30(ish) Awards 2025

After more than a decade leading his family business, he launched GROWiT in 2020 with a mission to make Indian agriculture more resilient, productive, and environmentally conscious.

Under Saurabh’s leadership, GROWiT has scaled operations across 12+ Indian states, built a network of over 650 franchise stores, and impacted more than 225,000 farmers. He has introduced innovations such as India’s first pocket-friendly soil testing device and a sustainable buyback model for used plastic mulch films. A graduate of Cardiff University and the Stanford Seed Transformation Program, Saurabh brings a global perspective to grassroots challenges.

His work is transforming agriculture by increasing yields, reducing costs, and promoting environmental sustainability. Saurabh is building a future where farmer-centric innovation drives long-term social and ecological impact.

A true makerspace, Mashghalay blends traditional craftsmanship with emotional wellness through hands-on workshops in pottery, woodworking, block printing, embroidery, painting, self-defence, and more. It’s a sanctuary where people of all ages – from children to grandparents – reconnect, heal, and rediscover joy through creativity and community.

Amnah’s vision was born from personal struggle, with creativity becoming her path to healing. That journey now fuels her mission to build inclusive, purpose-led spaces that prioritise mental wellness, cultural revival, and community connection. As a full-time marketer, she’s redefining digital storytelling in Pakistan with a soulful, empathetic approach to branding.

Recognised for her sharp creative and strategic mind, Amnah is setting a new precedent for leadership in Pakistan’s creative industries. Through Mashghalay and her broader work, she is not just building a brand – she’s building a movement that reminds people to pause, reconnect, and create meaning in their everyday lives.

Known as “Madam DO,” she created an operating system that uses behavioural science, human-centred design, and technology to mobilise communities at scale. Since 2018, DO has grown to over 4,500 Grassroots Development Champions across six countries, delivering more than 3,000 projects and impacting over 80,000 lives.

While studying at Cardiff on a Chevening Scholarship, Precious won a Social Impact Award for an ed-tech project supporting children in disadvantaged and disabled communities. She has since led initiatives in women’s economic empowerment – training over 2,500 women entrepreneurs – and launched SHE-STEM, inspiring over 1,000 girls to pursue science and tech careers.

Precious also serves as a media consultant for organisations including UN Women, World Bank, and FAO, and is developing DO’s Media Academy to equip young people with storytelling and digital skills. Her bold vision aims to activate 100,000 grassroots leaders across 300 communities by 2025, reaching 10 million people. Precious represents the next generation of African leadership – building systems for sustainable change from the ground up.

A recipient of Kazakhstan’s prestigious Bolashak International Scholarship, she credits her time at Cardiff University for shaping her global outlook and equipping her with the skills to drive meaningful change.

Since completing her MA in Translation Studies, Arailym has led high-impact initiatives including the EU-funded Spotlight Initiative Regional Programme for Central Asia and Afghanistan, which addresses violence against women and girls. She also contributed to the Kazakhstan Actions Against Trafficking in Children Project, improving care for vulnerable migrant families and survivors of child trafficking.

Arailym’s work combines strategic thinking, intercultural awareness, and a deep commitment to social justice. Her career reflects the power of grassroots action within global systems, and her leadership continues to shape policy and practice across the region.

She plays a key role in driving cultural and organisational change to deliver the association’s long-term priorities. A passionate advocate for women in leadership, Sophie co-founded Ladies Unite in Social Housing (LUSH) Cymru, a thriving network for women working in affordable housing across Wales.

Recognised for her impact beyond her role, Sophie was shortlisted for Inside Housing’s 40 under 40 and named Finance Wales’ Young Finance Director of the Year. She is known for breaking the mould of the traditional finance leader – championing purpose-driven leadership, challenging the status quo, and using her influence to shape housing policy and regulation for the benefit of tenants.

Sophie is deeply committed to the social housing sector and believes in its power to create lasting, positive change. Her leadership combines financial rigour with compassion, ensuring the organisations she supports are both sustainable and people-focused.

