Issuu

Your University The magazine for UWL alumni and friends Winter 2018

And the Oscar goes to...

ÂŽ

The Silent Child Produced by UWL alumna Rebecca Harris

In this issue Accessing voices that are rarely heard How personal experiences inform our attitudes 70 years of hospitality and tourism Our success in raising ÂŁ10 million News and events from around campus

Shape our Future Whether you studied at the University of West London, or one of its predecessor institutions, you will know the lasting impact that education has on enriching peopleâ€™s lives. To continue the Universityâ€™s mission of providing access to a university education, irrespective of financial background, we need the help of our friends and supporters. Leaving a gift in your Will enables you to make a lasting and significant contribution to a cause that is close to your heart.

For further information, or to discuss leaving a legacy, please contact the Development Office on 020 8280 0245 or at development@uwl.ac.uk

Welcome Welcome

from the Vice-Chancellor The University of West London was founded on the principles of inclusivity and modern approaches to learning. That ethos of opportunity for all continues today as we are placed eighth nationally for social inclusion, where the scores are defined by, among other measures, the number of state school admissions, the proportion of students from ethnic minority backgrounds and the number of disabled students. Our students go on to enjoy successful careers. As the Career University, we are most proud of the fact that an incredible 98%* of our graduates are in work or further study within six months of collecting their degrees â€“ a leading rate for the sector.

Last year we saw an 11 per cent rise in applications, at a time when nearly all of our peers have seen demand for places drop significantly. The investments we made in improving our learning environment continue to be popular with prospective students. In fact, UWL is in the top 15 universities in the country for spending per head on student facilities. These impressive results are a testament to our ambitious and well executed strategic plan. As we move forward with our new strategic plan, Achievement 2023, we will continue to be inclusive, innovative and impactful, so that our graduates and our work including research brings about positive change in the communities we serve. We remain indebted to you, our alumni, for all your support in helping us achieve these remarkable milestones. Whether as donors, guest lecturers, placement hosts or visiting professors, our alumni community continually supports the University in countless ways and plays such an important role in making UWL the very special place it is.

Professor Peter John Vice-Chancellor

* These are the latest figures according to Employment Performance Indicators (EPI) released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency HESA in 2018

Your University

Contents 17

Building bridges not walls

Minnesota Mayor Jake Spano's act of kindness

Professor Karim Murji describes how personal contact can overcome difference.

Jake Spano's experience of Ealing in the late 1980s was 'an abrupt and glorious shock'. 40 years later it led to an unexpected gesture of solidarity.

From Ealing to Hollywood Rebecca Harris on the thrill of winning an OscarÂŽ.

12 15 8

8 2

University News

Exploring dark corners Dr Simon Harding on his research into the world of crime.

Introducing our Honorary Graduates In July we conferred Honorary awards on those making an impact in their field.

Down memory lane: LGCHT at 70 We look back at the history of London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism.

Your University contributors:

Alumni Board

Alumni Board Chair, Alistair Telfer encourages alumni to keep in touch.

Nicola Conway Alumni Relations Manager Luna Sidhu Director of Development and Alumni Relations Oliver Cobb Data and Operations Manager Katherine Sargeant Alumni Relations Assistant Paul Hendrick Alumni Board Member Catherine Lawson Development Manager Paul Fidgeon Associate Professor in Tourism Consulting Editor: Jackie Morgan

Design: Moox Creative Design

Lighting the Way

The University completes its £10 million fundraising campaign.

Printed by: McLays

UWL Alumni Success

Cover: Rebecca Harris

Adiel Mambara talks about his career success and future aspirations.

Photo credits: Claire Williams Photography, Kimberley Archer Photography, UWL archives.

Photos taken at the Academy Awards® and of the statuettes are reproduced courtesy of the ©Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®.

Alumni Events round-up

Front cover, page 4, 5, 6, 15: ©A.M.P.A.S®

Alumni Survey Results

Page 9: iStock.com/LeoWolfert Page 12: peeterv/E+/Getty Images Page 14: Newsteam/SWNS Page 17: iStock.com/guenterguni Page 18: iStock.com/shakzu Office of Development and Alumni Relations University of West London St Mary’s Road Ealing, London W5 5RF

+44 (0)20 8231 0188

By Royal Appointment

Supporter Rami Ranger CBE talks about what motivates him as a business leader and philanthropist.

alumni.uwl.ac.uk

Introducing your new 28 Students' Union President Kat Hackshaw on her role and priorities.

a lumni@uwl.ac.uk

 U WL Alumni Association – Official Group

Five minutes with… We talk to Honorary Doctor Fay Sharpe.

Upcoming Events

 UWLAlumniAssoc uwlalumni  @UWLAlumni To ensure you keep receiving your copy of the magazine, details of upcoming events and the latest news, please update your contact details at alumni.uwl.ac.uk/register

Feature

From Ealing to Hollywood UWL alumna Rebecca Harris

n March 2018 Rebecca Harris was Oscar®-bound for her work as producer of short film, The Silent Child, which picked up an Academy Award®. We sat down with Rebecca to learn more about her path to global success, her female role models and the importance of teaching sign language in schools. Plus, what's it really like to win an Oscar®?

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Nicola Conway: What made you want to get into film?

How did your UWL experience influence your life after graduation?

Rebecca Harris: I became interested in film at a young age so over the years at school and college I picked media and film subjects. As I did this, my passion for film production grew. An early memory is watching the behind the scenes of The Lord of the Rings and I was fascinated by how many people were involved in each department and their graft and determination. There was also a moment when I realised that film isn't just about entertainment and escapism; it's also a powerful medium through which to bring about change.

On the final year project I worked with a director of photography and editor called Trevor Lock, who had also studied on the course. After graduation he worked freelance for a film production company called Slick Showreels (now Slick Films) and he subsequently recommended me to the owners, Chris Overton and Danny Ormerod. Looking back I realise how lucky I was that this opportunity came along just as I was struggling with my ambitions. It was great that he remembered me, and he proved so influential in my subsequent career. It shows how important it is to work hard when you're at university, because it can open up a world of opportunities for you.

Tell us about your time at UWL. I got to write, do camera work, editing and sound through all my university assignments. But I learnt most in the final year when you were forced out of your comfort zone to make a film on your own. It was a bit of a shock but it gave me the confidence I needed just before graduating. What films did you work on as a student? The first was a documentary called My Son: The Cancer Patient about a fellow student who was a leukaemia patient going through his last treatment. I didn’t think my camera work was that good but it was good as a learning experience. In my final year I did a drama called Dandelion which was about a mother finding her lost son. That was when I got a feeling for what producing really meant.

Who are your role models in the film world? Ceán Chaffin, who worked on films such as The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She is brilliant and her work is really impressive. I am drawn to real life dramas and documentaries such as The Imitation Game and Philomena that are really hard hitting. These are inspirational for me. Another good director and producer is Gabriela Cowperthwaite who did the Blackfish documentary, which was both shocking and eye opening, and has changed a lot at SeaWorld.

What did you do when you graduated? I had about 25 interviews, which went very well, but they never came to anything. I worked for Sainsbury’s so I could stay in London and continue to interview. Eventually, with the help of fellow students, I took on voluntary work on film sets to gain experience, including working as a production assistant at Media Trust for their feature show called Brilliant Britain. Looking back, I can see how easily I could have got into a job unrelated to my degree because I needed to pay the rent. But you need to make a few sacrifices and you do need to work as a volunteer in order to gain valuable experience. What is the role of a producer and what's their involvement in a film? People often get the impression that producing is all about raising money, but this is only one aspect of it. A producer needs to steer a project through from script development at the beginning to the festival circuit and distribution at the end. They source and organise everything that the writer and director envisage, and that the director of photography visualises. So you get to work closely with all members of the film crew and the cast as you need to do your best to make sure everyone has the time and resources to do their jobs. Whilst making The Silent Child I realised that you need to have a bit of a lawyer's mind as well, so I'm trying to get more M

Rebecca celebrates with her team, family and friends

Feature

savvy about law and business. Overall, producing is a very varied role, you wear many hats. It's about involving the right people and making a lot of on-the-spot decisions. How did you get involved in The Silent Child? Chris Overton and Danny Ormerod of Slick Films asked me to join them in 2014. In 2016, Rachel Shenton (Chris’s fiancée) had written a script which Chris sent on to me asking me to produce. This script was of the kind of quality that would normally have taken years of experience to be given the chance to produce so they were really putting a lot of trust in me. It was the first film I produced and the first that Slick Films produced. What’s the film about and what were the challenges? The story is based around a deaf fouryear-old girl called Libby, played by Maisie Sly, who is born to hearing parents but lives in a world of silence. A social worker, played by Rachel Shenton, is brought in by the parents and she teaches Libby to communicate using sign language. There were constant challenges throughout the film-making process. It took about nine months to raise the money as this was the company’s first film but we had help from

the public through crowd-funding. We still had quite a low budget so had to be quite resourceful: for example, we didn’t have the money to add on extra shoot days. We also had to work around child licensing laws that meant Maisie was allowed to be on the set for only a limited number of hours each day. Rachel's local charity, Deaf Links Staffordshire, supported us throughout with research, advice and donations. They saw that The Silent Child would make a difference so they were more than happy to help us.

