The British Council has announced the nine finalists for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2019-20 in Qatar.
For
the second time in Qatar, the awards are hosted at a national level to
celebrate the achievements of alumni in the country across three award
categories: Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial, and Social
Impact.
The finalists were selected for their outstanding
achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs and community
leaders, and for their important contribution to strengthening
collaborative ties between the UK and Qatar, a press statement noted.
Three award winners will be announced on December 7 during the annual Qatar-UK Alumni Networking Event, part of Qatar British Festival 2019.
The ceremony will be hosted at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Doha and sponsored by HSBC Bank Qatar and AFG College with the University of Aberdeen.
The
finalists of the Professional Achievement Award, which recognises
alumni who have distinguished themselves through exemplary leadership in
their professional field, are Dr Alla El-Awaisi, graduate of University
of Strathclyde and Robert Gordon University; Dr Dena Ahmed al-Thani,
graduate of Queen Mary University of London; and Dr Samar Aboulsoud,
graduate of Cardiff University
(Prifysgol Caerdydd).
The
finalists of the Entrepreneurial Award, which highlights alumni who have
played a leading role in innovation, are Khalifa al-Haroon, graduate of
Anglia Ruskin University; Nawar al-Mutlaq, graduate of Royal College of
Art; and Vijay Sivasankaran, graduate of London Business School.
The
finalists of the Social Impact Award, which acknowledges alumni who
have made an exceptional contribution to creating positive social
change, are Dr Rania Sawalhi, graduate of the University of Warwick;
Reema al-Merekhi, graduate of Newcastle University and Cardiff
University; and Dr Sharifa Noaman al-Emadi, graduate of Manchester
Metropolitan
University.
Sam Ayton, country director of the
British Council in Qatar, said: “The remarkable individuals selected as
finalists for the Study UK Alumni Awards in Qatar have all taken their
UK education as a starting point to excel in their chosen careers and
shape the world around them.”
“This year’s finalists are testimony
not only to the diversity of UK alumni and their endeavours, but also to
the transformative impact of a UK education. With more than 5,000
alumni of a UK education in Qatar, there is much to celebrate!”
The
shortlisting of applications went through internal and external judging
process. The internal judging panel consisted of Toff Wahab, head of
Politics at the British embassy in Doha, and Rawan Khir, deputy head of
Programmes and Partnerships at British Council Qatar.
The external
judging panel consisted of Ajay Sharma, British ambassador to Qatar;
Sam Ayton, British Council country director; Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, CEO
of HSBC Bank Qatar; Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh al-Thani, founder and
chairperson of Al-Faleh Education Holding; Dr Khalid Mohamed al-Horr,
CEO of Qatar Finance and Business Academy; Sheikha Alanoud bint Hamad
al-Thani, managing director of Business Development, Qatar Financial
Centre Authority; Machaille al-Nuaimi, president of Community
Development, Qatar Foundation; Abdulla al-Mansoori, director, Qatar
Career Development Centre, member of Qatar Foundation; and Dr Noha
Aboueldahab, global winner of Study UK Alumni Awards 2018-19,
Professional Achievement category. The external moderation meeting was hosted by HSBC Qatar.
This
year, people can vote for their favourite inspirational story by
nominating online one of the finalists for the ‘People’s Choice Award’,
launched for the first time in Qatar.
Voting for favourite inspiring story starts on November 28 at 12noon, Qatar time.
The judging panel.
