Alumni shine at 30(ish) Awards 2026

Four graduates from the School of Journalism, Media and Culture have been announced as winners at the 2026 30(ish) Alumni Awards.

Cardiff University’s 30(ish) Awards celebrate the achievements of alumni who have made a positive contribution to their community, and all before they hit 30. Well, 30(ish).

The awards recognise the change-makers, innovators and rule-breakers in the Cardiff University alumni community.

This year’s event will be held at sbarc|spark on 19 November.

The 4 winners from the School of Journalism, Media and Culture have been recognised in the Journalism and Media, Social Impact and Wales to the World categories.

Winners in the Journalism and Media category are recognised for their work in journalism and media and are being celebrated for their great journalism, which is topical, timely and impactful.

Winners in the Social Impact category are making a social impact and are being recognised for going above and beyond for a community to create positive change.

Winners in the Wales to the World category are taking a leading role in bringing Wales to the world and have been recognised for celebrating everything Welsh on a global scale, from language to history to culture.

Meet the winners from our School

Ben Cajee (BA 2009)

Ben is a television presenter, voiceover artist and author. Since joining BBC Children’s in 2015, he has become a familiar face on CBeebies and CBBC, going on to present flagship programmes including Blue Peter and Something Special.

A regular broadcaster with BBC Sport, he has covered major events including Wimbledon, the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, and featured on Match of the Day and Football Focus.

His writing spans journalism and television, with work recognised for championing inclusivity and engaging young audiences.

In 2025, he was inducted into the Show Racism the Red Card Hall of Fame. His first children’s picture book, The Panda-Badger was published with Puffin in 2026.

Lloyd Lewis (BA 2019)

Lloyd is a Welsh rugby player, television presenter and creative whose career spans sport, broadcasting and music.

After studying English Literature, Media and Journalism at Cardiff University, he represented Wales professionally in Rugby Sevens, including at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and now plays for Newport RFC.

Alongside his sporting career, Lloyd has established himself as a presenter, covering Welsh rugby and major events including the Welsh Open Snooker Championship.

He is also an emerging Welsh-language musician, creating Afrobeats, R&B and neo-soul music that introduces the Welsh language to new and diverse audiences in Wales and beyond.

Sarah Harris (BA 2020)

Sarah is a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) PhD candidate, freelance journalist and endometriosis advocate.

After being diagnosed with advanced-stage endometriosis while studying Journalism, Media and Sociology at Cardiff University, she became determined to raise awareness of the condition and improve outcomes for others.

Following graduation, she completed a master’s in Public Health at the University of Nottingham and became a freelance journalist, writing for publications including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Metro and Women’s Health.

Her PhD explores barriers to endometriosis diagnosis in primary care.

Sarah is also a Trustee of Cysters and co-led a landmark study presented in Parliament in 2026.

Zhang Yuying (MA 2018)

Yuying is an award-winning journalist and media innovator at CGTN, China’s flagship English-language media network.

Since graduating from Cardiff University with an MA in International Journalism in 2018, she has produced impactful stories for international audiences.

Her work has earned global recognition, including a Telly Silver Award for documentary filmmaking, alongside Telly and New York Festivals Bronze Awards for programming celebrating traditional Chinese opera.

Beyond broadcasting, Yuying helped establish the CGTN Think Tank platform, fostering international dialogue.

She has interviewed senior global leaders, including the UN Under-Secretary-General, and organised high-profile international forums that received congratulatory letters from the Chinese President.

Congratulations to all those recognised! A full list of winners and information on the 30(ish) Awards can be found on the Cardiff University Alumni webpages.