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!
Rehab Ismail is a journalist, producer, and educator with expertise in television and digital journalism. She holds an MA in TV and Digital Journalism from The American University in Cairo and an MA in Digital Media from University College London. Currently at BBC Arabic, Rehab covers global political and economic developments. As an educator, she has trained over 300 Arab journalists. Passionate about impactful storytelling, she uses media to empower others and foster trust in journalism.
Saddam is a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in AI, computer vision, and biometric human identification. He serves as an Associate Professor of Computer Science and Head of the Quantitative Techniques Department at South Valley University, Egypt, where he is also Vice-Dean for Student Affairs. Holding a Ph.D. from the University of Lincoln, UK, Saddam is dedicated to advancing education, sustainability, and inspiring the next generation of leaders and innovators.
Salah Ghanem is a social entrepreneur, Chevening Scholar, and LSE graduate, and the Co-Founder & CMO of Button Up Social Enterprise. His work bridges social innovation, market access, and long-term economic inclusion in Egypt, creating sustainable livelihoods for women and youth in underserved communities.
Dr. Samar is a global health leader driving impactful change at the WHO. She has spearheaded emergency response in the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa, forging partnerships and resources to bolster pandemic preparedness. Her leadership has been critical in developing the regional emergency health workforce initiative. A member of International Emergency Action Network, recipient of the King Abdullah Operation Center Award and the Queen Elizabeth International Leaders Fellowship.
Tarek is a Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at the British University in Egypt. He earned his PhD in Engineering from the University of Edinburgh in 2023, where he was also a Teaching Assistant for four years. He holds an MSc in New and Renewable Energy from Durham University (2017) and a double BSc in Mechanical Engineering from BUE and Loughborough University (2012). A Chevening Scholar, he is a Chartered Engineer, MIMechE, and Professional Member of the International Solar Energy Society.
Aya is an Egyptian environmental researcher and entrepreneur. She is the CEO and co-founder of Recyclizer, a plastic recycling start-up. On top of her responsibilities as a wife and a mother, Aya has shown persistence and success in her social, academic, and professional life. She was chosen amongst the leading environmental experts and professors in the world to present her research paper in the Climate Expo Conference, April 2021. Aya also won the Bioscience Egypt Environmental Science Award.
University of Sussex
Social Impact Award
Dr Ayman is an expert on population and migration studies. He is the founding President of the Egyptian Society for Migration Studies, he is also an Adjunct Professor in the American University in Cairo and a Senior Lecturer at Cairo demographic Center. Dr. Ayman research work and advocacy on issues related to irregular migration of the Egyptian youth constitute a revival of migration studies in Egypt.
Doctor Ahmed is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, working with various engineering and manufacturing key stakeholders, industry partners and manufacturing networks
