Junyu Zhao
BA Accounting and Financial Management with Employment Experience
Member of the Dean’s List, class of 2025
Financial strategist and impactful leader
Volunteering as a Team Leader at PwC’s Summer Camp in China, Junyu honed in on her leadership skills managing a group of participants though group activities. She then applied her leadership skills on a grand scale, taking the strategic financial lead for her teammates in the University Business Challenge. Impressively, her oversight helped the team reach the semi-finals against over 100 other team competitors.
Further utilising her financial expertise, Junyu helped secure further funding and financial viability as Financial Analyst on the Kestrel Project, a project supporting humanitarian aid in South Africa.
Advocacy and inclusivity
Junyu is passionate about inclusivity, championing a welcoming environment in every role she takes on. She was elected as the first ever ‘International and BAME Officer’ of the Swimming and Water Polo Club, where she ensured all new members felt welcome and she successfully increased the international membership of the club. Junyu’s work was so impactful that this role is now an integral part of the club’s committee. Junyu also served as Treasurer for the BAME Engineers Society, overseeing the society’s budget while contributing to a supportive space for students from diverse backgrounds.
Her dedication to helping others extended to her work as a Student Ambassador and Employability Ambassador, and as a Peer Mentor for three years, where Junyu was an incredible source of support to fellow students.
Professional recognition
Junyu has maintained a professional outlook and sought to build her skills at every opportunity. After completing her lifeguard training certificate, she worked as a lifeguard at a local leisure centre alongside her studies. She also completed a Bloomberg certification and the ‘PwC You Plus Anchor Explorer’ programme.
Her professional development culminated in her placement year at BOC Ltd. As an integral part of the team's Enterprise Resource Planning project, she was recognised for stepping up at short notice, taking on additional responsibilities, and training new placement students. Her exceptional impact earned her the winning title of ‘Placement Student of the Year.’