# Who studied here?
**Source**: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/alumni-community/doc/who-studied-here
**Parent**: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/alumni
A prime minister, world leading scientists, bestselling writers, leaders in healthcare and celebrity actors – discover the Leeds graduates making waves around the globe.
## Notable alumni by field of work
### Acting
- **Michael Ahomka-Lindsay** (ND Medicine) – Newsies, Cabaret
- **Liz Carr** (Dip Disability Studies 1994) – Silent Witness; Disability Rights Campaigner; Writer and Presenter, Better off Dead; Olivier
- **Hugh Coles** (Theatre and Performance 2014) – Baby Reindeer, My Oxford Year
- **Jack Fox** (Theology and Religious Studies 2008) – Cheaters, Sanditon
- **Danny Kirrane** (Physics 2006) – Baby Reindeer, The Serpent Queen
- **Emma Mackey** (English 2016) – Barbie, Hot Milk, Sex Education; BAFTA
- **Paige Peddie** (Theatre and Performance 2018) – Oklahoma, Dreamgirls
- **Kate Phillips** (Theatre and Performance 2010) – Peaky Blinders, Downton Abbey, Miss Scarlet and the Duke
- **Chris Pine** (JYA English 2001) – Dungeons and Dragons, Star Trek; Director
- **Ekow Quartey** (Theatre and Performance 2011) – Globe Theatre; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
### Art and design
- **Sophie Ashby** (History of Art 2010) – Interior Designer
- **Caroline Douglas** (French and Spanish 1983) – Director, Contemporary Art Society
- **Luke Farookhi** (History of Art 2010) – Political Cartoonist, The Spectator
- **Sarah-Joy Ford** (Fine Art 2015) – Textiles Artist
- **Paul Gray** (Geography 1995) – Deputy Director, Chief Operating Officer, The National Gallery
- **Helen Little** (MA Art History 2004) – Curator: British Art, Tate International Partnerships
- **Marcus Lyon** (Political Studies 1987) – Photographer
- **Sara MacKillop** (Fine Art 1996) – Artist
- **Rosalind McKever** (History of Art 2005) – Curator, Paintings and Drawings, V&A; Author
- **Elizabeth Price** (PhD Fine Art 1999) – Video Artist; Turner Prize
- **Angela Summerfield** (Fine Art 1983) – Artist; Art Historian
- **Syrago Tsiara** (MA History of Art 1991) – Director, National Gallery, Athens
### Books
- **Rose Cartwright** (English 2008) – Pure, The Maps We Carry; Screenwriter; Co-founder, Made of Millions
- **Louise Doughty** (English 1984) – A Bird in Winter; Screenwriter; Fellow, Royal Society of Literature
- **Tananarive Due** (MA English 1988) – African Immortals; Podcaster; Academic; American Book award
- **Matt Haig** (MA English 1998) – The Life Impossible, The Midnight Library
- **Alison Joseph** (French and Philosophy 1981) – Detective Novelist; Radio Dramatist
- **Alex North** (Philosophy 1998) – The Whisper Man
- **Gervase Phinn** (Education 1970) – The Dales Series; Educationalist
- **Helen Rappaport** (Russian and Slavonic Studies 1970, Hon DLitt 2017) – After the Romanovs; Historian
- **Hallie Rubenhold** (History 1995, MPhil 1997) – The Five; Broadcaster; Social Historian
- **Amy Sackville** (English and Theatre Studies 2002) – Orkney; Fellow, Royal Society of Literature
### Charity and not-for-profits
- **Hamra Alam** (Modern Arabic Studies 1998) – Director, World Women Wellbeing
- **Alison Garnham** (Philosophy and Psychology 1980) – Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action
- **Panut Hadisiswoyo** (MA Communication Studies 2003) – Founding Director, Orangutan Information Centre, Indonesia; South East Asia Hub Director, Lush
- **Heba Hagrass** (PhD Social Policy and Sociology 2010) – Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UN Human Rights Council