He has pursued this path with exceptional intensity. Within two years, Adam completed a PgDip, earning the Cicely Saunders Medal as top-performing student, and received a high commendation in the global Masters Student of the Year award. Named Emerging Leader of the Year by Hospice UK, Adam introduced and published world-first processes for hospice patients and achieved a Guinness World Record as part of a hospice fundraiser.

Adam is recognised for questioning practice and pushing boundaries to improve patient care. He is also one of a handful of people to complete an ice swim in both polar regions wearing only a standard swimming costume – raising over £55,000 for charity through extreme challenges.

Currently writing a book on assisted dying, Adam seeks to encourage a more nuanced and compassionate debate on this emotive topic. He continues to inspire others to think differently and act boldly in pursuit of better care and deeper understanding.

During his PhD at Cardiff University, under the supervision of Professor Andrew Sewell, he published a high-impact paper in Nature Immunology identifying a novel T-cell receptor capable of recognising multiple cancer types across diverse individuals. The research gained international attention, featuring in news outlets worldwide.

Now based in Copenhagen, Denmark, Michael continues to explore how specific T-cells infiltrate and kill tumour cells. His work has been instrumental in developing clinical trials that use genetic engineering to enhance the function and quality of these T-cells, which are then reintroduced to patients with the aim of curing cancer.

He has contributed to multiple publications in the cancer immunotherapy field and secured numerous research grants to support his work. Michael also maintains active collaborations with researchers in Cardiff, fostering knowledge exchange between two leading research groups.

His research is helping to shape the future of personalised cancer treatment, combining cutting-edge science with international collaboration.

As a Cardiff University PhD graduate, he pioneered the use of orbital angular momentum coupled polarised light in macular disease detection, laying the foundation for quantum-enhanced diagnostics.

He is the founder of Entoptica Limited, which won the Gold Medal at the 2024 Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions for its groundbreaking quantum technology in vision science, and co-founder of EyeAI Limited, an AI-driven platform advancing predictive analytics in retinal neurodegeneration.

Mukhit’s leadership extends to public health initiatives, including Kazakhstan’s national glaucoma screening programme, and patented surgical solutions for retinopathy of prematurity. He has been recognised with awards such as Kazakhstan’s Top 100 Scientists Abroad and the Study UK Alumni Award for Science & Sustainability.

Fluent in five languages and active across three continents, Mukhit is also a dedicated mentor, educator, and advocate for equitable healthcare. He exemplifies Cardiff’s spirit of innovation, bridging medicine, technology, and global collaboration to deliver tangible benefits for patients worldwide.

As a first-year medical student, she founded Melanin Medics, a national charity supporting aspiring and current Black medical students and doctors. Under her leadership, the organisation has helped hundreds of young people from underrepresented backgrounds enter medical school, many of whom are now qualified doctors.

A passionate changemaker, Olamide has led initiatives at the intersection of healthcare, education, and equity. She has worked to diversify the medical curriculum and advocate for racial equity in healthcare, equipping future doctors to care for diverse populations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led a landmark review on racial bias in pulse oximeters, exposing diagnostic inaccuracies affecting Black and Asian patients. Her findings influenced NHS England policy and contributed to the UK government’s Equity in Medical Devices review.

Olamide also serves as one of the youngest-ever Council Members of the General Medical Council, helping shape the future of healthcare education and regulation in the UK. Her work continues to shape a more inclusive and representative medical workforce.

Watch online: Dr Olamide Oguntimehin (MBBCh 2021)

After graduating from Cardiff University, he channelled his passion for innovation into building AI voice-to-voice agents that humanise and optimise how banks and fintech's engage with borrowers.

His approach combines deep financial and technical expertise with empathy – redefining a traditionally harsh industry into one that is compliant, efficient, and compassionate.

Under Mohammad’s leadership, ClearGrid secured a $10 million seed round and became a market leader in AI-powered recovery. His journey, sparked by personal loss, is one of resilience and purpose. He’s also a mentor to startups and a pioneer in Arabic-language AI models, making a lasting impact not only in business but in how we think about dignity in finance.

Whether disrupting legacy systems or building inclusive technology, Mohammad is helping shape a more humane future for financial services.

Since 2022, Alex has led BBB and secured over £4 million to unlock a range of biochar products and first-of-a-kind production facilities. With a background in R&D and consultancy, Alex previously managed high-impact projects at the Royal Society, focusing on carbon capture and utilisation, green hydrogen, and green ammonia.

