WHT ANNUAL REPORT 2023

The

Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships & Leadership Programme

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

Annual Report

2022-2023

“George Weidenfeld reflected and represented things that are really important. And in practical terms, the consequence of that was the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme. We should reflect on his vision, a vision in which he comprehended that of course people’s individual identities, their religion, their ethnicity, matter. But what matters most, by far, is their sense of common humanity. We should remember him and also acknowledge André Hoffmann and other benefactors, including the University of Oxford, who ensured that his vision could be turned into reality.”

Lord Patten of Barnes Chancellor of the University of Oxford Speaking at the WHT 15th Anniversary Dinner

“

Beyond imparting knowledge and understanding, education for leadership means inspiring new ways of thinking that enable us to innovate and do things differently rather than repeating the mistakes of the past. At its core, the WHT democratizes educational opportunities by empowering the talented and hardworking students of today to create the world of tomorrow.”

Mr André Hoffmann Co-founder and Trustee, Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust

“

It’s been heart-warming to see how much this programme has developed over the past 15 years - from a good idea to an important and substantial scholarships and leadership programme recognised for its unique contribution both to the academic and cultural life of the University. For this, I want to thank our donors especially our co-founder André Hoffmann and the indefatigable Alexandra Henderson and her wonderful colleagues at the Trust who work tirelessly to give every cohort a special and lifechanging experience. This is an important opportunity for our alums to show leadership in their chosen fields.”

Mr Michael

Lewis

Chairman Trustees, Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust

Last week, I received a newsletter from a company that sells shower heads.

In gushing prose (pun intended), it extolled how the manufacturer’s “best-in-class product range was going to change the world of personal self-care FOREVER!”.

Imagine my disappointment to learn that this was as a result of a “revolutionary chrome showerhead with increased pressure of up to 15%!”. Wow. Just wow. Alert the press and hold the headlines. The problem is that newsletters are excruciatingly dull. The Oscar winners of literary monotony. Not as tedious as the back of detergent bottles but pretty damn close. It’s the tone more than anything. The self-congratulatory “let’s slap-ourselveson-the-back” smugness of it all. The overuse of words such as “strive”, “dedication” and “passion”. It’s very possible that you feel the same way about the literary masterpiece that you are currently reading. Feeling your life slowly ebb away as you read about the brilliance of the WHT students. How exceptionally generous the donors are. And how thrilling the Moral Philosophy course was in 2023. But to focus on these truisms would be to entirely miss the point.

Having helped the WHT since 2015, I’ve learned that we are all united by a mission that is far greater than its constituent parts. That however great the WHT Business Challenge may be (and it is peerless), our purpose is not only to make the world a better place but ensure its survival. When

16-year-old Greta Thunberg told a 2020 UK climate rally that “our house is still on fire”, we could scarcely have imagined that socalled “civilised” Europe would literally be in flames. Flames from climate change. Flames from the cannons of Russian and Ukrainian tanks. And the flames fanned by insidious culture wars.

Whilst the WHT Trust is an outstanding foundation block to effect world change, it is not - in itself - the answer. The answer is YOU. The solution is action. And the time is now.

So whatever your skill set, know this. That the future of the human race sits urgently and precariously in your hands. So pleasewhatever you do - stop reading this nonsense, get off your comfy chair and start working out how you are going to change the world for the better. No pressure!

Well, at least up to 15%...

Justin Gayner was a member of the WHT Advisory Board 2018-2023 and was instrumental in the creation, development, and success of the WHT Business Challenge and an inspirational mentor to scholar teams. He is an entrepreneur and investor, the CEO of Gayner Corp and former CEO and Founder of History Hit and Channel Flip.

INTRODUCTION

In a world where education and opportunities are not equally accessible, the WeidenfeldHoffmann Trust stands tall as a beacon of hope and change. The WHT’s journey began fifteen years ago when two visionaries, George Weidenfeld and André Hoffmann, merged their passions for education, sustainability and social change.

Their shared vision was simple yet profound: to provide exceptional graduate scholars from around the world with a first-rate education at the University of Oxford. Equipped with their Oxford diploma and trained in WHT’s rigorous Leadership Programme, WHT scholars are prepared to become change-makers and bridge-builders in their communities—and by extension, the world.

A decade and a half later, the WeidenfeldHoffmann Trust is home to the largest philanthropic scholarship supported by the University of Oxford.

The Trust has transformed the lives of 382 scholars from 91 countries, completing 78 graduate courses in subjects critical for the world’s transition towards sustainable, inclusive prosperity for all. From empowering marginalised communities and healthcare initiatives to tackling environmental issues and promoting sustainable practices, the Trust’s alums have become catalysts for the systemic transformation of society everywhere from Lima to Beijing.

It is, therefore, with great joy and reverence

Nadja Skaljic

that in 2023 we mark the 15th Anniversary of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust with several celebrations.

On this happy occasion, our trustees and advisory board members can announce that the Weidenfeld-Hoffman Trust will continue awarding 30 graduate scholarships to extraordinary individuals from most of the world for as long as the University of Oxford stands—in perpetuity. As a WHT board member and alumna, I could not be prouder of this legacy and its future promise.

The world is yet again at a critical juncture: wars, pandemics, climate emergency, and new economic and political unrest. I invite you to join me in supporting the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust as it paves the way for inclusive prosperity within planetary boundaries, a world in which we bet on everybody’s humanity—yours, mine and that of future generations to come.

Nadja Skaljic (Magister Juris, 2013) has been a WHT board member since 2020, representing the alums. She is a practicing international lawyer, based in Switzerland. Among other contributions, Nadja has helped integrate the WHT more closely with the healthcare company Roche Holding, where our scholars now enjoy valuable training and employment opportunities.

Natasha Treunen

Hope Scholar

Kenya (Stateless before coming to Oxford)

MSc Refugee and Forced Migration Studies

Worcester College

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann-Abraham/Rausing

“

Sometimes your life flashes through your eyes- I still have to pinch myself and say I’m not dreaming because if I look back to 20 years ago when a lot of things changed in my and my mother’s lives, I never would have imagined that so much could have changed by now. My love for education is why I’m here now, why I’m at Oxford. I think education for me was always the hope.”

DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW

The Oxford Experience 2022-2023

This year has been dominated by celebrations for our 15th anniversary and our initiative to raise funds for our Hope scholars - young people who through no fault of their own find themselves outside their home country.

Our anniversary was a chance for many of our alums to connect and reconnect, but it was also a time to celebrate how far we have come in a short time to bring almost 400 people to a world class university and give them a chance to have an ‘Oxford experience’.

In fact, this year’s cohort chose that as the theme of their yearbook- and it is interesting to look through the pages and see what it has meant to 33 young people from 24 different countries.

They all comment on the unexpected and close friendships they have made through this tightknit community coming together regularly for the Leadership Programme events to talk moral philosophy or pool their talents in the business workshops or to comment on each other’s performance on camera or in debate.

Lord Weidenfeld, who had himself had to flee his home country before the war valued his huge range of friends very highly and always spoke of the need to listen to others even if they represented views he didn’t see eye to eye with. So, for example, it has been important this year to include in the cohort two Ukrainian refugees alongside two Russians who had to flee their country for fear of political reprisal. We have also been able to provide a safe space for our Afghan scholar and our young African student who arrived as a stateless person, again through no fault of her own. And thanks to generous donations from our supporters including the Sigrid Rausing Trust and Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Younger Family Fund and Grow @ Annenberg as well as Worcester and Mansfield, two of our wonderful partner colleges, we will take

DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW

in 8 more Hope scholars in the next cohort and continue to raise funds to help more over the years to come. It is also very welcome news that Oxford University has received Sanctuary status.

It has definitely been a year of anniversaries- last September we had a very jolly tea party with around thirty alums who had come back to take part in the 10th anniversary celebrations for the Blavatnik School of Government. Lord Weidenfeld was instrumental in coming up with the idea for this institution, and we are proud to continue this friendship through our partnership with the school and we work hard together, thanks to Richenda Gambles and her team, to award around 6 scholarships a year to budding MPP scholars who are always kept super busy bouncing between their academic work and the demands of our Leadership Programme.

A group of alums and I also celebrated another anniversary in Paris earlier this year - it was the 10th anniversary of the Louis Dreyfus Foundation, and they held a lovely event to showcase all the projects they have been funding over these years. Thanks to the generosity of Margarita Louis-Dreyfus we have been fortunate in being able to take in 92 Louis Dreyfus Scholars and in recent years the students

have also benefited from internships at some of the Foundation’s projects in the countries where they are active. We very much hope to continue this partnership in the future.

Some other highlights of the year have been:

At our welcome weekend, when we revelled in the beauty of Worcester College and the college’s kindness and hospitality- we were joined by two alums, Shabana Basij-Rasikh from Afghanistan and Oksana Matiyash from Ukraine both making us aware of the pain caused to them and their

WHT alums with Margarita Louis-Dreyfus at the LDF 10th anniversary event

WHT MPP scholars and alums at the Blavatnik School of Government 10th anniversary celebration

countries but showing incredible resilience and a total determination not to give up and shaping their case work on finding ways to educate their young people in whatever way they can.

At our business workshops we had some inspiring speakers to guide our students around this world which for many was truly ‘foreign’- these included Amer Baroudi (co-founder & CEO at Masref), Harriet Lester (Founder and CEO of VITAEGUM), Charles Wyn-Davies (Founder and Director of Marketing Yeah!)

edge of Windsor Great Park was a special way to end the academic year- in spite of inclement weather, everyone remained upbeat and the talent show which was instigated by a previous cohort threw up a special treat this year in the shape of a Chinese violin or Erhu played by Yiyuan Qin (one of the scholars supported by the Hualan Foundation and Karl Yin) I found it so remarkable that I wanted to share it with our 100 dinner guests on our last evening - I also recorded it and hope you can find it here: https://youtu.be/O0DHLrMaT6k It is a piece about horses.

And last but not least Sir John Timpson engaged us all with his particular take on leadership which was essentially simple and important advice for our young leaders: be kind and delegate.

Another highlight was the student led debate in the chamber of the Oxford Union. The motion was “This house believes that acting on the climate crisis is the responsibility of developed nations only.” Both sides put up extremely powerful arguments and in the end the opposition team won. Our time together at Cumberland Lodge on the

And of course, the final highlights were the two events to celebrate the WHT’s first 15 years. André Hoffmann, our generous and spirited cofounder joined around 40 alums and many more benefactors and friends in the beautiful garden of our supporters Sigrid Rausing and Eric Abraham at

DIRECTOR’S OVERVIEW

their home in London. We heard from André and alums and also from one of George Weidenfeld’s great friends, the chairman of Axel Springer, Mathias Doepfner and I felt by the end that the only person missing was George himself since he would have loved it - as always, the only problem was how to persuade the guests to leave!

decade - I have enjoyed getting to know so many fascinating young people and I appreciate the University working with us to bring this programme into their fold. I am aware it hasn’t always been easy, and I appreciate the patience particularly of the team in Fees and Funding (working with Nicola Cooper-Harvey and Jenny Roberts) and the pro Vice Chancellor, Martin Williams and Oxford’s Chief Development Officer, Liesl Elder.

