University of Bristol
Alumni Awards
2025
Each year, we honour the exceptional achievements of the University of Bristol’s alumni through our Alumni Awards. The awards celebrate the huge impact that Bristol’s alumni make in their chosen careers and across our society.
Lifetime Achievement
Dr Michelle McDowell MBE (BSc 1984, Hon DEng 2012) is Non-Executive Director of Civic Engineers and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. With an engineering career spanning more than 40 years, she’s led major construction projects at prestigious venues such as the Palace of Westminster, No 1 Court at Wimbledon and the refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall. She was awarded an MBE for services to construction in 2011.
Global Citizenship
Raghad Al-Abboodi (MSc 2016) is Founder and Director of She Codes Too, a charity that empowers young women in Iraq to pursue a career in technology. Built from Raghad's first-hand experience of both education and software development, She Codes Too bridges the gap between formal education and the workplace with workshops, mentoring and training courses.
Business and Industry
Dr Una Ryan OBE (BSc 1963, Hon DSc 2009) is a pioneering vascular biologist, award-winning scientist, investor, and artist. Her groundbreaking research on the angiotensin-converting enzyme revolutionised hypertension treatment and garnered her a prestigious 10-year MERIT award from the National Institutes of Health. Now at Breakout Ventures and Golden Seeds, she continues to innovate while also creating art inspired by the microscopic world.
Arts and Media
David Nicholls (BA 1988, Hon DLitt 2016) is one of the UK’s most beloved novelists and screenwriters. His critically acclaimed novel One Day (2009) was adapted as a Netflix series in 2024 and has been widely celebrated with 15 million views, and his latest book You Are Here won the 2024 Books Are My Bag Readers’ Award. He has adapted many books for screen, including Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd for film and Tess of the D'Urbervilles (BBC).
Innovation and Enterprise
Dr Victoria Johnson (BVSc 1998) is a visionary entrepreneur and founder of VetCT, which has transformed veterinary care through innovative digital medical imaging services. Her company provides remote imaging and specialist support to practitioners globally, bridging gaps in care and expertise. Victoria’s journey reflects her dedication to advancing veterinary medicine and making a global impact.
Community Impact
Ben Barker MBE (MSc 1981) is a community developer helping to improve neighbourhoods in Bristol. A retired teacher, Ben is involved in different community projects, including Blooming Bedminster which celebrates local groups who care for green spaces, and pioneering the ‘Toilet Map’ to help to make Bristol a more accessible place.
Contribution to Sport
Dr Simi Pam (MB ChB 2019) is a doctor and semi-professional rugby player, playing as loose-head prop for the Bristol Bears. She started playing rugby while in the penultimate year of her medicine degree at the University of Bristol, and has since taken the game by storm. Simi has championed diversity in sport both on and off the pitch as an inspirational player and through her work in the media, and she worked on the NHS frontline throughout the Covid pandemic.
Alumni Association
Chris Wallis (BSc 1978) is a self-proclaimed ‘techie’ with an extensive record of giving his time to help University of Bristol students grow into their career aspirations through mentoring. He has volunteered consistently since the early 2000s and has plans to continue his mentoring through 2025 and beyond.
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