- **Ellen Hill** (Psychology 2003) – Operations Manager, Yorkshire MESMAC
- **Rebecca Klein** (Zoology 1995) – Managing Director, Cheetah Conservation Botswana
- **Matthew Layton** (Law 1982) – Chair, Tender
- **Helen Lennon** (MBA 2013) – Chief Executive, Connect Housing
- **Florence Ndagire** (International and European Human Rights Law 2014) – Human Rights Policy Advisor, World Blind Union
- **Fiona Spellman** (Economics and Politics 2008) – Chief Executive, SHINE: Support and Help in Education
- **Emily Yates** (MA Disability Studies 2015) – Co-founder, Association of British Commuters; Writer
### Digital media and podcasts
- **Zoe Blaskey** (Economics 2004) – Podcaster, Motherkind; Transformational Coach; Author
- **Christina Capatides** (JYA Communication Studies 2008) – Vice President, Social Media and Trending Content, CBS News
- **Rev Richard Coles** (MA Theology and Religious Studies 2005) – Podcaster; Novelist; Former Communard
- **Rowan Collinson** (History 2001) – Senior Audience Development and Editorial Manager - Podcasts, Spotify
- **Judith Holder** (English 1976) – Podcaster, Older and Wider; Television Producer; Comedy Writer
- **Jamie Laing** (Theatre and Performance 2011) – Podcaster; Radio Presenter; Founder, Candy Kittens
- **Alice Levine** (English 2008) – Podcaster, including My Dad Wrote a Porno with **James Cooper** (History 2008), **Jamie Morton** (Communications Studies 2008); Co-founder, Crossed Wires Podcast Festival; Broadcaster
- **Nicola Mendelsohn** CBE (English and Theatre Studies 1992, Hon LLD 2017) – Head of Global Business Group, Meta
- **Col Needham** (Computer Science 1988) – Founder, IMDb
- **Alex Solomou** (Management 2013) – Founder, LADbible Group
- **Pandora Sykes** (English 2009) – Podcaster; Author; Journalist
### Entertainment
- **Miles Baron** (MBA 1999) – Chief Executive, The Bingo Association
- **Jack Barry** (Chinese and International Relations 2011) – Comedian; Actor
- **Stuart Galbraith** (ND Biophysics and Microbiology) – CEO, Kilimanjaro Live
- **Nathan Kosky** (Political Studies 1994) – Vice President, Europe, Global Partnerships, AEG
- **James Martin** (Design 2023) – Charra Tea Drag Performer
- **Alistair McGowan** (English 1986) – Impressionist; Actor; Pianist
- **Ben Roberts** (English 1997) – CEO, British Film Institute
- **Katie (Twiggy) Rowley** (English 2014) – Music Manager, Charli XCX; Co-founder of Project Gold Talent Management
- **Jenny Ryan** (Law 2005) – Chaser, The Chase; Singer
- **Wilf Walsh** (Law 1983) – Chair, The Racecourse Association
### Fashion
- **Patrick Grant** (Materials Science and Engineering 1994) – Designer; Sustainability Campaigner; Presenter, Great British Sewing Bee
- **Leon Gray** (English 2008) – Founder, The 35 Consultancy
- **Olivia von Halle** (Textile and Fashion Management 2007) – Loungewear Designer
- **Tatiana Hambro** (English 2011) – Editorial Director, Moda Operandi
- **Georgiana Huddart** (Fine Art and Cultural Studies 2009) – Co-founder and Designer, Hunza G
- **Tom Hunt** (Law 2004) – Director of Global Growth, COS
- **Joel Jeffery** (Geography and Sociology 2010) – CEO, Desmond and Dempsey
- **Daisy Knatchbull** (Philosophy 2015) – CEO and Founder, Knatchbull
- **Tsz Yan (Joey) Kong** (MBA 2014) – Managing Director, Ma Petite J Bespoke Jewellery; Founding Partner, Zentrium
- **Pierre Milchior** (Textile Industries 1954) – President, Etam
- **Averyl Oates** (Music 1984) – Fashion Brand Advisor
### Film and television production
- **Peter Bowker** (English and Philosophy 1981) – Writer, World on Fire, The A Word; BAFTA
- **Liz Clare** (Classics 1994) – Multi-camera Director; BAFTA
