The University of Westminster has celebrated the outstanding achievements of its alumni at its annual Westminster Alumni Awards ceremony, bringing together graduates from across the globe to its new home for careers and enterprise in central London, Zone29.
Each year, the Westminster Alumni Awards recognise the achievements of graduates from the University of Westminster, its predecessors, the Polytechnic of Central London and Regent Street Polytechnic, and its Transnational Education partner institutions. The awards highlight the variety of ways in which Westminster graduates make an impact across the globe.
This year’s ceremony was the first to take place at Zone29, the University’s new home for careers and enterprise, and began with a welcome address from the University’s newly-instated Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Dibyesh Anand. In his then position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Global Engagement and Employability, Professor Anand discussed the importance of bringing together the University’s international alumni community.
Professor Dibyesh Anand. Photo credit: Claudia Cantarini
Certificates were then presented to the winners and finalists in attendance from around the world, including China, Portugal and the United States. The first winner to receive their certificate was Dr Jeya Keerthi for the inaugural London Impact Award. After completing her Creative Writing: Writing the City MA in 2024, Keerthi moved into elderly social care and supported hundreds of families through complex care decisions while partnering with the NHS to ease pressure on hospital beds. She has since been offered a regional role overseeing multiple care homes across London.
The finalists for this award were also presented with certificates in honour of the positive impact they have made in London. This included 2023 Criminology BA Honours graduate Reannah Britto and 2010 International Business and Management MSc graduate Shazia Saboowala.
Project Management MSc graduate Lanre Rotimi was awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award for his work across cyber resilience, critical infrastructure and economic continuity. He leads the design and deployment of cybersecurity capabilities for the data centres on which the global economy increasingly depends and has advised nation states and cloud service providers on cyber resilience, governance and operational continuity for more than a decade.
Guests were then treated to a musical performance by Westminster alumni Bradley Jago and Sam Orman, who both graduated from the Music Production, Performance and Business BA Honours programme. Bradley recently supported five-time Grammy winner Sam Smith at their London Coliseum residency.
Sam Orman and Bradley Jago. Photo credit: Claudia Cantarini
Presentations restarted with Contribution to the Creative Industries Award winner Weifu Li, who graduated with a Global Media Business MA in 2022. Now based in China and known professionally as Redli, Weifu is a creator, comedian and singer whose work connects audiences across cultures.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Filipa Leal, a 2000 Media Studies (Print) BA Honours graduate who travelled from Portugal to attend the awards. Filipa is a celebrated Portuguese poet, journalist and screenwriter whose 25-year career has made a significant contribution to the television, literature and film industries.
A certificate was also presented to Recent Graduate Award finalist Elena Efstathiou, who joined Brentford Football Club as a First Team Nutritionist immediately after graduating from Sport and Exercise Nutrition MSc in 2025.
The final certificate of the evening was presented to Social Impact Award winner Francessca Zoppi, a 2010 International Liaison and Communication MA Graduate. Francesca is a global sustainability and development leader who supports governments and organisations to advance sustainable development, gender equality, youth empowerment, sustainable finance and strategic partnerships across the United Nations system.
About the awards Laura Hughes, Head of Alumni and External Engagement, said: “We are incredibly proud of our alumni community and the positive impact our graduates make in communities around the world. The Alumni Awards are an important opportunity to celebrate their achievements and share their inspiring stories. Our winners and finalists are fantastic role models for our students and ambassadors for the University, demonstrating the many different paths our graduates take and what they can go on to achieve.”
The Westminster Alumni Awards and their winners contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 4: Quality Education, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about the University of Westminster Alumni Awards 2026 winners and finalists.
Get involved in the Alumni Community at the University of Westminster.
Photo credit: Claudia Cantarini
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