Some of our Alumni in the Spotlight - October 2016

Stephen Martin, BSc Quantity Surveying 1988, Jordanstown

The Institute of Directors is pleased to announce that Stephen Martin, currently chief executive of the Clugston Group, has been selected to replace Simon Walker as Director General, when Simon completes his term of office towards the end of this year.

Stephen has led the Clugston Group, a large privately-owned construction, logistics and property company based in Scunthorpe, since 2006. During this time, the firm has featured in The Sunday Times Profit Track 100, The Sunday Times Top Track 250, and been celebrated in the London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Companies To Inspire Britain report.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Stephen has been recognised personally with several business awards, and has been highly commended twice in the IoD’s own Director of the Year Awards. In 2009, Stephen took part in the Channel 4 TV show, Undercover Boss, which saw him going incognito in his own company to learn what employees really thought of the firm.

Lady Barbara Judge, Chairman of the IoD, congratulated Stephen on his appointment:  “I am very pleased we have found such a strong leader to take over as Director General at the IoD. He has demonstrated his commercial ability at large and small companies over many years and will continue the excellent work of Simon Walker in making sure we continue to provide the best possible support, training and representation for British business leaders.

Source: Graduate

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Maria J Argüelles, MSc Geographic Information Systems 2016 Coleraine, and MSc International Business 2012 Magee

María is CEO and founder of Terrain Technologies, a SME located in northern Spain, focused in the development of projects and applications in the 3D and GIS fields. With an international orientation since its inception in 2003, the firm has developed projects in Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Russia, Israel, Arab Emirates, Mexico and Brazil.

In order to improve the firm’s operational activity in the international arena, María joined the MSc in International Business programme in 2009 on a distance learning basis. The experience was so interesting for her that a few months later she decided to continue with an MSc in Geographic Information Systems.

The experience and knowledge gained in this GIS programme has supported the creation of new lines of business in the company. In fact, one of the assignments was the seed of a project approved by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 SME Instrument.

In September Maria joined a PhD Programme from the University of Oviedo (Spain) to continue researching in the GIS field. 

Source:  Graduate

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Nick Bradley, MPhil Physical Sciences 1970, Coleraine

After graduating from Ulster University Nick worked for five years as a research chemist with John Matthey at their platinum refinery in Royston Hertfordshire. He then spent seven years as the European Sales Manager for Corning International - a large American materials technology company - before starting his own fibre-optics company based at the Cambridge Science Park.

A serial entrepreneur, Nick also founded a number of other businesses including an electronics company, a robotics business, a contract research and development company, a games business and a giftware company.

In 1982, Nick established ACL, a consultancy company which specialises in business planning, market research, marketing and mentoring. The business provides support to owner–managers to enable them to expand their businesses by developing and implementing business plans and by raising suitable funding for expansion.

The company specialises in supporting start-up businesses and early-stage companies by providing hands-on assistance, executing their business plans and by raising appropriate venture capital.

Nick has lectured in Entrepreneurship as a Visiting Academic at Bangor University in North Wales and currently works voluntarily as a mentor for Prime, The Princes’ Trust and Purple Shoots – organisations which all encourage the underprivileged to start their own businesses. 

Source: Graduate

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Thomas Delohery, MFA Fine Art 1997 and BA Hons Fine Art 1993, Belfast

Thomas Delohery is an award winning international Visual Artist living in Melbourne. He was awarded a distinguished talent visa to stay and work in Australia.  Thomas was lucky to have artists David Crone and Mark Ainsworth as his tutors. He has had 43 solo exhibitions and 24 group exhibitions worldwide. Recently Madmen star actor/director Jared Harris sat for him so he could compete in the Archibald Painting Prize 2016, Australia.

Thomas has painted author and Holocaust Survivor Henri Korn to compete in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2016 and the Black Swan Prize 2016, of which he was recently named a finalist. Henri will use Thomas's Art for the front cover of his new book. 

Thomas is married to Irish artist Sandra Minchin Delohery and they are co-curating a Frida Kahlo inspired exhibition The Wounded Deer to be held in Convent Gallery, Daylesford, Regional Victoria in September and October 2017. The show consists of five Irish and two Australian artists and they intend to have the show travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2018.

For more detail on Thomas's success visit: http://www.jwire.com.au/artist-author-together/ 

Image: Thomas Delohery with his portrait of author and Holocaust Survivor Henri Korn 

Source: Graduate

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 Hollie Forde, BSc Hons Culinary Arts Management 2016, Belfast

After graduating with a first class honours in culinary arts management, Hollie Forde has landed her dream job as a pastry chef working alongside Michelin Star chef, Danielle Barry at Michael Deane’s renowned fine dining restaurant, E.I.P.I.C.

“My love of baking began when I was 14, I used to bake at home and sell my own products. I also used to work for free every Saturday in my local bakery just so I could do what I love and to gain more real-life experience in the catering environment. It was during this time that I knew this was the career for me.   

“In an evolving and dynamic industry, Ulster University was the obvious choice for me when applying to university, with the opportunity to gain a wealth of knowledge and direct access to highly skilled industry professionals. During my course I got the opportunity to learn from Michelin Star chef Danielle Barry at Deanes who provided me an amazing insight into the culinary world. 

“The culinary arts management degree at Ulster University offers a working placement year and I knew that this would be the ideal opportunity for me to break into the industry. 

“Hollie beat off national competition to secure a year-long placement with Gleneagles in Scotland, packing her bags and launching her career in the food industry.