As we begin work to plan the next fifteen years, we are very pleased that St Antony’s will be joining us as a new partner college as of next year. We are also looking for new faces on our advisory board, new trustees and as always new sponsors so please feel free to be in touch with any suggestions.

The final evening of this term was also another chance for alums to join us for the second 15th anniversary evening - this time a seated dinner for over 100 - I have to say I won’t be doing another seating plan in a hurry but it was a very warm occasion and a chance for many alums to return to Oxford and link up with friends old and new. We were also very lucky that the Chancellor, Chris Patten, was able to join us and with his words bring us all together and show how this scholarship which began as one of George’s many ideas has now become part of the tapestry of this amazing University.

In conclusion, I would say that I feel very privileged to have stewarded this programme over the past

In the meantime, I want to thank the home team of Eman Hamdan and Mark Younger on the Business challenge, Stephen Wright and Sarah von Billerbeck and others on Moral Philosophy duties and Chuchu Chen and Jane Baldwin for holding everything together.

On behalf of everyone at WHT, we thank you for supporting us, may you have a peaceful and good summer.

Best wishes,

Fahira Anwar Pakistan MBA

“I have often wondered why the WHT considered me worthy of this huge investment of time and money. After being part of this programme and meeting other alumni, I think I have an idea why that was so: WHT does not look for perfection; it looks for authenticity. It doesn’t only see your list of accomplishments; It also takes into account your struggles. It doesn’t only consider excellence; It values passion too. I guess it was because of this that the organisation decided to open the door to such a massive opportunity for me. I am honoured to be a part of this distinguished scholarship programme. I hope I am able to make it count. I also hope I get to pay back the kindness and generosity I have received through WHT and also pay it forward.”

Keble College, Alan Chesters Scholarship Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann-Saïd/Lewis

382 Scholars | 91 Countries

68

27 SCHOLARS SCHOLARS

SCHOLARS

SCHOLARS

Alumni Survey 2023

We asked our alums for updates, and ideas to mark this year’s important milestone and strengthen the network for the future. 40% of alums got back to us with offers to host get-togethers in person and online and shared their professional and personal news - career

advancement and recognition, marriages and new babies and babies now teenagers. The WHT family is growing in size and reach – in their home countries, regions or internationally our alumni are dedicated to making a difference.

“ I switched from a career in research to one in public service. I am now an officer in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), currently serving as the sub-divisional magistrate for development activities in an area with a population of >1 million. I have helped set up the first wastewater surveillance programme and am attempting a digital transformation of 4,500 government pre-schools to deliver interactive educational content over WhatsApp ”

Sarthak Agrawal, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India (MPhil Economics, India, 2019)

“Being offered the chance to serve on the board of the Climate Justice Resilience Fund (CJRF) as a result of my time at Oxford has been a major achievement for me. As a grassroots development worker for the NGO Uttaran, it is an honour to be one of the few from a developing country to sit on the board of a donor organisation enabling organisations to adapt to climate change and address issues of loss and damage.”

Zahid Shashoto, Bangladesh

(MSc Environmental Change & Management, Bangladesh, 2021)

Our Alum Shabana Basij-Rasikh, (Afghanistan, MPP, 2019-2020) kept in touch this year sharing news on the progress of the girls and inspirational plans for the future of SOLA the School of Leadership Afghanistan that she co-founded in Kabul and re-founded in Rwanda after fleeing the Taliban in 2021. A documentary - The Girls of Sola – daring to educate Afghanistan’s Girls was made for CBS 60 minutes to tell this amazing story of hope to a global audience. You can watch here: https://youtu.be/jkO0DGehXvo

Shabana was also awarded the 2023 ROLEX National Geographic Explorer of the Year Award in recognition of her important contribution to Afghan girls’ education.

“

Since 2022 I have been the Deputy Head of the Political Affairs Division of the Netherlands Permanent Mission to the United Nations. In the last 10 years I have lived in five different countries: UK, Netherlands, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia (Yemen) , and USA. In 2020 I published a book based on my PhD- Transitional Justice in Peacebuilding Actor Contingent and Malleable-Justice ”

Djeyhoun Ostowar, New York, USA (MPhil International Relations, Afghanistan,2012)

“ I am a Research Associate at the Institute of Criminology and Assistant Professor at the University of Ljubljana. I feel most deserving of the Weidenfeld badge when interacting with professionals in my areas of expertise. I have thus been part of recent reforms setting up the probation service, redefining rape, and other sexual offenses, seeking for more consistency in sentencing and redesigning the criminal justice response to juvenile delinquency. ”

Mojca M Plesnicar Ljubljana, Slovenia (MSc Criminal Justice & Criminology, Slovenia, 2010)

“Because of my work in protected areas, I was elected to the board of the Natura 2000 Federation, an organization that brings together the most active environmental NGOs in Romania. A year ago, I was nominated for State Secretary for the Ministry of Environment ”

Andrei - Robert Ac, Oradea, Romania (MSc Environmental Change & Management, Romania, 2014)

“

I work for an INGO called IsraAID, being promoted to the global head of our long-term programmes and missions has been exciting, enabling me to be involved much more in strategic thinking of our work and operations. We currently work in Africa, LAC, Asia, and I will soon further be taking direct oversight of our work in relation to the war in Ukraine ”

Michal Strahilevitz, Israel (MSc International Human Rights Law, Israel, 2010)

ALUMNI IMPACT

“ I am now Associate Director at The Power of Nutrition, a grant making Foundation that aims at improving nutrition outcomes among women of reproductive age and children in Asia and Africa. I oversee our programmes and partnerships in Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. ”

Jeffrey Muhiyeni Misomali, Cambridge, UK, (MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Malawi, 2017)

“In 2022 I was promoted to Project Leader at Delivery Associates, Global Public Sector Consulting Firm and started co-leading the Latin America and Caribbean region and practice. I am currently working with Bloomberg Philanthropies to replicate evidence-based policy innovations on digital transformation, childhood obesity, community-based microlending, and road safety across +300 cities internationally.”

Antonio Beun (Kyore), Mexico City, Mexico (MPP, Argentina, 2018)

“I moved to the Gambia to work on the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) project, where I am supporting the Ministry of Agriculture’s PMU on the Regional Rice Value Chain Development Project. In a country where Agriculture is one of the primary sources of livelihood, I am excited about this opportunity and the impact it will create in transforming the lives of smallholder farmers, the private sector, and the country as a whole. ”

“ I am currently heading the Professional Development & School Improvement department at Beaconhouse School System I am initiating a student incubator - ‘Spark Tank’ for students of class 5 and above to promote entrepreneurial skills; it will be the first of its kind in Pakistan. In 2021 I published Navigating Pakistan’s Educational Landscape-roadblocks, detours, and crossroads.”

Scherezade Tarar, Lahore, Pakistan (MPP, Pakistan, 2018)

Wilsona Jalloh, Gambia (MPP, Sierra Leone, 2021)

ALUMNI IMPACT

“Currently, I am the WASH Specialist for UNICEF I also support Disaster Risk Reduction in response to emergencies like the recent earthquake in November 2022. I am happy to say that I have also recently contributed to publications on flood risk management in Zimbabwe and a modelling study of the cost of achieving WASH services in the 46 UN designated least developed countries. ”

“ I am Regional Head of the Mixed Migration Centre in Eastern and Southern Africa, Egypt and Yemen and Co-Founder of the Conflict and Education Learning Laboratory. In 2020 I published a monograph Student Migrant, Refugee or Both? Exploring refugee agency and mobility through tertiary education in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda ”

“ I am an Innovation and Development Manager supplying the water and sanitation services for a population over 1.1 million people in the Mexican Caribbean. I have also started up an engineering consultancy Aleaingenieria and I am looking for potential business partners to form a professional global network for the water-energy nexus. ”

Rodolfo Salvador, Cancun Mexico (MSc Water Science, Policy & Management, 2015)

Ayla

Kenya (MSc Forced Migration, USA, 2010)

“ In 2020 I founded Shiso, an intersectional equity consulting firm. I am honoured to work with companies and organizations internationally that seek to improve their social impact and advance human and civil rights. I’ve had the honour of speaking at the World Bank, creating frameworks and initiatives for Color of Change, contributing to a report for Google, since starting my company. ”

Aerica Shimizu Banks, New York, USA, (MSc Nature, Society & Environmental Policy, USA, 2013)

“ I have been back to work for the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) since late 2021 after a 9-month break due to challenges being able to acquire a valid work permit to start our own conservation venture in Namibia. Since 2020 I have been part of three scientific publications at the Cheetah Conservation Fund. ”

Carolina Torres, Namibia (MSc Biodiversity Conservation & Management, Colombia, 2017)

Bonfiglio, Nairobi,

Abigail Tevera, Solomon Islands MSc Water Science, Policy & Management, Zimbabwe, 2017)

Alumni Reconnect

80 alums came together in London and Oxford to celebrate the 15th anniversary. More opportunities to connect are planned for the future in person and online. The new WHT community created via Telegram aims to make real time networking and support easier and already has 150 users and growing.

“

As we look forward to the next 15 years, I am sure WHT will remain a melting pot of unwavering curiosity for understanding and innovation for life beyond Oxford—unifying bonds of friendship with mentors and peers who will be a constant source of inspiration.”

Head of the Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia; Consultant Infectious Diseases & General Internal Medicine Elected Fellow of the Royal College of Physician (Edinburgh) in 2023 (MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Malaysia, 2020)

“

Thinking back to exactly 15 years ago, when I first met George Weidenfeld at the selection for the 2008 cohort, he spoke to us about how important it is to bring different people, different minds together and give them opportunity to think together about some of the most challenging questions. And that spirit of civic commitment and entrepreneurship is worth celebrating – I have no doubt that there will be many more of us and more reasons to celebrate in years to come!”

Cvete Koneska

Director and Head of Advisory at Dragonfly Intelligence, Ethnic Conflict: Policymaking in Post-Conflict Macedonia & Bosnia and Herzegovina (DPhil Politics, Macedonia, 2009)

“

In 2022, as I found myself in exile in London, grieving the loss of my homeland and the restrictions imposed on Afghan women and girls, one of my peers from the scholarship was among the first to visit me, providing much-needed emotional support. These acts of solidarity and camaraderie are a testament to the lasting bonds forged through the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship. Its impact on my life will continue for years and decades to come.”

