We are delighted to announce the third edition of Alumni UK Live will take place on 11 and 12 February 2025. Join us for two days packed full of inspirational talks from industry leaders, networking opportunities and idea sharing.   

What is Alumni UK Live?

Alumni UK Live is the British Council’s free online professional development festival. Join us for two days of inspirational talks and debates from business leaders and subject matter experts. Alumni UK Live is your chance to upskill and stay competitive in today’s job market while connecting with thousands of UK graduates from around the world.

Who can attend?

This professional development festival is for anyone who studied with a UK university as an overseas student. You need to have spent at least one term at a UK higher education institution enrolled on a credit-bearing course. This includes transnational or online education. 

Programme

The third edition of Alumni UK Live will take place on 11 and 12 February 2025 with two days packed full of panel discussions, workshops, and keynote sessions. Sessions include: 

Why the future's bright: essentials for fostering hope and belonging in life and work - Tuesday 11 Feb | 9am GMT

This session will consider our mindset in relation to our own individual futures and our collective trajectory as a human race. Is everything getting worse or is there good reason for hope and optimism? We will consider three things:

  1. Wellbeing: how can we grow working environments where that enable people to thrive? 
  2. Inclusion: how can we break down the categories that lead to division and create inclusive spaces that affirm the value of every single human? 
  3. Leadership: what does equitable leadership look like and how can we each become more effective in positively impacting those around us?

Keynote speaker: Peter Radford, Public Speaker, Teacher and Author

Thriving in tomorrow’s workforce: future-proofing your career path - Tuesday 11 Feb | 11am GMT

As the dynamics of employment markets are evolving, the skills required to thrive in your career are shifting. This session will offer a look at how individuals can adapt to a rapidly changing job market, emphasising the importance of building transferable skills, leveraging emerging technologies and committing to lifelong learning for multi-industry employability. Through real-life examples from UK alumni, attendees will gain practical insights into navigating evolving career landscapes and staying relevant to help support you in long-term career resilience in the face of change. 

  • Imru AL Qays Talha Jebril, Co-Managing Partner, A&K Advisors (Session chair)
  • Adonis Americanos, Managing Director, TCS
  • Hasiba Amin, Co-Founder, Citizens' Aid Collective
  • Kim Bui, Freelance writer
  • Seher Syman, Founder, Ask Consulting

The changing creative industries landscape: in conversation with Professor Sara Pepper OBE and Rehana Mughal - Tuesday 11 Feb | 1pm GMT

Professor Sara Pepper OBE, Co-Director of the Centre for the Creative Economy at Cardiff University shares her insights about how the creative industries are evolving the jobs that exist within the sector. Participants will learn what they need to do to respond to the changing nature of employment in this sector.  

  • Rehana Mughal, Director of Creative Economy, British Council  
  • Sara Pepper OBE, Co-Director of the Centre for the Creative Economy at Cardiff University

Your future is waiting: empowering graduates for the job market - Tuesday 11 Feb | 3pm GMT

This session is designed for international final-year students and early-stage alumni who want to gain insights and guidance on navigating the job market after graduation. Learn what to expect during your job search and receive practical tips to effectively prepare for your employment journey. Hear firsthand experiences from alumni who have successfully transitioned into their careers, sharing valuable advice and strategies to help make this important transition smoother and more successful. 

  • David Gee, Head of Global Employability, University of the West of England and Founder, GradLink UK (Session chair)
  • Lusiné Manukyan, Executive Director (CEO), Health for Armenia
  • Rawan F. Taha, Research, Assessment, Monitoring and Reporting Officer, United Nations World Food Programme 
  • Sadiq Basha, CEO and Founder, Edvoy 
  • Urvashi Prasad, Director, Office of Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog, Government of India 

AI and the future of work: staying ahead in a tech driven world - Wednesday 12 Feb | 9am GMT

Artifical Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming an essential tool across industries, transforming how we approach productivity, project management, time tracking, and collaboration—especially in remote and hybrid work environments. In this session, you’ll learn how to harness AI to enhance your work and position yourself as an innovative leader. We’ll explore practical strategies and tools to leverage AI for efficiency and effectiveness, offering real-world case studies of successful AI integration. These examples will provide valuable insights into staying competitive in the global market and adapting to the AI-driven changes reshaping the modern workplace. 

