Alumni careers Brighton Business School alumni | University of Brighton Alumni Association

Help three graduates with their new venture!

Harrison graduated with a BA Hons Law with Business degree in 2015. He’s now in the process of setting up a business with two other graduates. Read his story….. “After leaving the University of Brighton in 2015, I was a lot like most of my friends and classmates; I didn’t really know what I wanted…

How Dumbo inspired top fashion designer

Walt Disney’s big-eared elephant Dumbo is the inspiration for the latest collection from one of the UK’s leading fashion designers, Brighton-based Ong Oaj Pairam. Ong, who graduated from the University of Brighton with a BA(Hons) in Fashion and Business in 2008, is famed for his luxury women’s wear designs including his film premiere creation for…

Business School alumna lands the top role at Costa Coffee

A University of Brighton graduate has been appointed CEO of the US-owned coffeehouse chain Costa Coffee. Jill McDonald, who graduated in 1986 with a first in Business Studies BA(Hons), has enjoyed a meteoric career rise: she was Chief Executive of McDonald’s fast food chain, Head of Global Marketing for British Airways, Chief Executive of Halfords…

United Nations appoints Brighton graduate

A University of Brighton alumna has been appointed United Nations Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All. Damilola Ogunbiyi, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency, has also been selected as Co-Chair of United Nations-Energy which promotes “coherence within the UN family of organisations in the energy field”. The appointments were…

The rise and rise of a Brighton graduate

A TV producer and director behind some of the UK’s biggest shows revealed today how his “invaluable” time at the University of Brighton helped kick-started his meteoric career journey. Winston Gallagher graduated with a Media degree in 2003 and has since worked with the likes of Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and on some of…

The Brighton Effect: Hair of the Dog

Textiles graduate Jade Evans reveals how she’s creating home furnishings from dog hair as told to Alice Leader. “I grew up with long-haired German Shepherd dogs for pets and I remember their hair being everywhere. When you brushed them you’d end up with these massive bundles of hair. I’ve never forgotten that image, so when…

The Brighton Effect: Business with gumption

Design graduate Anna Bullus’s company recycles chewing gum waste into a range of new products –everything from frisbees and rulers to trainers and gumboots (naturally). Making products out of waste chewing gum is a brilliant solution to a sticky problem. How does it work? Our Gumdrop bins (above) are the first in the world specifically…

The Brighton Effect: I wouldn’t be a writer if it wasn’t for Brighton

New children’s laureate and bestselling author of the ‘How to train your dragon’ series, Cressida Cowell’s books have been published in 38 languages and adapted into a Hollywood film and tv series. But it all started at Brighton. It’s not often children’s author-illustrator Cressida Cowell is lost for words. But, the prolific writer of over…

The Brighton Effect: Sound thinking

Brighton graduate Tom Meades’ bright idea was creating portable loudspeakers from non-recyclable plastic waste – now it’s a thriving business. Plastic waste makes up 85% of the pollution on our beaches, and every year the UK alone throws away 300 million kilos of flexible plastics which aren’t accepted by UK councils for recycling. Thankfully, Tom…

Lewis lands Spurs job

A University of Brighton sport journalism alumnus has swapped the classroom for the Champions League after landing a full-time job at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Lewis Tizard, who graduated from his BA Sport Journalism degree in August with first-class honours, is now working in the media team of the 2019 Champions League finalists. Lewis spent…