Rachel Shenton's father was deaf for the last two years of his life, inspiring her to learn sign language. She became involved with the deaf community and subsequently an advocate for the National Deaf Children’s Society. Rachel and Chris were able to speak about the film's message at the Oscars®, which must be the biggest stage in the world. We’re so proud of that. It does feel now like things are shifting, with more conversations on the topic, but it won’t change overnight and there’s more work to be done.

The film clearly has a message about the challenges for deaf children, particularly those born to hearing parents. What are the issues?

How did you hear about being nominated for an Oscar®?

Mainstream schools are often too limited in the support they provide for deaf children. There is support out there but you often have to fight to find it. Maisie, who played Libby in the film, had to move over 200 miles with her family in order for her parents to find the right support. Sign language should be taught from primary school age, and The Silent Child has been a way of joining the fight to try to make that happen. We received numerous messages after the Oscars® and after the film aired on the BBC. A lot of deaf people said that their experiences growing up were just like Libby's; others have told us of the lengths that their parents had to go to find support.

At first we were told via an 11pm email that we would be short-listed, but it was only the next morning that I realised it had gone public. Then the 5 nominations are announced on TV, so everyone finds out at the same time. It was more tense being nominated than when we won! But when we heard, we were screaming, jumping and crying – for the realisation that it wasn’t just us who believed in the film. Did you know before the ceremony that you had won and what was the ceremony like? We only knew the film had won when it was read out on stage. We had seen the other short films a number of times and they were all so strong. To be Oscar®nominated is absolutely huge in itself so you don't go in expecting to win. When we watched the moment back afterwards, we all looked really calm but we really weren't at all. Everywhere you looked you could spot someone you'd watched in films all your life but I tried to pretend I was just at a very formal event and that helped. It was an amazing experience but slightly terrifying... When the film actually won it became absolutely crazy with interview after interview for Chris and Rachel. The media interest didn't calm down for months. What about the after-party?

Rebecca with her partner and fellow UWL graduate, Tom Turner, who was Second Assistant Director on The Silent Child

The Vanity Fair after-party was surreal too – it was another “how am I here?” moment. We didn’t really stay long because our team was holding another party to include all the people who couldn't make it to the event; we just wanted to be with the rest of the team to share the moment.

Feature

Other UWL Stars Fodhla Cronin-Reilly BA (Hons) Film: Video Production and Film Studies, 2008 Producer, Head over Heels Oscar®-nominated Best Short Film (Animated), 2012 Rebecca and The Silent Child team receiving an award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival

The main character in the film is a young girl, played by Maisie Sly. What was it like working with a child? With help from deaf charities across the UK we auditioned over 150 children. The Silent Child was the first film Maisie had acted in, everything had to be worked around her so she became like the boss of the shoot. I think it’s because she’s profoundly deaf that she has this incredible laser focus, and she probably managed to take Chris’s direction better than a lot of adult actors. I think she has found all the publicity and fuss a bit strange, but she has taken it all in her stride and somehow shown us how it’s done. At the Oscars® she was much calmer than we all were and just wanted pancakes! How have you found the media attention? It’s been mind blowing how much coverage the film has achieved. Rachel and Chris beautifully represent the team and they have dealt with the brunt of it. We’re all happy for the media attention because it has brought attention to an issue that has been overlooked for so long. Tom Turner, your partner and fellow UWL alumnus, was Second Assistant Director on the film; how did you find working together? Luckily we have a good working relationship because producers and assistant directors do need to work closely together. We’re in post production on a ten-minute short film called A Glimpse which Tom is directing and I am producing. It's a drama romance with a lot of the same team involved. So it didn’t put us off working together!

What opportunities have been opened up for you, having won the Oscar®? We are developing a feature film, still on the subject of the deaf community, and I have some unrelated short films coming up, including A Glimpse. Tom has written some golden feature scripts so we hope to get those made soon. Rachel is always full of golden ideas as well! We’re lucky enough to have a number of exciting things in the pipeline that we now have the opportunity to make. What’s your long-term goal? As a team, we just want to make high quality, important films. But on a more personal note my next goal is to produce a feature film; I would also love to write my own screenplay at some point, but the story would have to come naturally to me. I'm interested in getting involved with theatre production too. What are your tips to a graduate who wants to pursue a career in film production? The most important thing is knowing that you have a right to be there, because everyone has started somewhere, including the big directors and producers. It’s also about being passionate about making a film: in reality, it's not about the awards and the glamorous side, it's about getting stuck into the tough process of filmmaking. Just keep making films even if it’s on your iPhone and get experience in any way you can. It is really that simple and if you just keep going things will happen – it’s not a myth. Whatever happens, never give up.

Producer, Lady Macbeth BAFTA-nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year, 2018 BAFTA-nominated for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, 2018

Nick Cooke BA (Hons) Film: Video Production and Film Studies, 2010 Cinematographer, Miss Todd Student Academy Awards® Gold Medal Winner for Best Foreign film 2013

Robert Orton BA (Hons) Media Technology Specialist, 1999 Music Producer and Mix Engineer Three time Grammy winner for mixing Lady Gaga hits Poker face and The Fame in 2010 and album The Fame Monster in 2011

Alex da Kid BA (Hons) Music Technology Specialist, 2006 Music Producer Seven time Grammy nominee 2010, 2011 & 2013, including nomination for Album of the Year for his work on Rihanna's Loud

Thomas Blazukas BA (Hons) Music Technology Specialist, 2014 Film Sound Designer Motion Picture Sound Editor’s award for Homegrown, 2018 If you have won an award in music or film, please do let us know by contacting: alumni@uwl.ac.uk or @UWLAlumni

University News

Heathrow: The Journey

Heathrow's history lands at St Mary's Road ‘Heathrow: The Journey,’ focusing on the long history of the UK’s busiest airport, opened at the St Mary’s Road campus in April. This landmark exhibition features a wealth of specially selected, neverbefore-seen items, which have been permanently donated for the public to see. Artefacts dating back to the 1940s tell the story of Heathrow airport via an exciting mix of media including motion-detection audio, with memorable photos of Beatlemania, Princess Diana and other famous passengers. ‘Heathrow: The Journey’ has been made possible by generous donations from Heathrow Airport of £100,000 8

and £79,400 raised through the Heritage Lottery Fund. These donations enable the archive to be preserved for generations to come, as well as funding this exhibition that charts an important part of Great Britain’s aviation history. Heathrow’s Chief Executive John HollandKaye said: "Heathrow has witnessed major historical events, and hosted many remarkable people throughout its long history. We are especially pleased to partner with the University to ensure this exhibition resides permanently on their campus, so that generations to come can be inspired to seek a career at Heathrow and form part of our history." ■

John Holland-Kaye, CEO, Heathrow Airport at the exhibition opening

University News

Nurturing innovation in food and drink New businesses in the food and drink sector are subject to a high rate of failure, sometimes because of a lack of business acumen at owner/management level, sometimes because of regulatory issues. In some cases it's innovation from competitors that means businesses don't succeed. To help businesses facing these challenges, the University has joined forces with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to fund the West London Food Innovation Lab (WLFIL). Its mission for the next two years is to assist micro- and small and medium-sized businesses in the food and drink sector engage in scientific new product development and help them turn ideas and concepts into market-ready products. It has already worked with start-ups on a variety of projects ranging from vegetarian and vegan products to artisan breads, alternative protein products and healthier ‘street food’ desserts. The services offered by WLFIL are free of charge to eligible companies for the development of one new product. The target is for 85 food and drink start-ups and SMEs to go through the lab with new product formulations or line extensions. ■ If you would like to find out more, visit: uwl.ac.uk/wlfil

Vital research to protect Internet of Things Vital research which promises to help protect household and industrial smart devices linked to the Internet across the UK has won financial backing from government agencies. The Cybersecurity and Criminology Centre (CCC) will receive grants totalling £126,000 from Innovate UK and the Department of Culture Media and Sport’s Cybersecurity Academic Startup. The grants will support the work of Professor Jonathan Loo and Dr Junaid Arshad to develop innovative security tools to tackle the threat posted by cyber-attacks. The UWL academic team argued that smart devices, once installed should not be left unattended. Instead they should be managed and maintained through proactive monitoring and defence capabilities. The CCC’s work is part of the University’s commitment to highquality academic research that has genuine social use, such as protecting national and international infrastructures from criminal gangs or hostile state actors. The funding comes soon after the CCC won a nomination for a security industry award for the outstanding quality of education provided to PhD students on UWL’s Doctorate training programme. ■

West London Food Innovation Lab

Professor Jonathan Loo, Chair Professor in Computing and Communication Engineering

