British Council Study UK Alumni Awards
Your chance to showcase your achievements as a global change-maker.
Could you be Sheffield's next winner?
Be inspired to apply!
Meet Dr Emily Rickman, Sheffield’s 2024 Global Winner, and hear how the Study UK awards have boosted her profile.
See below to discover more Sheffield winners and finalists from across the globe.
What are the Study UK Alumni Awards all about?
The global impact of UK education
The prestigious Study UK Alumni Awards, organised by the British Council, celebrate inspirational individuals who studied in the UK - and who are now making incredible contributions elsewhere around the world through their work.
International Sheffield graduates like you can enter, and help highlight the value of a UK education on a global stage.
Study UK Alumni Awards - the details
The Study UK Alumni Awards are split into four categories. You'll choose the one that best fits your career achievements from the following list:
- Science and Sustainability
- Culture, Creativity and Sport
- Social Action
- Business and Innovation
When you apply, your work will be judged on five key criteria:
- Impact
- UK influence
- Media traction
- Potential to influence and inspire
- Overall quality of your application
How and why to apply
Share your success and raise your global profile
Apply now to share the impact of your work and gain global recognition in the 2025/26 Study UK Alumni Awards.
Applications are open until 16 October 2025.
This is your chance to raise your profile, build your worldwide networks, and win a trip to the UK so that we can celebrate your successes with you.
I applied because I wanted to share the wonderful impact studying in the UK has made on my career, and let others know how to maximise the benefits of such an education.
Dr Mininim Oseji
Nigeria finalist
Want support with your application?
Join the University of Sheffield Study UK WhatsApp channel to receive application tips, guidance and reminders.
You can find out more on the British Council website, or to help make your application truly shine, sign up for one of their 'How to Apply' webinars.
If you have further questions, please email Grace Tebbutt in the Campaigns and Alumni Relations team here at Sheffield: g.tebbutt@sheffield.ac.uk
Previous Sheffield winners and finalists
Dr Qamar Naith
Social Action Saudi Arabia winner
Qamar earned her PhD in Computer Science from Sheffield in 2021. While studying here, she created three pioneering medical devices after overcoming her own battle with heart disease: one for early detection of strokes, one for tracking post-operational changes, and one detecting issues during pregnancy.
Sheffield helped shape her resilience, collaborative skills, and drive to turn challenges into opportunities for the greater good. Now an assistant professor at the University of Jeddah, she's transforming lives through devices like the coronary artery disease monitor - with many more innovations to come.
Dr Leonardo Bastos
Science and Sustainability Brazil winner
Leonardo earned his PhD in Probability and Statistics from Sheffield in 2010.
As a senior researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, he’s dedicated to the development and application of statistical models for the epidemiology of infectious diseases.
His work focuses on anticipating cases that have occurred but have not yet been reported in early warning systems, assisting real-time analysis, particularly for cases of dengue and COVID-19.
Dr Abid Malik
Science and Sustainability Pakistan winner
Abid earned his PhD in Medicine from Sheffield in 2010. A renowned psychiatrist, Dr. Abid has contributed to mental health leadership in 22 EMRO countries.
As a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatry, he paved the way for impactful global interventions and advocacy for mental health policies, like WHO's Thinking Healthy Program for perinatal depression.
His journey showcases dedication to addressing global mental health challenges through clinical practice, research, and leadership.
Dr Le Kim Phung
Science and Sustainability Vietnam winner
Dr Phung earned her PhD in Chemical Process Engineering from Sheffield in 2008. She is now based at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), where she is Director of the Refinery and Petrochemicals Technology Research Center, as well as leader of the Sustainable Process Engineering Group. Her research focuses on science and technology engineering and applications for sustainable development in the water-food-energy process system.
As an associate professor, she has won research grants from the USA, Japan and Asia for work in emerging fields like renewable energy, biomass, biorefinery, and biorecovery. She also received the Best Innovation prize at the 2022 Hitachi Global Foundation Asia Innovation Awards.
Dr Mininim Oseji
Science and Sustainability Nigeria finalist
Dr Oseji earned her MPH in Public Health from Sheffield in 2010. She is a distinguished Consultant Public Health and Community Physician, and served as Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Environment until being appointed Head of Service in 2025. She is also the Medical Director of Berachah Community Clinic in Asaba, and a Visiting Lecturer at Accra College of Medicine in Ghana.
Having served as the 22nd National President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, her research focuses on areas such as HIV/AIDS, Climate Change, COVID-19, Maternal and Child Health, Cancer, Gender-Based Violence, Health Systems Management, Occupational Health, and Women and Youth Empowerment.
Mary-Ann Ooi Suan Kim
Entrepreneurial Award winner
Kim earned her LLB Law degree from Sheffield, graduating in 2006. Now based in Kuala Lumpur, she is a barrister and renewable energy entrepreneur, running a business converting biomass residues into carbon-neutral renewable energy.
Her work with Builders Biomass venture earned her the Study UK Entrepreneurial Award in 2017, recognising her contribution to the Malaysian biomass industry and the region's push for improved environmental sustainability.
Referring to studying at Sheffield as “a life-changing experience”, Kim notes that her UK education enabled her both to preserve and explore her own traditional heritage, while also embracing new innovations and experiences.
Dr Dan Armooh
Business and Innovation Ghana finalist
Dr Armooh earned his MPH in Public Health from Sheffield, graduating in 2014. He leads Acacia, an organisation that provides a much-needed affordable and sustainable health financing solution to corporate Ghana.
I thought it was a great opportunity to showcase my contributions to the field of private health insurance in Ghana.
In all, I thank the University of Sheffield for offering me the chance to study, and to acquire some life-changing skills that have helped me in my career.
Dr Dan Armooh
Ghana finalist
Yu Bai
Social Action China finalist
Yu earned his BA in Architecture from Sheffield, graduating in 2005. He helped transform several former state-owned 1980s hotels into a state-of-the-art Continuing Care Retirement Community in the heart of Beijing.