- **Chris Clough** (English 1974) – Producer, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, BAFTA
- **Sarah Collinson** (English 2008) – Producer, Director, Fearless: The Women Fighting Putin; BAFTA
- **Neil Cross** (English and Theology 1994, MA English 1995) – Creator, Producer, Writer, Luther
- **Kwadjo Dajan** (Communications Studies 2000) – Producer; BAFTA
- **Jane Featherstone** (German and History 1991, Hon DLitt 2019) – Co-founder, CCO, Sister Pictures; Producer; Emmy, BAFTAs
- **Peter Morgan** CBE (History of Art 1985, Hon DLitt 2016) – Screenwriter, Producer, The Crown; BAFTAs, Emmys
- **James Reed** (Zoology 2000) – Director, Shark Whisperer, My Octopus Teacher; Oscar
- **Diederick Santer** (Psychology 1991) – Commissioning Editor, Sky
- **Ben Winston** (Broadcasting Studies 2004) – Producer, The Kardashians, Olympics Ceremony; Emmys
### Finance
- **Karen Ashworth** (Medical Sciences 1997) – Chief Financial Officer, Waterstones
- **Amanda Blanc** DBE (MBA 1999) – Group CEO, Aviva; Member, National Wealth Fund Taskforce
- **Fiona Cannon** OBE (English 1985) – Group Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Lloyds Banking Group
- **Stephen Daintith** (Economics and Accounting 1985) – Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, Ocado
- **Joanna Goff** (Accounting and Finance 2000) – Chief Financial Officer, Morrisons
- **Liza Kellett** (Portuguese and Spanish 1988, MA Business 1998) – Chief Executive, Trust Leeds
- **Sheikh Bilal Khan** (Law 2004) – Global Head of Islamic Finance, McCarthy Denning
- **Rachel Lord** (International History and Politics 1987) – Senior Managing Director, Head of International, BlackRock
- **Justin Platt** (Economics 1992) – CEO, Marstons
- **Jennifer Riria** (MA Education 1979) – CEO, Kenya Women Holding Group
- **Fatima Yakubu** (MSc Financial Risk Management 2013) – Senior Investment Manager, OPEC
- **Derek Yung** (Civil Engineering 1984) – CEO, Prudential Hong Kong
### Food
- **Robin Clough** (Biological Sciences 2012) – CEO, Tequila Enemigo
- **Jamie Crummie** (Law 2014) – Co-founder and Director, Too Good to Go
- **James Elliot** (Popular and World Music 2008) – Co-founder, Pizza Pilgrims
- **Frankie Haynes** (MSc Management 2006) – Omnichannel Director, Hotel Chocolat
- **Alison Johnson** (Animal Sciences 1996) – Managing Director, Food Forensics
- **Ryan Kohn** (Cert HE Management and Philosophy 2005) – Co-founder, Propercorn
- **Paul Nieduszynski** (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1997) – Chief Executive, Sysco GB
- **Toby Pickard** (Environment 2004) – Retail Futures Senior Partner, Institute of Grocery Distribution
- **Justin Platt** (Economics 1992) – CEO, Marston
- **Daniel Ritsema** (Biological Sciences 2012) – Co-founder, Managing Director, Cranes Drinks
- **Jon Steers** (Economics and Mathematics 1991) – Director, Corporate Development, Associated British Foods
### Health
- **Arash Angadji** (Electronic and Communications Engineering 2003; MSc Medical Engineering and Biomechanics 2004) – Chief Executive, Orthopaedic Research UK
- **Justin Ash**(Politics and International Studies 1987) – CEO, Spire Healthcare
- **Jim Campbell** (MPH 2008) – Director, Health Workforce, World Health Organization
- **Stella Chungong** (MPH 2005) – Director, Health Security Preparedness Emergency Programme, World Health Organization
- **Catherine Francois** (French and Management Studies 1997) – Director, Food Advisory Services and Consulting, NSF International
- **Gillian Leng** CBE (BSc Medicine 1982, MBChB 1987, MD 1994, Hon DSc 2022) – President, Royal Society of Medicine