He has since led innovation initiatives funded by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Shell Foundation, Mastercard and Innovate UK.

A pragmatic entrepreneur, Alex is committed to building systems that deliver real-world impact in the fight against climate change.

His passion for climate solutions was sparked during his BSc in Environmental Geoscience at Cardiff University, where he undertook the Cardiff University Research Opportunity Programme (CUROP) research placement in 2014.

Watch online: Alex Clarke (BSc 2014)

Since launching the business in 2015, Liam has grown Dear Barber into a brand that now retails in over 30 countries worldwide. His vision and leadership have helped the company stand out in a competitive market, with a focus on quality, creativity, and community.

Liam’s entrepreneurial journey is defined by drive, resilience, and a deep connection to the barbering industry. A former Varsity-winning football captain at Cardiff University, he brings the same determination and team spirit to his business.

He has built strong ties with independent barbers, supported local businesses, and has become a respected voice in the cosmetics and beauty sector.

Still in his early thirties, Liam continues to innovate while staying grounded in the values that shaped his success.

He founded Vulcan Energy in 2018 and grew it from a start-up to a billion-dollar company in three years.

Vulcan is building the world’s first lithium project with zero fossil fuels and carbon neutral footprint, powered by geothermal energy co-production. They are focused on supplying sustainable lithium for European battery electric vehicle production.

Francis has worked as an executive in the lithium sector since 2014 and previously founded a lithium mining project which is now in production supplying Asian markets.

Francis has a PhD and BSc in geology and mineral exploration from Cardiff, and an MBA in renewable energy from Berlin, focused on geothermal-lithium. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society, London, and a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

After graduating with distinction from Cardiff University, Mansoor founded Barqbox Technologies – the country’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility.

Named after the Urdu word for electricity, Barqbox is now a leading force in energy storage solutions for both stationary and automotive applications.

His ambition to support Pakistan’s renewable energy potential also led to the co-founding of Aleph Mobility, an electric two-wheeler manufacturer focused on sustainable transport.

Outside of the energy space, Mansoor is a drummer in Bayaan, one of Pakistan’s biggest bands, currently touring across Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the UK.

Mansoor has polished skills in Supply chain management, hardware product innovation, music composition & production.

Through community engagement, research, and advocacy, Seratu Aatai works to find solutions that allow people and endangered Bornean elephants to coexist.

Her work has been recognised internationally, most notably with the Whitley Nature Fund Prize and the 2025 WINGS Women of Discovery Fellowship, which she will receive in New York in October 2025.

In addition to her academic role, Nurzhafarina has become a leading voice for conservation in Malaysia, influencing policy discussions and building partnerships that link science with community action.

She has worked closely with local stakeholders, government agencies, and international networks to safeguard elephant habitats and reduce conflicts, positioning her as one of the region’s most prominent conservation leaders.

Her achievements continue to inspire a new generation of conservationists, while her vision is rooted in creating a future where development and biodiversity can thrive side by side.

Her work spans from coal tip stabilisation in the Valleys to the transformation of Cardiff’s iconic Brains Brewery site, helping ensure that land once considered hazardous can be safely returned to public use.

With a strong foundation in geological modelling and intrusive site investigations, Emily has contributed to a wide range of projects – from community gardens to major infrastructure schemes – always with a focus on environmental safety and sustainability.

Her work is rooted in the South Wales Coalfield, where she continues to champion the responsible redevelopment of historically industrial land.

A Fellow of the Geological Society, Emily is also a passionate advocate for Women in Construction and Engineering. She actively promotes the importance of geology in shaping safer, more sustainable communities and is committed to inspiring the next generation of geoscientists.

She is Director Operations and a board member at Meridian Maritime Services Ltd., partners of Wilhelmsen Port Services in Sri Lanka. She also serves as Vice President of WISTA Sri Lanka and is a board member of YoungShip International.

A strong advocate for diversity in maritime, Maleena champions community initiatives that advance child education and empower young women across Sri Lanka.

