Read time: 7 mins
Almost every day our campus welcomes distinguished guests, from experts in their field and members of the King’s alumni community to famous faces and household names. Catch up on who has visited campus this past year in this spotlight round-up. Just click through to read the article in full, see more pictures, watch videos and listen to podcasts.
Angela RaynerWhy are so few women at the forefront of the political spectrum, how might a more diverse representation be achieved – and does it matter? Julia Gillard, Australia’s only female Prime Minister, talked to Labour Party Deputy Leader Angela Rayner to get to the bottom of why women aren’t getting to the top.
Rishi SunakPrime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke about the UK’s relationship with China at May’s London Defence Conference, hosted for security and political experts by King’s School of Security Studies. There, he told delegates of the challenges faced by Ukraine, just days after standing shoulder to shoulder with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 summit in Japan.
Her Royal Highness The Princess RoyalHaving opened the Cicely Saunders Institute in May 2010, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was welcomed back in February 2023, when she paid tribute to the team at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, who showcased how they are integrating research with clinical care and education.
David CameronForeign Secretary and former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron posted on Twitter that he had ‘thoroughly enjoyed meeting @KingsCollegeLon students’ as part of the Strand Group’s popular guest speaker programme. Students also quizzed Tony Blair’s one-time spokesperson, press secretary and Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell about New Labour and life behind the famous black door.
John KerryDelivering the 2022 Fulbright Distinguished Lecture, the first US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, addressed the urgency of global climate action, presenting new research by the Policy Institute at King’s College London and Ipsos on the public’s perceptions of environmental sustainability, and aligning with King’s contributions to tackling the challenge.
Vikram DoraiswamiAhead of September 2023’s G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in New Delhi, India’s High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami was a guest at the King’s India Institute, giving a keynote lecture and leading a panel discussion. He explained how maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships is key to India’s foreign policy and trade relations.
Vadym PrystaikoA year after the invasion of Ukraine, King’s screened the final episode of the three-part BBC series Putin vs the West and invited documentary makers Norma Percy and Tim Stirzaker to deliberate it with British diplomat Mark Sedwill, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko and Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s.
Dr Megan RossiFood brand Bio&Me was recently introduced in King’s Food cafes. It’s all down to a unique partnership with renowned dietician and gut expert Dr Megan Rossi to offer staff and students access to nutrition-packed, health-promoting yet also lip-smacking meals on campus – all based on King’s own research from the Department of Nutritional Sciences.
Chris SkidmoreTo celebrate the launch of King’s Net Zero Centre – part of the university’s ongoing commitment to responding to the climate challenge – academics from across disciplines joined a panel event alongside leading voices and policymakers from business, industry and government, including MP Chris Skidmore, chair of the Independent Government Review on Net Zero.
Penny WongThe School of Security Studies welcomed two distinguished guests as it launched its Indo-Pacific Programme – ‘the first of its kind in the UK’, according to Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong. She was joined by MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, on a panel discussing foreign policy and strategic cooperation.
Laviai NielsenDedicating yourself to more than one life goal is what decorated track and field athlete Laviai Nielsen (Geography, 2018) spoke to students and new graduates about in September 2023 as part of the King’s Edge Festival. In addition to the interview, there was an audience Q&A and a competitive game, run by King’s Sport & Wellness.
Graduation marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and perseverance. The ceremonies offer a moment for each and every student to reflect on their achievements, and to celebrate with friends, family and fellow scholars.
Congratulating this summer’s graduates were, for the first time, guest alumni speakers prominent in their field. They offered insights and advice to the next generation of King’s leaders and changemakers during presentations at the Royal Festival Hall and Southwark Cathedral.
Award-winning dentist and recent past-president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Simon Chard has featured in GQ magazine and on Dragons’ Den. His message for graduates from the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences was: take calculated risks to push boundaries and chart new paths of innovation, and welcome failure – ‘fail your way to success’.
Dr Sara Hanna’s speech resonated deeply with Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine students as she spoke of her own experience since graduating in 1992. Working for over 20 years in children’s services at Guy’s and St Thomas’, she is now medical director of Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
‘Don’t stop reading. Don’t stop listening. And most importantly, don’t stop caring’ – these wise words for graduates of the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy came from award-winning science journalist and author Angela Saini. She completed her master’s at King’s in 2008 – ‘a life-changing experience’, she acknowledged.
Olaidé Christiana Olumide studied International Politics, graduating in 2013, and received a King’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2021. A government adviser, she champions diversity within the Civil Service and implored graduates to make a positive impact: ‘Challenge the status quo, question assumptions, and never shy away from voicing your convictions.’
Chris Sheldrick studied classical music at King’s and graduated in 2003. After losing the use of two fingers in an accident, his performance career transitioned to music event management. Let down by traditional GPS coordinates, What3Words, one of the UK’s most successful startups, was born. He told graduates: ‘Earning your degree here sets you up for life, but perhaps in ways you haven’t expected.’
Bestselling author, former Children’s Laureate, and French & English Class of 1967, Sir Michael Morpurgo surprised graduates by singing from War Horse and sharing with them: ‘It’s a strange thing to say, but one of the most valuable life lessons I learnt at King’s was how to cope with failure.’
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience graduates were gifted some thought-provoking advice: ‘Be reassured that you can change direction … use your training and knowledge from King’s in varied ways.’ Dr Christian Jarrett himself turned to writing after graduating in 2000 with a Neuroscience master’s and now edits Psyche magazine.
Sheila Atim left King’s in 2013 with a degree in Biomedical Sciences – and became a double Olivier Award-winning actor, musician and writer. Her star insight at the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine graduation ceremony? ‘We’re all the sum of our endeavours and experiences. The possibilities could well be endless.’
Faculty of Natural Mathematical & Engineering Sciences graduates listened intently as Dr Zoe Laughlin described her work as all about the art, craft, engineering and science of ‘stuff’. A designer, material scientist and broadcaster, and co-founder and director of the Institute of Making, her work has been shown at the Science Museum in London and is included in the permanent collection of the Design Museum.
Ella Marchment, International Opera Awards director and Shenandoah Conservatory’s youngest associate professor, graduated in Music in 2014. Her speech galvanised Faculty of Arts & Humanities students: ‘You can be the change that you want to see in the world, and King’s will be with you every step of the way.’
Award-winning health-tech entrepreneur Devika Wood graduated in 2013 with a degree in Human Sciences and was named in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2018 and recognised in the King’s Distinguished Alumni Awards in 2019. At the final ceremony this summer, she urged graduates to be inspired – but also to inspire others.
The newest Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine graduates received encouragement from consultant and TV presenter Dr Ranj Singh. Having specialised in paediatric emergency medicine since graduating in 2003, he has fronted BAFTA-winning shows including CBeebies’ Get Well Soon and written bestsellers, including How To Grow Up and Feel Amazing!
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The King’s Distinguished Alumni Awards recognise alumni and students who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, civic leadership, or service to...
Look through our photo gallery reflecting on Queen Elizabeth’s reign and long, valued relationship with King’s.
Congratulations. Keep going on. King’s College London from the beginning always at the forefront.
It is very encouraging for those of us alumni who have already retired from the work we began when we left Kings to learn what is happening now to greatly expand the contribution Kings is making to the wellbeing of the planet. In the present times so much seems to be going backward, seeing so much progress replenishes our hopefulness.