Alumni News in Brief…
King’s Birthday Honours
Our congratulations to Alison Giles (1984 Modern Languages), Director of Security for Parliament, who has been appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) for Parliamentary and Public Service in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.
Slovenian Citizenship
A Master of Wine specialising in Central and Eastern Europe, Caroline Gilby (1982 Botany) has been granted citizenship of Slovenia via extraordinary naturalisation in recognition of her work with Slovenian wine for more than 20 years and for her “exceptional contribution to the development of the Republic of Slovenia and the increase of international reputation or recognition of the Republic of Slovenia.”
Duathlon Championships
Guy Collender (1998 Modern History) made his international sporting debut when he represented Great Britain in the European Duathlon Championships in Rumia, Poland, on 26 April. He competed in the open category for 45-49-year-olds in the run-bike-run event, and came twenty-first in his age group. Guy completed the course (5 kilometre run, 20 kilometre bike ride, 2.5 kilometre run) in 1 hour and 4 minutes. He also explored the nearby Baltic Sea port of Gdansk and its shipyard – the birthplace of the Solidarity movement. Guy is a historian at the Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures, University of Portsmouth.
Photo credit: Stuart Gillespie
Cybersecurity Fund
Set up as a cybersecurity seed fund, Osney Capital was founded by Paul Wilkes (2018 EMBA), alongside Oxford alumni Joshua Walter and Adam Cragg. In April, Osney Capital launched their first fund of £50 million to invest in entrepreneurs and innovators revolutionising the cybersecurity landscape. This is the UK’s first sector-specialist venture capital fund focused exclusively on the early-stage cyber sector in this country, aiming to invest in approximately 30 UK cybersecurity start-ups.
Poetry Prize
Currently pursuing a Writing Poetry MA at Newcastle University and Poetry School, London, Suzanna Fitzpatrick (1994 English) was awarded this year’s Newcastle University Chancellor’s Poetry Prize, making her the winner of the accolade two years running. Suzanna received the award for her entry Repair, which can be read here.