Shaharzad Akbar

Executive Director, Rawadari a human rights NGO. Formerly Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (MPhil Development Studies, Afghanistan, 2011)

Giri Shan Rajahram

André Hoffmann chatting with Lizaveta Trakhalina and Débora Leão

Sigrid Rausing (event host and WHT Supporter)

Cvete Koneska, Ben Barnett (WHT Advisory Board member), Laura Barnett (Lord Weidenfeld’s daughter)

André Hoffmann, Eric Abraham (event host and WHT Advisory Board member)

Atherton Mutombwera, Hosh Ibrahim

Martin Williams (Oxford Pro VC Education), EJ MilnerGulland (Oxford Prof of Biodiversity), Matthew de la Hey

Matthew de la Hey, Wendy Appelbaum

Jenny Spence, Michael Spence (UCL President & Provost), Giles Strachan (former WHT staff)

Nina Coad (WHT Advisory Board member), Alina Barnett (WHT Trustee)

Olivia Tienin, Tess McCormick (Mansfield College), Valery Otieno

Oliver Hicks (WHT Business Challenge panellist), Faith Odero

Ina Zharkevich, George Robinson (WHT Supporter), Cvete Koneska

Pratik Datta, Fatima Airan

Alejandro Biondi Rodriguez, Pashtoon Atif, Dana Qarout, Laura Aristizabal

WHT Alum group selfie with Alexandra Henderson and André Hoffmann

Juan Beltran, Levent Tuzun

Ugochukwu Ezeh, Ankita Nawalakha, Kapil Yadav, Nikhil D’Souza

CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

WHT Sports Challenge winners Max Zhurilo, Annelisse Escobar, José Cabrejos Portocarrero

Nameerah Khan, Jeffery Misomali, Fariha Anwar

Samuel Dhol Ayuen, Irene Nampewo, Amal Elfatih

Valeria Colunga, Jing Wei Ang

WHT Alum group photo with Alexandra Henderson

Natalia Brigagão, Reka Kassay-Farkas, Irina Fedorenko, Maria Mercedes Kuri

Vilija Vėlyvytė, Alejandro Biondi Rodriguez, Lana Pasic, Simant Verma

Danilo Angulo-Molina, Kimberley Kudwoli, Farai Mzungu

Su Zun Mon, Charles Wyn-Davies (WHT Business Challenge panellist), Atherton Mutombwera

Denys Karlovskyi, Reka Kassay-Farkas

Luisa Isaza Ibarra, Melissa Felipe, Camila Arretche

Luisa Isaza Ibarra, Nameerah Khan

The Moral Philosophy Seminar

remains at the centre of the Leadership Programme. But what is it for?

Let’s start with a few things the Moral Philosophy Seminar isn’t about. It’s not about turning our scholars into philosophers, getting them to think certain things, or changing their views.

The world doesn’t need our scholars to be philosophers. The world needs them to be great doctors, lawyers, and diplomats – and there are probably too many philosophers already.

Getting the scholars to see a deep moral truth is way too ambitious. Most professional philosophers can’t do that, and they get to think about these issues for much longer.

Suppose half of the scholars were pro-democracy at the start of the year and half were against it. If they’ve all changed their minds at the end of the year, that’s also not obviously a success.

What the Moral Philosophy Seminar is really for is getting scholars to think about what matters most deeply. More importantly, it’s about helping them to do this for themselves going forward.

That involves challenging some of our most deeply-held assumptions. One of these is the belief that equality is the marker of a good society, which we looked at in one of our discussions.

Imagine a society where the worst-off actually do ok. They have access to reasonable schools, adequate housing, and decent healthcare. The question we were looking at is whether it matters how much better the elites in this society are. In other words, if there’s no absolute poverty, does it matter how rich the wealthiest are? A natural answer is that it doesn’t – this is a good society whether the best-off are 10, 100, or 1000 times

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

better off than the worst. But this challenges the idea that equality is important. Instead, what it seems to indicate is that what matters the most is poverty, not inequality. And that’s one example of the kind of thing that we looked at this year.

There’s also a close overlap between the Moral Philosophy Seminar and the Business Challenge. What’s the best way for a business to be a force for good in the world? Our discussion looks at three companies – drug manufacturer Pfizer, watch company Rolex, and social housing provider Civitas. Which is the best commercially and which is the best morally? Pfizer is responsible for arguably the most important development of the last few decades – the Covid-19 vaccine. But does this make

it a morally good organisation? Rolex generates a lot of cash, which it uses to support local causes in Geneva. But should it be using its money elsewhere? Civitas provides housing for vulnerable individuals. But is it any good from a business perspective?

In short, leaders need a moral compass to help them figure out what matters to them and what they think is important. The point of the Moral Philosophy Seminar is to help them develop this.

Dr Stephen Wright, WHT Academic Fellow

“

“ The best part of this session was reflecting on the different positions backed by real-life examples from our home countries and personal journeys. This brought to the fore that each of our viewpoints is valid for various reasons. It also proved that the best way to reach a consensus is to understand the reasoning behind a stance. As global leaders with different experiences, this is key to working together.”

I really enjoyed Moral Philosophy seminars, which gave us a wonderful opportunity to think about and discuss challenging and pressing issues in today’s world. It was really interesting to go from analysing through pre-readings and combining those insights with scholars’ perspectives and real-life experiences from various countries. These seminars fostered an appreciation of the value of bringing in and listening to different points of view and taking into account backgrounds and powers affecting our perspectives while also focusing on looking for solutions and common ground.” ”

Annatu Neina Abdulai Ghana, MBA, Mansfield College Kofi Annan Scholar, Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann-Saïd/Lewis

Rimma El Joueidi Ukraine, MPP, Hertford, Oxford-Weidenfeld and HoffmannAbraham/ Rausing

TheWhy Behind the Business Challenge

The Business Challenge has been integral to the WHT Leadership Programme for the past five years. As someone who had participated in many startup competitions before and experienced the transformative impact of learning business skills, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to join the leadership team this year alongside our venture adviser, Mark Younger. Being a Chevening alum myself, I found a connection with the WHT scholars who, like me, came to England for master’s studies. We shared a common aspiration – to build better career and life opportunities for ourselves and make a positive difference in our communities, countries, and the world.

Our mission for the Business Challenge was clear – we wanted to equip our scholars with essential business skills, not just to become business people, but for every aspect of life. From addressing problems to collaborating with a diverse team to finding solutions and confidently pitching business ventures, we aimed to empower them with the tools needed to navigate the complexities of the world of work beyond their time at Oxford.

Throughout the Business Challenge, scholars participated in workshops, mentorship sessions, and interactions with experts from diverse business domains. It all began with collaborative business

case studies during the welcome weekend. As the programme unfolded, they tackled challenges and developed their own venture ideas. Testing feasibility, viability, and desirability, they prepared business plans and pitch decks.

Empowering scholars to turn their business ideas into reality was one of the most rewarding aspects of the Business Challenge and also the most challenging. The spark of innovation in their eyes as they embarked on this entrepreneurial journey reminded me of my excitement when I started my first venture. Looking back on this year’s Business Challenge, I

“ The calibre of this year’s Business Challenge finalists was very high. I hope that their ideas become impactful and sustainable businesses. ”

Scholars during a dynamic team-building activity at the welcome weekend.

Precious Lunga

WHT Advisory Board Member, Epidemiologist and CEO/co-Founder of Baobab Circle

Driving Social Responsibility: An inspiring conversation with Sir John Timpson, a journey of trust, kindness, and second chances.

couldn’t help but feel amazed by the seven ventures the cohort came up with. Each one held a unique focus and mission, reflecting the passion and dedication of the scholars behind them.

Scholars immersing themselves in a design workshop during the welcome weekend.

For instance, E-cycle’s visionary venture advocating circular re-use of glass bottles strongly resonated with my commitment to sustainability. Gopya’s inspiring journey in promoting DIY skincare and ethical sourcing reminded me of the impact of conscious consumer choices.

Annelisse Escobar

Guatemala

MPP

St Edmund Hall Julius Baer Scholar, Chevening Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

“

The skills of the business challenge gave me a useful introduction to the further work I would be doing around innovation ecosystems during my summer placement at Oxentia. I now have a clearer perspective on the different stages that startups go through. ”

Oxford’s Entrepreneurs inspire and share their experiences with our Scholars. From left to right: Tristan Collins, CEO of gaitQ; Harriet Lester, Founder and CEO of Vitae Gum; Charles Wyn-Davies, Director at Group Yeah; and Nick Greenhalgh, Co-founder at Luca.

Sultana Tea’s innovative approach to crafting a unique offering from dried coffee cherry husks showcased their commitment to sustainability. Superhero Snacks which promoted healthier choices for children’s wellbeing warmed my heart.

Greener Impact’s groundbreaking initiative, connecting job seekers with climate and sustainabilityfocused employers, showcased the power of fostering a greener community. Bridger’s mission in “bridging” educational gaps resonated with my belief in the transformative power of education.

Finally, TreeFree’s revolutionary approach to sustainable papermaking aligned perfectly with our vision for a greener and more sustainable future.

In conclusion, the WHT Business Challenge has been a transformative experience for all of us. Together with Mark Younger and our enthusiastic participants, we championed the notion of “purpose-driven endeavours,” and nurtured the entrepreneurial spirit among all the participants.

Though the programme has ended, I am excited to see how these remarkable scholars will continue to create positive change and shape a brighter future. I look forward to the next year, and how we can leverage the invaluable lessons from this year’s programme to enhance the programme further.

“ I found the Business Challenge to be super helpful in expanding my understanding of the social-driven side of

more. ”

Julian Żelaznowski Poland MPP

Lincoln College, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholar Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann-Barnett

business, impact ventures, and

Eman Hamdan Business Challenge Lead

Sultana Tea Team was chosen as one of the 20 Startups to showcase their venture at an event organised by EnSpire.

E-cycle team members during a workshop, discussing team responsibilities and roles for their venture.

WHT Business Challenge final pitch with Dr Precious Lunga, WHT Advisory Board, Carolyn Hicks, Co-founder Brill Power, Charles Wyn-Davies, Director at Group Yeah, and Su Zun Mon, WHT Alum and business expert.

Treefree team’s participation in the ‘Pitch @ the Pub’ event, a quarterly gathering organised in Oxford to discover new and promising startups, spinouts, and social enterprises.

Embracing a Purpose-Driven Business: My Reflection on the Business Challenge

including but not limited to equitable allocation of water resources, economic principles reflecting diverse values of water, as well as accounting for political powers and interests at play.

Irina Gribanenkova MSc Water Science, Policy and Management Worcester College

I will not be caught exaggerating if I say that the WHT Leadership Programme is a distinctive scholarship, offering remarkable opportunities throughout your academic year at Oxford. WHT Scholars often proclaim, “By participating in WHT activities, I am pursuing a double master’s degree.” While at times this sentiment may be tinged with a touch of complaint due to the workload, the Scholars acknowledge the true value of these thoughtfully curated activities. Personally, I envision reaping the benefits of these experiences in the years to come. Let me share some highlights of my journey with the Business Challenge, a salient part of the WHT Leadership Programme.