  • Fadi Bou Debs, Entrepreneur and Investor, Evolve Online App (Session chair)
  • Aamna Qamar, Lead Software Development Engineer, Stewart Pakistan
  • Gaurav Dnyanoba Somwanshi, CEO and Co-Founder, Emertech Innovations
  • Nabeel Akmal Qadeer, CEO and Board member, Bench Matrix DirAction Skills
  • Pandu Putra, Special Advisor for Digital Transformation to Indonesia's Minister for Administrative and Bureaucracy Reform (PANRB)

Own your achievements: make your performance review count - Wednesday 12 Feb | 11am GMT

Performance reviews are a chance to highlight your value, set goals, and plan for your future. Join us for this webinar to learn practical tips and strategies to ace your review and take charge of your career. What you’ll learn: 

  1. Why Reviews Matter: See how a strong performance review can boost your career. 
  2. Showcase Your Value: Learn how to highlight your impact and contributions. 
  3. Speak Up for Your Goals: Discover authentic ways to advocate for your career growth. 

If you're an employee or leader aiming to shine, this session will provide useful insights on preparation, sharing your accomplishments, and building your path forward. Don’t miss this chance to accelerate your career! 

Tréasa Fitzgibbon, Executive Coach and Speaker, City CV 

From challenges to opportunities: leveraging multi-generational perspectives - Wednesday 12 Feb | 1pm GMT

In today’s multigenerational workforce, where up to five generations coexist, fostering collaboration is essential. Each generation brings unique skills, perspectives, and expectations, creating both challenges and opportunities for leaders. Cultural attitudes toward age further complicate this dynamic.  

This session will offer strategies for navigating these complexities, featuring international insights on leveraging the strengths of all employees. Topics include cultural perceptions of  generations, the importance of open communication, age-inclusive programs, and valuing diverse experiences.  

Join us to explore how to build a collaborative environment that empowers employees of all ages and drives organisational success. 

  • Chika Idoko, Deputy Global Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion British Council (Co-Chair
  • Jane Franklin, Deputy Head, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, British Council (Co-Chair
  • Adwait Phadke, Senior Manager Special Projects, Everest Industries Ltd
  • Teresa Baños, Trainer and Facilitator 

Alumni as changemakers: how professional networks can advance sustainable development goals (SDGs) - Wednesday 12 Feb | 3pm GMT

In an interconnected world, alumni have the potential to become powerful agents of change, using their networks to address critical global challenges and support the SDGs. In this session learn how you can leverage your professional network to amplify your impact and drive meaningful change. Hear from peers and learn more about successful alumni-led projects that have made tangible impact on SDGs.  

  • Stellah Bosire, Executive Director, Africa Centre for Health Systems and Gender Justice (Session chair)
  • Atir Guliyeva, Education specialist, Institute of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan 
  • Baris Alpaslan, Professor of Economics, Social Sciences University of Ankara 
  • Sana Rasool, Carbon Market Specialist, Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change and Environment Coordination 
  • Siddharth Pillai, Education Programmes Advisor, Street Child

Sessions will take place at different times so alumni can join from around the world. Sessions will be available for playback to any registrant who is unable to make the session slot.

About Alumni UK

By registering for Alumni UK Live you also gain membership to Alumni UK. Alumni UK is an online community for people from around the world who have studied with a UK university as an international student. By joining Alumni UK, you can grow your worldwide professional network, continue learning and share your experience and expertise with others. You will find resources to develop your career, invitations to face-to-face events and online training, and new opportunities to help you succeed. 

UK alumni are among the most employable graduates in the world. Thirty eight per cent of Nobel laureates who studied abroad did so in the UK. Join us as we build the largest UK alumni community, connecting people who studied at any UK university and find out how Alumni UK can help you achieve your goals.  

Join the conversation on social media: #AlumniUK.