As the first female Chair of YoungShip Sri Lanka, she launched Caring Hands to support underprivileged children’s education and Run for Her, an annual campaign addressing period poverty and women’s health. She mentors students and girls pursuing maritime careers and encourages the next generation to enter the sector.

In 2025, Maleena became the first Sri Lankan named among the Global “10 Women to Watch” at Nor-Shipping in Oslo. Beyond her professional career she is a South Asian gold medallist in sailing and a former national golfer.

Named one of the UK’s ten most influential disabled people in politics, law and media by the Shaw Trust 2024, she campaigns for disability rights and better access to nature for all.

She won Creative Future’s Gold Prize for Creative Non-fiction in 2023 and was shortlisted for the RSL Jerwood Poetry Prize 2024.

An Ambassador for Country Living’s Access for All campaign, Wales Coast Path, and Ramblers Cymru, her debut poetry pamphlet Cling Film was published by Seren in 2025.

She co-edited Beyond / Tu Hwnt, an anthology of Welsh Deaf and Disabled writers. Her work has been featured by The Guardian, The Bookseller, BBC Radio 4, BBC One, and more.

As Conference & Events Coordinator at Thorne Harbour Health, they lead high-impact programmes that centre marginalised and culturally diverse communities.

Chiron chairs the organisation’s Multicultural Advisory Committee and launched a major LGBTIQ+ multicultural event series in partnership with Melbourne city councils – creating vital platforms for celebration, visibility, and cross-cultural connection.

They founded the Red Ribbon Run, Australia’s only fun run dedicated to World AIDS Day, and presented at the WorldPride Human Rights Conference in Washington, DC, sharing intergenerational strategies for HIV advocacy. Chiron has also led coordination of the national LGBTIQ+ Women’s Health Conference, restoration of the AIDS Memorial Garden in Melbourne, and Thorne Harbour’s largest-ever Pride March entry.

Named in Out for Australia’s 30 Under 30 list, Chiron’s leadership is rooted in empathy, equity, and purposeful change. Their advocacy journey began at Cardiff University as a Student Senator and Just Like Us ambassador – experiences that continue to shape their inclusive approach to community impact.

At just 21, she became the UK Government’s first-ever Youth Adviser to the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, where she championed global commitments to adolescent SRHR, including access to contraception and comprehensive sexuality education.

At Plan International UK, Holly helped shape national strategy and played a key role in the Crime Not Compliment campaign, which led to the criminalisation of public sexual harassment in England and Wales. She also founded the Menstrual Health Project’s Youth Board and launched FlowFest, a menstrual wellbeing festival for teens.

Through a Gender Equality and Public Health internship with GVI, Holly has delivered SRHR education to hundreds of young people in the UK and Ghana.

Her leadership is bold, inclusive, and rooted in creating space for others to lead and thrive. Holly is reshaping how young people engage with equity and social change – driving lasting impact across policy, education, and grassroots action.

Her passion for accessibility and inclusion is deeply personal, shaped by her experience growing up with left hemiplegia, a condition where the left side of the body experiences paralysis or weakness.

She has led pan-EMEA initiatives celebrating disability awareness, securing high-profile speakers and creating inclusive guest-facing materials to improve experiences at Disney Parks.

Gabrielle has also redesigned B2B travel planning to prioritise accessibility, achieving record-breaking engagement and driving tangible improvements in both internal culture and customer service.

Beyond her role, Gabrielle volunteers as a Make-A-Wish ‘Wish Maker’, helping shape dream experiences for children with critical illnesses. Her work blends compassion, creativity, and strategic thinking – setting a new standard for inclusive practice in the travel sector.

Gabrielle is redefining what accessibility looks like in business, inspiring change through action.

With a proven background in research leadership at Twilio and National Grid, she shapes initiatives where human insight drives innovation, efficiency, and growth. Focused on equity and impact, she uses systems thinking to address complex challenges and amplify marginalised voices in tech and beyond.

A passionate mentor, Feyikemi supports initiatives like Black Women into Tech and Data, helping to diversify the pipeline of future tech leaders.

Through The Innovation Playground, she facilitates play-based workshops that unlock innovation, build alignment, and drive meaningful team outcomes.

