Alumni news Alumni Alumni news Alumni spotlights Alumni by year Alumni news Recent news and achievements from our alumni community. News 15 September 2025 Viktorya Aydinyan appointed Head of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Viktorya Aydinyan (MPP 2024), has been appointed as the Head of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia. The School Democracy and politics ... Armenia News 15 September 2025 Blaise Fasel appointed Secretary General of Swiss Centre Party Blaise Fasel (MPP 2021) has been appointed as the next Secretary General of the Centre Party of Switzerland. The School Democracy and politics ... Switzerland News 20 August 2025 Ibrahim Olabi appointed Syria’s Ambassador to the UN Ibrahim Olabi, who completed his Master of Public Policy degree in 2022, has been appointed as Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations. Global cooperation Syria News 14 May 2025 Blavatnik School community collaborates on South Africa’s new digital policy The South African Government has this week launched a Digital Transformation Roadmap, setting out a vision to improve public services and drive inclusive economic growth, with contributions from alumni, faculty and researchers at the School. Digital, Cyber and AI South Africa News 14 November 2024 Freshta Karim among the 2024 Honorees of the Library of Congress Literacy Award Freshta Karim (MPP 2016) had the honour of receiving the Library of Congress Literacy Award on behalf of Charmaghz, a Kabul based NGO with the aim to instill the joy of reading in Afghan children through Mobile Libraries. Education Afghanistan News 19 August 2024 Keir Mather named on Times 25 most inspiring people aged 30 and under in the UK and Ireland 2024 Keir Mather has earned a spot on the Times Young Power List for 2024, highlighting the 25 most inspiring people aged 30 and under in the UK and Ireland. The School News 17 July 2024 Saul Musker named on the Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans 2024 list Saul Musker named on the Mail and Guardian's 200 Young South Africans 2024 list in the category Governance for his work in the Private Office of the President of the Republic of South Africa. South Africa News 16 July 2024 Beatriz Azevêdo de Araújo received a prize at the UNCCD Land Heroes 2024 awards Beatriz Azevêdo de Araújo received a prize at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Land Heroes 2024 awards. The UNCCD Land Heroes campaign recognises and supports young individuals and youth organisations who are making a positive impact against desertification, land degradation and drought. Brazil News 09 June 2024 Pádraig Rice elected as a member of Cork City Council Pádraig Rice has been elected as a member of Cork City Council for the Social Democrats in Ireland. Democracy and politics Ireland News 13 September 2023 Nandita Venkatesan named on Time magazine’s TIME100 Next list Nandita is being recognised for her petition to get a secondary patent for Johnson&Johnson’s tuberculosis drug denied, making the drug more accessible and affordable for many people worldwide. News 21 July 2023 Alumnus becomes youngest member of UK Parliament One of the Blavatnik School’s first Political Leadership Scholars, Keir Mather, has won a by-election for the seat of Selby and Ainsty, a constituency in North Yorkshire, England. News 24 May 2023 Shabana Basij-Rasikh wins the 2023 ROLEX National Geographic Explorer of the Year Award Shabana Wasij-Rasikh (MPP 2019) has been awarded the 2023 ROLEX National Geographic Explorer of the Year Award in recognition of her contribution to Afghan girls' education. Load More
News 15 September 2025 Viktorya Aydinyan appointed Head of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Viktorya Aydinyan (MPP 2024), has been appointed as the Head of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia. The School Democracy and politics ... Armenia
News 15 September 2025 Blaise Fasel appointed Secretary General of Swiss Centre Party Blaise Fasel (MPP 2021) has been appointed as the next Secretary General of the Centre Party of Switzerland. The School Democracy and politics ... Switzerland
News 20 August 2025 Ibrahim Olabi appointed Syria’s Ambassador to the UN Ibrahim Olabi, who completed his Master of Public Policy degree in 2022, has been appointed as Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations. Global cooperation Syria
News 14 May 2025 Blavatnik School community collaborates on South Africa’s new digital policy The South African Government has this week launched a Digital Transformation Roadmap, setting out a vision to improve public services and drive inclusive economic growth, with contributions from alumni, faculty and researchers at the School. Digital, Cyber and AI South Africa
News 14 November 2024 Freshta Karim among the 2024 Honorees of the Library of Congress Literacy Award Freshta Karim (MPP 2016) had the honour of receiving the Library of Congress Literacy Award on behalf of Charmaghz, a Kabul based NGO with the aim to instill the joy of reading in Afghan children through Mobile Libraries. Education Afghanistan
News 19 August 2024 Keir Mather named on Times 25 most inspiring people aged 30 and under in the UK and Ireland 2024 Keir Mather has earned a spot on the Times Young Power List for 2024, highlighting the 25 most inspiring people aged 30 and under in the UK and Ireland. The School
News 17 July 2024 Saul Musker named on the Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans 2024 list Saul Musker named on the Mail and Guardian's 200 Young South Africans 2024 list in the category Governance for his work in the Private Office of the President of the Republic of South Africa. South Africa
News 16 July 2024 Beatriz Azevêdo de Araújo received a prize at the UNCCD Land Heroes 2024 awards Beatriz Azevêdo de Araújo received a prize at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Land Heroes 2024 awards. The UNCCD Land Heroes campaign recognises and supports young individuals and youth organisations who are making a positive impact against desertification, land degradation and drought. Brazil
News 09 June 2024 Pádraig Rice elected as a member of Cork City Council Pádraig Rice has been elected as a member of Cork City Council for the Social Democrats in Ireland. Democracy and politics Ireland
News 13 September 2023 Nandita Venkatesan named on Time magazine’s TIME100 Next list Nandita is being recognised for her petition to get a secondary patent for Johnson&Johnson’s tuberculosis drug denied, making the drug more accessible and affordable for many people worldwide.
News 21 July 2023 Alumnus becomes youngest member of UK Parliament One of the Blavatnik School’s first Political Leadership Scholars, Keir Mather, has won a by-election for the seat of Selby and Ainsty, a constituency in North Yorkshire, England.
News 24 May 2023 Shabana Basij-Rasikh wins the 2023 ROLEX National Geographic Explorer of the Year Award Shabana Wasij-Rasikh (MPP 2019) has been awarded the 2023 ROLEX National Geographic Explorer of the Year Award in recognition of her contribution to Afghan girls' education.