. Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Chris Reflecting on his Chancellorship, Sir Liam said: Day, said: ‘Sir Liam has been far more than just ‘In my time in office, I have been ever conscious a figurehead. Always a hands-on Chancellor, of the hugely important role that universities he has chaired University Court through a play in our society. They are not just seats of period of sustained change for our sector, learning, they shape young people’s character supporting and working alongside successive and value. In doing so it is no exaggeration to Vice-Chancellors and providing wise counsel say that they play a part in nation building. and governance that I personally have found to be of great value.’ ‘I have been fortunate to have held a great office in a truly great University, and I have Recognised as an international champion of been honoured to do so.’ patient safety and public health, Sir Liam was the Chief Medical Officer for England, and the Alastair Adams, a former president of the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Adviser from Royal Society of Portrait Painters, was 1998–2010. ■ commissioned to paint Sir Liam’s portrait. In the painting, which will hang in King’s Hall, Sir Liam is posed in the reflected light of the King’s Quad where the statue of Dr Martin Luther King Jr now stands, with gown off to recognise the end of his tenure. 3 Newcastle University alumni magazine Arches | NEWS & FEATURES I have been fortunate to have held a great office in a truly great University, and I have been honoured to do so.” SIR LIAM DONALDSON www.ncl.ac.uk/alumni 4 NEWS & FEATURES Honorary degrees: Summer 2019 Outstanding contributions to Eight respected figures in the fields of literature, engineering, black and ethnic society have been recognised minority women’s rights, physics, medicine, by Newcastle University. education and music, have been awarded honorary degrees during this year’s Congregations ceremonies. Newcastle University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Chris Day, said: ‘Each of our honorands is a leader in their respective fields and it gives me great pleasure to honour their talent and dedication with these honorary degrees.’ PROFESSOR PAUL DAVIES Award-winning physicist Professor Paul Davies’ work has made a significant contribution to Regents’ Professor, research in quantum field theory and to the Arizona State University public understanding of science. His work Honorary Doctor has focused on big questions including the of Science (DSc) origin of the universe, the origin of life and the mysteries of time. DR PATRICK GALLAGHER Since becoming Chancellor in 2014, Dr Patrick Gallagher has worked to advance Pittsburgh Chancellor, University’s legacy of academic excellence, University of Pittsburgh collaboration and research innovation. Previously Honorary Doctor he was Director of the US Department of of Science (DSc) Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, and was also a member of President Barack Obama’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. 5 Newcastle University alumni magazine Arches | NEWS & FEATURES DR TEDROS ADHANOM Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected as Director-General of the World GHEBREYESUS Health Organization in 2017. Prior to this, Tedros Director-General, served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs World Health Organization from 2012–2016 and Minister of Health from Honorary Doctor 2005–2012, where he led a comprehensive of Medicine (MD) reform of the country’s health system. LÉO HELLER With a distinguished career spanning 40 years, Léo Heller is one of the most highly United Nations’ regarded water engineers in the world. His Special Rapporteur extensive experience in the field of public Honorary Doctor of policy and environmental health led to his Engineering (DEng) appointment, in 2014, as the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. UMME IMAM Umme Imam is a founding member and Executive Director of The Angelou Centre, a Executive Director, black-led women’s centre in Newcastle offering The Angelou Centre a range of holistic women-only services for Honorary Doctor of black and minority ethnic women. The centre Civil Law (DCL) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. ALI SMITH Ali Smith has produced more than 20 works of outstanding literary merit over the past Novelist and playwright three decades, including plays, short stories Honorary Doctor and novels. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Letters (DLitt) of Literature and was made a CBE in 2015 for services to literature. KATHRYN TICKELL Kathryn Tickell is the foremost exponent of the Northumbrian pipes and fiddle. A composer, Musician and composer performer and educator, and a successful Honorary Doctor recording artist, her work is deeply rooted in of Music (DMus) the landscape and people of Northumbria. In 2015 she was made an OBE for services to folk music. www.ncl.ac.uk/alumni 6 NEWS & FEATURES Waging cold war on plastic waste Chemical Engineering lecturer Dr Anh Phan has developed a pioneering technique to produce clean fuels and materials from plastic waste. Chaiyapruek Youprasert/Shutterstock.com Chaiyapruek 7 Newcastle University alumni magazine Arches | NEWS & FEATURES lastic waste – we’re drowning in it, piling Anh said: ‘Essentially what I’m trying to do is to Pit up in landfills, dumping it in our oceans.