The British Council is pleased to announce the finalists for a prestigious award celebrating the outstanding achievements of the UK’s international alumni. They are selected by our panel of judges as best representatives for the impact of UK higher education in their chosen career path and the impact they have made for the development of Egypt.
We are proud of them!
Jaida is a Financial Advisory Manager at Grant Thornton Egypt driving major public and private deals. Previously, as a Finance Expert at Egypt’s Ministry of Finance, she issued $500M in Samurai bonds and secured financing for key infrastructure projects. She also contributed to Egypt’s asset monetization program with the IFC. A recipient of multiple professional accolades, Jaida applies her expertise to pioneering strategies that foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
A top-ranked graduate and the youngest lecturer in her faculty, Dr. Khadija is driven by a deep passion for the intersection of technology and education. Holding a PhD in Human–Computer Interaction and User Experience from the University of Sheffield, she set out to revolutionize STEM education. Her vision and commitment have earned her prestigious accolades, including top honours from the Africa Business Heroes competition and the Cartier Women’s Initiative.
Mahmoud El-Sakka is the Chairman of Misr Finance for Financial Services. He is an Independent Regional Advisor to Brook Street Private Equity for North Africa. He was the Head of Investment Banking and Corporate Finance at the Arab African International Bank. He is a board member of the Egyptian Leasing Federation. El Sakka is the Chairman of the Association of Graduates & Trainees from Britain in Egypt and Chairman of the Egyptian Credit and Risk Association.
Marco is a PhD-holding lecturer who successfully designs and executes biological experiments and develops novel analytical methods. He has a track record of developing high impact publications, presentations, and collaborations with a broad basis of chronic diseases and cancer. In 2017, Marco was awarded the ‘Best poster award’ by Newcastle University for the poster entitled: SULFATASE-2, secreted from cancer-associated fibroblasts, which promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth.
Marco Zaki is an associate professor and liver cancer researcher whose PhD at Newcastle University shaped his work in chronic disease biology. He founded the NILE CAN Laboratory and leads the Centre for Research and Sustainability in Upper Egypt. A collaborator with the University of Birmingham and the Mayo Clinic, an ILCA Fellow, and an active member of AHPBCC, he advances cancer research, builds scientific capacity, and drives community health initiatives across Egypt and Africa.
Maryam leads on a CoP of six teachers, from both government and private schools. They together created the ‘Bahrain Digital Leaders’ group to communicate with each other about their roles, benefits and expectations from the CoP. Maryam shares how she surveyed the teacher, learned their challenges, and reflected on this to best deliver the CoP goals and targets - learning a lot, herself, during the process.
Michael is a leading global expert in the school health and nutrition field. As a Global Advisor at Save the Children International, Michael actively shapes global school health and nutrition strategies. His work across several offices, including Egypt, helps influence national policies to provide high-quality health services and an inclusive learning environment for school children.
Through his public policy studies at the University of Bristol, Michael developed his analytical and advocacy abilities, enabling him to effectively engage with decision-makers at both the national and global levels to shape policies that prioritize children.
An award-winning Egyptian film composer and music producer, and an Academy Gold alumnus. His credits include the score for Daye: The Tale of Daye’s Family, which opened the Red Sea International Film Festival and was selected for the 2025 Berlinale; Lam Shamseya, the hit television series driving social change; and Happy Birthday, which premiered at Tribeca 2025, won Best International Feature and the Nora Ephron Award, and was selected as Egypt’s official submission to the 98th Academy Awards
Mohamed is an award-winning finance professional at the Export Development Bank, driving innovative projects in sustainable banking and financial inclusion. With experience at the African Development Bank and European Investment Bank, he bridges academic research with real-world applications as a Research Fellow at AUC, BUE, and Monash University. Recognized with UNCTAD Research Award and Misr El Kheir Innovation Award, Mohamed focuses on sustainable finance solutions.