If I had told myself a year ago that I would be participating in one of the most prestigious enterprising fairs in Oxford with my own start-up, I would have hardly believed myself. In a nutshell, this is what this year with the Business challenge has been for me – believing in myself and, more importantly, in my abilities. Let me tell you why and how!

WHY does the Business Challenge Empower You?

The WHT Leadership Programme puts together a diverse cohort of people, studying miscellaneous disciplines ranging from courses within the School of Geography and Environment and the Department of International Development to MBA and MPP programmes. What I have learned throughout this year, pursuing a degree in Water Science, Policy and Management, is that no matter how great you are in your discipline and how high your grades are, you will not achieve your goals unless you truly believe in yourself. In my experience, the area of water management is full of trade-offs creating decisionmaking amidst deep uncertainties, like climate change, conflict and other known and unknown unknowns of the Anthropocene. Hence, a decision maker responsible for water resources management needs to believe in a set of principles to ensure good governance is in place,

The same mindset is crucially important in a business environment, especially business that is seeking to make meaningful impact. The depth of your expertise and the preciseness of your calculations will not make your business successful – instead your business should start with an IDEA that you truly believe in, and the rest is an exciting journey and collaborative teamwork.

HOW does the Business Challenge Empower You?

That is exactly what the WHT Business Challenge team encouraged us to do – from day one we were put together in diverse teams and were supposed to come up with an idea for a sustainability-driven start-up. Our team members coming from different countries, including Afghanistan, Ghana, Guatemala, Peru, Russia, and South Africa, and from different work experiences and backgrounds agreed that we wanted to do something around sustainable production and consumption.

The design thinking phase was exhilarating and authentic, with everyone sharing their on-the-ground experiences. This led us to create “Sultana Tea,” a start-up addressing the issue of food waste generated in the coffee industry by transforming coffee husks into herbal tea. Our journey began by establishing a sustainability-driven mission and vision, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 12 – responsible consumption and production. We were driven by the opportunity to reduce carbon emissions, food waste, and toxins in water bodies and soil while providing health benefits through our superfood tea and maximising the value of coffee cherry for farmers.

Through various workshops, mentorship sessions, and interactions with experts from various business fields, we acquired the necessary skills to craft our final pitch and present it to our fellow Scholars at Cumberland Lodge. The feedback from the cohort was positive, and we were honoured to be chosen to present in front of the judges during the 15th Year Anniversary Dinner. Being recognised as the best team of the cohort solidified my belief in the power of a united team driven by shared beliefs.

I want to close by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Business Challenge team who put enormous effort into organising everything with the purpose of making WHT Scholars believe in what they are doing, which is the key to impact-driven business endeavours.

Business Challenge - what they did next

Zahid Shashoto

MSc

Environmental Change and Management, 2021

Hertford College

The drop project aims to ensure sustainable and equitable access to drinking water in challenging coastal regions of Bangladesh by employing low-carbon transportation methods to deliver water directly to people’s homes.

Zahid pitched the Drop project at the 17th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in May 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. The project won the category of best business case.

Martina Lejtreger

MPP, 2020

Green Templeton College

“Hace la fuerza” (Make strength) is a community of women professionals from Latin America that provides mentoring opportunities for female undergraduates in their transition to the workforce and to high school students in their transition to university.

The Hace la Fuerza venture was highlighted by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in his speech during his visit to Latin America.

Yawar Abbas

MSt

Diplomatic Studies, 2021

Keble College

Sustainversity offers students a platform to trade and exchange goods, promoting sustainability through second-hand markets, reduced food wastage, eco-friendly delivery, and affordable bike options.

The Sustainversity team has made a strategic decision to take the project forward. They have updated the website and are working on developing a new and innovative app.

WHT 2023 Annual Debate: A brief retelling of how and why I defended the Proposition

Valeria Colunga

Mexico

MSc Global Governance and Diplomacy

Worcester College

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

“Before the debate, the ‘Nayes’ had it. It was 15 for the ‘Ayes,’ 48 for the ‘Nayes.’ After the debate, the ‘Nayes’ still had it. It was 28 for the ‘Ayes’ and 75 for the ‘Nayes,” the debate Chairman said as I tried to process the number of votes and that the Proposition, my team, had lost.

When I applied for the WHT Scholarship, the Annual Debate was one of the activities from the Leadership Programme that I was the most excited about. I participated in more than twenty Model United Nations conferences throughout my middle school and high school years. While a different style of debate, I saw this event as a great opportunity to reconnect with one of the extracurricular activities that informed my decision to study a B.A. in International Relations.

Upon my arrival at the University of Oxford to read an MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy (GGD), I was instantly intrigued by the activities and culture of the Oxford Union. I did not imagine, however, that I would find myself debating in the Union’s historic chamber a few months later. The language, structure, cheeky jokes, and black-tie attire… these things took me by surprise as I tried to pay attention to the different speakers’ insightful comments on the world’s most pressing issues and controversial topics on the Union’s weekly debates.

I quickly signed up to participate as a debater for WHT’s annual event, not knowing whether I would be teaming up with the Proposition or the Opposition. Eventually, I received an email that revealed I would be the opening speaker for the Proposition. I took a moment to let that sink in as I stared at the names of my teammates and those of the Opposition. Then I realized I had just signed up to talk about a very controversial topic in a very public forum. “This House believes that acting on the climate crisis is the responsibility of developed nations only.” Did I believe that?

I decided that, while my own views would inform what I had to say on the debate, I would fully immerse myself into thinking like the Proposition. I would allow myself to explore how far I could take the argument within the limits of what I thought would be realistic if I were presenting such a proposition to decisionmakers. I was very self-aware of how political the topic was and that I had received an almost impossible task: convincing an audience (my very own fellow WHT Scholars and the WHT community) of reallife changemakers and defenders of multilateral cooperation that they, we, have been approaching the concept of international responsibility incorrectly.

“This is a ´Go Big or Go Home’ kind of scenario, we need to let aside our personal views on the topic and, instead, create a ‘debate character’ for ourselves that will allow us to defend this very contested topic”, I said to my team during our first preparatory meeting. This is one of the many ethical dilemmas diplomats face: having to defend views that you don’t necessarily (fully) share in the name of your country, organization, or community. I saw this debate as an educational opportunity to explore the tension between my personal views, the Proposition, and the Opposition within the limits of the task I had been given. I also

knew this was a point that my (and the other) team could use to weaken the arguments of the speakers from the other side.

On the day of the debate, I was not surprised when my very good friend, GGD classmate, and fellow WHT Scholar Danilo Angulo Molina pointed out during his speech certain contradictions between my professional work and my arguments for the Proposition. After all, I had done the very same thing in my opening speech when I individually introduced each of the speakers from the Opposition. That left me thinking throughout the rest of the debate, and even now as I write this blog, about the very real personal tensions and dilemmas in the diplomatic field.

I am a member of the Oxford Union; maybe that will change with time, maybe not. One of the conversations that I too often have with my college and department friends is the controversial history of the Union. I remember in Michaelmas one of my friends explained that he bought the membership because it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to meet and listen to world thought-leaders, but that he was not proud of being a member in an institution that has hosted speakers that have done or said ethicallywrongful things. I reflected on this, as I too had recently joined as a member. “Well, if we can’t have uncomfortable discussions with controversial people through educational institutions, then where are we supposed to have these conversations?” I asked.

We live in a globally interconnected, fast-moving society that sadly practices “cancel culture.” Yes, I am very self-aware of how controversial “cancel culture” is—there recently was a debate on this at the Union! Nonetheless, from my experience as an activist, international consultant, and (most recently) Mexican delegate for the Y20, I can say there are too many moving pieces, political interests, and personal conflicts behind any controversial speech or activity. Often, there is information that cannot be disclosed due to privacy reasons. Most importantly, the subjects we are cancelling are human beings with real feelings.

While I agree that there are exceptions—I refer to people that have done atrocious and wrongful things

to other human beings—I believe that everyone deserves the right to express themselves freely and learn from that. Listening to points of views that differ from our own allows us to learn and expand our understanding of other people’s worldviews in order to question why we think the way we think. That is precisely what I learned from this year’s WHT debate: there were more things than I imagined, from both Proposition and Opposition, that I agreed with or understood the rationale of.

So when it was announced that Proposition had lost and I looked at the benches behind me, where my GGD professor and classmates were seated, I was glad to know that none of them doubted my quality as a friend and professional. When I hugged my team and told them I was proud of them, I meant that. When I congratulated the Opposition and shook their hands, I was truly happy for them. And today as I thank WHT for this opportunity, I write that from the bottom of my heart. Because the world needs more safe, educational spaces to explore today’s most pressing issues, even if the conversations are challenging and make us uncomfortable. These teachings I will take with me to my academic and professional career as my time at the University of Oxford slowly comes to an end and I continue my work in the diplomatic field.

If you are curious to see how my team and I defended the Proposition, please scan the QR code for the WHT 2023 Annual Debate. Happy watching!

BUSINESS CHALLENGE CONFERENCES

COMMUNICATION SKILLS - DEBATE

MORAL PHILOSOPHY

Coming full circle

Jing Wei Ang

Singapore, MSc Global Governance and Diplomacy

Lincoln College, Sloane Robinson/Lincoln College

Graduate Scholarship

“This is the land of dreaming spires – where your wildest imagination comes to life, in more ways than you can possibly contend with.”

This is a quote from my mentor turned friend prior to my arrival (and admission) to Oxford, and indeed, Oxford did not disappoint. I had the privilege, through the scholarship, to embark upon multiple journeys and meet people from around the world, allowing me to understand diverse cultures and lived experiences.

The year of diverse conversations started with introductory sessions back in September of 2022, where we engaged issues of morality and entrepreneurship within the halls of Worcester College. Being immersed in an environment in which people from all over the world can navigate and discuss pressing problems, from poverty to climate change, in the same setting, is one that was not only intellectually stimulating, but moralistically intriguing. From conversations about geopolitical flashpoints from the home countries of peers from the scholarship and in the environment of Oxford, to differences in cuisine, diversity bonded us and yet ensured we obtained a richness of the human experience in ways I have not experienced prior.

Coming full circle, I ended my formal programme in Oxford with the WHT cohort, firstly with a retreat to Cumberland Lodge, and then a celebratory dinner in the Divinity School. Cumberland Lodge, a 17th-century

Jing Wei has won the Scholars Choice Award, voted by his cohort for having contributed the most to their overall Oxford experience. He has been the spark and the glue that has helped strengthen the WHT family.

country house situated within the Windsor Great Park, played host to moral philosophy seminars discussing the ethicality of businesses, pitches showcasing our past year’s efforts in creating enterprises meant for good, and evening walks to The Copper Horse while debating the likelihood of meeting deer along the way. The dinner at the Divinity School was to celebrate 15 years of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme, bringing together alumni from as far back as 2007, donors and partners who made the scholarship possible and of course, current scholars. Sprinkled throughout the events of all four days was a continuation of deep conversations ever present: From inspirational alumni who are fighting for justice in the ICC, to personal struggles experienced by scholars. In a pleasant turn, I also had the opportunity of a lifetime to converse with the Chancellor of Oxford, Lord Christopher Patten, about past experiences while working as a politician and civil servant, gleaning fascinating insights into many issues in geopolitics and in his life.

