Recipients of the Emerging Alumni Leader Award at the Annual Alumni Celebration

The Emerging Alumni Leader Award: Celebrating the next generation of game-changers.

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This award recognises and celebrates our rising stars, innovators, game-changers and future leaders.

Alumni eligible for this award:

  • Graduated from Imperial College London in the last 15 years. 
  • Are making significant contributions to advancing their field. 
  • Have demonstrated determination and motivation whilst leading and striving for excellence. 
  • Can demonstrate the tangible impact of their work. 
  • Are inspiring role models, mentors or champions for equality. 
  • Are making a positive contribution to their community, or impact on society through their professional, voluntary or charitable activities. 

Meet our Emerging Alumni Award Winners

Abdullah Dafir Albeyatti

2021 winner: Dr Abdullah Albeyatti (MBBS Medicine 2011) is a GP and CEO of Medicalchain, an award-winning tech company.
Alexandre Tourre

2024 winner: Alexandre Tourre (MSc Computing 2009) is the co-founder of Easy Solar, providing power to 200k homes across Sierra Leone.
Emerging Alumni Award Winner 2023 Amina Al-Yassin

2023 winner: Dr Amina Al-Yassin (Medicine 2011) is a GP, and dedicates her life to improving mental health and advocating for children.
Anna Stejskalova

2021 winner: Dr Anna Stejskalová (PhD Bioengineering 2018) is a women's health expert and co-founder of an international network of Czech scientists.
Arjun Panesar

2020 winner: Arjun Panesar (MEng Computing 2006) is Founding CEO and Head of AI at Diabetes Digital.
Aula Abbara

2020 winner: Dr Aula Abbara (MBBS Medicine 2005, MD(Res) 2017) is a consultant in infectious diseases and acute medicine, teaches at Imperial and co-founded Health Professionals for Global Health.
Ayesha Ofori

2020 winner: Ayesha Ofori (MSci Physics 2007) launched an investment business to help deliver more affordable housing in the UK.
Dr Azeem Alam

2022 winner: Dr Azeem Alam BEM (Medicine 2015) is co-founder of medical education platform BiteMedicine, the author of several research papers and an accomplished musician.
Emerging Alumni Award Winner 2023, Dr Brian Wang

2023 winner: Dr Brian Wang (PhD Medicine 2019, MBBS 2021) founded In2MedSchool to give young people from all walks of life the chance to pursue a career in medicine.

2022 winner: Cardiologist, fearless CEO, mentor and risk-taker, Dr Chiara Bucciarelli-Ducci's (PhD Medicine 2012) spirited approach to life has seen her win several prestigious awards.
Emerging Alumni Leader Award winner 2023 Christiana Udoh

2023 winner: Dr Christiana Udoh (MSc Chemical Engineering 2014, PhD 2018, has developed cutting-edge processes to transform CO2 into low-carbon aviation fuel.
Emerging Alumni Leader Award winner 2023 Clementine Chambon

2023 winner: Dr Clementine Chambon (PhD Chemical Engineering 2017) is transforming the lives of millions of farmers in India through access to affordable tech.
Emerging Alumni Leader Award winner 2023 Erblin Ribari

2023 winner: Erblin Ribari (MSc Investment & Wealth Management) works for a startup connecting fragmented communities and is working to create big change in Kosovo.
Gabriele Messori

2021 winner: Dr Gabriele Messori (PhD Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics 2013) is Associate Professor at Uppsala University and an Affiliated Researcher at Stockholm University with a focus on climate extremes.
Dr Giuliana Di Martino

2024 winner: Dr Giuliana Di Martino (PhD Physics 2014) is a renowned expert in low-power, sustainabile electronic devices and already the head of a research group.
Harsh Pershad

2022 winner: Dr Harsh Pershad (Chemistry 1996, MBA 2014) is an energy innovation specialist, inspiring passion for change and encouraging LGBT+ visibility in the workplace.
Lola Aworanti-Ekugo

2024 winner: Lola Aworanti-Ekugo (MBA 2009) is a digital and innovation expert, steering organisations towards an innovative and sustainable future using technology.
Marily Nika

2021 winner: Dr Marily Nika (PhD Computing 2014) works as a Speech AI Product Manager for Google, and has co-founded communities empowering women in tech.
Mervin Azeta

2022 winner: A tragic loss, due to a power outage, inspired Mervin Azeta (MSc Sustainable Energy Futures 2015) to dedicate herself to making energy available to all.
Miroslav Gasparek

2024 winner: Miroslav Gasparek (MEng Biomedical Engineering 2019) is the founder of Sensible Biotechnologies, a developer of novel mRNA production technology.
Mohammedabbas Khaki

2020 winner: Dr Mohammedabbas Khaki (MBBS Medicine 2010) is a GP and founding chair of international charity Who is Hussain.
Professor Phebe Vayanos

2024 winner: Professor Phebe Vayanos (MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering 2007, PhD Computing 2012) designs trustworthy AI to support effective and equitable decision making.
Reeba Oliver

2022 winner: Dr Reeba Oliver (PhD Medicine 2009) established the UK's first walk-in clinic for victims of female genital mutilation as well as a clinic for the homeless.
Dr Reza Jarral

2021 winner: Dr Reza Jarral (MBBS 2010) is a GP and is also working on the design of an AI-powered approach to predict infectious diseases in refugees.
Tony Shen

2022 winner: Tony Shen (MEng Aeronautics 2007) is a leader in Asian aerospace, addressing sustainability and tackling gender imbalance in STEM.
Dr Veeru Kasivisvanathan

2020 winner: Dr Veeru Kasivisvanathan (MBBS Medicine 2009) is a world expert in the field of prostate cancer diagnosis whose work has led to changes in the NICE guidelines.
Veronica Bray Durfey

2020 winner: Dr Veronica Bray Durfey (PhD Earth Science & Engineering) is a Spacecraft Operations Engineer for NASA and an Associate Staff Scientist at the University of Arizona.
Dr Wareed Alenaini

2024 winner: Dr Wareed Alenaini (MRes Chemistry 2014) has created AI biotechnology that detects chronic conditions related to aging and frailty.

Inspiring future generations

“People studying today are looking for role models, they are looking for what they are going to do with their life. They may be a little afraid and they don’t know where to go. This kind of award and these role models are phenomenal to help them cast their own path and decide where to go.”

David Keene (MBA 2012), Alumni Awards Judge 2020