A regular speaker at international UX conferences, including UXCON Vienna and PUSHUX, she challenges conventional thinking and shares bold insights on leadership, creativity, and systemic inclusion.

Her work champions a future where technology is equitable, imaginative, and deeply human.

After managing accelerator programmes in Hong Kong and Malaysia, he returned to the UK to found the FinTech Wales Foundry and complete an MBA focused on how social capital and open innovation influence the success of tech accelerators.

His dissertation led to a role at Tech Nation, where he was tasked with revamping the Future Fifty – the UK’s most prestigious programme for late-stage technology scale-ups.

Since taking the helm, Johnny has supported 100 of the UK’s most promising ventures across AI, FinTech, quantum computing, biotech, aerospace and more. He’s built peer networks for scale-up leadership teams and led international founder missions to Dubai, Singapore, and New York.

The impact of his work was recognised when the 2025 Future Fifty cohort was announced at 10 Downing Street by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Johnny continues to shape the future of UK tech through collaboration, insight, and global ambition.

During his time at university, John taught himself to run again and went on to become a Paralympic sprinter, most notably winning a bronze medal in the 100m at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.

Following his professional athletics career, John returned to uni to study Medicine at Cardiff University, going on to train as a Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon, passing his FRCS (Tr&Orth) in 2023.

In November 2022, John was recruited as a member of the European Space Agency’s Astronaut Corps, with the specific goal of undertaking a study to assess the feasibility of someone with a physical disability becoming a professional astronaut. The study, a world first, has been highly successful, demonstrating no technical showstopper for John to fly to space.

John is currently waiting to be assigned to a mission to the International Space Station.

With over a decade of experience in the V2X (vehicle-to-everything) field, Shen has led the development of AI-powered vehicle domain controller systems that enable ultra-fast, reliable communication between vehicles and their environments.

His team’s breakthroughs in fusing multi-modal sensor data – vision, radar, and LiDAR – have improved autonomous driving perception accuracy by over 30%.

Shen’s work is transforming smart mobility. His innovations reduce collision risks by 25% and improve urban traffic efficiency by 15%, contributing to safer, more efficient cities.

Recognised with multiple national awards, including the 2025 ‘Jiyang Talent Plan’ and the 2024 ‘Taihu Talent’ Award,

Shen is also helping shape national standards for intelligent vehicle infrastructure. With three patents and six software copyrights, he continues to lead cutting-edge R&D that is accelerating the future of global smart transportation.

Shaped by heavy metal, lush orchestral traditions, and his working-class Welsh background, he has been described as a “clear-minded and class-conscious artist” (Culture Matters) and “one of the most energetic, driven, and successful of Wales’ millennial generation of composers” (Tŷ Cerdd).

His work - praised as “a glorious confusion of rock and film music […] irresistible” (Stephen Walsh, The Arts Desk), “exquisite” (Adam Walton, BBC Introducing Wales), and admired for its “ingenious scoring” (Bernard Hughes, The Arts Desk) - has reached international audiences of millions through broadcasts, television, and publications. He has received over 50 academic and professional award nominations.

David’s music has been performed by leading ensembles worldwide, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, La Filharmonie, Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, Brazilian National Orchestra, Tanglewood Music Center, Psappha Ensemble, Sinfonia Cymru, Britten Sinfonia, National Youth Guitar Ensemble, Uproar Ensemble, Solem Quartet, and the International Guitar Foundation amongst others.

David’s international successes are helping to showcase Welsh music from working-class backgrounds to audiences across the world.

Watch online: David John Roche (BMus 2012)

After working with an education NGO in rural South Africa, he returned to Wales and began reconnecting with his home culture. Combining a passion for learning Cymraeg with his art, he launched the project ‘Sketchy Welsh’ – aiming to ‘illustrate the Welsh language’.

Through books, artworks, and workshops in schools, colleges, and adult classes, Joshua shares the humour, beauty, and wonder of Cymraeg, encouraging people to see it not just as a language, but as a new way to view the world. He also works weekly at Greenfield Special School in Merthyr Tydfil, teaching art, music, and Welsh.

Joshua’s resources are used by a large online community of learners, and he recently wrote and illustrated a song collection for BBC Bitesize, soon to be released for primary schools in Wales.