“After only three months working for Gleneagles, I was selected to work as part of a specialist team of ten chefs to cook for the European Ryder Cup team. Working over 19 hours a day for 10 days to cover the workload, meant long days and hard work but it was definitely one of the highlights of the whole year, providing me with invaluable skills and experience that I can bring to my future career.”

Following placement year, after a recommendation from the Head Chef in Gleneagles, Hollie spent the summer working as a pastry chef in Claridge’s London, in their main pastry kitchen and one month in the Michelin star restaurant, Fera. She was part of the team that launched the Wimbledon afternoon tea menu and designed the winning macaroon for the luxury designer fashion house, Burberry. 

“Returning to final year, my lecturer Audrey Clements introduced me to Michael Deane and we got chatting about my previous experience. This led me to meet Michelin Star Chef Danielle Barry, who offered me a part-time job at E.I.P.I.C while I completed my final year of University. 

“Since graduating I have secured a full-time position with E.I.P.I.C. To be starting out in my career, learning from one of the only female Michelin Star Chefs in Ireland and one of an elite group in the UK, I feel incredibly lucky and hope to continue this journey with Danielle for as long as possible, learning from the best. I can’t thank her enough for all her support as I start out in my career.” 

Source: Ulster University Business School

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Francis Martin, MBA 1990, Jordanstown 

The British Chambers of Commerce, one of the UK’s largest business bodies, has appointed its first Northern Ireland president in its 156 year history.

Francis Martin, Ulster University graduate who is originally from Moy in Co Tyrone and is a partner in BDO Northern Ireland, takes over the role at what he believes is a “crucial time for the UK economy”.

Mr Martin, a former president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said he intended to represent the diverse interests of members of the organisation’s 52 affiliated chambers, which employ more than five million people.

He said chambers of commerce provided a vital voice and conduit for their members’ views and concerns, particularly at the current time when the UK “faces unprecedented change”.

Following the Brexit vote businesses throughout the UK needed to see government showing firm leadership on issues that are crucial to business growth, he said.

Source: The Irish Times 

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Angela McGowan, MBA 1994 and PGD Hotel and Catering Management 1993, Jordanstown

Angela McGowan is the first woman to become director of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in Northern Ireland.

The Belfast economist and Ulster University graduate Angela McGowan, who has been with Danske Bank for eight years, is taking over from Nigel Smyth.

Ms McGowan was a strong voice in opposition to a UK exit from the EU, and will lead the local CBI during one of the most uncertain periods in business following the vote for Brexit. Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director-general, said Ms McGowan's "business experience and wealth of economic knowledge would help the CBI create the best possible conditions for its members in Northern Ireland".

Originally from the Cavehill Road in north Belfast, she is the youngest of four girls and the only one in the family to choose economics as a career path. She went to school at Belfast Royal Academy, before moving on to Queen's University, and then Ulster University to study a master's degree in business.

David Gavaghan, the CBI's Northern Ireland chairman, said Ms McGowan's "strong grasp of public policy issues and a deep understanding of the regional economy will be very important".

Source: Belfast Telegraph

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James McGrath, BTech Mechanical Engineering 1991, Jordanstown

Ulster graduate nominated for America's top television award for his programme on the Paris terror attacks.

Ulster graduate James McGrath, from Saul, near Downpatrick, produced US broadcaster CBS's 48 Hours - Paris Under Attack one-hour special the day after the tragedy in which 130 people were killed by extremists. It is shortlisted for an honour at this month's Emmy ceremony in Los Angeles.

Gunmen had stormed the Bataclan Theatre during a concert in the French capital last November wearing suicide vests. It was part of a co-ordinated assault around the city which left the country in a state of emergency and prompted heightened security across Europe.

The day after the Paris attacks Mr McGrath oversaw a special anchored from New York. It went through the events chronologically and looked at French society and the place of young out of work Muslim men in France. It investigated encrypted apps which helped the attackers stay below the radar of the authorities, relayed survivors' dramatic stories of escaping the chaos and considered whether it was time for a new strategy to fight terror.

The programme was nominated for an Emmy, the television industry's most prestigious honour, with five other broadcasts, one from the New York Times, others from the enduringly popular 60 Minutes from CBS, Al Jazeera and other rival news shows.

James graduated in 1991 and moved to London to work for The Disney Channel.

After leaving Disney he went to America to meet some university friends in New York and San Francisco. He decided to stay on because of the better social life he had there. A bartender in an Irish pub in New York gave his CV to some senior CBS staff and he was invited in for an editing test and has spent the last 20 years there.

Source:  Irish News

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Carol Tweed (nee Robinson), MSc in Applied Social Studies 1978, at Coleraine

Born in Belfast, Carol took a BA Moderatorship and MA in History and Political Science at Trinity College Dublin, then came to Coleraine for her postgraduate studies and to qualify as a social worker. She enjoyed her time there very much – living by the sea in Portstewart and Portrush and experiencing the refreshingly modern approach to university education.

Carol just loves learning and she has since taken professional qualifications in psychology. More recently she acquired another MA specialising in Post-Colonial English language literature.

Carol’s career developed in two major fields, working in the Irish Probation Service and then running her own psychology business. She was a board member of Irish Pen and served on the Steering Committee of the UNESCO City of Literature scheme. She has written many articles for magazines, journals and newspapers, and published a successful Irish history book. She has just been commissioned to write another history book and is also researching for a social science one. 

Since retirement, Carol has also spent two years as President and then Chairperson of Hearing Loss Ireland. She enjoys lots of holidays, is in a crime fiction book club, is a church warden and is a member of Mensa. Carol lives in Dublin with Tom and close to her two children, Jennifer and Conor. 

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