Northumbria University Alumni Association

Thank you for your generosity, so far this year our community of donors have supported University mental health and wellbeing initiatives by raising almost £80,000. Through our #GivingTuesday appeal we are helping to fund vital resources and expanding our capacity to train more students in Mental Health First Aid. If you’d like to make a difference, it’s not too late. Every donation, big or small, helps us build a more supportive and resilient community at Northumbria. Thank you for helping us put mental health first. Together, we can make a real impact. Find out more and donate at: https://orlo.uk/697Rq #PutMentalHealthFirst

Join us today for an evening of music and festive at Northumbria University's Carol Service, held at Newcastle Cathedral on 16th December 2024. Experience beautiful performances from both the University and Cathedral Choirs as we celebrate the joy of Christmas together. The service will also be streamed live so you can enjoy the holiday spirit from anywhere! To register, click here: https://orlo.uk/JgCEU

Last week we welcomed our Winter 2024 graduates onto our City Campus to celebrate their success at our graduation ceremonies. Congratulations to all who graduated and, if you haven't already, make sure you register to become a member of our Alumni Association to be in with the chance of winning a £250 Amazon voucher! https://orlo.uk/Ocyr1

Northumbria graduate and the founder of The Little Sleep Company, Imogen Russell, is making a remarkable impact in the world of sleep consultancy. Imogen’s journey began during her final year at Northumbria University, where she started The Little Sleep Company in 2022. Passionate about child development and well-being, she created an approach to sleep, helping families improve sleep routines for both babies and parents. Her focus is on achieving the "best sleep" for each child through personalised support, making a huge difference for families struggling with sleep issues. Today, she is the sleep expert at Mamas & Papas, where she provides expert advice through blogs, videos, and in-store materials. Read her full story here: https://orlo.uk/NryMl

Honoured at our Winter Academic Congregations, we welcomed back to campus Northumbria University graduates Jim Rowan, CEO and President, Volvo Cars, Michelle Poole, Former President, Crocs, alongside Nizam Razzaq, Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka who met with Northumbria students to share their expertise and career guidance. Michelle has been at the forefront of leading global fashion and lifestyle brands for over three decades and delivered a career masterclass to students during her visit. As a Northumbria graduate and supporter, Michelle has maintained strong links with the University, establishing a scholarship to support Northumbria students from underrepresented backgrounds and she has shared her industry knowledge by mentoring students. As Founding Director of Business Management School (BMS), Nizam had opportunity to meet with staff and students within our Student Law Office and colleagues within Business and Law to celebrate a long history of collaboration with Northumbria University and BMS. Northumbria MSc graduate, Jim has built his career from the production floor, serving as an engineering apprentice while attending college and university. He has over three decades of global experience in the consumer and technology sectors, including Chief Executive Officer, Dyson and Chief Operating Officer for BlackBerry. During his visit, Jim met with colleagues from Engineering and Environment and delivered a masterclass Q&A session to Northumbria students. #NUGrad #Graduation Sarah Green, Anne Peirson-Smith, Emma Jane Goldsmith, Tom Harris

Northumbria graduates have the opportunity to access the Santander Open Academy, which is a free online learning platform, providing you with the courses to help unlock your potential. With Santander Open Academy, you can boost your brilliance with courses in digital skills, leadership, net zero and more. These are on-demand courses, helping you build the skills you need for the future. Support a great cause: For every registration, Santander will donate £1.20 to Northumbria's Higher Education Without Barriers Fund. Find out more and sign up: https://orlo.uk/09aQO

The joy of Christmas is best shared together. Remember to book your space at the Northumbria University Carol Service at Newcastle Cathedral on Monday, 16 December at 6.30pm. This tradition will feature performances from both the University and Cathedral Choirs, making an unforgettable night of music and celebration. Book here: https://orlo.uk/0IHKN

On #InternationalVolunteersDay we celebrate the incredible impact of volunteers worldwide and invite all Northumbria graduates to get involved in making a difference. We are delighted to share that Northumbria University has been selected as the lead research partner to work with United Nations Volunteers on producing the next State of the World’s Volunteerism Report. The report will be led by Professor Matt Baillie Smith, Professor of Global Development and Dean of Research Culture, alongside Northumbria graduate Dr Bianca Fadel and researchers from Northumbria’s Centre for Global Development. The report will measure and understand the global impact of volunteers and their significance to peace and development worldwide. Read more about the research here: https://orlo.uk/55TCc

Last week we hosted our inaugural Northumbria University Scholars' Welcome event to meet Northumbria scholarship recipients and kickstart the Northumbria Scholars' Programme. Hosted by Graham Wynn, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education), the event included an overview of the programme, a LinkedIn Masterclass hosted by the Northumbria Graduate Futures with opportunity for attendees to get a free professional headshot photograph. We also heard from scholar Indiana on how her scholarship has benefitted her studies and created more opportunities for placement and mentoring. Thank you to all who attended and we look forward to welcoming you to our next event!

Congratulations to all who graduated in our Winter Congregations this week. You are now officially an #NUGrad. As you step into the next chapter, don’t forget to stay connected with Northumbria. If you haven’t joined the alumni association yet, don’t worry- it's not too late. Register for FREE at this link https://orlo.uk/OMPeO and join over 244,000 graduates across 178 countries worldwide. If you had your picture taken in our selfie frame - Follow us on the Northumbria University Alumni Facebook page to check out your photographs.