My reflections from Cumberland Lodge sum up my biggest takeaway from Oxford: The very peers around me – in the master’s programme of Global Governance and Diplomacy, at Lincoln College, and of course, in the Weidenfeld Hoffmann Scholarship and Leadership Programme, are beyond inspiring. Not because of their accolades and academic prowess, but their sheer will and determination to move the world forward amidst the odds. It became salient to me that it is not the dreaming spires and the past of the University that renders it a formidable institution, but the collective desires of generation upon generation that inhabits these spires seeking to spur positive change in the world.

People, Juxtapositions, Exchanges, and Endless Possibilities

Danilo Molina Colombia, MSc Global Governance and Diplomacy Trinity College

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann-Abraham/ Rausing

My favourite word in English is ineffable, which comes from the Latin ineffābilis. Ineffable refers to something that goes beyond what language can describe, which is exactly what Oxford is. However, as students, we are always encouraged to find knowledge gaps to fill and do our best to analyse and describe things. As a result, a word that comes close to what Oxford might be is Exchanges. Whether at a formal dinner, seminar, pub, café, classroom, or MCR event, Oxford is an exchange of ideas, experiences, aspirations, and discoveries.

These exchanges allowed me to think differently about moral philosophy issues. For example, in enlightening discussions during the Moral Philosophy component of the WHT Leadership Programme, we exchanged ideas on a diverse range of topics, from cosmopolitanism to the influence of social media. Often, these exchanges continued in the warm ambience of a pub or café, where we, as Scholars, challenged our preconceived notions, opening ourselves to alternative viewpoints. Similarly, the exchanges with classmates were equally thoughtprovoking, with many of them focusing on how emerging technologies can be used for crisis management and humanitarian endeavours in the diplomatic world. Such exchanges encouraged me to explore creative solutions for pressing global challenges and allowed me to understand the power of interconnecting diverse disciplines for the greater good.

Danilo was voted the WHT Scholar of the Year by his cohort, for having contributed to and participated the most in the WHT Leadership Programme activities this year. He is someone who actively participated, volunteered to lead WHT activities and was an all-around ambassador for WHT.

These exchanges also deepened my understanding of new fields I had not fully explored before. For example, during different MCR Showcases at my college, Trinity, my fellow college-mates and I exchanged our dissertation topics, and the significance behind these. From learning about the science behind what we dream about in neurology to the mesmerising art of translating dance into poetry, such exchanges allowed me to explore new fields at a deeper level, ultimately humanising academia. Similarly, the Enterprise Challenge component of the WHT Leadership Programme provided a fantastic opportunity for exchanging ideas, passions, and a shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. Within my group, for instance, we explored the revolutionary use of sugar cane paper as a sustainable alternative to traditional packaging. Such an exchange not only allowed me to deepen my understanding of business dynamics, but also allowed me to see how we can move forward and utilise the tools we have at our disposal for the greater good.

These exchanges at Oxford were characterised by an atmosphere full of endless possibilities that not only taught me and enabled me to grow, but also reminded me that it is up to me to transform such endless possibilities into reality, whether in the short or long term. Most importantly, these exchanges are made of people and treasures that make this place special. Oxford is full of exchanges that we will always cherish and reminisce about, and exchanges that have become immortalised in our minds, hearts, and souls.

Denys Karlovskyi Hope Scholar Ukraine

Oxford-Hoffmann

“My year in Oxford as a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholar enriched me greatly as well as stretched my abilities and limitations. Over this year, the warmth and support that the WHT family brought helped me stay afloat and keep going in times of hardship and strain. Oxford is truly a magical place, and the people make this magic work. My ambition is to make more gifted people who lack opportunity come to Oxford and get this opportunity to thrive personally and make their communities thrive globally. ”

MPP

Lincoln College, Sloane Robinson/Lincoln College Graduate Scholarship

BLOG Hope in a time of darkness

Max Zhurilo

Russia

MPP

Keble College, Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

Parallel to the sweeping invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government launched in February 2022 a comprehensive domestic operation aimed at curbing dissent and ruthlessly persecuting opposition-minded individuals. On the 24th of February, I took to social media, encouraging my friends to join an anti-war rally, and I found myself that evening in the heart of Moscow, brandishing a “No To War” placard. Over two thousand people were detained by the police that evening, and the protest was brutally suppressed. Just two days later, I received a notice of dismissal from the University where I had worked, and within another day, I was removed from all the public councils where I had a role. Both my employers and I were threatened, with them facing audits and me, potential arrest.

Becoming a refugee and being forced to leave my homeland were scenarios I had never contemplated. Yet, suddenly, my entire life was packed into a small travel suitcase. My pregnant wife and I were stripped of all the comforts we had known, our home, our country. Being a refugee proved to be challenging, both physically and mentally, more so when one is fleeing from Russia, a nation actively engaged in a war of aggression at that moment.

By March, while transitioning from the fourth to the fifth country of our escape, I received an offer from Oxford University for my dream programme - the Master of Public Policy. The news filled me with joy, and I was pleasantly surprised that Oxford had not turned away people from Russia. Being invited for an interview with WHT, I felt a glimmer of hope that attending

The cohort acknowledged Max as a marvellous mentor and appreciated his Sports Challenge- in this, he created a map of the 24 countries that this cohort came from and challenged everyone to travel through them in “sports miles”.

Oxford could become a reality, despite my difficult circumstances. And indeed, WHT made this dream come true, a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.

The WHT cohort and Oxford became a distinct and “neutral” haven for me. I had never been part of such a diverse community, where individuals from an array of backgrounds, even from countries in direct conflict, convened. The WHT friends showed me what the world can look like when people from different backgrounds engage, listen, and dismiss their fears of one another. It was an important lesson on the dangers of isolation and its contribution to misunderstandings among people and the role of communication in dispelling fear.

ON THE YEAR

I have never felt more at home and secure than at Oxford and amongst the WHT cohort that offered me hope. I am immensely grateful to WHT and the HOPE Fellowship for keeping their doors open and welcoming people from different nations, regardless of the country that issued their passport. After all, our birthplace or citizenship is not our choosing, but each of us has the power to shape the world we want to build and what we aim to contribute to it.

BLOG REFLECTIONS ON THE YEAR

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME SCHOLARS’ EXPERIENCE IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Speak Up, in a Tender but Powerful Way: My Story Behind the Erhu Performance at WHT’s 15th-Anniversary Dinner

ourselves in different tones and manners, some of whom are confident and outspoken while others could be tender yet still quite powerful.

Yiyuan Qin

China

MBA

Hertford College

Hualan-Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

On July 6th, WHT’s 15th-anniversary dinner at Divinity School, I had the opportunity to showcase Erhu (a Chinese traditional musical instrument) ’s charm to over 100 WHT scholars, alumni, and guests worldwide. This, in a surprising way, concluded my journey at WHT, alongside a question that I have spent the most time exploring at Oxford this year – “How to speak up?”

Speaking up is not easy, for an individual growing up in a conservative culture being exposed to an international setting for the first time. Speaking up is also challenging, for a country navigating its unprecedented geopolitical tension this decade. I do believe in the complexity of politics and history, and thus I listened quite carefully to everyone’s voice when they were discussing the ongoing tension from their country’s perspective. However, as a Chinese native with years of firsthand exposure to China’s political and economic environment, I couldn’t help but speak up for my home country since I saw significant misunderstandings on several vital topics. The question became: “How to speak up?”

WHT inspired me. If you participate in the moral philosophy seminar and enterprise challenge held by WHT, you’ll get to know how true diversity is achieved. Unlike most sessions elsewhere where dialogue is often dominated by eloquent groups and mainstream stakeholders, every scholar in this cohort is given the time, patience, and respect to share their thoughts on key challenges faced by our generation. Our scholars have diverse cultural backgrounds and thus express

This encouraged me to speak up with my own weapon. As a 20-year Erhu player, I founded the Oxford Chinese Orchestra with several Chinese students this January. At this WHT 15th-Anniversity Dinner, I played my favourite song, “Galloping Horses”. When guests from around the world came to me for congratulation and more knowledge about Erhu after my performance, I knew my efforts had paid off. My presence was small, but it worked. This is what WHT taught me: “Express your voice, in your own way”.

Being a WHT scholar has been an enormous blessing in my life. I would love to express my deepest gratitude to Weidenfeld Hoffmann Trust and my joint sponsor, Mr. Karl Yin, Chairman of Hualan Education Group. Throughout this year at Oxford, I often thought back to my interview for this scholarship. During my two interviews with WHT and Hualan, I was asked the same question: “What challenges did you identify in your sphere? And more importantly, how do you want to solve them?”

Standing at the crossroads of geopolitical tensions and financial unrest, I can be shocked, irritated, and helpless on some occasions. But the word “more importantly” often returned to my mind - “More importantly, how do you want to solve them?”

For me, the answer is clear - speak up, in a tender but powerful way.

Farai Mzungu

South Africa

MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation

Trinity College

Oxford Poem

In the land of dreams, a young African soul, Embarked on a journey to a distant goal, To Oxford’s embrace, she found her way, Where her aspirations would bloom and sway.

With heart ablaze, she stepped on hallowed ground, Where knowledge and wisdom beautifully abound, In the city of dreaming spires, she dared to roam, A tapestry of dreams she would make her own.

In Oxford’s halls, where echoes of the past reside, She found her voice and let her spirit guide, Her mind alight with knowledge’s gleam, She chased her dreams, a luminous beam.

From African plains to Oxford’s embrace, She bridged the worlds with grace and grace, In lecture halls and libraries, she thrived, Seeking truth and wisdom, to keep her dreams alive.

Yet, amidst the books and academic glee, She discovered friendships, a treasured decree, With fellow scholars from lands far and wide, Her bonds grew strong, side by side.

Together they laughed, together they cried, Through joy and heartache, side by side, Through shared dreams and passions aflame, Their spirits intertwined, forever the same.

Through late-night talks and heartfelt debates, They challenged perspectives, unlocked new gates, The tapestry of friendship grew rich and deep, As they supported each other, love did seep.

And as she treaded the path of her dreams, Her African spirit brightly gleams, For she dared to follow her heart’s decree, Living her dream, forever wild and free.

In Oxford’s embrace, her wings unfurled, Her story, a testament to a vibrant world, A young African soul, her spirit aflame, Living her dream, and forever she’ll claim.