Dr Junaid Arshad, Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity

University News

University shortlisted at THE Awards 2018 The University has been nominated in the category of University of the Year at the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards 2018. It is the only post-1992 and London-based University to be shortlisted. These awards have a reputation as the Oscars® of the UK higher education sector, so to be nominated in this category is a wonderful achievement. Judges take into account research, teaching, access and business performance, but in particular they look for evidence of imaginative and innovative initiatives that have advanced the University’s reputation in the 2016–17 academic year. Commenting on the nomination, Professor Peter John, UWL Vice-Chancellor, said: "We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award and particularly proud of being the only university in London to be nominated. Investment in our curriculum, academic staff and facilities provides an outstanding learning experience for our students. The fact that 98 per cent* of our graduates are in work or further study within six months of collecting their degrees attests to our commitment to achieving the best outcomes possible for our students. Our new strategic plan, Achievement 2018–2023, will further support the University’s mission to widen participation in higher education, so that as many people as possible may reap its benefits." The Times Higher Education Awards are announced on 29 November. ■ * These are the latest figures according to Employment Performance Indicators (EPI) released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency HESA in 2018

Ramesh Seewoodhary, Lecturer, College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare

MBE for academic who offers the gift of sight A specialist Ophthalmic nurse and lecturer at UWL's College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare has been awarded an MBE in recognition of his lifetime of service to ophthalmology. Ramesh Seewoodhary, 65, has received the honour in the 2018 Birthday and New Year Honours List. Since joining UWL in 1994, he has trained more than 3,000 eyenurses from across the world. In 1998, Ramesh published research entitled: ‘Effectiveness of Sodium Hypochlorite as a disinfectant in Ophthalmic Nursing Practice’ in the International Journal of Ophthalmic Nursing. He received support and guidance from UWL Honorary, Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, who recognised the high value of the research in raising standards. ‘She put me on the right track,’ Ramesh said. The honour from Buckingham Palace was entirely unexpected. When the Civil Service first telephoned him, Ramesh suspected it was a crank call. He deleted two Cabinet Office emails because he suspected a scam. Officials finally broke the good news by calling Ramesh at home. Professor Peter John , Vice-Chancellor, said: "For Ramesh, this is a richly deserved honour which is testament to his outstanding service to the practice and theory of ophthalmology over the course of more than four decades. His achievements epitomise our mission to provide outstanding teaching and to generate academic research of high practical value. We are very proud of him." ■

University News

Pioneering dementia care work receives £1 million gift University Chancellor Laurence Geller CBE has made a £1 million gift to create a new Institute for Dementia Care (IDC). The Institute will drive a groundbreaking, trans-disciplinary approach encompassing the arts, social sciences, food and nutrition, and nursing to deliver both person-centred and carer-centred solutions that will effect meaningful change and deliver life-improving outcomes. A key IDC output will be a national training and accreditation scheme. The announcement of the gift was made at the first annual Dementia Friendly London Summit at the Greater London Assembly (GLA) on 21 May as part of Dementia Action Week. The event was attended by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who emphasised the importance of London being 'dementia friendly'. He said: “To achieve a dementia friendly London requires effort across

all sectors, both locally and citywide. Making the necessary improvements is not about spending more money, but changing attitudes and collaborating." Speaking at the same event, Mr Geller said: "This is an excellent example of UWL doing what it does best – identifying skills gaps and meeting market-driven needs. This is a unique opportunity for UWL to partner with industry to provide trained staff, knowledge and expertise where and when it is needed." UWL already offers a number of courses including an MSc in Dementia Care and a Health-Assistant Practitioner–Dementia Care apprenticeship programme, providing much needed knowledge and expertise to the healthcare sector. The IDC aims to set professional standards, make recommendations and issue guidance for practitioners. ■

Laurence Geller CBE, Chancellor, UWL

Feature

Exploring dark corners 12

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Dr Simon Harding specialises in research into urban street gangs, dangerous dogs, acid attacks, hate crime and youth crime. Here he describes some of his experiences in interviewing individuals who have become involved in criminal activities. He describes the experience as 'giving them a voice'.

ntering the flat itself was the most immediate challenge. It meant turning sideways and edging past stacks of moulding newspapers and dated magazines. The living room was sizeable but reduced to cramped and squalid conditions by the accumulation of hoarded detritus. An all-encompassing odour of cat urine and dust filled the senses, and mingled with years of stale smoke, the musty smell of damp, all alongside the powerful rank pervasiveness of skunk. It smelled like somebody had died in there and that skunk and damp were invoked to camouflage the smell. The occupants of the flat were not dead. One lay motionless on a day-bed, smoking skunk and moving only to offer faint gestures. The other was bent over in an armchair supported only by racks of aged magazines fused together over time to act as arm support. He nursed a half-smoked joint. This was Zac and Steve and their ‘home’ was operating as a crack house. What on earth had happened in their lives to bring them to such a profound decline? What disappointments or addictions had taken them to a place beyond poverty and deprivation? It seemed addiction had rendered these lives to a mere existence with each day fused into one never-ending heroin haze. My visit felt intrusive. I was there to interview the occupants about being cuckoo’d by London drug gangs. The term relates to having one’s flat taken over by external drug-dealing gangs seeking to push you out, whilst they deal drugs from the flat. Why someone would choose to deal drugs from such a place seemed almost unimaginable. I made a clearing on the couch and took a seat ready to begin the interview, knowing instinctively this was not going to be easy. Such are the issues facing those of us who choose to do criminological research, or at least those of us who are prepared to take research to the street. I have always sought out the most difficult and most challenging areas of research: the dark corners under the stairs where the dangers, and the greatest rewards, will lurk. These are the inaccessible lives,

hidden in shadow, and out of view. To research such groups and such areas of social life is not for all: it is traversing the unknown social and urban landscapes and the people that inhabit them. Only in these forgotten spaces and dark corners do you find the authentic voice – hidden from others, often harsh and husky from never having talked freely. In research terms, they are often referred to as ‘hard to reach’ or ‘hard to find’. I prefer to think of them as ‘hard to hear’. We often know where such voices lie, it’s just that we don’t expend the time or effort to hear them or value what they have to say. When they speak, we just don’t listen. If you do commit the time and energy and can access these voices, you can be rewarded with a unique opportunity of giving a voice to the voiceless. Not just hearing the stories of the outcast or forgotten, the active criminal or reluctant victim, but listening to them and letting them communicate their lived experience. This then becomes the contract between the researcher and the respondent. If done correctly and empathetically it can be cathartic and enlightening, informative and rewarding for both researcher and participant. I was never satisfied with the low-hanging fruit of research; of the easy win or the bland obvious run-of-the-mill interview. My research has sought to cover some of the most challenging areas of sociological and criminological imagination – illegal underground dog-fighting, homophobic hate crime, crack misuse and the supply of heroin, sexual exploitation into gangs, gang violence and knife crime, acid attacks, moped theft, anti-social behaviour and rioting. To understand such issues, to learn how and why they occur, their motivations and outcomes, we must first find access to those involved and enter their environment. We must set aside prejudices, stereotypes and personal morals and beliefs, and be open to engaging – to listening. It takes a range of skills and experience, acquired over time, to be truly able to do this effectively. This experience comes from many mistakes and failures, half-

finished interviews and screw-ups. It takes a dogged determination to get to the root of the issue and peel back the layers of armour that interviewees have learned to cover themselves in over the years – to get to their truth and their understanding. For me as a researcher the greatest skill I can bring to an interview is an understanding of life, its risks, its motivations, its humiliations, its struggles; the things that drive us forward or hold us back but also the basic humanity that underpins our actions. If you are open to all of these experiences and embrace them, then you stand a chance of being able to engage any respondents or interviewee in any situation. Another key skill I have learnt is adaptability. Always remember it is their environment, not yours. You are just a guest, passing through. The interview you thought you were going to get is seldom the one you do get, but often it is the one you need. Situations change or may be unpredictable or even unpleasant. Interviews can fluctuate over their course, and cover a range of emotions from resignation to effusion and anger to fatigue. My experience of this was memorably tested whilst undertaking research for my book, Unleashed: the phenomenon of status dogs and weapon dogs. This presented the challenge of locating and interviewing young men who chose to own dangerous dogs to gain status amongst their peer group: people who often use illegal or banned breeds, brutalise them, abuse them and may use them to fight other dogs in bloody pit fights. They do not want to be identified, let alone interviewed. But they like to talk about their dog – this gives me a way in. I would begin with a general conversation about their dog before gently broaching the topics of research and asking if they would be interested in speaking to me on the record. This most often is met with agreement; once they make sure I am not one of the Feds! Some started the interview but would not finish it. Some got bored and just walked off. Others would demand money to talk whilst some were too stoned to continue. M 13