- **Emma Marczylo** (PhD Biochemistry 2003) – Principal Toxicologist, UK Health Security Agency
- **Shane Mills** (DipHE Nursing 1997) – Group Director of Nursing, Cygnet
- **Andrea Sweeney** (Politics and International Studies 2012) – UN Advocacy Director, International Rescue Committee
- **Susan Thomas** (MBChB 1995) – Clinical Director, Google Health
- **Alison Wright** (MBChB 1990) – President Elect, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
### Health sciences
- **Rachel Barnett** (Medical Sciences 2005) – Operations Scientist, Johnson and Johnson
- **Dominic Behan** (Biochemistry 1986) – CEO, Sentia Medical Sciences
- **Nick Edmunds** (Pharmacology 1995) – Chief Development Officer, CHARM Therapeutics
- **Yvonne Greenstreet** (Medicine 1985) – CEO, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
- **Ian Hirsch** (Mathematics 1993) – Head of Biometrics, Vaccines and Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca
- **Bing Hou** (PhD Biomedicine 2015) – Executive Director of Drug Discovery, Antengene
- **Hazel Jones** (PhD Biochemistry 1999) – COO, Ambrose Healthcare
- **Ben Osborn** (Sport and Exercise Science 1998) – President, International Commercial Market, Pfizer
- **Janine Small** (Chemistry 1985) – President, International Developed Markets, Pfizer
- **Mark Wigglesworth** (PhD Biochemistry and Microbiology 2001) – CEO and Co-founder, Alderley Park Lighthouse Lab
### Industry
- **Michèle Dix** CBE (Civil Engineering 1976, PhD Transport Studies 1982) – Member, National Infrastructure Commission
- **Ollie Folayan** MBE (PhD Fuel and Energy 2002) – Deputy President, Institution of Chemical Engineers; Head of Process Engineering, Costain Group; Co-founder, Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers
- **Steve Foots** (MBA 1994) – CEO, Croda International
- **David Freedman** (Business 1995) – Chief Operating Officer, Beyer Blinder Belle
- **John Hirst** CBE (Economics 1973) – Chairman, British Standards Institution
- **Asif Hussain** (MEng Chemical Engineering 2016) – Chief Operations Director, Clean Power Hydrogen
- **Christina King** (MBA 2005) – Chief Commercial Officer, Tribosonics
- **Shradha Suri Marwah** (MSc Marketing Management 1999) – Chairperson, Subros Limited; President ACMA India
- **Victoria Phillips** (Biology and History and Philosophy of Science 2014) – Group Head of Airport Procurement Programmes, International Airlines Group
- **Juan Flores Preciado** (PhD Mechanical Engineering 2010) – Principal Engineer, Surface Engineering, SpaceX
- **Rachel Skinner**CBE (MSc Transport Planning and Engineering 2001, Hon LLD 2022) – Managing Director, WSP, UK and Ireland
### Influencers
- **Rosie Birkett** (English 2005) – Food and Drink @rosiefoodie
- **Victoria Brewood** (Communications Studies 2008) – Travel Blogger @pommietravels
- **Rhona Eskander** (BChD Dental Surgery 2010) – Dentist @drrhonaeskander
- **Lizzy Hadfield** (History of Art 2015) – Fashion @lizzyhadfield
- **Ben Heath** (Communications Studies 2010) – Blogger @Twentyfirstcenturygent
- **Sorav Jain** (MSc International Marketing Management 2008) – Digital Marketing @soravjain
- **Bita Jedo** (Digital Media 2018) – Global Celebrity and Influencer Lead, Bumble
- **Savi Munjal** (English 2012) – Travel @bruisedpassports
- **Emma Sheldon** (Broadcast Journalism 2016) – Fitness and Fashion @emshelx
- **Natalie Tewa** (Civil Engineering 2016) – Travel and Lifestyle @natalietewa
- **Gem Turner** (Communications Studies 2014) – Disabilities @gem\_turner
### International government and diplomacy
- **Mansoor Abulhoul** (Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies 1997) – UAE Ambassador to UK
