Nine finalists named for Study UK Alumni Awards

The British Council has announced the nine finalists for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2019-20 in Qatar. Forthe second time in Qatar, the awards are hosted at a national level tocelebrate the achievements of alumni in the country across three awardcategories: Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial, and SocialImpact. The finalists were selected for their outstandingachievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs and communityleaders, and for their important contribution to strengtheningcollaborative 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.  Thefinalists of the Professional Achievement Award, which recognisesalumni who have distinguished themselves through exemplary leadership intheir professional field, are Dr Alla El-Awaisi, graduate of Universityof 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).Thefinalists of the Entrepreneurial Award, which highlights alumni who haveplayed a leading role in innovation, are Khalifa al-Haroon, graduate ofAnglia Ruskin University; Nawar al-Mutlaq, graduate of Royal College ofArt; and Vijay Sivasankaran, graduate of London Business School.Thefinalists of the Social Impact Award, which acknowledges alumni whohave made an exceptional contribution to creating positive socialchange, are Dr Rania Sawalhi, graduate of the University of Warwick;Reema al-Merekhi, graduate of Newcastle University and CardiffUniversity; and Dr Sharifa Noaman al-Emadi, graduate of ManchesterMetropolitan University.Sam Ayton, country director of theBritish Council in Qatar, said: “The remarkable individuals selected asfinalists for the Study UK Alumni Awards in Qatar have all taken theirUK education as a starting point to excel in their chosen careers andshape the world around them.”“This year’s finalists are testimonynot only to the diversity of UK alumni and their endeavours, but also tothe transformative impact of a UK education. With more than 5,000alumni of a UK education in Qatar, there is much to celebrate!”Theshortlisting of applications went through internal and external judgingprocess. The internal judging panel consisted of Toff Wahab, head ofPolitics at the British embassy in Doha, and Rawan Khir, deputy head ofProgrammes and Partnerships at British Council Qatar.   The externaljudging panel consisted of Ajay Sharma, British ambassador to Qatar;Sam Ayton, British Council country director; Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, CEOof HSBC Bank Qatar; Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh al-Thani, founder andchairperson of Al-Faleh Education Holding; Dr Khalid Mohamed al-Horr,CEO of Qatar Finance and Business Academy; Sheikha Alanoud bint Hamadal-Thani, managing director of Business Development, Qatar FinancialCentre Authority; Machaille al-Nuaimi, president of CommunityDevelopment, Qatar Foundation; Abdulla al-Mansoori, director, QatarCareer Development Centre, member of Qatar Foundation; and Dr NohaAboueldahab, global winner of Study UK Alumni Awards 2018-19,Professional Achievement category. The external moderation meeting was hosted by HSBC Qatar.Thisyear, people can vote for their favourite inspirational story bynominating 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.