Feature

On one occasion whilst interviewing a man about a dog, his pitbull, which had been rampaging around the park, returned to the owner upon his whistle. The dog bounded up with such enthusiasm it sent me flying. The apologetic owner then felt obliged to conduct an interview. Through such means I was able to conduct over 130 interviews and publish the first-ever monograph looking at the phenomenon of status dogs. Researching in the dark corners also requires patience, no more so than when interviewing, or waiting to interview, young men affiliated to street gangs. A set time of 3pm will often mean 6pm, or even 9pm. If the boys turn up at all their phones will be constantly ringing; their girlfriend, or latest link, will be hanging around in the car; their ‘Bro’s’ will be circling and eyeing you up suspiciously. If they don’t turn up at all they are often still in bed, were too stoned to attend, or had been nicked by the police. Interviews can be short-lived and unfulfilling or they can be surprisingly fascinating and insightful. Patience may be needed to stay focused and to get beneath the bravado and myth-making so common amongst such subjects. Whilst street argot and colourful language can be a challenge, the boys are largely engaging and interesting. Their lives might be violent and brutal but their dreams are real. You also need to manage your safety and identify risk – for yourself and your interviewee. I felt this most keenly when interviewing a young man who had been involved in throwing acid over a young girl in a revenge attack. It turned out he had only supplied the acid to another young 14

man who threw it, but it was a daunting prospect to interview such a character. I had arranged to meet with him on an estate in east London. Thirty minutes prior to the interview I was suddenly gripped by an anxiety that this crime scenario could be tested on me. I made a quick decision to shift the interview to a local hotel, where I managed to book a small conference room so that I could ensure the offender/interviewee was on CCTV entering the premises. Whilst reluctant at first the interviewee was finally agreeable when he heard I would be providing a free bar (at my expense). Thus I obtained the first-ever interview with an active acid thrower. Safety must always be planned for and must never be compromised – there is always another opportunity for an interview. Or is there? The final element fundamental to researching the dark corners is – availability. As a researcher, you are sometimes driven by the fact that the opportunity to get this interview might not present itself again. This perception can keep you motivated and focused but, if you are not careful, can lead you to cut corners. Only experience and a mature head will act as a balance and safeguard here. At this juncture I take the view that the voiceless person has elected to speak and to give away some precious insight – and they have chosen me as their mouthpiece. Thus begins the contract between the researcher and the participant. So begins the chance for them to speak – and for me to listen. I've been involved in research for over thirty-five years but I still find this to be the most rewarding gift. ■

“Researching in the dark corners requires patience, no more so than when interviewing gang members”

Dr Simon Harding has a wide range of practitioner and professional experience in crime reduction and community safety including working for the Home Office as Regional Crime Advisor (London). He was a principal trainer in hate crime and diversity at the Crime Academy, Metropolitan Police Service Training College, and remains an Independent Advisor on hate crime and diversity to the MPS Commissioners. Simon’s recent work has focussed on urban street gangs in the UK. From 2005-8 he organised the Lambeth Gangs Commission and managed London’s largest anti-gangs project (The Phoenix Project). He was also involved in the London Five Borough Alliance Gangs project. He is currently working on a book: Trapped: County Lines, exploitation and drug dealing amongst urban street gangs, to be published in 2019. Dr Simon Harding, Associate Professor, Research Centre for Cybercrime and Security, UWL

University News – Honorary graduates

Introducing our newest

Honorary Graduates In July 2018 we welcomed 11 new Honorary Graduates to the University of West London community. Each of these individuals has been recognised for their outstanding contribution to civic or cultural life, unrivalled business success or long-term support for the University’s work. Michael Bellamy

The Rt Hon. Lord Boateng PC DL

Former Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors, Michael has played a role in UWL’s transformation into a leading modern higher education institution. He has served as Chair and member of a number of committees and as Lead Governor for the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare.

A former UK Cabinet Minister, civil liberties lawyer and diplomat who served as the UK’s High Commissioner to South Africa. Lord Boateng was the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on the Blair Africa Commission.

Rebecca Harris

Leyla Hussein

Producer of The Silent Child, winner of the 2018 Oscar® for Best Live Action Short film just five years after her graduation. The Silent Child has raised awareness of the need for sign language to be recognised in schools.

An award-winning international campaigner against female genital mutilation (FGM), Leyla was included in the BBC 100 Women List in 2013, Woman’s Hour Power List 2014 and Debretts 500 as one of the UK’s most influential people.

Annar Neallani Mangalji

Atul Pathak OBE

Annar's team of carers at her nursing home are committed to making every day special for dementia patients. Her care model is a unique blend of handson experience, education and personal commitment to worldwide research into new techniques and therapies that work.

Owner of the Appt Corporation, which manages 31 McDonald’s restaurants. Atul was awarded the OBE for Service to Entrepreneurship in 2015 and received the Leader of the Decade Creating a Better World for All award from The Women Economic Forum in 2017.

(BA (Hons) Film: Video Production and Film Studies 2013, UWL)

(PGDip Counselling 2010, UWL)

University News – Honorary graduates

Professor Ken Pickering

Fay Sharpe

Professor of Drama at the University of Kent. As Chief Examiner for Speech and Communications at LCM and Trinity/ Guildhall, Ken achieved the first QCA recognition for Grade Exams in Drama, Music Theatre and Communication.

Vice President of BCD M&E, one of the largest global meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions agencies. With many industry awards to her name, Fay is also an active member of the Think Act Report initiative.

Professor Monique Simmonds OBE

Justine Stephenson

Deputy Director of Science at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. At UWL, Monique brings her considerable expertise and insight to research that aims to save ancient trees by employing innovative Ground Penetrating Radar techniques.

UWL Governor 2008–17. A successful solicitor, Justine has been legal counsel for NATS, the UK's leading provider of air traffic control services, and actively involved in setting up The Association of Litigation of Funders of England and Wales.

Valerie Todd CBE Former UWL Governor with crosssector, board-level experience, Valerie has played an important role in delivering the transformational Crossrail Transport Project. She was awarded a CBE for services to skills, training and the development of young people.

Experience exceptional dining here on campus

Pillars is the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism’s awardwinning training restaurant in the heart of the University. Open Tuesday to Friday for lunch and dinner, it offers the perfect opportunity to return to campus and enjoy an elegant and contemporary dining experience with your classmates. Please visit uwl.ac.uk/pillars for further information.

(LLB (Hons) 1994, UWL)

Feature

Professor Karim Murji considers the dangers of hardening attitudes towards migrants across the world – and highlights the importance of personal experiences that enable us to challenge heightened racial tensions.

Building bridges

not walls Personal experiences challenge entrenched attitudes

ith more than 1.8 million refugees arriving on the borders of the European Union since 2014 it is hardly surprising that migration is often referred to as a ‘crisis’, particularly in the receiving countries of the Global North – broadly the wealthiest nations in the world. However, this overlooks the extent of regional and temporary migrations across borders in the Global South, such as the Rohingya refugees crossing the border from Myanmar into Bangladesh. Migration is a far more complex phenomenon than it is often depicted and is not amenable to simplistic solutions. Yet, simplistic solutions are often proposed, with President Trump’s border wall with Mexico probably the best known. But there are others: Australia ‘out houses’ its approach to asylum-seekers

by placing them in offshore detention facilities on Nauru and Papua New Guinea while their asylum claims are processed. Within the EU, Germany has accepted more than 1.5 million refugees since 2015, while the numbers across other EU countries vary considerably. In some there is now active hostility towards migrants and refugees, and this has led to the election of populist governments. In Italy the League party came to office on a pledge to send back 500,000 irregular migrants, while in Austria and Hungary respectively the Freedom Party and Fidesz have been elected on platforms of aggressive nationalism and bellicose rhetoric towards migrants. In Hungary, the government of Prime Minister Orban has advocated making it illegal for charities to help migrants. M

Feature

Such hostility was clearly a factor in the UK's Brexit vote and the election of President Trump. But the closeness of the Brexit vote and the fact that President Trump lost the popular vote suggests that public views are not necessarily as hostile as is often suggested. Yet there is no doubting the antagonism and this may be dangerous. It has been linked to a rise in race and other forms of hate crime, and the resentment and hatred that underlies these crimes sometimes means settled ethnic minorities also become targets because they look like migrants or refugees. Against this climate there are many organised movements that support migrants and oppose racial and faith discrimination. The UK City of Sanctuary movement is one example of this, and the Calais Convoy – that used to provide support and resources to refugees in The Jungle camp at Calais – was another. There are also individual – and often unnoticed – unexpected acts of solidarity and support. In April 2018 a 'Punish a Muslim' day hashtag circulated widely on social media. Manchester man Manzoor Ali responded by organising support under the banner 'Banish Hate Day'. This caught the

attention of Jake Spano, the Mayor of St Louis Park, Minnesota, USA. Mayor Spano had kept a £5 note as a memento of a stay in London in the late 1980s and decided to send it to Manzoor. His gesture was based on his own time and experience of the UK, and studying in Ealing. He said in his letter: “Enclosed you will find one of my most treasured possessions, a £5 note that I’ve been keeping as a reminder of one of the greatest times of my life.” “In 1989 and 1990 I lived in Ealing, England as a foreign student studying at Ealing College (now called the University of West London). At 18 years old, it was my first time away from the US and growing up in Kansas, it was an abrupt and glorious shock to my world view. Walking down the street to school, hearing all the languages spoken on the street and enjoying all the smells coming out of the stores and cafes opened my mind to a whole new world… living in the UK was the most formative and inspirational experience of my life…" These gestures receive much less coverage than the noise from some politicians and sections of the media. One of the lessons from Mayor Spano’s gesture is

the experience of living, studying and working in a multicultural city like London can have a real impact on an individual. While this ‘culture contact’ is valuable, it does not resolve the structural issues that underlie discrimination against groups and minorities. Social and news media can be useful to connect people across distance in networks of solidarity, and some of these are based on international staff and student networks, including alumni. So, perhaps, from these two there might emerge a third lesson that looks more to people’s generosity and openness to others – it just requires our political leaders to do the same. ■