- **Chinua Alleyne** (MA Health Management, Planning and Policy 2013) – Mayor, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
- **Alison Blackburne** (French and Russian 1987) – UK Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Horn of Africa
- **Catherine Connolly** (MSc Clinical Psychology 1981) – President, Ireland
- **Josephine Gauld** (Italian and Philosophy 1996) – British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone
- **Stephen Hitchen** (MA International Studies 1991, PhD 1996) – British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
- **Isaac Maigua Mwaura** (MA Social and Public Policy 2012) – Government Spokesperson, Kenya
- **Tareque Muhammad** (MA Politics and International Studies 2002) – Bangladesh Ambassador to Netherlands
- **Mohamed Muizzu** (PhD Civil Engineering 2009) – President, The Maldives
### Journalism – broadcast
- **Nancy Kacungira** (MA Communication Studies 2009) – Presenter, Correspondent, BBC News
- **Helen Lawal** (Sports Science 2007) – Presenter, Food Unwrapped; Nutritionist; Ambassador ADHD UK
- **James Mates** (International History and Politics 1983) – Europe Editor, ITV News
- **Naga Munchetty** (English 1997) – Presenter, BBC Breakfast, BBC 5 Live
- **Jacqui Oatley** MBE (German 1996) – Sports Presenter; Journalist; Ambassador, Women in Football
- **Richard Quest** (Law 1983) – Correspondent, Host, Quest Means Business, CNN
- **Anita Rani** (Broadcasting 2000, Hon LLD 2023) – Presenter, BBC Woman’s Hour, Countryfile; Author; Producer
- **Steve Rosenberg** (Russian 1991) – Russia Editor, Moscow Correspondent, BBC
- **Kim Rowell** (Broadcast Journalism 2006) – Managing Editor, News, ITN; Author; Podcaster, Women of the Future
- **Fergus Walsh** (English 1983) – Medical Editor, BBC
- **Anna Woolhouse** (Music 2005) – Boxing and Darts Presenter, Sky Sports
### Journalism – print
- **Martin Adams** (English 1997) – Executive Editor, Education, The Economist
- **Kunle Barker** (MA Human Resource Management 1996) – Writer; Broadcaster; Property Expert
- **Henry Gee** (Genetics and Zoology 1984) – Senior Editor, Nature; Author, A Very Short History of Life on Earth
- **Charlotte Griffiths** (Politics and International Studies 2007) – Editor-at-Large, Mail on Sunday
- **Charlotte Hardie** (English 2000) – Editor-in-Chief, Retail Week
- **Amelia Hill** (English 1996) – Senior Reporter, The Guardian
- **John Leicester** (Modern Chinese Studies 1991) – International Sports Columnist, Associated Press
- **Jay Rayner** (Politics 1987) – Restaurant Critic, Feature Writer, Financial Times; Broadcaster
- **David Smith** (English and Sociology 1996) – Washington Bureau Chief, The Guardian
- **Camilla Tominey** (Law 1999) – Associate Editor, Politics and Royals, The Telegraph; Broadcaster
- **Damian Whitworth** (History 1990) – Feature Writer, The Times, The Sunday Times
### Law
- **Martin Collinson** (History 1987) – Company Secretary, Torque
- **Darryl Cooke** (Law 1993) – Founder, Executive Chairman, gunnercooke
- **Audrey Heng** (Law 2005) – Principal Legal Counsel, JTC Singapore
- **Susan Kirsch** (Biochemistry 1986) – Partner, Carpmaels and Ransford
- **James Libson** (English and Arabic 1987) – Managing Partner; Mishcon de Reya
- **Alison Saunders** DCB (Law 1982) – Dispute Resolution Partner, Linklaters
- **Terry Styant** (Management and Philosophy 1990) – Associate General Counsel, Balfour Beatty
- **Kadambari Verma** (Law 2002) – Managing Director, Senior Counsel, Legal Division, Goldman Sachs
- **Sarah Waterland** (Law 1988) – Head of Legal, Holland & Barrett
