Read about the Westminster Alumni Award finalists in this category and vote for who you think deserves to win.
Finalists
Amy Pal
Marketing Management MA, 2003
Amy Pal, founder of Whip Salon, is an entrepreneur whose success stems from her expertise in marketing and business, rather than a traditional styling background. Drawn to the hair business for its modernisation potential, she set out to build a brand that would resonate with clients and attract talent.
Under Amy's leadership, Whip Salon has grown into a multi-state operation with six locations, providing employment opportunities for dozens of women. Her tenacity and experience have been instrumental in overcoming industry challenges and building a thriving business.
Whip Salon has won the Salon Today 200 every year since 2019, and in 2024, Amy was featured on the cover of Salon Today magazine for her accomplishments. Amy was also selected as Business Person of the Year 2025, and her salon was chosen as the Business of the Year 2024 in Ridgefield, CT where her flagship salon is located.
Denis Roman
Business Information Systems BSc, 2017
Denis Roman is the co-founder and CEO of We Digital, the leading marketing agency in Uzbekistan. He graduated from Westminster International University in Tashkent. In five years, he has grown We Digital from 6 to 40 employees, delivering over 300 projects annually and reaching $2.1 million in revenue in the past 12 months.
Denis is also the co-founder of AIM Lab, a creative tech unit that develops AI tools for marketing. One of its key products, Kotib AI, offers Uzbek-language transcription and translation services and now supports over 10,000 users, including creators and media professionals.
We Digital launched Uzbekistan’s first digital library of national ornaments, now used by brands, artists and schools across the country. They also led an initiative that used AI to visualise the dreams of blind children.
Denis serves as a marketing lecturer, mentor, and juror at international creative festivals.
Dimitar Petrov
Animation BA, 2012
After graduating, Dimitar returned home to realise that Bulgaria had no real animation industry. In 2015, Dimitar started Studio Zmei. In his first year he produced the Legend of the First Kuker Warrior book and film, which received a Biserche Valshebno award for best children’s book of 2016. Studio Zmei then worked on I, Elvis Riboldi, which sold to more than 130 territories and was shown on Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and Canal+.
In 2017 Forbes Bulgaria recognized Dimitar in their ‘30 under 30’ selection. Today Studio Zmei is flourishing, developing original series and producing more than 200 minutes of animation per year. The studio employs up to fifty people and has its own training academy.
Studio Zmei is also responsible for the first animated series co-productions in Bulgaria, including Dimitar’s original series, Vee and the Golden Apple, which is a French-Bulgarian co-production.
Laura Burke
Psychology BSc, 2015
Laura Burke is an entrepreneur, trainer, and consultant who has built a thriving mental health training and consultancy business since graduating from the University of Westminster. Inspired by the values of inclusion, purpose, and innovation nurtured during her time at university, Laura has dedicated her career to improving mental health awareness across communities and workplaces.
After over a decade working in the mental health sector, Laura founded Laura Burke Training and Consultancy to make mental health education more engaging, accessible, and impactful. She has delivered evidence-based training for clients such as Coca-Cola, Medway Council, and Sutton College, covering topics including Mental Health First Aid, workplace wellbeing, and bespoke organisational support.
Alongside corporate delivery, Laura co-leads innovative community projects with her husband and business partner, including a heritage initiative celebrating Irish culture in Medway and the creation of digital resources to support men’s mental health.