On Thursday 05 June, the UCL School of Management hosted its first-ever Alumni Volunteer Celebration, bringing alumni and student leaders together to celebrate those who generously volunteer their time and expertise to support the School and enrich the student experience.
Held during Volunteers’ Week, an annual campaign that recognises the vital role of volunteers, the event was filled with warmth, gratitude, and a strong sense of connection. Attendees came together to share their experiences and build relationships with fellow volunteers and staff from across the School of Management.
The evening began with opening remarks from Tim Ruthven, Director of External Engagement, who reflected on the power and reach of the School’s global volunteer network. Over the past academic year alone, more than 190 alumni from 34 cities contributed over 600 hours to initiatives such as career panels, recruitment events, speed networking sessions, and more. Tim emphasised that while the scale of engagement is impressive, the true value lies in the human connections, insights, and encouragement that alumni offer to current and prospective students as they navigate their next steps.
This sentiment was brought to life by three alumni speakers: Oleksandra Petrova, Rey Syuen Wang Yeh, and Yasmin Greenaway, who shared the unique ways they’ve supported the School of Management and the wider UCL community. Oleksandra spoke about introducing Svitlo School to the BSc Information Management for Business community through the Consult for Good Design Sprint. Svitlo School became a case study for 80 students, providing an opportunity for Oleksandra to demonstrate the ways in which she has applied her business insight to the charity sector. She shared how volunteering has helped her bring together different aspects of her life while making a meaningful impact.
Rey discussed his experience supporting students through career panels and the SoM Alumni Connect programme, a pilot scheme that pairs alumni with one or two current students for short-term career insights and guidance. He noted that, as a student, he had benefitted greatly from the UCL network and now feels a strong sense of duty to give back by offering guidance on career paths, such as his own in reinsurance, that students may not have otherwise considered.
Yasmin echoed this commitment, crediting the support she received from UCL as instrumental in her development, first as an employee in financial services, and now as the founder of Dermie.Ai. She spoke about the lasting impact of having someone believe in your potential and described her dedication to nurturing emerging talent through speaking at events such as the recent ElevateHer panel and working as a supervisor for UCL Computer Science students.
The evening concluded with remarks from Gerard Jones, Senior Alumni and Supporter Programme Manager at UCL Advancement, who expressed appreciation for the School’s vibrant volunteer community. He encouraged alumni to explore further opportunities to get involved across UCL, emphasising that the role of alumni as community builders will be more important than ever as the university approaches its bicentenary.
Express your interest in volunteering for the School of Management or find out more about wider UCL volunteering opportunities.