- **Victoria Whyte** (Textiles 1989) – Company Secretary, GSK
### Marketing
- **Emma Banks** (English 1990) – Vice President, Food and Beverage Strategy and Development EMEA, Hilton
- **Dave Chaffey** (PhD Earth Sciences 1989) – Co-founder, Smart Insights; Author
- **Josh Clarkson** (HCert Theoretical and Mathematical Physics 2012, History 2015) – Global Retail Media Director, Mars
- **Jiang Da** (MA Communication and Media Studies 2007) – Head of Marketing, Hasbro / Entertainment One Shanghai
- **Laura Dyer** (English 2005) – Senior Vice-President of Global Marketing, SharkNinja
- **Amber Kirby** (Management 2002) – Marketing Director, Channel 4
- **Anya Du Sauzay** (Communication Studies 2008) – Head of Marketing, Warner Music Group
### Music
- **Corinne Bailey Rae** (English 2000, Hon DMus 2011) – Solo Artist, Grammy
- **Jasmine Chen** (Music 2004) – Jazz Singer
- **David Gedge** (Mathematics 1981) – The Wedding Present, Cinerama
- **Lina Jonsson** (MPhys 2013) – Techno DJ aka SPFDJ
- **Jon King** (Fine Art 1978), **Hugo Burnham** (English 1978), **Andy Gill** (Fine Art 1979) – Gang of Four
- **Mark Knopfler** OBE (English 1973, Hon DMus 1995) – Solo Artist, Formerly Dire Straits; BRIT, Grammys; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- **Jamie Lambert** (Spanish 2012) – Singer, Collabro, and Solo; Theatre Producer, Lambert Jackson Productions
- **Bill Laurance** (Music 2003) – Multi-instrumentalist, Snarky Puppy; Composer; Grammy
- **Simon Rix** (Geography and Mathematics 2000) and **Vijay Mistry** (Chemistry 2000) – Kaiser Chiefs, BRIT
- **Jonathan Scratchley** (Music 2006), **Toby Davies** (English 2007), **Niall Lavelle** (French 2008) – Gentleman’s Dub Club
- **Dan Smith** (English 2007) – Bastille; Songwriter; Producer; BRIT
- **Testament** (English 2000) – Hip Hop DJ; Beatboxer; Theatre Maker; Poet
### Poetry
- **Beth Calverley** (English 2015) – Founder, The Poetry Machine
- **Sarah Corbett** (English and Sociology 1992) – Poet; Academic
- **Ian Duhig** (English and History of Art 1977) – Poet; Fellow, Royal Society of Literature
- **Linda France** (English and History 1979) – Poet; Writer; Editor
- **Jon Glover** (Philosophy and English 1965, MPhil Philosophy 1969) – Poet; Editor
- **Khadijah Ibrahiim** (MA Theatre Studies 2001, Hon DLitt 2025) – Poet; Theatre Maker; Founder, Artistic Director, Leeds Young Authors
- **Susan Kiguli** (PhD English 2004) – Poet; Academic
- **Madeleine Lee** (Economics 1984) – Poet; Investment Fund Manager
- **Niyi Osundare** (MA English 1974) – Poet; Dramatist; Academic; Linguist
- **Jeffrey Wainwright** (English 1967) – Poet; Critic; Translator
### Politics – UK
- **Sir Alan Campbell** (PGCE Education 1979) – MP Tynemouth, Leader, House of Commons
- **Daisy Cooper** (Law 2002) – MP St Albans; Deputy Leader, Liberal Democrats
- **Oliver Coppard** (Politics and Parliamentary Studies 2005) – Mayor, South Yorkshire
- **Judith Cummins** (Politics and Parliamentary Studies 1998) – Member of Parliament for Bradford South
- **Bill Esterson** (Mathematics and Philosophy 1990) – MP Sefton Central
- **Allison Gardner** (PGCE Biology and Science 1998) – MP Stoke-on-Trent South
- **Nusrat Ghani** (MA International Relations 1996) – MP Sussex Weald; Deputy Speaker, House of Commons
- **Emma Hardy** (PGCE 2013) – MP Hull West and Haltemprice
- **Peter Hendy** CBE (Economics and Geography 1975, Hon DLitt 2015) – Minister of State, Department for Transport
- **Janet Hughes** (English and Psychology 1997) – Director-General, Civil Service Efficiency and Reform, Cabinet Office
- **Leigh Ingham** (MA Politics 2015) – MP Stafford
