News from your school

where are they

Now?

latest research from aston

cookiNg up a busiNess

catering for a food intoleranceAlumni Magazine issue 20 autumn 2007

apex

Send in your photos and share your memories of your time at Aston.

remember this...you must

RAG goes out into the City in a bath to raise

money for charity!

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coNteNtsautumn ’07 apexfeatures

5 aston honours

9 graduate recruitment: a new generation

10 get involved!

11 a sustainable future?

12 cooking up a business

21 an artful message

apexregulars 4 profile on…

8 alumni discounts

20 News on development activities

22 where are they now?

28 international alumni reunions and events

30 News from aston graduates’ association

31 intouch

32 gifts

apexnews 14 school of engineering & applied science World’s first robotic micro-drill developed at Aston Highest honour for Aston Professor

15 aston business school Understanding behaviour: the new cognitive research centre National schools business competition

16 school of life & health sciences An OSCAR for Aston Aston scientists join fight against MRSA

17 school of languages & social sciences Forensic linguistics gathers strength

18 combined honours Working with the Combined Honours family

apexplusall the latest news from the alumni & Development office, the guild and benefits for aston alumni.

special thanks go to everyone who contributed to this issue of apex. apex is published twice a year for alumni of aston university. letters, photographs and news are very welcome but we reserve the right to edit any contributions. please address all correspondence to the alumni & Development office. the opinions expressed in apex are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the alumni & Development office or aston university.

apex is also available via the website in pdf format, but please contact us if you experience any difficulties accessing the publication.

Designed by linney Design. printed by linney print.

photo credits: huw meredith page 16, 17, 27 and 30 ed moss page 14 and page 16 rod wylie front cover, page 12 and page 13

Caroline Broome alumni relations assistant

Lara Fleming Development manager: trusts and research

Sarah Pymm head of alumni relations

Katy Barry abs alumni executive

Farzana Sayani marketing and events administrator

Emmy Pong Development assistant

Meet the team...

12 21

27

How to contact the Alumni & Development Office:

www.aston.ac.uk/alumni

alumniinfo@aston.ac.uk t +44 (0)121 204 3000 f +44 (0)121 204 4783

alumni & Development office aston university freepost bm2599/13 birmingham b4 6br

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Many of our readers must recognise Miranda Cleal. She’s been working at Aston for the last 17 years, having started in the Nelson Building in 1990 on a two-week placement from Secretarial College. At the end of the placement she was offered full-time employment as a course secretary, progressing to the Business School Undergraduate Programme and then to Mechanical Engineering. For the last five years Miranda has been working for Combined Honours as Admissions Officer/Departmental Secretary.

“my role in combined honours involves a lot of contact with both staff and students – through admissions, open days and enrolment. i really enjoy my work and love hearing how happy students are when they find out they have a place on the course they want and to see all their hard work come to fruition at graduation.

the worst aspect of the job is telling people you can’t offer them a place. it’s awful to hear their disappointment and you need a certain amount of tact and discipline to deal with such cases. on a lighter note, i have recently experienced my first trip abroad, travelling to kazakhstan to recruit students. i really enjoyed this opportunity and learned a tremendous amount from it – it has certainly enhanced my work with international students. i hope it will be the start of many trips to come!”

out of work, miranda trained and taught in karate for a number of years to black belt third Dan level. “i entered a number of competitions and competed abroad for my club in countries such as brazil. unfortunately, due to injury, i had to retire so nowadays i do more light-hearted exercise such as jogging. i completed the great North run in 2001. i am also a keen supporter of aston Villa!”

profi

le o

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miranda cleal

Aston 12th in new UK university guideAston University has come 12th in a new UK Universities guide. The Interactive Guide was compiled by Bernard Kingston and Mayfield University Consultants (who previously compiled the highly respected Times Good University Guide) and is sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The new rankings can be found at www.thegooduniversityguide.org.uk

this good news came just a week after it was announced that the university has a higher percentage of state school pupils than any other top 20 uk university, according to a new report. the higher education funding council for england (hefce) figures show that 89% of students starting full-time first degree courses at aston in 2005-6 came from state school backgrounds. furthermore, it means that aston has surpassed its 86.8% benchmark for intake of state school pupils – a target which is set each year by hefce. to put this achievement into context, only three other top 20-ranked institutions in the times good university guide 2007 had state school participation rates of over 80% and only two of those – leicester and cardiff – exceeded their benchmarks.