He hopes his work helps others embrace the richness of Cymraeg in everyday life.

Currently working at Sky Sports News within the Bespoke Content Team, she creates powerful narratives that spotlight underrepresented communities in sport – bringing high-profile talent, teams, and moments to life beyond the scoreboard.

Her work spans some of the UK’s most respected broadcasters, including BBC Sport and LBC News. In 2022, her production of the documentary Aquaphobia – exploring low swimming participation among Black and Asian communities was nominated for Television Documentary of the Year by the Sports Journalists’ Association.

In 2023, she won gold in the ‘Ones to Watch’ category for Rugby Concussion: Turning the Tide, a moving documentary on early-onset dementia in former rugby players.

Maryam is also a dedicated mentor, supporting the next generation of storytellers in sports media. Her work continues to challenge norms, amplify diverse voices, and shape the future of inclusive sports journalism.

Watch online: Maryam Chaudhary (BA 2017, MA 2021)

Their debut full-length play Perverts, about a lesbian having a terrible night at a sex club, was nominated for Best New Play at the Off West End Awards. Their short audio play Moderation followed a social media moderator forced to view thousands of graphic images every day.

Their writing has been funded by the BFI, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Bristol Old Vic and more. They were selected as one of Channel 4’s New Writers and were mentored by Sid Gentle Films (Killing Eve).

Their short documentary film The Nest was nominated for a BAFTA Cymru and their work in factual radio has been awarded a Prix Marulic. They have interviewed the likes of Ai Weiwei, Jeanette Winterson and Michael Sheen.

Their work has brought a medieval erotic poet back to life and exposed the dark side of Saudi Arabian architectural project The Line.

She launched the network's flagship podcast in 2020 to amplify the voices of young changemakers during the Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC.

While studying at Oxford and then as a US-UK Fulbright Scholar at Cardiff, she expanded the podcast internationally, broadcasting live on Xpress Radio and featuring guests from 35 countries.

Now with more than 260 episodes of her own podcast reaching over 35,500 downloads from listeners in 79 countries, Lily’s network has also grown to include 17 podcasts and 32 members, the majority of whom are under the age of 25.

She is also developing Be the change. Media Academy, a UK-based training programme that equips young people with media literacy, ethical storytelling, and production skills.

Her work empowers the next generation to challenge misinformation and drive social change through media.

Watch online: Lily Mott (MA 2024)

Dubbed “obviously multi-talented” (Ed Fringe Review) and “one to watch” (The Scotsman), she is an award-winning comedian with a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run under her belt. Mel spent 2024 as tour support for Welsh comedy icons Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Elis James.

Mel has script writing credits on Netflix, BBC Radio 4, BBC One and Channel 4 and has authored her own nonfiction book Oedolyn (ish!), which has been shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year.

She currently co-presents politics podcast For Wales See Wales and created and co-presented Mel Mal Jal, Wales’ most listened-to Welsh language podcast in 2021 and 2022. It was later adopted under the BBC Sounds umbrella and shortlisted for two British Podcast Awards.

A panellist on BBC One’s What Just Happened and former columnist for The National, Mel has worked closely with Coleg Cymraeg and has supported a number of Cardiff University student initiatives in recent years.

As Chief Officer for Public Communication and Government Spokesperson for Homa Bay County in Kenya, she champions ethical storytelling and public engagement. Her work has earned international acclaim, including recognition as one of the 100 French-African Young Leaders (2021) and one of Kenya’s Top 52 PR Practitioners (2024).

Caren’s documentaries, featured by the UN and Metropolis TV, challenge outdated narratives and spotlight African resilience and creativity. Her films have been recognised at the International Emmy Awards, Prix Jeunesse, and Movies That Matter Festival. She also empowers youth and refugee voices through training in multimedia storytelling across East Africa and she also founded Kisumu Family Fun Day to bridge opportunity gaps between urban and rural communities.

As a DW Akademie Media Viability Consultant, she supports media sustainability and innovation across the continent. Her consultancy work spans organisations like Plan International, UNCC:Learn, and FAO. Through every role, Caren remains committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and using media as a force for social change.