Farai Mzungu

Louis Dreyfus-Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

Farai created this poem for her contribution to the WHT Yearbook.

Conferences for professional development

This year the Max Weidenfeld Travel Grant set up by the Eranda Rothschild Foundation in the name of George Weidenfeld’s father supported 9 scholars as delegates to COP15 in Canada, UN Water Conference 2023 in New York, Y20 Summit in India, the IBA War Crimes Conference in Amsterdam and on a fact-finding trek to the Palestinian territories.

Yitong Zhou

China

MJur

Mansfield College, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Oxford-Weidenfeld and HoffmannAbraham/ Rausing

“ The Vis Moot journey has undoubtedly played a significant role in facilitating my legal career in international dispute settlement. This invaluable opportunity to represent Oxford and stand before an international legal forum would not have been possible without the benevolent support of the Max-Weidenfeld Travel grant and the Weidenfeld Hoffmann Trust. Their generosity has not only fuelled my academic pursuits but has also paved the way for my personal growth and professional development, enabling me to take strides in the global legal landscape with confidence and poise. It is with immense gratitude that I acknowledge the instrumental role they have played in fostering my burgeoning legal career. ”

Luisa Isaza Ibarra

Colombia

MPP

Keble College, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholarship

Chevening-Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

“ Having this space to have an open and honest conversation about the current state of journalism and about even how we all struggle to find solutions is a good start to figuring out a way to use technology to aid the press. As a passionate advocate for free speech, I am deeply grateful to the Ditchley Foundation for providing a platform that enables individuals in my field to engage in meaningful discourse and collectively envision a brighter future for journalism. ”

Samia Mehraj

India Administered Kashmir

MPP

Mansfield College, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Oxford-Weidenfeld and HoffmannAbraham/ Rausing

“ The educational expedition took us as future leaders to historic locations in order to acquaint our work with how policies, governance, and life operate in conflict territories. All of this is incredibly relevant to my work where I want to bring together the government, civil societies NGOs to work towards common goals of development in Kashmir. ”

On 31 March 2023, Yitong participated in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (Vis Moot) in Vienna, representing the University of Oxford.

In December 2022, Luisa attended the Ditchley Conference with the topic “The New Fourth Estate: building a resilient 21stcentury information eco-system”, where she participated along with journalists, researchers, and other experts.

As part of a trek organised by MPP students at the Blavatnik School of Government, Samia was part of a team of 20 students on a 9-day trip to the historic cities in Palestine.

Melissa Felipe Cadillo

Peru

MSc Biodiversity, Conservation and Management

Mansfield College, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Oxford-Hoffmann

Attending the convention as part of the Oxford University delegation and as a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust scholar profoundly impacted my perspective on biodiversity conservation. Engaging with experts and delegates from diverse countries was a fantastic opportunity that provided valuable insights into conservation priorities across nations. However, it also sheds light on the concerning representation gap and the significant influence of political interests in global negotiations.

The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) took place from the 7th to the 19th of December 2022 in Montreal, Canada to discuss one of the most pressing environmental issues - The Biodiversity crisis. WHT scholars Melissa Felipe Cadillo and Aristide Kambale attended this convention supported by the Max Weidenfeld Travel Grant.

This transformative experience has fueled my passion for promoting inclusive and decolonial conservation practices and advocating for the rightful recognition of indigenous peoples and women as essential stewards of our planet’s natural heritage. My commitment lies in actively bridging these persistent gaps and fostering collaborative initiatives that empower marginalised communities, particularly indigenous groups, while integrating their knowledge into conservation strategies and ensuring the protection of their territories.

Reflections on the WHT Alumni Water Webinar

Camila Arretche

Argentina

MSc Water Science, Policy and Management

Keble College, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholarship

Oxford-Hoffmann

Irina Gribanenkova

Russia

MSc Water Science, Policy and Management

Worcester College

Oxford-Hoffmann

In June 2023, WHT scholars Camila Arretche and Irina Gribanenkova hosted a webinar titled “Too much, too little, too polluted,” inspired by their participation in the UN Water Conference. The webinar engaged WHT alumni from various years who specialise in water science.

In the Webinar, the alumni speakers on the two panels shared their views on the challenges in the current field of water management, sharing their experience from their own specific field.

In the first panel, the participants discussed the importance of partnerships and shared knowledge, each sharing lessons from their respective fields.

Aaron Acuda (2020) shared his expertise in building on local capabilities and localising initiatives to enable equitable partnerships with local communities.

Rhett Larson (2010) suggested ways to create and preserve partnerships to address water challenges through holistic water solutions bringing examples from refugee communities in Lebanon and Jordan.

Nsuku Chanakira (2019) highlighted lessons learned from her journey in building different types of partnerships, both catchment-based and researchbased.

In the second panel, participants shared their views on innovation and climate resilience in the water sector. Claudia Coleoni (2017) shared her knowledge about transforming water governance based on her work at Stockholm Environment Institute’s Water Beyond Boundaries Initiative. Nalin Singh (2021) discussed his work at the World Bank on changing the paradigm of decision-making through bottom-up approaches to manage risk and uncertainty. Katie Polkinghorne (2021) spoke about integrated flood resilience and adaptation projects carried out with the World Bank in Pakistan to address post-disaster recovery and reconstruction after the 2022 floods.

Overall, the two panels generated interesting discussions about the future of the water sector after the UN Water Conference 2023.

Commonwealth Study in London: how does it serendipitously resolve my career dilemma?

The

Ling Qiao

China

Worcester College

Hualan-Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann MSc Education (Higher Education)

Working in education for over ten years, I sometimes felt torn apart. While I personally endorse education as the true opportunity engine that ensures where you are from has no limit on where you end up, I feel powerless in front of the overwhelming trend that it is becoming commercialised under globalised neoliberalism. Or, in Bourdieu’s words, education, especially higher education, is an apparatus that reproduces elites. And I have to admit that, as an individual, I am powerless to mitigate, if not reverse, that trend.

This was my career dilemma before I came to Oxford. I never expected the very first study opportunity that WHT offered me to serendipitously resolve it on a philosophical level. At the conference, Julia Gillard shared her story and reflections on being a female leader. She narrated that the value of leadership lies in how it empowers individuals by mobilising them to achieve a common goal. In this vein, leadership fulfils two functions: influencing others and amplifying individual impacts. Her words ignited my reflection that, while I was in a leadership position, I never truly tried to influence people around me with the notions and values I held about education. While I was regretting the past, she inspired me enormously by referring to the fact that leadership can be practised both formally and informally. In other words, I do not necessarily need to be in a leadership position to influence others. Leadership can be both top-down and bottom-up. Interestingly, I have touched on these statements in my previous reading. However, I guess we all have that feeling that you can hardly internalise theories

In October 2022, Ling attended the Commonwealth Study Conference (CSC) in London as a WHT scholar. The conference focused on how education can facilitate female leadership. The panellists included Julia Gillard, Australia’s first female Prime Minister, and Dr. Ilika Dunne, the Vice Chair of CSC Alumni and the initiator of the Female Leadership Program at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB).

you learned on paper, because the amygdala, the major processing centre for emotions in our brain, is older and more sensitive than the prefrontal cortex, the region that modulates cognitive processes. To put it in a simple way, we need emotional resonance to help us truly internalise. That day, when Julia unfolded her reflections gently and determinedly, I got my ‘ah-ha’ moment, and those reflections were finally integrated as part of my inner agency.

Many thanks to WHT for nominating me to attend this panel. It really reinforced my inner agency and helped me stand in good stead in my future leadership position as an educator.

WHT community - scholars experience in their own words

“ My Oxford experience would have been truly incomplete and half-as-enriching without my WHT community. I have found some lifelong friends due to the scholarship for which I will be eternally grateful to WHT. I have learnt so much from my peers. Their warmth, kindness, and graciousness have been my guiding light, even on the coldest and darkest of days in Oxford. ”

“

For me, being a WHT scholar meant having a family in Oxford. My cohort became my reference point, and I always felt comfortable with it. My peers became my closest friends. I think my experience in Oxford would have been far less rich without WHT. ”

“

The network of WHT Scholars that I have been fortunate to be a part of has become more than just an academic community to me. Over the course of our time at Oxford, we have become a family, forming bonds that I am sure will endure far beyond our academic journey. We have shared experiences and learned from each other, and these close relationships have made my Oxford experience even more rewarding and enriching. The WHT has not only enabled me to study at one of the world’s leading universities, but has also equipped me with broadened perspectives and leadership capabilities that I am certain will guide me in my future endeavours. ”

Ammu Nair India, MSc Environmental Change and Management, St Edmund Hall

José Cabrejos Portocarrero Peru, MSc Latin American Studies, St Edmund Hall

Lamiya Khudoyarova Uzbekistan, MJur, Hertford College

LDF 10th Anniversary

Since 2012 the Louis Dreyfus Foundation has generously funded 95 Scholarships for aspiring leaders from 40 emerging and developing economies. The strength of the partnership has been in the close alignment of regions of activity and sectors of interest - like food security, sustainable solutions for rural communities and educating future leaders. In recent years compulsory internships brought greater engagement and connection for mutual benefit.

“ What makes a Louis Dreyfus Scholar unique is that we are really passionate about what we do, and we have a strong urge to make the world a better place and this is rooted in history and the history of our communities, and that passion combined with a high-quality education makes us really strong agents of change. ”

“ I joined the MSc programme in Environmental Change and Management in order to better understand the climate crisis and the various policy and other instruments that can be designed to address it. Since coming to Oxford, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with the best scientists and researchers who are at the forefront of climate research and the challenges that the food system faces today, particularly issues related to farmer well-being and soil health.”

LDF 10th Anniversary, March 2023 Paris, Alexandra Henderson, (CEO, WHT) with alums, Matthew de La Hey CEO & Co-founder of inploi (MBA, South Africa, 2015) and Maria Mercedes Kuri, Research Assistant on climate change, University of Oxford (MSc Water Science Policy & Management, Argentina, 2020)

Maria Mercedes Kuri Argentina, MSc Water Science Policy & Management, 2020

Ammu Nair India, MSc Environmental Change & Management, Louis-Dreyfus-Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholar, 2022

Louis Dreyfus Foundation Internship: An Opportunity to Learn, Connect and Contribute to Sustainable Development

After a year of rewarding and intense learning at Oxford, I returned to Kampala, Uganda, to start my 6 months internship journey at the Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) offices. I was supporting the foundation’s work on food security and the company’s commercial operations, mainly focusing on developing a sustainable coffee supply chain. Working with agronomists and traders, I supported the company in obtaining the Rainforest Alliance certification. Some tasks I performed included promoting good agronomic practices through developing education and communication materials for farmer training and ensuring that suppliers adhere to the code of conduct for responsibly sourced coffee. I brought in my experience of promoting sustainability, but I also learnt a lot in the process. My learning went beyond the sustainability area. I got interested and was occasionally involved in the business operations of the company, always mentored by colleagues and managers.