- **Simon Lightwood** (Theatre Acting 2002, Bretton Hall) – MP Wakefield and Rothwell
- **Andy MacNae** (MSc Environmental Pollution Control 1994) – MP Rossendale and Darwen
- **Jess Phillips** (Economic and Social History and Social Policy 2003) – MP Birmingham Yardley
- **Usha Prashar** CBE (Political Studies 1970, Hon LLD 2004) – Member, House of Lords
- **Mark Sewards** (Law 2011) – MP Leeds South West and Morley
- **Alex Sobel** (Information Systems 1997) – MP Leeds Central and Headingley
- **Keir Starmer** KCB (Law 1985, Hon LLD 2012) – Prime Minister; Leader of Labour Party
- **Jon Trickett** (MA Political Sociology 1974) – MP Normanton and Hemsworth
### Retail
- **James Butterfield** (Management 2011) – Co-founder, Chilly’s bottles
- **Amy Hogarth** (Geography 2009) – Founder, Director, The CAHM Collective
- **Andy Jefferies** (Management 2011) – Co-founder, CEO, Dock & Bay
- **Joe Kourea** (Economics and Statistics 2004) – Director of Operations, Lidl
- **Oke Maduewesi** (Business 2010) – CEO, Zaron Cosmetics
- **Charlotte Meers** (Geography 2007) – Commercial Director, Ancient + Brave
- **Guy Orr** (Asia Pacific and Management Studies 2004) – Director, Mookie Toys
- **Sam Perkins** (History 2000) – CEO, Loaf
- **Peter Ruis** (History 1989) – Executive Director, John Lewis Partnership
- **Martin Scicluna** (Accounting 1973, Hon LLD 2008) – Chairman, J Sainsbury
- **Peter Semple** (English and Philosophy 2003) – Interim CEO, Depop
### Science
- **Michelle Bentham** (Earth Sciences 1998) – Chief Scientist, Decarbonisation and Resource Management, British Geological Survey
- **Richard Birley** (MSc, PhD Bioenergy 2020) – Group Manager, Materials Development and Powder Metallurgy, Materials Processing Institute
- **Jason Harcup** (PhD Physics 1997) – Chief Research and Development Officer, Unilever
- **Ondrej Krivanek** (Physics 1971, Hon DSc) – President, Nion, Electron-optical Instrumentalism, Kavli prize
- **Jerry Lord** (Mechanical Engineering 1983) – Principal Research Scientist, National Physical Laboratory
- **Matthias Maurer** (Erasmus, Materials Science 1993) – Astronaut, European Space Agency
- **Nigel Smith** (Physics 1985, PhD Physics and Astronomy 1991) – Executive Director, CEO, TRIUMF Particle Accelerator
- **Matthew Tipper** (Textiles 1999, PhD Textile Technology 2016) – CEO, NIRI
- **Arron Tolley** (PhD Molecular and Cellular Biology 2010) – CEO and **David Bunka** (PhD Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2003), Chief Scientific Officer, Aptamer Group
- **Simon Vosper** (Mathematics 1991, PhD 1991) – Science Director, Met Office
- **Keiko Wu** (Food Science 2001) – Director, Global Enhancers and International Hydration, PepsiCo
### Sport
- **Alistair Brownlee** MBE (Sport Science and Physiology 2009, Hon LLD 2013) – Member, IOC Athletes’ Commission; Triathlete, Olympic medals, World Champion
- **Jonny Brownlee** MBE (History 2012, Hon LLD 2013) – Triathlete, Olympic medals, World Champion
- **Claire Cashmore** MBE (Linguistics and Phonetics 2011, Hon LLD 2013) – Paralympic medals for Swimming and Triathlon, ITU World Champion
- **Cat Clements** (MPhil Social Policy and Sociology 2017) – Head of Disability, Sport England
- **Kenton Cool** (Earth Sciences 1994, Hon DLitt 2018) – Mountaineer
- **Kate Cross** (Psychology 2013) – Cricketer; Podcaster
- **Jodie Cunningham** (Medical Sciences 2013) – Rugby League Player; World Cup; Commentator
- **Josh de Caires** (Economics 2023) – Cricket Player, Middlesex
- **Tom Francis** (Mechanical Engineering 2013) – Rugby Union Player, Wales
- **Nick Gubbins** (Geography 2015) – Cricket Player, Hampshire