Quality experience continues for Aston studentsAston achieved very positive satisfaction ratings from students who responded to this year’s National Student Survey. We gained an overall satisfaction score of 87% for undergraduate degrees* against an 81% score for the UK overall.**

aston took top place among west midlands’ universities for overall satisfaction (above warwick, uce, wolverhampton, birmingham, coventry, staffordshire and worcester universities) and was rated extremely well on the overall ‘personal development’ criteria.

professor graham hooley, senior pro-Vice-chancellor said: “it is extremely encouraging to hear that our students are very satisfied with their studies and their overall experience at aston, but we are not complacent. we are working hard to improve every area of our service at the university with the aim of scoring even higher in the survey next year.”

*aston’s score is up from 84% in 2006.**taking out specialist colleges, part-time/distance learning institutions (for example the open university, birkbeck college) and private institutions (university of buckingham).

Aston retains its place in top 15 universitiesAston university has been ranked 15th in this year’s times Good university Guide. this ranking puts Aston ahead of universities such as Manchester, Birmingham and nottingham. The Times Good University Guide is the most authoritative and widely-respected guide to universities in the UK and is an essential and comprehensive tool for students and parents in the UK and abroad. It ranks 113 UK universities according to eight criteria, including student satisfaction, research quality and degree results.

prospective students can access the guide online at www.timesonline.co.uk/gooduniversityguide James seymour, head of schools liaison, said: “this ranking, yet again, confirms aston’s position as a top uk university.

“we are particularly proud of this placing as it builds on our success overall in the times rankings last year and the recent good university guide. aston scored particularly well on criteria such as graduate employment, spending on facilities, student support and staff:student ratios. these factors are extremely important to our students and have a positive impact on their experience with us as well as their futures as successful graduates.”

this good news for aston came just a week after the publication of a new university guide which ranked aston 12th in the uk.

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ast NNoursh

7

’At this year’s Degree Congregations, Aston

welcomed new honorary graduates as members of

Convocation, acknowledging their achievement and contribution to their

respective fields.

Khurshid ahmed

Khurshid has had extensive involvement in community development. his interest burgeoned from his own community as secretary of the Dudley and sandwell pakistan welfare association where he learned to foster relations with other communities and later joined Dudley community relations council (which he chaired from 1997 until 2002). he represented the interests of all Dudley’s local communities and developed an insight into the multiple deprivation experienced by minority ethnic communities.

he has accumulated over three decades of experience in highly complex local authorities with over 15 years experience at chief officer/chairperson level. he was assistant chief executive and head of race relations and equal opportunities at birmingham city council from 1984 and served on the official enquiry into the Darnall disturbances in sheffield. he was appointed a commissioner at the commission for racial equality in april 2002 and made up to acting Deputy chair from august 2002 to april 2003.

he was appointed the cre’s special ambassador to the muslim community and was a participant at the berlin conference which decided the outcome of the earth summit in rio. other international projects include the european commission, the world bank, uNesco and oecD.

he is currently the Deputy chair of the commission for racial equality and chairman of the british muslim forum, the Dudley muslim association and the Dudley community (strategic) partnership. he is a former chair of the National association of british pakistanis and a Non-executive Director of the Dudley group of hospitals Nhs trust.

he is a member of the attorney general’s Diversity advisory group and was a member of the government’s preventing extremism together task force.

dianne Thompson

Dianne Thompson is chief executive of camelot group plc. she joined camelot in 1997 as commercial operations Director and took over as chief executive in December 2000.

Dianne has developed and driven camelot’s strategy for growth, with year-on-year sales up in 2003/4, 2004/5 and 2005/6. camelot also runs the world’s most successful interactive lottery via the internet, interactive tV and play by text. Dianne is leading camelot in its bid to operate the lottery in the third licence period, a process which includes a root and branch evaluation of the business and game portfolio.

Dianne is an executive committee member of the european lotteries association and chairs its New media and Distribution channels committee.

in 2006, she joined the executive committee of the world lotteries association and she now chairs its responsible gaming committee. she also chairs camelot’s social responsibility board. camelot is in the top 30 in business in the community’s social responsibility index. the company is also ranked 13th in the sunday times 100 best companies to work for 2007 list.