During my 6 months internship, I interacted with some of the most inspirational and knowledgeable individuals I have ever met. Doing both commercial and non-profit activities in an innovative, challenging, rewarding, and fast-paced environment is an opportunity everyone would love to have. I was inspired to take on two particular areas immediately after the internship. One was to continue building a

business that will benefit rural communities, especially with the changing environmental and socio-economic landscape. The second one was to advance the work on promoting resilient communities. I am lucky that I am now a researcher with the International Institute for Environment and Development in the area of community-based and locally led adaptation to climate change. The Louis Dreyfus Scholarship was truly a blessing for me. It came at a very pivotal point in my life, and together with the internship programme, it has greatly contributed to shaping what I do now. I also want to thank the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust for the leadership and enterprise programme at Oxford and for constantly supporting scholars to lead the changes they desire to see in their respective areas of work/ communities.

A visit to one of the coffee cooperatives in Western Uganda

Aaron Acuda

Uganda

MSc Water Science, Policy and Management Worcester College

Louis-Dreyfus-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann 2020-21

Endowed Scholarships

The Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann & OxfordHoffmann Scholarships make up the largest philanthropic scholarship programme supported by the University of Oxford. Since 2015 this partnership has supported 147 scholars from low and middleincome countries to obtain postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.

Set up to mark the 95th birthday of Lord Weidenfeld the endowment fund grew quickly with friends raising £9 million, including a £5 million gift from André Hoffmann matched by a £6 million contribution from the University of Oxford Graduate Matched Scholarships Fund. On the 10th Anniversary of the Scholarships programme, an additional generous

Direct Donor Scholarships

The Trust is grateful for the support it has received from all its direct donors who together have supported 235 fully-funded graduate scholarships since 2007. The Trust is committed to developing and strengthening partnerships with institutional and individual donors and supporters.

Direct Donors 2022-2023

Louis Dreyfus Foundation

3

donation of £9 million from André Hoffmann combined with £6m from the University created an endowment of £30 million to support 30 post graduate scholarships each year in perpetuity. The capital is held in the Oxford Endowment Fund (OEF), a unitised investment vehicle managed by Oxford University Endowment Management (OUEM). The OEF total return is distributed to support all tuition and living expenses for these scholarships each year and the balance is retained. In 202223 there were 24 Oxford-Weidenfeld and OxfordHoffmann Scholars.

“ Coming from a middle-class family in a small country, I considered studying at Oxford as a far-fetched idea to attain. My perspectives on global challenges were also quite limited and biased. However, the great privilege of meeting and studying with a diverse set of students and teachers from all around the world in this reputed university challenged my narrow thinking and broadened my horizon of understanding global issues and ways to approach them holistically.

Partnerships for the Leadership Programme

College Partnerships

The Leadership Programme is made possible thanks to our 7 College partners and their donors who provide a welcoming academic community of support and opportunities for scholars to contribute to and engage fully in their college life.

Institutional Partnerships

In addition, the generosity of our institutional and individual donors enables the Leadership Programme to grow. We are grateful for our long-term partnerships with Saïd Business School who have contributed to the support of 22 MBA Scholars since 2016 and the Blavatnik School of Government who have worked with us to support 26 MPPs since 2017.

Leadership Programme Fund

Our Trustees André Hoffmann and Michael Lewis have very generously given since 2020 nearly £1,750,00 towards the future of the Leadership Programme.

This year the Trust supported 6 scholars displaced through conflict, violence, or human rights abuses and launched the new Hope Scholarships in response to this pressing need. In less than a year we have raised £500k towards supporting those who have been forced to flee their homes. In 202324, with the University of Oxford and donors, GRoW @ Annenberg, Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Younger Family Fund, the Sigrid Rausing Trust and Worcester and Mansfield Colleges we will support 8 outstanding Scholars from Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Afghanistan, and Kenya.

Donate to this fund via www.whtrust.org

“

Your investment in my education has lightened my financial burden. It has inspired me to set ambitious goals and work relentlessly towards achieving them. The scholarship has motivated me to strive for excellence in my academic endeavours and at the same time instil qualities of a future leader. ”

Obaid Ashraf Shah India, MSc Sustainability and the Environment

Hertford College Keble College Lincoln College

Mansfield College

St Edmund Hall College

Worcester College Trinity College

The

Hertford College Scholars

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

Rimma El Joueidi | MPP, Ukraine, Hertford College Scholar

Aristide Kambale | MSc Environmental Change & Management, DRC, Hertford College Scholar

Yiyuan Qin | MBA, China, Hertford College Scholar

Lamiya Khudoyarova | MJur, Uzbekistan, Hertford College Scholar

“

I am deeply grateful for the support, the opportunities, and the community that I have been part of. One of the highlights was the opportunity to participate in the ‘Head, Hand, and Hertford’ course, brilliantly organised and led by the Principal Tom Fletcher. As I reflect on my time at Hertford, I am overwhelmed by a sense of pride and gratitude, eager to carry forward the lessons I have learned and the values I have acquired to contribute positively to society.”

Lamiya Khudoyarova

Keble College Scholars

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

Fariha Anwar | MBA, Pakistan, Alan Chesters Scholarship

Camila Arretche | MSc Water Science, Policy & Management, Argentina, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholarship

Luisa Isaza Ibarra | MPP, Colombia, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholarship

Max Zhurilo | MPP, Russia, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholarship

Amal Mohamed | MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Sudan, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholarship

“Oxford showed me that I am stronger than I ever expected, you just have to trust the process and never forget who and where you came from. It is more than an academic environment, it is a cultural exchange opportunity with the world. The true value was beyond class time, in the everyday interactions with colleagues, professors, and friends. Personally, Oxford and the WHT was a lifechanging journey.”

Amal Elfatih

Lincoln College Scholars

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

Sophia Adhikari | MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Nepal, Elman Poole /Lincoln College Graduate Scholarship

Jing Wei Ang | MSc Global Governance & Diplomacy, Singapore, Sloane Robinson/Lincoln College Graduate Scholarship

Tanisha Gupta | MBA, India, Sloane Robinson/Lincoln College Graduate Scholarship

Denys Karlovskyi | MPP, Ukraine, Sloane Robinson/Lincoln College Graduate Scholarship

Julian Żelaznowski | MPP, Poland, Sloane Robinson/Lincoln College Graduate Scholarship

It was a fantastic, enriching and challenging year that shaped my character, my professional capacity and my interests in a markedly positive way. Due to the WHT scholarship, I could feel myself fully included in the student life and avoid being left out from the mainstream agenda due to coming from a middle-income country. Thank you for taking a bet on me. This past year has been one of the most wonderful years of my life. The scholarship has reaffirmed my drive & passion to create lasting impact.”

Tanisha Gupta

Mansfield College Scholars

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

Annatu Abdulai | MBA, Ghana, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Melissa Felipe | MSc Biodiversity, Conservation & Management, Peru, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Kimberley Kudwoli | MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention & Policy Evaluation, Kenya, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Samia Mehraj | MPP India, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Obaid Ashraf Shah | MSc Sustainability, Enterprise & the Environment, India, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Meyrav Weiss | MSc Modern Middle Eastern Studies, Israel, Kofi Annan Scholarship

Yitong Zhou | MJur, China, Kofi Annan Scholarship

“

It’s the people that make the difference. I found comfort within my WHT cohort, not as a cliché, but as a fact of life, I realised I have an overseas family that I could rely on. Coming to Mansfield meant coming to an island of sanity and warmth. I think Mansfield has been a huge part of my resilience this year. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Meyrav Weiss

St Edmund Hall Scholars

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

Samuel Dhol Ayuen | MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, South Sudan, Julius Baer Scholarship

Annelisse Escobar | MPP, Guatemala, Julius Baer Scholarship,

Ammu Nair | MSc Environmental Change & Management, India, Mitchell Scholarship

Jose Portocarrero | MSc Latin American Studies, Peru, Julius Baer Scholarship

Fatima Airan | MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention &Policy Evaluation, Afghanistan, Julius Baer Scholarship

“

When I reflect upon my time in Oxford, the first thing that comes to mind is the cherished friendship I formed during my time here. WHT scholars, particularly Teddy Hall scholars, have greatly enhanced my experience. Many individuals come to Oxford not only for the academic rigour and the brightest minds, but also for the opportunity to ponder some of the deepest questions engaging humanity. Being in a position where one is able to constantly be in a state of mental stimulation, be it intellectual conversations about the latest geopolitical development, or the palpable sense of inferiority complex that unifies many who grace the halls of Oxford. It is this unifying experience that, in my opinion, makes Oxford what it is - a place of nourishment for the soul. ”

Fatima Airan

Trinity College Scholars

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

Danilo Angulo Molina | MSc Global Governance & Diplomacy, Colombia

Farai Mzungu | MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention & Policy Evaluation, South Africa

Irene Nampewo | MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Uganda

Being a WHT Scholar at Trinity has been transformative. The unwavering support, the intellectually stimulating environment, the importance placed on placements, and the connections forged with other scholars have all contributed to a profoundly impactful experience. I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and resources provided by Trinity College, and I will carry the lessons and experiences gained throughout my academic and professional journey.”

Irene Nampewo

Worcester College Scholars

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

Irina Gribanenkova | MSc Water Science, Policy & Management, Russia

Valeria Colunga Lozano | MSc Global Governance & Diplomacy, Mexico

Ling Qiao | MSc Education (Higher Education), China

Natasha Treunen | MSc Refugee & Forced Migration Studies, Kenya

“Worcester is a college that cares about its people. From the porters who kindly welcomed me and helped me find my way through the college’s beautiful gardens, to the maintenance team who always asked me about my day. I want to particularly thank Provost David Isaac he never failed to greet me whenever we ran into each other, and he was kind enough to have me as a guest in one of his podcast episodes. The Provost cares about all Worcester students, aims to make the college more inclusive, and deeply believes in the vision of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust. Worcester College is truly a highlight of my experience in this university.”

Valeria Colunga Lozano

One of Lord Weidenfeld’s many ideas, the Humanitas Programme, since 2010 has enabled some of the most influential and distinguished academics and practitioners to share their ideas and expertise.

With the support of a range of generous donors, including private individuals, family foundations, and corporations, the Humanitas Programme hosted 94 Visiting Professors including Jared Diamond, Tom Stoppard, Shirin Neshat, Simon Schama, Martti Ahtisaari, Vanessa Redgrave, Xu Bing, Eric Schmidt, William Kentridge and Renee Fleming amongst many others.

Recordings of these programmes are on our YouTube channel.

