Where are they now?
This is our ever popular 'class notes' section. If you'd like your update to be included, email alumni@stir.ac.uk and we'll do our best to post it.
2010s
Dr Eric Cambria, PhD 2012
I have been invited to give a tutorial on sentic computing (my thesis topic) to three international conferences this year, namely the IEEE Symposium Series on Computational Intelligence, World Wide Web Conference, and IADIS International Conference WWW/Internet.
June Adams, BSc Professional Practice 2012
My business, CherryTree Electrolysis has grown steadily since 2006 but its greatest and strongest growth has been since my graduation and completing the dermatology foundation module with Stirling. These have given me confidence and focus and I am now considering further modules or a Masters. This is my business at www.CherryTreeElectrolysis.co.uk
Derek Kenneway, BA (Hons) Business Studies & Marketing 2012
I began a two-year scheme in September as a Graduate Management Trainee with the NHS. By the end I will have a Masters in Human Resources and Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership and Service Improvement.
Karthikeyan Kumar, MBA 2010
After my dissertation I started working for Jones Lang LaSalle, an international property consultancy firm. I’ve been there for the last two and a half years and I enjoy it very much and I’m well rewarded. Thank you very much Stirling and saving the best to last, Mr Frank Martin.
2000s
Louise Trow, BA (Hons) Film & Media Studies 2002 and PG Cert Professional Enquiry: Creativity 2008
I recently became the Creative Economy Development Officer at Fife Cultural Trust.
Sagar Kendre, MBA International Business 2006
I’ve been married to Aparna for the past four years and I’m a proud daddy to a baby boy born on 13 April 2013!
Yassir Pitalwalla, MSc Media Management 2004
I have recently moved to JSW Steel, India's largest steel maker by capacity as Vice President Knowledge & Learning. In my new role I will be engaged in policy analysis and research to generate actionable business intelligence for businesses across the wider $11 billion JSW group.
Oscar Chan, BA (Hons) Film & Media Studies 2001
I’m a Freelance Producer/Director of specialist factual and drama documentaries for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, FIVE, Discovery, The History Channel and PBS. I’m based in London and I’m also Company Director of Dusklight films. My corporate clients include Greater London Authority, Guys and St Thomas Hospital, and The British Museum.
Keith White, class of 2001
I started at Stirling in 1999 and instantly fell in love with the community of students on campus. The things I learned on my course still resound strongly in my day to day role. When I left university I found my marketing career took me south until I ended up in Brighton working for a small stag-do planning company, The Stag Company. I have evolved the company into an all-encompassing events group, which organises group travel and corporate events. Eventa Group was recognised in the Virgin Fast Track Top 100 fastest growing UK companies. My email is keith@theeventagroup.com
Sarah Mitchell, BA (Hons) History 2000
I got married on 13 July at Hetland Hall near Dumfries to my fiancé Martin Clark.
Dr Liza Morton, BSc Psychology 2000
I recently won the award of 'The Outstanding Young Person of the Year 2013' at the JCI Scotland Awards.
1990s
Dr Craig Aaen-Stockdale, BSc (Hons) Psychology 1999
My wife (Anne Aaen-Stockdale (BA (Hons) Film & Media Studies 2001)) and I have now emigrated to Norway with our two children Aurora and Magnus. Anne is working as a Study Consultant in the Faculty of Maths & Natural Sciences, University of Oslo and I am working as a Senior Consultant in Human Factors & Ergonomics for Lloyd's Register.
Michele Aaen (née James), BA Film & Media Studies/Marketing 1998
I’m working at Trinity Mirror Group PLC in Glasgow as the Head of Business & Events for Scotland. I’m married with a son and living in Lanarkshire.
Damian Pocknell, BSc Psychology & Sociology 1998
I missed the winter edition – for understandable reasons and would like to announce the birth of our first child Ethan with Yvonne Pocknell (née Glinwood). Ethan was born on 8 October 2012 and he has been keeping us very busy and filling our lives with love and joy every day. Best wishes to all those alumni I knew and still know from 1994 –1998.
Dr Jay Shakashita, PhD 1998
My wife and I met while we were both postgraduate students at the University. We were married at the Holy Trinity Church in Bridge of Allan the day after I passed my PhD. We now live in Hawaii and have two children. This July marks our 15th wedding anniversary and we are planning to celebrate with our first trip back to Scotland since our wedding day.
Stan Shires, BA (Hons) Marketing 1994
I have been working at Citroen UK for 10 years. I would gladly retire tomorrow if my numbers came up and ride my motorbike around the world. I am married, I don't have any children and I’m in touch with many of my fine Stirling friends who are spread far and wide.
Douglas Baxter, BSc (Hons) Management Science & Marketing
I spent five years working in construction materials testing in Glasgow, then for Kodak in Wimbledon, Leeds, Glasgow and Walsall before landing again in Scotland with FedEx. After this I went back to construction materials producing special shaped bricks, before redundancy led to the formation of The Special Brick Company in May 2012. We produce special shaped bricks for the majority of the main Scottish house builders and building contractors. I live in Hamilton with two children aged five and eight.
John Tembo, MBA 1993
I have been appointed Malawi Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Graham Wood, BA (Hons) Philosophy 1992
I work at the Australian College of Physical Education (Sydney Olympic Park), lecturing in Professional Ethics, Leadership in Sports Business, and Research Methodology.