- **Zafar Iqbal** (Medical Sciences 1996) – Head of Sports Medicine and Performance, Arsenal FC
- **Alex Lozowski** (Economics 2014) – Rugby Union Player, Saracens
- **Phil Sesemann** (Medicine 2017) – Long-Distance Runner, Paris 2024 Olympic Marathon
- **Andrew Shovlin** (Mechanical Engineering 1995, PhD Mechanical Engineering 1999, Hon DSc Eng 2017) – F1 Trackside Engineering Director, Mercedes-AMG Petronas
- **Laura Sugar** MBE (Sport and Exercise Science 2012) – Paracanoist, Paralympics Medal, World Champion
### Stage production
- **Laura Bangay** (Music 2003) – Musical Director, Paddington the Musical, Starlight Express; Musician
- **Mike Bartlett** (English and Theatre Studies 2002) – Playwright, Juniper Blood; Stage Adapter, Chariots of Fire; Screenwriter, Doctor Foster
- **Jeremy Dyson** (Philosophy 1989) – Playwright, Ghost Stories; Screenwriter, Producer, The League of Gentlemen
- **John Godber** OBE (MA Theatre Studies 1979) – Playwright
- **Anuradha Kapur** (MA Drama and Theatre 1982, PhD 1982) – Director; Co-founder, Vivadi
- **Wayne McGregor** CBE (Choreography and Semiotics Bretton Hall 1991, Hon DLitt 2016) – Choreographer
- **Zodwa Nyoni** (MA Writing for Performance and Publication 2013) – Playwright; Poet
- **Katy Richardson** (Music 2014) – Musical Director, Bonnie and Clyde; UK Musical Supervisor, SIX
- **Katy Rudd** (Theatre and Performance 2009) – Director, Nanny McPhee, Ocean at the End of the Lane
- **Bart Sher** (MA Theatre Studies 1987) – Resident Director, Lincoln Centre Theatre; Tony
- **Wole Soyinka** (English 1957, Hon DLitt 1973) – Playwright; Poet; Essayist; Nobel prize for literature
### Technology
- **Eugenia Balysheva** (MA Communications Studies 2008) and **Bruno Sanguinetti** (PhD Physics 2009) – Founders, Dotphoton
- **Adam Beaumont** (Colour Chemistry 1993, PhD 1996) – Founder and Chairman, aql
- **Kyriakos Eleftheriou** (MSc Electronic and Electrical Engineering 2016) – CEO, Co-founder, Terra
- **Andrew Herbert** OBE FREng (Computational Science 1975) – Chair, National Museum of Computing
- **Paul Jones** (Computing 1990) – Senior Director of Customer Advisory, Northern Europe, SAS
- **Olga Kubassova** (PhD Computing 2008) – President and CEO, Image Analysis Group
- **Alison Lowndes** (Computing 2015) – Senior Scientist, Global AI, NVIDIA
- **Andrew Macaulay** (Operational Research and Computing 1991) – Chief Technology Officer, TMRW Sports
- **David Moss** (Mathematics 1997), Alastair Bathgate (MBA 1997) – Co-founders, Advisors, Blue Prism
- **Kareem Yusuf** (PhD Civil Engineering 1998) – Senior Vice President, Product Management and Growth, IBM
### Transport
- **Tony Caine** (Mechanical Engineering) – Director of Maintenance, British Airways
- **Caroline Chambers** (Chemistry 1994) – Program Director, McLaren Automotive
- **Clemence Cheng** (Computational Science and Management Studies 1984) – Managing Director, Europe Hutchison Ports
- **Anthony Eskinazi** (Mathematics 2005) – Founder and President, JustPark
- **Alex Hynes** (Economics 1998) – Chief Executive Officer, Department for Transport Operator
- **Charlie Jardine** (Design 2013) – Founder and President, EO Charging
- **Sid Lal** (MSc Mechanical Engineering 1997) – Managing Director, Eicher Motors
- **Daniel Sparks** (Economics 1994) – CEO Business Roadside, RAC
- **Shuhei Toyoda** (PhD Tribology 1977) – Chairman, Toyota Boshoku Corporation
- **Rob Watson** (International History and Politics 1991, International Studies 1994, PhD 1996) – President, Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace
- **Mark Wild** OBE (MBA 1997) – CEO, HS2 (High Speed Two)