Dianne has personally raised funds for childline as chair of the childline foundation, reaching the landmark figure of £1 million in December 2006. she received a ba (hons) in french from london university and started her career as a marketing trainee at the co-operative wholesale society. she has worked in marketing for a variety of companies including ici paints (1974-1979), sterling roncraft (1986-1988) and signet group (1994-1997).

she was Director of marketing at woolworths (1992-1994) and lecturer at manchester polytechnic (1979-1986), during which time she founded and ran her own advertising agency.

between 1988 and 1992 she was managing Director of sandvik saws and tools. Dianne is a fellow of the royal society of arts, the marketing society and the chartered institute of marketing, a companion of the chartered management institute and a liveryman of the worshipful company of marketers.

Dianne has previously been awarded the titles of both Veuve clicquot business woman of the year 2000 and marketer of the year by the marketing society in 2001. she was named the ‘first lady of marketing’ when she topped marketing magazine’s power 100 list in June 2007 for the second year running and in september 2006 she was awarded the chartered management institute’s gold medal for her strategic direction and leadership. Dianne

sits on the press complaints commission, and is a member of the cbi president’s committee. in february 2006 she was appointed as a Non-executive Director of Domino’s pizza uk & irl plc.

Dianne received a cbe for services to business in the 2006 New year’s honours list.

simon Topman

Simon Topman’s early career embraced the civil service, the jewellery trade and the steel industry. he became ceo of acme whistles, the world leader in whistles, signal horns and sound effects, in 1989 and owner/manager in 1991. the company manufactures its products in the uk and exports to 119 countries.

acme is famous for its corporate social responsibility, employing people only from the aston, lozells and handsworth areas in birmingham. the acme c.s.r. programme supports young enterprise and local schools and simon plays a full part in the area’s decisions and development.

he became the chairman of New Deal for communities in 2003. simon is interested in the arts and their role in the acme company and he was delighted when it won the National arts and business award in 2001 for its innovative theatre in the workplace programme that is open to the whole community. simon was a Director of the birmingham repertory theatre between 2001 and 2006.

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he is also young enterprise advisor to mayfield school, chairman of governors at st george’s school in edgbaston and an occasional lecturer on operations and marketing to mba students. he was president of birmingham chamber of commerce in 2006, is National president elect of the british chambers and has had a number of government roles, member of the Dti better regulation programme board, the ministerial challenge panel and the small business council.

simon is the author of publications on pensions, flexible working and whistle collecting. he is also a public speaker for charity fundraising and has great affection for all things aston, the place of his childhood and upbringing.

councillor sir alberT bore

Albert Bore was born in scotland in 1946 but subsequently lived in various locations around germany and england. he arrived in birmingham in 1969 to pursue a postgraduate degree programme and was awarded a phD in physics by the university of birmingham in 1973 before taking up a post as lecturer at aston university in 1974.

he was a member of birmingham city council in 1980 and has played a major role in the regeneration of the city. he was leader of birmingham city council 1999 and 2004 and from 1984 to 1993 he chaired the city’s economic Development committee, which helped bring forward such schemes as brindleyplace, the city centre pedestrianisation, centenary square and the development of the international convention centre, National indoor arena and symphony hall.

since the mid-1980s, he has held company directorships of both aston science park and the National exhibition centre and is a

member of marketing birmingham and optima community housing association. from 1991 to 2004 he pursued his european interest as a member of the executive of eurocities a.s.b.l. since 1994, sir albert has been one of the members nominated by the uk government to the european union’s committee of the regions and was president from 2002-2004. he now holds the role of president of the commission for territorial cohesion policy.

in January 2002 he received a knighthood in the New year’s honours list for his services to local government. in June 2005 he was appointed west midlands local government association’s european and international affairs portfolio holder and he chairs the west midlands regional assembly’s european and international affairs partnership. sir albert was appointed chairman of the university hospital birmingham Nhs foundation trust in December 2006.

herberT ‘douglas’ ellis

Doug was born on the wirral in cheshire, but birmingham is his adopted home – a strong advocate for the city, promoting it at every opportunity. Doug moved to birmingham after his war service and formed his own travel company. he is recognised as the pioneer of the package holiday industry in the provinces in the early 1950s.

he was chairman and owner of well-known travel companies such as mato, global, sunflight, Jetway and ellis travel. he sold all his travel companies in 1976. Doug’s other business activities have included electronics, insurance, farming and retailing. he was chairman of 19 companies before relinquishing the majority to concentrate on chairmanship of aston Villa plc. Doug was chairman of Villa for 35 years and is now the club’s honorary life president.

he joined the board at Villa in 1968 when the club was in the then second Division and virtually bankrupt. with the exception of a three-year break between 1979 and 1982, he served continuously as chairman until september 2006 when the club was sold to randy lerner. During his tenure as chairman, ellis set about bringing Villa’s stadium into the 20th century. three new stands and one of the largest conference centres in birmingham were built.