Professor Karim Murji has written widely on culture, ethnicity and racism as applied to fields such as race equality, policing, public sociology, and diaspora and identity. Since 2013 he has been part of the editorial team of Sociology, and, with Sarah Neal, he is the Editor of Current Sociology. Karim Murji Professor of Social Policy and Criminology, UWL

Feature Jake Spano, UWL alumnus, as a young man in London

Minnesota Mayor Jake Spano's act of kindness M

innesota Mayor Jake Spano – an international exchange student at Ealing College in 1989/90 – made news in the US and UK when he sent £5 to a Manchester-based Muslim shop-keeper and charity organiser. Manzoor Ali, who runs Barakah Food Aid in Manchester, decided to respond to ‘Punish a Muslim Day’ – a phrase contained in an anonymous letter sent to homes and businesses in east London, the Midlands and Yorkshire in April – with acts of kindness. With members of his family he organised a ‘Banish Hate Day’ and handed out free tea, cake and biscuits. Mayor Spano came across the story on Twitter. "I do a great deal of work within my local community addressing issues of race and equality and his story resonated with me. So I went home that afternoon and started to write a letter; I then went to my box of mementos and retrieved a £5 note that I'd kept as a reminder of all the good things that had happened to me whilst I was in England. It was pretty transformative and it opened up my

eyes to the world; in particular, what a multicultural community looked like, how it expressed its values and how it was embraced… And I wrote the letter because, as an elected official, it’s meaningful when someone praises you for the work that you have done. I just felt that maybe if this gentleman knew that someone half way around the world was paying some small attention to what he was doing, he would appreciate it – and he did." Mayor Spano and Manzoor Ali connected via Facebook, shared their story on social media and it got picked up by the Manchester Evening News. Manzoor Ali was bowled over: "Initially we thought it was a wind up. The letter brought us to tears, that we did what we British do best, tea and biscuits, with the best intentions in the world, to spread a bit of kindness and compassion, share our lovely community with others... and to think our tea and biscuits reached as far as St Louis Park in Minnesota USA!" The two have subsequently talked about a joint event to raise funds that their two organisations could share, to take place in either the US or UK.

Jake graduated from Hamline University in Minnesota, having been on exchange at Ealing, and recognises the important role his education played in his life. "Both institutions fostered an existing intellectual curiosity. They didn't just teach the facts that you needed to know; they taught you how to learn and how to be curious about the world around you." Jake started his career as a sculpture artist, mainly doing large bronze sculptures of famous people in plazas. He got involved in architecture and design but gradually found himself more into management, which he did not enjoy. With an interest in public policy, he landed an unpaid internship working for Amy Klobuchar (now a US Senator), subsequently doing policy work for her and running her office. He then worked for the former Mayor of St Paul, Chris Coleman, before becoming Deputy Secretary of State for Minnesota. He is now in his third year as mayor with hopes of being re-elected next year. ■

UWL History

London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism: 70 years strong In 1948, Acton Hotel and Catering School was founded with a teaching staff of experienced practitioners. The School, under the guidance of Mary King MBE and Gerry Hudswell, swiftly established a worldwide reputation. Seventy years later, London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism (LGCHT) is an award-winning and leading centre for hospitality and tourism with strong links to industry partners. The 70th anniversary celebrations began with Michelin-starred chef and alumnus, Andreas Antona, as guest chef at an alumni dinner. A series of further events will follow including a Malaysian-themed dinner with Chef Zam, a Malaysian chef and alumnus, and culminating in a glamorous gala celebration at the Royal Garden Hotel, London on March 15 2019.

1988 BA Leisure Management degree developed, the first of its kind in the UK.

1997 Name changed to School of Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Professor David Foskett MBE becomes Head of the School.

1998 50th anniversary celebrations. Culinary Arts Honours Degree is developed, the first of its kind to be validated in the UK.

2001 The Junior Chefs' School launched â€“ now the Junior Chefs' Academy sponsored by Harrisons Catering. 2002 Launch of two programmes: BA Airline & Airport Management and BA International Business Tourism. 20

UWL History

1948 Acton Hotel and Catering School established

Late 1950s Becomes part of Ealing Technical College and establishes a three-year, full-time hotel course.

1962 Name changes to the Ealing School of Hotel Keeping and Catering, with a move to the present site at St Mary’s Road.

1963 Mary King retires. Victor Ceserani appointed Head of School.

2016 Renamed the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism (LGCHT) after alumnus and UWL Chancellor, Laurence Geller CBE. James Edmunds, becomes the Dean of LGCHT.

2013 The International Centre for Hotel and Resort Management (ICHARM) is launched.

2010 School awarded the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for outstanding achievement and excellence in hospitality education.

70th Anniversary LGCHT today offers programmes in aviation, airline and airport management, culinary arts, hospitality, event management, and travel and tourism. The College nurtures talent from the Junior Chefs’ Academy and apprentices right through to Doctoral studies. It has links with over 400 companies and employers worldwide, and 16 industry partners provide student scholarships or support academic research. 21

Your University

London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism

70th Anniversary Gala Celebration Friday 15 March 2019 at Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London with Executive Chef

Steve Munkley and UWL Students

Booking now open: alumni.uwl.ac.uk/hospitality70 22

Lighting the Way – Campaign Update

Lighting the Way Campaign Report

In 2014 we asked you to light the way by supporting the University’s first ever campaign to raise £10 million and connect with 10,000 alumni. Your generous response enabled us to meet this challenge and we are delighted to report that we have raised £10 million and connected with nearly 14,500 alumni! Your gifts have helped to provide much needed student scholarships, transform learning spaces, and advance research and scholarly activities. This report contains some examples of how your generosity created impact.

Total funds raised:

£10 million

"I was honoured to have received the Atul Pathak Scholarship Award, which enabled me to stay focused on my studies without the worries of continuing to work during the final term of my undergraduate degree. As a result of this scholarship, I am on path to achieving a Distinction." Mian Zeeshan Chaudhry, BA (Hons) Business Studies

Total number of alumni engaged:

14,500

Total number of donors:

1,314

Total raised for student support:

£2.4 million

Total number of students supported:

1,200

Mike Gough from the William Barry Trust with their Scholars

UWL Donors and Scholars reception.

Lighting the Way – Campaign Update

Research and Academic Support A £1 million gift helped the University to create a new Institute for Dementia Care (IDC). The Institute will drive a ground-breaking, trans-disciplinary approach encompassing the arts, social sciences, food and nutrition, and nursing to deliver both person-centred and carer-centred solutions that will effect meaningful change and deliver life-improving outcomes. A key IDC output will be a national training and accreditation scheme. Philanthropic support also enabled the University to establish ICHARM (now called The International Centre for Hospitality and Aviation Resilience Management), the Faringdon Centre for Non-destructive Testing and other research initiatives such as developing a dual approach in determining the co-existence of mental health disorders and substance misuse issues in patients.

Total funds raised for research and academic support:

Almost £3 million

Reseachers at the Faringdon Centre

Total funds raised for facilities:

£3.1 million

Facilities Support The University has invested over £100 million in transforming its facilities and in so doing made a positive impact on the student experience. Many of these improvements, such as the Library, the Westmont Enterprise Hub and a dedicated exhibition tracing the development of Heathrow from an airfield to a major travel hub, all benefitted from philanthropic support. Major development projects now benefitting from donor gifts include the new postgraduate and international house, and sports centre. The former will ensure that we can grow our postgraduate and international community and give them the specialist support they need. The new sports centre will provide on-site leisure facilities in order to maximise participation in health and fitness related activities.

Weston Hall funded by Garfield Weston Foundation

As Chancellor and an alumnus, I have watched with pride the University emerge as a financially stable institution ranked amongst the finest in the country for graduate employability. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our staff and the support of our alumni and donors. I am truly humbled by all that has been achieved through the Lighting the Way campaign. I hope you will continue to support UWL and ensure that together we create positive change for society and the world. Laurence Geller CBE Chair of the Lighting the Way campaign

Donor profile

By Royal Appointment Supporter Profile: Raminder (Rami) Ranger CBE 25

Donor profile

aminder Ranger CBE, known to all as simply Rami, is a man who has defied great odds to achieve outstanding success in business and beyond. His life began in a refugee camp in newly partitioned India. His father, a prominent anti-partition campaigner, was assassinated during the partition. His mother managed to flee and was left with the daunting task of raising eight children in a country that had witnessed one of the biggest migrations in modern history. Life was not easy and while his mother worked tirelessly they were desperately poor. Unable to join the army as his brothers had done, Rami came to the UK in search of a better life. The initial few months were very hard but he did not give up. He found work as a chef in KFC where his work ethic and commitment soon got noticed and he rose quickly through the ranks to become District Manager for the chain. He continued in corporate roles for other large organisations including McCain and Dixons. But although these roles gave him useful operational and management knowledge, his

entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own freight forwarding business from a shed in Hayes with capital of just ÂŁ2. Always a perfectionist and keen to ensure that his customers got the best possible service, his freight forwarding business, Sea Air and Land Forwarding, quickly flourished. From there he entered the world of international distribution in the fast-moving consumer goods sector and started supplying companies in emerging markets with high quality British food and beverage products through his second company, Sun Mark. Sun Mark went on to become an even greater success and eventually achieved the unique distinction of winning five consecutive Queens Awards for Enterprise in International Trade. Today his companies have revenues in excess of ÂŁ200 million and employ over 100 people. Sun Mark has been added to the Sunday Times list of the 100 most profitable companies in Britain for three years running. His business skills have been recognised through the conferment of numerous