Andrew Tait, BA Business Studies 1991
I am now married with two kids and living in Edinburgh. My weeks are spent travelling around the UK as Sales & Marketing Director for Bibby Financial Services. It would be good to hear from old buddies from our student days.
Libby (Elizabeth) Morris, BA (Hons) Marketing & French 1991
I moved to San Francisco, California and am working in Marketing Strategy for a biotech firm, Genentech.
Birgit Kempfle, Visiting Student 1990
I still love my job at a grammar school near Munich. Since 2012 I have been involved in the Alumni Ambassador Programme, so if you come to Munich and are looking for a travel guide, feel free to ask: stirlingalumnigermany@googlemail.com
1980s
Hamish Hamilton, BA (Hons) Accountancy 1989
I was honoured by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts at its Craft Awards. I’ve been responsible for directing Madonna and Beyonce’s half-time performances at the 2012 and 2013 Super Bowls, the 2010 Academy Awards and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics. I’m absolutely thrilled and it’s great to be recognised for work that surrounds me with so many talented friends.
Benoit Parnet, MBA Marketing 1988
My roller hockey club HC Dinan Quévert Côtes d'Armor (www.hcdinan.com) won the French Championship title in 2012. We play the European Champions League this season. We fell in the group of death with three professional clubs including the FC Barcelona. At the moment we are third with one win (first time that a French club beats a professional Portuguese team) and two defeats.
Annie Park, BA (Hons) French 1982
I have been living abroad and teaching English as a foreign language to adults since I graduated, after DipTefl course then MA Tefl - Asia, North Africa, Europe. I've been in the Canary Islands since 1997 (I came for two years!) and am now a Spanish civil servant teaching in Official School of Languages. I would love to hear from any classmates from the French department. My email is annejeanpark@gmail.com
Tien-beng Cheah and Aik Lee Leow, BA Accountancy 1981
We met and became good friends while at Stirling. Following graduation, Tien-beng migrated to Canada and has been residing in Toronto whereas Aik moved to Australia and has been living in Sydney. We had lost contact with each other until a few years ago, and thanks to the help of the Alumni Office we managed to get in touch. We had the chance to meet in December 2012 when Tien-beng and family went to Australia and New Zealand for holiday and met up with Aik in Sydney. After 31 years, it was an overdue reunion and we both had a great time catching up with each other and reminiscing about those fun days at the University of Stirling!
Kate Mollinson, BA (Hons) Economics 1981
I spent the 1980s and 1990s working in advertising. I was lucky to be able to travel widely to some exotic and interesting places including Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok and Sydney. When I was 40, I retrained as a psychotherapist, and went back to study at Strathclyde University. Since then I have been living and working in Glasgow, where I live with my partner, and our eight year old daughter. I run my own counselling and coaching business at www.resilient-mindset.com
Peter Jeffries, MSc Aquatic Veterinary Studies 1981
I was appointed Chief Executive Officer of GALVmed in April this year. I’m a veterinarian and have worked in England before setting up a veterinary clinic in Zambia. I’ve more than 30 years’ experience in the animal health sector and have held management roles in regional marketing, global marketing and business development in Zambia, Kenya, France and the United States.
1970s
Peter Lloyd, BA Accountancy/Business/Economics 1976
Following a career in local government finance, I retired to Malta with my wife and golden Labrador, Rory. I am busy setting up Malta Microfinance (based on the Grameen Bank) to give small loans to the poor, targeting women and migrants.
Joe Coten, BA English & French 1976
I’m now living in south west France between Bordeaux and Toulouse and commuting to London for financial consultancy business. I’m married to Nina and we were blessed with Alice Rose in 2011, who keeps us young...and on our toes!
Paul Martin, BA General 1973
I left UK legal work far behind four years ago. I can now be messaged through Twitter on Yorkiepjm, where all contact is welcomed.
Looking to get in contact
The following alumni are not in contact with the University so we were unable to put University friends back in touch.
Sue Veszpremi (née Pettit), BSc Psychology 1977 would like to get in touch with Joan Fraser, BSc Psychology 1977. Sue’s email is sue.veszpremi@hotmail.co.uk
Suzanne Sitzes Mersch, Visiting Student 1986 is looking for Caroline Davies, BA (Hons) Hispanic Studies 1986 and Leslie Grant, BA Business Studies 1988. Suzanne’s email is suzanne_mersch@dell.com
If you know where any of these people are, email alumni@stir.ac.uk and we'll put them back in touch.
Deaths
The University regrets to announce the following deaths, and offers its condolences to family and friends.
Private Robert Murray Hetherington, BSc Environmental Geography 2010
Laura Mackay, BA (Hons) Professional Education (Secondary) 2010
Martin Rossi, BA Sports Studies 2009
Robert McCall, Cert TQFE 2004
Gillian Wallace, Diploma Social Work Studies 1999
Kelly Mullan, BA Film & Media Studies 1998
Professor Donald Harris, DUniv 1998
Professor Peter Walker, DUniv 1987
Professor John Cairney, BSc (Hons) Biology 1983
Scott Boliver, Visiting Student 1983
Professor Chinua Achebe, DUniv 1974
Professor James Muir, former member of staff
Professor James Trainer, retired member of staff