Nottingham is more than a place. It shapes who we are and the people we become. It's a way of thinking and of being.
Your Nottingham Alumni Awards celebrate you – our alumni community – and share the stories of how you carry Nottingham's values into the world. No two paths or experiences are the same; that's what makes our community so special. Our awards are designed to reflect this rich diversity and the amazing contributions being made in so many different ways. The awards actively seek nominations of alumni from all communities, particularly those within often underrepresented groups.
Our 2026 winners
The hundreds of nominations we received this year were truly inspiring, spanning many different countries, sectors and achievements and demonstrating impact in such a huge range of spheres and communities. We're proud of the positive impact that our alumni make – meet our 2026 winners.
Mary Akugizibwe
(Public International Law, 2018)
Mary Akugizibwe is an International Policy Expert and former UN OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer, who has led strategic operations across more than 30 country offices. While a student at Nottingham, she founded the NGO Global Refugee Initiatives (GRI), providing a decade of voluntary leadership to a multifaceted mission across Education, Access to Justice, Economic Empowerment, and Health for refugees in Uganda. By bridging the gap between international law and field-level reality, Mary ensures that institutional frameworks, from legal protections to digital governance, serve the most vulnerable. Her career embodies the university’s values of inclusivity and bold ambition in the pursuit of dignified refugee responses and principled humanitarian action.
Juliana Brandão
(International Commercial Law, 2017)
Juliana Brandão is a researcher, lawyer and educator with a PhD in Environment and Resources, and extensive experience across academia, law and international organisations. She currently serves as a National Project Officer at the International Labour Organization (ILO), working on issues related to labour rights and decent work. A specialist in modern slavery, supply chain transparency, and policy analysis in the Brazilian Amazon, her work has been shedding light on the lives of vulnerable workers in global supply chains, advancing justice and dignity for marginalised communities. She is a recipient of the MapBiomas Award 2024 and has published widely on labour rights, indigenous communities, and human rights in Brazil.
Ujjaini Chatterji
(Human Rights Law, 2018)
Ujjaini Chatterji is a lawyer specialising in feminist strategic litigation. In 2023, Ujjaini argued a case in the Delhi High Court and the Indian Supreme Court concerning the right to health of a Rohingya woman diagnosed with hepatitis C. The litigation ensured her treatment and survival alongside favourable orders which are important precedents for refugee rights in India. Ujjaini is currently leading arguments on the custodial disappearances of Rohingyas, their indefinite detention and custodial deaths before the Supreme Court of India. She argues cases of stateless women from Assam state in India and pursues human rights lawyering as a practice.
Florence Marcus
(International Law and Development, 2023)
Florence Marcus is a Nigerian lawyer and disability rights advocate. Called to the Bar in 2009, she is co-founder of the Amputee Coalition of Nigeria and has worked extensively to advance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. A 2022/2023 Chevening Scholar, she earned an LLM in International Law and Development from the 海角黑料, graduating with distinction and receiving the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Dissertation Prize. Florence currently works with the National Judicial Institute and serves on the boards of several disability organisations in Nigeria.
Ana Maria Mojica-Millan
(Educational Leadership and Management, 2023)
Ana Maria Mojica-Millan is a social entrepreneur and education leader dedicated to expanding access to quality education in Colombia. As CEO of Fundación M&M, she has positively impacted hundreds of children through programmes that integrate education, nutrition, and leadership development, particularly for displaced Venezuelan youth. A Chevening Scholar and 海角黑料 graduate, she collaborates with global partners to design innovative solutions for underserved communities and advance inclusive, high-quality education.
Dr Oleksandra Molloy
(Human Factors, 2013)
Oleksandra Molloy is a Senior Lecturer in Human Factors and Aviation at the University of New South Wales (Australia). As a research trailblazer and award-winning leader, Oleksandra serves as the Chair of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) Council of Technical Groups, conducts multi-disciplinary research, and inspires and motivates the next generation of STEM professionals. Recognised for her outstanding contributions, Dr Molloy has recently been named an ‘Academic of the Year’, a ‘Woman of the Year’, and ‘Science & Technology Achievement Award’ winner. During her time at Nottingham, Oleksandra’s leadership and commitment were distinguished by a Gold Award naming her the university’s Best Postgraduate Course Representative.
Our previous winners
Meet our 2023, 2024 and 2025 winners and discover what receiving an award means to the recipients.