Rami receving an honorary award from the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor

awards such as the Institute of Export (IOE) Award 2013, Institute of Directors Award in 2014 and a Lifetime Achievement award by the Family Business Place. He has been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen on eight different occasions: six times for business and twice for community services, and was made a Member of the British Empire in 2005 and Commander of the British Empire in 2016. At the same time, Rami has never shied from giving back to his community and his adopted country. Following the 7/7 bombings he set up an interfaith forum to build bridges between the different communities. He is active in the world of politics: encouraging major political parties to engage with the various ethnic communities that make-up modern day Britain in order to build a more cohesive society. He supports a number of charities from the Princesâ€™ Trust to Cancer Research UK and various educational institutions including the University of West London. Rami is married to Renu and has three daughters. M

Donor profile

We were delighted to catch up with this hugely successful but incredibly down-to-earth individual to understand what motivates him as a philanthropist and as a business leader. You do not hesitate to give time and money to good causes. What motivates this spirit of giving? My upbringing was very humble but we received help and support from many kind and generous people. I have never forgotten that. Now that I am in a position to help others, I feel it is my duty to return the kindness and generosity that was shown to me and my family when we needed it the most. Tell us about some of the other causes that you are involved with? Rami speaking at the UWL Asian Family Business Conference

I am a Fellow of The Prince’s Trust where I not only support the organisation financially but also devote my time to mentoring disaffected youth. I tell them about the trials and tribulations I faced in my early years and how I worked through them. I am a Patron for Combat Stress, an Armed Forces Charity supporting mentally traumatised soldiers, and Age UK. I assist both charities by organising fundraising events. I have also helped London South Bank University establish a Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence.

"never give up or give in, no matter what fate throws at you." What achievement are you most proud of? My company winning the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in International Trade for five consecutive years. It recognises the work we do in connecting Britain to 130 countries through trade and we are the only British company to have won this award so many times.

What was the one thing you wish you had known before you started your business? Not to get involved in litigation with anyone as it can cost a great deal in terms of money, time and health. How do you keep motivated? I live by a simple principle I learnt from my mother, “efforts are in the hands of men and women and rewards are in the hands of God”. She worked incredibly hard as a teacher and at home to provide for her family. Though she lost everything during the partition – husband, home and the country that she had known – she did not give up. She assumed the role of the main breadwinner of the family and raised eight children. She always told us “never give up or give in, no matter what fate throws at you”. I have always tried to live my life according to the values that I learnt from her and it has stood me in good stead. What are your goals for the future? I have just been appointed the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Friends of India. It is a huge privilege to serve both Britain and India and advance trade links between these two nations. I will be leading a trade delegation to India post-Brexit.

If there is one thing you could change in this world what would it be? The bitter animosity that exists between India and Pakistan. Both countries are caught up in an arms race when the money could be spent on alleviating poverty and raising living standards for millions of people. Rami's advice to our graduates You are all unique and special. You are ambassadors for your family, community and country. Work hard and strive to be the best you can be and follow these principles: Self-respect – be aware and conscious of your actions and deeds to be a credit to yourself and your family. Commitment – be 100 per cent committed to whatever you do and go the extra mile if you want to succeed. Work ethic – your dealings with everyone must always be ethical as short-cuts or a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude will never take you far. Vision – have a vision for what you would like to achieve. Without vision we are like a headless chicken unable to find our goal. Empathy – Always empathise with others and try to appreciate their point of view or situation. 27

Alumni Community

What it means to be Students' Union President M

y name is Kat Hackshaw. I am the Students' Union President. I'm also an alumna of the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism (Event Management 2017) and I sit on the Alumni Board. A lot of people ask me what exactly I do in my role as Students' Union President, so I’m going to fill you in on a few things I’ve been up to since I started in June. My most memorable day was Tuesday 10th July when I attended my first Board of Governors meeting. The Board of Governors are responsible for the strategic direction of the University, and I was meeting some really important people. So, as you can imagine, I was incredibly nervous. It was a long meeting and there was a lot to take in, but I got through it and had a really lovely welcome from the Board.

UWLSU winning union of the year 2018

Later that day, we had a meeting of the Students’ Union Trustee Board, the governing body of the SU. I was even more nervous of this because, as the SU president, I had to chair this meeting – something I'd never done before. Two weeks later, on the 25th and 26th July, I got to take part in the recent graduation ceremonies at Wembley stadium which included being part of the procession at the start and end of the graduation ceremony. It was so great to be a part of this special day for all the graduates and their families – and again I'd like to say huge congratulations to everyone who has just graduated #Classof2018. The following week, I was in Leeds for the National Union of Students (NUS) 28

NUS Students’ Unions Conference 2018

annual training event for new Sabbatical Officers called Lead and Change. The week focuses around what to expect from the year ahead, how we can make our goals come to life, and what we can learn from different unions across the country to help us create impact for our students. Not one day or week is the same. Some days I sit on boards to discuss strategy; others I’ll be out celebrating the achievements of our students; at other times I'm at conferences learning and meeting other people in the sector. But everything I do is focused on representing the student voice here at UWL, whether that’s within the University, the Union or at external events. ■

As a student Kat became involved in the Students' Union when she joined the netball team in her second year and subsequently joined the Freshers crew and worked in the SU Communications and Representation teams. In 2017/18 she became Vice President of Activities and Participation and was elected Union President for the current year, her second as a sabbatical officer. Her focus will be student mental health, the cost of living, removing barriers to success and helping BAME students overcome the challenges they face to achieve the best degree possible.

Alumni Community

â€œ everything I do is focused on representing the student voice here at UWL"

Alumni Community

Alumni Board I was particularly pleased to welcome so many Alumni to the event that took place at The House of Lords earlier this year. We made history that evening as it was the largest alumni event the University has ever hosted. It was so good to be able to meet alumni from other departments and feel a true sense of connection between the Schools and Colleges. Importantly, it was also a fun occasion.

As members of your Alumni Board, we endeavour to create exciting and attractive opportunities for you to remain connected with your University. We are always interested to know how you are getting on and how we can help or assist you. Graduation is not the end; it is the beginning of a new relationship with your University. Please keep in touch, either by attending events or just visiting campus. And don't forget to apply for an Alumni Card: amongst other things, it gives you access to our campus and enables you to use the library. I look forward to hearing from you and meeting more of you in the year ahead.

Alistair Telfer FIH (MBA â€™93) Chair, UWL Alumni Board

Alumni Community

Alumni Board members Alumni Board Chair

College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare

School of Human and Social Sciences

Alistair Telfer FIH MBA ’93 Secretary, Oxford and Cambridge Club

Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu DBE Emeritus Professor of Nursing, UWL and Author

Professor Zenobia Nadirshaw BSc (Hons) Psychology ’12 Clinical Psychologist

London College of Music

Laurence Llewellyn MMus Composition for Film & Television ’14

London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism

Kate Millington BA (Hons) Musical Theatre ’14 Fundraising, Development and Alumni Officer, Youth Music Theatre UK

School of Computing and Engineering

Paul Hendrick BSc (Hons) Computing and Information Systems ’11 Principal Software Engineer, Oracle

Gergana Nikolova MSc Advancing Practice ’14 Clinical Risk Midwife, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Andrew Pring BSc (Hons) Built Environment Construction Management ’15 Project Manager, Highways England

Wendy Bartlett MBE OND Catering Management ’79 Executive Chair, Bartlett Mitchell Ltd Contract Catering Services

Judith Cannon FIH HND Hotel Management ’68

London School of Film, Media and Design

The Claude Littner Business School

Debra Wootton BA (Hons) Digital Animation Specialist ’09 CEO and Founder, Webra Group Ltd

Tony Coad Diploma Management Studies ’72 Member UWLSU Trustee Board

School of Law and Criminology

Students' Union Rep

John Perry BA (Hons) Law ’74 Senior Partner, Palmers Solicitors

Kat Hackshaw BA (Hons) Event Management ’17 SU President

Helen Pidgeon LLB (Hons) ’93 Director, Helen Pidgeon Solicitors

UWL Alumni Board needs you! We are recruiting for new alumni board members who studied at UWL or our previous institutions in the following Schools/Colleges: The Claude Littner Business School; College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare; London School of Film, Media and Design; School

of Human and Social Sciences. We are looking for passionate, dedicated alumni with the time, skills and contacts to help us enhance the UWL alumni experience. To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to alumni@uwl.ac.uk by 31 December 2018. 31

Ways to get involved Whether you are a new graduate or studied with us some time ago, there are many ways for you to stay involved and play an active role in our alumni community.

k s

Attend events

Join us for networking receptions, dinners, lectures and careerfocused events and workshops. Our alumni events are a great way to network and keep-in touch with UWL. We can even help organise a reunion for you and your former classmates.