Mitsuko Uchida’s masterclass has been viewed more than 330,000 times. Scan the

Architecture

Chamber Music

Chinese Studies

Lord Weidenfeld

Mr. Lawrence Saper

Sir David Tang

Classical Music & Music Education Mick Davis (Xstrata)

Comparative European Literature

Lord Weidenfeld

Contemporary Art (incl. photography) Ivorypress

Diplomacy and Statecraft Mrs. Angelika Diekmann, Passau Publishing Group

Economic Thought

Film & Television

Donald Marron

Shaun Woodward

Historiography Blavatnik Family Foundation

History of Art Jacob Safra

History of Ideas Francis Finlay

Intelligence Studies Blavatnik FF/Recanati-Kaplan F

Interfaith Studies Xavier Guerrand-Hermès/ Gil Shiva

Media Blavatnik Family Foundation

Museums, Galleries & Libraries Foster + Partners

Opera Studies Dame Vivien Duffield

Rhetoric & Art of Persuasion Matthew Freud

Sustainability Studies Tellus Foundation

Vocal Music

War Studies

Mercedes Bass

Sir Ronald Grierson

Women’s Rights Mrs Lawrence Saper

QR Code to watch Mitsuko Uchida Masterclass video

DONORS & SUPPORTERS - SCHOLAR COHORT

Scholar Cohort 2022-23

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann/Chevening

• Annelisse Escobar, MPP, Guatemala

• Luisa Isaza Ibarra, MPP, Colombia

• Lamiya Khudoyarova, MJur, Uzbekistan

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann/Hualan

• Ling Qiao, MSc Education (Higher Education), China

• Yiyuan Qin, MBA, China

Louis Dreyfus-Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

• Kimberley Kudwoli, MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention & Policy Evaluation, Kenya

• Farai Mzungu, MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention & Policy Evaluation, South Africa

• Ammu Nair, MSc Environmental Change & Management, India

Oxford-Hoffmann

• Sophia Adhikari, MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Nepal

• Camila Arretche, MSc Water Science, Policy & Management, Argentina

• Samuel Dhol Ayuen, MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, South Sudan

• Melissa Felipe Cadillo, MSc Biodiversity, Conservation & Management, Peru

• Irina Gribanenkova, MSc Water Science, Policy & Management, Russia

• Aristide Kambale, MSc Environmental Change & Management, DRC

• Denys Karlovskyi, MPP, Ukraine

• Amal Mohamed, MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Sudan

• Irene Nampewo, MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Uganda

• Jose Portocarrero, MSc Latin American Studies, Peru

• Obaid Ashraf Shah, MSc Sustainability, Enterprise & the Environment, India

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

• Jing Wei Ang, MSc Global Governance & Diplomacy, Singapore

• Valeria Colunga, MSc Global Governance & Diplomacy, Mexico

• Samia Mehraj, MPP, India

• Danilo Angulo Molina, MSc Global Governance & Diplomacy, Colombia

• Yitong Zhou, MJur, China

• Max Zhurilo, MPP, Russia

• Fatima Airan, MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention & Policy Evaluation, Afghanistan

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann-Abraham/ Rausing

• Rimma El Joueidi, MPP, Ukraine

• Natasha Treunen, MSc Refugee & Forced Migration Studies, Kenya

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann-Barnett

• Meyrav Weiss, MSc Modern Middle Eastern Studies, Israel

• Julian Żelaznowski, MPP, Poland

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann-Barnett

• Annatu Abdulai, MBA, Ghana

• Fariha Anwar, MBA, Pakistan

• Tanisha Gupta, MBA, India

“ During my time at Oxford, I’ve challenged myself both academically and personally. I have excelled in areas I never thought I’d excel in but also failed, picked myself up, and grown from other experiences. A willingness to challenge myself by delving into the unknown has taught me so much. If there’s one thing I would take from Oxford is to embrace new challenges and opportunities. ”

Kimberley Kudwoli, Kenya, MSc Eidence-Based Social Intervention & Policy Evaluation

DONORS & SUPPORTERS - SCHOLAR COHORT

Scholar Cohort 2023-24

HOPE SCHOLARS

Oxford-Hoffmann - HOPE/GRoW @ Annenberg

• Iggo Kanui, MSC Water Science Policy & Management, Kenya

• Dmytro Lopushanskyy, MSc Advanced Computer Science, Ukraine

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann - Hope-Younger

• Fareed Fakhoury, MPP, Syria

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann - Hope

• Mykhailo Kitkenko, MPP, Ukraine

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann/ Hope-Rausing

• Vladyslava Savytska, MBA, Ukraine

• Tsimafei Malakhouski, MSc Social Science of the Internet, Belarus

Oxford-Hoffmann-Chevening/HOPE -GRoW @ Annenberg

• Amina Suveha, MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Syria

• Oxford-Hoffmann/Hope

• Ksenia Baranchikova, MSc Environmental Change & Management, Russia

Oxford - Hoffmann

• Sagoon Bhetwal, MSc Comparative Social Policy, Nepal

• Hanbit Lee, MSc Energy Systems, Korea

• Syed Taha Qadri, MSc Economics for Development, Pakistan

• Marina Berdikhanova, MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention & Policy Evaluation, Kazakhstan

• Angel Carballo Cremades, MSc Energy Systems, Mexico

• Wendtoe Compaore, MSc Global Health Science & Epidemiology, Burkina Faso

• Luisa Costa, MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention & Policy Evaluation, Brazil

• Ibrahim Haroon, BCL, Nigeria

• Smriti Jalihal, MSc Environmental Change & Management, India

• Claudia Vidal Cuellar, MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, Peru

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

• Faizan Ahmad, BCL, India

• Mohamed Salah Ahmed, MPP, Somalia

• Anshuman Mruthunjaya, MPP, India

• Rohan Chopra, MSc Modern South Asian Studies, India

• Lavish Dudeja, MSc Education (Higher Education), India

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann

• Shawntel Nicole Nieto, MPP, Philippines

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Saïd/Barnett

• Khalid Abdelgadir, MBA, Sudan

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Saïd/Lewis

• Max Rath, MBA, South Africa

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann/Barnett

• Oluwatamilore Oni, MPP, Nigeria

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann/Lewis

• Jordan Simpson, MSc Economics for Development, Jamaica

Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann/Chevening

• Mariana De Lucio Perez, MPP, Mexico

• Gloria Rukomeza, MSc International Health & Tropical Medicine, DRC

with a very special thank you to our co-founder, Trustee and major benefactor Mr André Hoffmann.

• Arcadia Foundation

• Arpad & Alena Rosner Foundation

• Blavatnik Family Foundation

• Chevening

• Clore Duffield Foundation

• Eranda Rothschild Foundation

• Fondation Hoffmann

• Hualan Education Group

• GRoW @ Annenberg

• Louis Dreyfus Fondation d‘Entreprise

• McCall MacBain Foundation

• Sackler Trust

• Stanley and Zea Lewis Family Foundation

• Mr Eric Abraham & Dr Sigrid Rausing

• Mr Ben Barnett

• Prof Roland Berger

• Mrs Angelika Diekmann

• Mrs Robin Hambro

• Dr Pierre Keller

• Mr Michael Lewis

• Mr Jaqui Safra

• Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein

• Mr Lawrence and Mrs Carol Saper

• Mrs Barbara Walters

• Mr Gregory Annenberg Weingarten

“

• Hertford College

• Keble College

Sloane Robinson Foundation

Martin Robinson

Alan Chesters

• Lincoln College

Sloane Robinson Foundation

Elman Poole

• Mansfield College

Jan Fischer (supporting the Kofi Annan Scholarships)

• St Edmund Hall

Julius Baer Foundation

Mitchell Scholarship

• Trinity College

• Worcester College

We are also grateful to the Saïd Business School and the Blavatnik School of Government for their contributions and of course our partner, the University of Oxford.

I intend to go back as soon as possible to at least go and give back to my country to at least be able to strengthen the health care system and also the education system.

South Sudan, MSc International Health and Tropical Medicine

St Edmund Hall Julius Baer Scholarship, Oxford-Hoffmann

”

Samuel Ayuen Dhol

The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust is grateful for the generous support of all our donors 2007-2023

We are grateful to the following for their support for the work of the Trust:

TRUSTEES

• Mr André Hoffmann

• Mr Michael Lewis (Chairman)

• Dr Alina Barnett

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

• Mr Eric Abraham

• Mr Ben Barnett

• Ms Nina Coad

• Sir Andrew Dilnot

• Ms Pamela Dow

• Mr Justin Gayner

• Mrs Margarita Louis-Dreyfus

• Dr Precious Lunga

• Sir Trevor McDonald

• Lady Elizabeth Roberts

• Mr Robert Serpollet

• Ms Nadja Skaljic

• Mr Karl Yin

ACADEMIC FELLOW

• Dr Stephen Wright

MORAL PHILOSOPHY SEMINAR MODERATORS

• Dr Alice Baderin

• Professor Sarah von Billerbeck

• Dr Jeremy Fix

• Associate Professor Jody LaPorte

• Dr Matthew Parrot

• Dr Tom Sinclair

COMMUNICATION PRACTICAL SKILLS

• Ms Jennifer MacDonald & AGL Team

BUSINESS CHALLENGE

• Venture Adviser Mr Mark Younger

• Business Challenge Lead Ms Eman Hamdan

SPECIAL THANKS

• Professor Emily Jones

• Professor Thomas Hellmann

OXFORD SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT SELECTION

PANEL 2022

• Mr Rafat Ali Al-Akhali, (WHT Alum/ Blavatnik School of Government)

• Dr Rebecca Bullard (Trinity College)

• Ms Alexandra Henderson (WHT)

• Professor Deidre Hollingsworth (St Edmund Hall)

• Dr Lydia Matthews (Lincoln College)

• Associate Professor Manisha Nair (WHT alum)

• Dr Alisdair Rogers (Keble College)

• Ms Lucinda Rumsey (Mansfield College)

• Dr Laurence Wainwright (Worcester College)

• Dr Stephen Wright (WHT)

SELECTION ASSESSMENT TEAM 2022-23

• Ms Deepa Kurup (Alum)

• Ms Ayushi Agarwal (Alum)

• Ms Ana Diaz Azcunaga (Alum)

• Ms Jane Baldwin (WHT)

• Mr Ugo Ezeh (Alum)

• Dr Irina Fedorenko (Alum)

• Ms Eman Hamdan (WHT)

• Dr Claire Keene (Alum)

• Mr Atherton Mutombwera (Alum)

• Lady Elizabeth Roberts (WHT)

• Mr Mark Younger (WHT)

• Dr Stephen Wright (WHT)

“ For me, attending COP15 in Montreal later last year was a great opportunity to understand the current state of ecosystems in various countries and the priorities in terms of conservation. It gave me a good overview of the global biodiversity crisis, how it is connected with other environmental issues such as climate change, and most importantly, the challenge in terms of politics and power dynamics, financial flow, legislation, and stakeholder consideration that countries face to reach an agreement that is inclusive. ”

Aristide Kambale DRC

MSc, Environmental Change & Management Hertford College, Oxford-Hoffmann