On Saturday 1 December the British Council announced the finalists and recipients of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2018-19 in Qatar at an award ceremony at Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art, sponsored by HSBC Middle East Limited Qatar.

For the first time in Qatar, the awards were hosted at a national level to celebrate the achievements of alumni in Qatar across three award categories: Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial, and Social Impact. In total, nine UK alumni in Qatar were recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, and for their important contribution to strengthening collaborative ties between the UK and Qatar.

The finalists of the Professional Achievement Award, which recognises alumni who have distinguished themselves through exemplary leadership in their professional field, were: Dr. Hend AlMuftah, Dr Noha Aboueldahab and Dr Somaya Al-Maadeed. The Professional Achievement Award was presented to Dr Noha Aboueldahab, a graduate from SOAS university and Durham Law School, who is a leading expert on justice, accountability and politics in the Arab region.

The finalists of the Social Impact Award, which acknowledges alumni who have made an exceptional contribution to creating positive social change, were: Dr. Badiya Al Lenjawi, Mr Rashid R. Al-Hajri and Miss Tahani AlHajri. The Social Impact Award was presented to Miss Tahani AlHajri, a graduate of University of Derby. Miss AlHajri is a writer and blogger who uses social media to raise awareness about human rights, women’s empowerment, freedom of expression and coexistence with other cultures.

The finalists of the Entrepreneurial Award, which highlights alumni who have played a leading role in business innovation, were: Mr Hamad Suwaid, Mr Rupin Kumar and Ms Tamara Hasan. The Entrepreneurial Award was presented to Ms Tamara Hasan, a graduate of CASS Business School at City, University of London, who is the Co-Founder and General Manager of three medical clinics in Qatar, providing the highest level of medical care and service to the local community within Doha.

To mark the occasion, the British Ambassador to the State of Qatar, HE Mr Ajay Sharma said:

‘I am delighted to be celebrating the success of the UK alumni here in Qatar. It is great to see how UK education continues to shape and inspire generations of young people. The Study UK Alumni Awards are a great example of what the partnership between our two countries in the field of education can lead to. I would like to congratulate the three winners, as well as all the finalists for their achievements. They are all playing a key role in realising Qatar’s 2030 National Vision. A journey we are proud to support.’

Sam Ayton, Country Director of the British Council in Qatar, said: “We’re delighted to announce the three winners from Qatar. Each of them has achieved something incredible and the idea behind these awards is to share their stories as widely as possible in order to inspire the next generation. These stories demonstrate the innovation and creativity of the UK education sector, which welcomes over half a million international students today, and it’s fantastic to see how Dr Noha Aboueldahab, Miss Tahani AlHajri and Ms Tamara Hasan have all taken the knowledge and experience from their studies and used it to actively drive positive change here in Qatar.”

Mr Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, CEO HSBC Bank Qatar, said: “HSBC is honoured to support these prestigious awards. As an organisation we underpin the importance of investing in human capital through quality education. These awards are testament to the exceptional achievements of the talented participants and the value they bring to our society.”

Mrs Machaille Al Naimi, President Community Development, Qatar Foundation, said:

“As a University of Surrey graduate, I am delighted to have participated as a judge in the Study UK Alumni Awards 2018-19 organized by the British Council. This event serves as a wonderful opportunity to recognise some of the men and women in Qatar who are making positive contributions to the local community and driving progress for a better tomorrow. This initiative reflects a country-wide commitment to creating long-lasting connections through international collaborations, and one that is also mirrored within Qatar Foundation.”

Qatar is the first country to host the awards this year and will be followed by award ceremonies in a further ten countries, including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Oman and Kuwait.

To read more about this year’s inspirational winners and finalists, please visit:

https://www.britishcouncil.qa/en/alumni-awards-2019

For more information, please contact:

Rawan Khir, Qatar-UK Alumni Network Manager, [email protected]

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Press Release

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Leena Chung

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