Give a donation

Make a transformative difference to a student by giving a regular or one-off donation towards a bursary fund, or by supporting an academic prize or special project.

Offer a student placement or internship Give your business an edge and benefit from access to our talented and skilled students.

Become a Graduate Mentor

Assist with student recruitment

j m a

Offer mentoring support to a student following in your footsteps, whilst also gaining experience and skills that you can add to your CV.

Talk to a prospective student at a careers fair, online or over the phone and inspire them to study at UWL. Provide an Alumni Profile for us to feature in marketing materials.

Support outreach activities

Volunteer with the Outreach Team and help to raise aspirations among young and mature learners from under-represented groups in the local community.

Share your expertise

Speak to current students or recent graduates and give them the benefit of your experience, whilst also gaining vital skills for your own professional development.

Recruit employees

Advertise vacancies to students and recent graduates for free through the Employment Services team.

Help us reconnect

Encourage your classmates to register their details with the Alumni Association, helping us to grow and strengthen our alumni network.

Find out more: alumni.uwl.ac.uk To donate to a scholarship or bursary fund: alumni.uwl.ac.uk/student-support

Alumni Community

UWL Alumni Success Adiel Mambara BA (Hons) Business Studies with Marketing, 2012 Adiel Mambara obtained his BA while working for Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) as Sales and Marketing Manager and took up his present position as Country Manager UK and Ireland in 2016. Passionate about the travel industry, he has also completed an MSc in Travel Business Leadership at Leeds Beckett University and was awarded Student of the Year by the UK Institute of Travel and Tourism in 2017. He is an Associate Staff Member at Leeds Beckett University, where he is also mentoring a student.

Why did you choose to study at UWL? I was working at Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) as a Senior Sales Executive and saw a degree in business and marketing as a way of elevating my career prospects. The part-time course meant I could get my degree in three years, the same amount of time as a full-time student. How do you think your time at UWL has impacted on you and your career? I noticed right away that I started to develop certain new skills: critical and analytical skills; report writing; how to look at things in a different way. I also increased my understanding of accounting, which I totally hated. But with the help of my lecturers and peers, I was able to turn a negative into a positive and began to like the subject. A human resources module helped me to understand better how to manage people, which has been a great help as I now manage a team of people from very diverse backgrounds. The research project was the icing on the cake because

I was able to adapt it to help some of the research that we do at work. If someone now asks me to put a project together from start to finish, I am able to do it because of the skills I developed at UWL. What is the proudest moment in your subsequent career? There are two, one academic and one professional. The academic one was getting the MSc in Travel Business Leadership because I was the only graduate of that programme in the country. That was really big for me and it was also recognised by the industry with an award from the Institute for Travel and Tourism. Professionally, it was becoming Country Manager of RBA. When I joined the company at a very junior level in 2006 I would never have imagined that I could become Country Manager. I am particularly proud of this because most overseas airlines have their Country Managers recruited from their home countries. I am also pleased that we have made a lot of progress, including launching non-stop flights to Brunei. M 33

Alumni Community

Any other highlights?

So what’s next for you?

I was part of the RBA team that won the Travel Media Innovative Campaign and Content of the Year Award at the inaugural Travel Media Awards in 2015. This was a collaborative social media campaign with partners iambassador and Good Relations to promote RBA and Brunei as the gateway to the island of Borneo. The campaign highlighted Borneo as the ideal honeymoon destination for UK newlyweds, with RBA as the airline of choice. This award was judged by the UK’s most influential travel industry figures and leading travel writers, and was selected over tough competition from other major travel and tourism brands.

We operate in a very competitive market so there are always challenges. From a UK perspective, my goal is to improve both the positioning of RBA and our profitability. A particular goal is to improve our Melbourne traffic and we want Melbourne to be our No. 1 destination in the world. And of course we must continue to improve customer experience and ensure every passenger feels appreciated and part of the Royal Brunei family.

I have also been involved in establishing strategic partnerships with destination tourist boards such as Ras Al Khaimah and Sabah Tourism, and in improving RBA’s market share to destinations such as Dubai and Melbourne, Australia.

More broadly, I want to get involved in making a contribution to topical issues. Delivering affordable expansion at Heathrow Airport is a big thing for all airlines: a modernised airspace will enable airlines to add new flights and offer good air connectivity, boosting the UK economy, while continuing to improve safety standards. Personally, I am looking towards studying for a part-time PhD. After my two degrees I feel sort of 'half built', but I have got the structure in place. I just have to decide on the specific topic and how I handle the challenge of fitting it in with my full-time job.

You're obviously very busy but you continue to give back to other students and your community – tell us more I have presented to second and thirdyear students at UWL's Claude Littner Business School to share my experience. I have been in their shoes and that means I can give them encouragement: I told them it may be a tough road but you should never give up. Within the tourism industry, I recently became a committee member of Foreign Airlines Association UK (FAAUK), the UK's leading networking association for foreign airline executives and I am a member of the Advisory Board of the Zimbabwe Achievers Award (ZAA) which recognises Zimbabweans who, against the odds, have raised the Zimbabwean flag high and done their country proud. And I also mentor a student who is pursuing an MSc in Travel Business Leadership from Leeds Beckett University. I am particularly pleased with this, as it demonstrates my willingness to support other students on their educational journey. ■

Loans of up to

Achieve more with a postgraduate degree

£10,609 available**

A Masters degree will enable you to: • Build on your current qualifications • Learn new and essential skills • Explore your passion for a particular field of study • Increase your network of contacts • Help you gain valuable insight into industries that you might not gain from the workplace alone Interested in discussing your future further? Contact our Student Recruitment Team directly to find out why so many graduates now have masters in mind.

Exclusive alumni discount

£1000

towards tuition fees for UWL graduates!*

student.recruitment@uwl.ac.uk 0800 036 8888 *£1,000 towards tuition fees for UWL graduates when joining a taught postgraduate course in 2019. **For further information, see: uwl.ac.uk/students/postgraduate/help-funding

The Graduate Outcomes survey is here You will be contacted 15 months after graduation by email or phone to be asked about your activities and views

Please keep your details updated:

alumni.uwl.ac.uk/register

For careers support:

uwl.ac.uk/careers

Alumni Community

Alumni Events

Alumni networking at the House of Lords reception

House of Lords hosts UWL Alumni More than 200 former students from around the world created an unforgettable occasion at the largest-ever gathering of UWL alumni. Guests from countries including the USA, Canada, Pakistan and Germany travelled to attend the event, which featured alumni from every decade since the 1960s. Attendees, including honorary graduates such as Dame Elizabeth Aninowu, enjoyed excellent hospitality and speeches, including one by Baroness Harris of Richmond who hosted the event. Baroness Harris is herself an alumna of the Acton Hotel and Catering School, now the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism. Baroness Harris said: "Everything I learnt there gave me everything I have become today. I learned confidence to go and do things. I will be forever grateful to my School." 36

Present at the occasion was BA Musical Theatre graduate Michael Dare. He praised UWL for the personal development opportunities he enjoyed as a student, saying: "They were some of the best years of my life. Being at the University was a lot of fun and I did things I thought I would never do. I wouldn’t be the man I am now without going there." BSc Nursing (Mental Health) graduate Josephine Bardi hailed the University for helping her achieve her ambitions, saying: "My course made me passionate about mental health nursing. If I hadn’t studied and got a First Class honour, I wouldn’t be doing what I am today."

Joining graduates at the event were UWL Chancellor Laurence Geller CBE, Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter John and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Woodman.

Alumni Community

Computing and Engineering dinner champions WinSTEM Breaking down barriers to women studying STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) was the focus of the keynote speech at the School of Computing and Engineering's Alumni Dinner on 27 June 2018. Professor Amir Alani, Executive Dean of the School, gave a presentation on women in engineering and technology, discussing how UWL can help to increase the number of women in these fields. Alumna Jasleen Maan also gave an impassioned impromptu speech about the importance of encouraging women to enter and thrive in STEM. Alumni jazz band entertaining guests

Gala celebrates 130 years of musical success Music professionals, former students and staff members past and present enjoyed a Gala Dinner to mark London College of Music’s (LCM) 130th anniversary in June. Seventy guests attended the celebration which featured a three-course meal in Pillars restaurant and live performances by current and former LCM students of jazz, opera, musical theatre and piano. Distinguished guests included honorary graduate John Cameron, the composer and arranger whose work includes the musical adaptation of the novel and film, Alfie. A performance by opera singer John Treleaven included a rousing version of

Also at the dinner was Pro-Chancellor Lord Faringdon, KCVO, after whom UWL’s new Faringdon Centre is named in honour of his generous support.

Nessun Dorma – the aria made famous by Luciano Pavarotti as the theme tune of the 1990 World Cup. David Henson, Associate Professor at LCM, said: "From the beginnings of LCM to the present day we have continued to develop and widen our expertise to engage with the needs of society. So it was appropriate that we were entertained by students from our Junior College, recent graduates, postgraduates and alumni, all of whose experiences illustrate the wonderful journey our students take after they've completed their studies."

Alumni enjoying the Computing and Engineering Dinner at Pillars

Alumni Community

Celebration and awards for Law and Criminology alumni

Alumni dinner at Lincoln's Inn

Successful alumni from the School of Law and Criminology (SLC) and the next generation of talented students rubbed shoulders at the School's tenth annual dinner, held by candlelight in the grand surroundings of Lincoln's Inn Old Hall, London, on 17 November. There were 90 alumni and guests in attendance, including a judge, two QCs and BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman. A highlight of the evening was a speech by UWL alumnus Harry Potter, a barrister, writer and broadcaster. Harry recalled defending a client named Martin Luther King in one courtroom, while in the court next door a defendant named Gandhi was on trial!

Andreas Antona provides Michelin quality dinner A sumptuous dinner created by students under the guidance of a Michelin-starred chef was enjoyed by guests at the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourismâ€™s (LGCHT) fifth annual alumni dinner.

Noted restaurateur Andreas Antona and his team from Simpsons Restaurant in Birmingham oversaw the creation of an outstanding four-course meal for a celebratory event in the University's

Andreas Antona (c) with UWL Vice-Chancellor (l) and Chancellor (r)

awarding-winning Pillars Restaurant. The evening was an opportunity for members of LGCHT's valued alumni community to renew acquaintances and was also part of a year-long series of events marking the 70th anniversary of the Collegeâ€™s foundation. Andreas spoke movingly about his own experience of studying at the College and how it prepared him for his successful career, which has spanned several countries and has seen him win multiple awards. Among the guests was Laurence Geller CBE after whom the College was named in 2011. Nicola Conway, Alumni Relations Manager, said: "Chef Andreas Antona and his team inspired our Culinary Arts students, who learned so much by working under the direction of a Michelin-starred expert practitioner."

Alumni Community

Alumni Survey Results We had a terrific response to our alumni survey this May. Thanks to all of you who took the time to give us your feedback. The UWL Alumni team are here to support you, so knowing what you want from us is vital. Your feedback has helped us immensely and as a result we are planning a new alumni relations strategy focused on networking, careers and professional development support. Almost 1,000 of you responded to the survey, here's what you told us:

Top 5 respondents by School/College:

The Claude Littner Business School

College of Nursing, Midwifery and Health

London College of Music

Careers/professional development workshops

47%

Webinars

43%

Special interest groups

42%

Business/start-up support

27%

Alumni mentoring

London School of Film, Media and Design

79%

The top services we should provide:

54%

London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism

surveyed live in the UK

67%

Your preferred events and activities:

50%

Social/networking events in central London

45%

Networking events at UWL Ealing campus

39%

Online webinars

30%

CPD workshops at UWL campuses

of those in the UK are within 25 miles of the UWL Ealing campus

Many of you would like to volunteer by: Mentoring a student/graduate online:

Speaking to a group of students or alumni:

You are happy to be contacted by:

Providing a career profile:

Post: 61%

Phone: 29%

32%

31%

Speaking to a prospective student:

Email: 94%

36%

29%

Mentoring a student/graduate face to face:

28% 39

Alumni Community

Five minutes with... Fay Sharpe One of the founder shareholders of Zibrant (acquired by BCD M&E 2016) and now Vice President of BCD M&E, one of the largest global MICE agencies, Fay has over 30 years’ experience working in the hotels, hospitality, event management and venue sourcing arena. She is also a CSR champion and women’s advocate. Fay has won numerous awards: M&IT Personality of the year 2018; Mentor of the Year – Shine Awards; HOT 50 awards Event Hero; UKCEM Industry Leader 2016; Executive PA's Boss of the Year; and the First Women of Tourism & Leisure award. In 2015 Fay launched the Fast Forward 15 Women’s mentoring initiative, whose members include corporate, agency, government and regulatory bodies. In 2018, Fay received the Mentor of the Year award and an Honorary Doctorate from UWL for her services to the sector. Among her charitable interests, she is Chair of Trustees of the Muscle Help Foundation. What is your most prized possession? Peanut my Cockapoo pup; he loves me unconditionally and is great motivation to go walking and keep fit – he reminds me ‘love’ is all you need.

Where do you most like to spend time? And why? Home – I travel a lot so when I am home it’s lovely to relax. I’m lucky to live in the country so I have lots of great walks right on my doorstep. What was the last book you read? The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, it’s about the law of attraction and positivity. I look at it most days. Positive people attract positive things. What or who makes you laugh out loud? Michael McIntyre – we watched a box set recently and I find a lot of his material is just like real life: the sketches about man drawers and women at the end of their tether are just hilarious. What’s your idea of the perfect day? A lie-in with the kids bringing me tea in bed, the house is spotlessly clean, and all my jobs done. I’m transported to a spa for a yoga class followed by a body massage. Or a beautiful Greek island on a beach side terrace, some Greek salad and wine and the afternoon spent swimming and sunbathing with my best friends. The evening spent dancing with men who look

like Robert Downey Junior, girls midnight swim and bed for beauty sleep! What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in life? There’s only one person that can change your life and that’s you! That’s why goals are so important so is getting on with it and always believing in yourself – whatever! What do you love most about your job? The people! Even though BCD M&E is a big company we’ve created a culture that underpins everything we do. There's a lot of teamwork and collaboration; it's a great team and fun! What would you have liked to have done if you hadn’t taken this career path? Probably been an actress in a hollywood blockbuster, think Scarlett Johanssen meets Kate Winslet! Three words to describe yourself? Determined, tenacious and passionate. What would be the title of your biography? 50 shades of Fay If you could invent something, what would it be? A way to get my children off their mobile phones for more than 30 minutes and a pill you could take that would make you instantly a size 8 and toned! Who or what inspires you? Life inspires me. What has been your proudest achievement? My children, seeing them grow, be happy and successful is the most important thing in the world. Getting an honorary doctorate was pretty cool too! What advice would you give to UWL graduates? Believe in yourself. Set goals. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. You can change the goal posts, but winners don’t give up!

Alumni Community

Upcoming Events Details of all alumni events and public lectures can be seen at alumni.uwl.ac.uk

Ealing Vintage Lunch Thursday 15 November 2018, 11.45am for 12.15pm Pillars restaurant, UWL, St Mary’s Rd, Ealing, London W5 5RF Join us for the vintage lunch 2018 to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the foundation of Ealing and Acton Hotel School, now known as the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism. All past staff and hospitality alumni from 1948 to 1974 are warmly invited to attend this special event.

Victor Ceserani Lecture The impact of Brexit on the wider hospitality and food industry Tuesday 5 February 2019 In the third lecture in the Victor Ceserani Lecture Series, kindly supported by Bidfood, the renowned behavioural economist Roger Martin-Fagg will shed light on the status of the hospitality industry after Brexit. While a stellar industry panel will further explore this topic. Booking: details to be released shortly

Booking: alumni.uwl.ac.uk/vintagelunch18

School of Law and Criminology Dinner Wednesday 28 November 2018, 6.30–9.30pm Pillars restaurant, UWL, St Mary’s Rd, Ealing, London, W5 5RF

LGCHT 70 Anniversary Gala Celebration Friday 15 March 2019, time tbc Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, 2–24 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 4PT

Join us this November at the annual alumni dinner for the School of Law and Criminology (formerly Ealing Law School). Our guest speaker for the evening will be BBC Legal Correspondant, playwright and comedy writer, Clive Coleman. Law and Criminology alumni and their guests are welcome.

Join us to celebrate 70 years of the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism in the glamorous surroundings of the 5 star Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington. You will enjoy dinner cooked by Executive Chef, alumnus and honorary graduate, Steve Munkley and UWL students. This is set to be an evening never to forget. All alumni and their guests are welcome.

Booking: alumni.uwl.ac.uk/lawdinner2018

Booking: alumni.uwl.ac.uk/hospitality70

Malaysian dinner with guest Chef Zam Wednesday 30 January 2019, 6.30–10pm

Donors and Scholars Reception Tuesday 2 April 2019, 3-5pm

Pillars restaurant, UWL, St Mary’s Rd, Ealing, London, W5 5RF

Get warmed up this winter at an exclusive dinner with Malaysian celebrity chef, UWL graduate and Honorary Professor, Chef Zam. Chef Zam will take you on an unforgettable culinary adventure through Malaysian cuisine. All alumni and their guests are welcome.

The Annual Donors and Scholars Reception, in its ninth year, will be an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the University’s generous donors and talented students.

Booking: alumni.uwl.ac.uk/zam19

Booking: by invitation only

Mail Rail at the Postal Museum reception Wednesday 22 May 2019, 6.30–10.30pm Join us for the annual alumni celebration in one of London's newest and most exciting museums. Catch up with old friends, make new connections and enjoy a ride on the underground mail rail train! All alumni and their guests are welcome.

Details correct at the time of publication.

Booking: details to be released shortly

To ensure you receive your invitation to these or any other future events, please update your contact details at alumni.uwl.ac.uk/register

Office of Development and Alumni Relations University of West London St Mary’s Road Ealing London W5 5RF

+ 44 (0)20 8231 0188 alumni.uwl.ac.uk alumni@uwl.ac.uk UWL Alumni Association – Official Group UWLAlumniAssoc uwlalumni @UWLAlumni