Villa park has been chosen as the venue of countless fa cup semi-finals, was involved in the successful staging of euro ’96 and hosted the last ever final of the uefa cup winners’ cup in may 1999. it also hosted several england international matches while the new wembley stadium was being built. Doug has been a member of the fa council for 18 years, is a member of its international committee and was inaugural chairman of the technical control board. he is currently chairman of the ellis group of companies, ellmanton construction and aston manor brewery.

Doug established the aston Villa charitable trust in 1985. Doug was awarded the obe for services to football and the community in 2004 and holds an honorary Doctorate from the university of central england (now birmingham city university). he is married and has three adult sons.

dr ashoK Kumar

Dr Ashok Kumar was born in 1956 and has been member of parliament for middlesbrough south and east cleveland since 1997. prior to this he was a research scientist at british steel (1985-1997) and a research fellow at imperial college, london, (1982-1985.)

his policy interests are science and technology, further and higher education, trade and industry, the

economy and local government. ashok was educated at rykneld school for boys in Derby and at aston university. he holds a bsc in chemical engineering, an msc in process analysis and Development and a phD in fluid mechanics. he is a fellow of the institution of chemical engineers, a chartered engineer and a member of the institute of energy.

ashok has been parliamentary private secretary to the rt. hon. hilary benn, secretary of state, Department for international Development since 2003. he has held roles in various high-profile parliamentary offices, committees and groups including chair of the parliamentary office of science and technology (post), member of the parliamentary scientific committee, Vice-chair of the parliamentary group for energy studies, member of the trade and industry select committee and member of the science & technology select committee.

ashok’s interests include cricket, badminton, reading history and philosophy and listening to jazz.

lord paul drayson

born in 1960, Paul Rudd Drayson was educated at st Dunstan’s college, london, and aston university. in 1982 he took a bsc (hons) in production technology and production management at aston sponsored by bl cars at longbridge, followed in 1985 by a phD in robotics.

from 1986-1991 he was managing Director of lambourn food company. in 1993 he co-founded powderJect pharmaceuticals plc and was chairman and chief executive until 2003. he floated powderJect on the london stock exchange in 1997 and built powderJect into one of the world’s leading vaccine companies with operations in the uk, usa and scandinavia.

between 2001-2002 he was the chairman of the bio-industry association and was active in the industry’s campaign to tackle animal rights extremism.

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he was chairman of the oxford children’s hospital fundraising campaign from 2002-2005. from 2003-2005, he was science entrepreneur-in-residence at the said business school, oxford university, and taught entrepreneurship to mba students. he was raised to the peerage as baron Drayson of kensington in the royal borough of kensington and chelsea in may 2004. lord Drayson was appointed parliamentary under secretary of state, minister for Defence procurement and government spokesman for Defence to the house of lords in may 2005. in march 2007 he was promoted to minister of state for Defence equipment and support at the ministry of Defence.

paul is married to elspeth, they have five children and live in london. his other passions are sword fencing and, more recently, motor racing. he is currently competing in the british gt sportscar championship, racing a unique bio-ethanol fuelled aston martin Dbrs9.

dr paul golby

Paul Golby is the chief executive of e.oN uk plc. he was born in market bosworth in february 1951 and was educated at hinckley grammar school and at aston university, where he graduated with a first class honours degree in mechanical engineering. whilst training as a graduate engineer with Dunlop, he went on to gain a phD from aston, researching offshore oil structures.

following a series of management appointments with Dunlop and btr, he joined the board of clayhithe plc in 1992. golby joined east midlands electricity in 1998 and became chief executive of e.oN uk in 2002. since that time he has steered e.oN through two multi-billion pound acquisitions to a £8.5bn turnover organisation employing 16,000 people. he is a top executive member of e.oN ag and a non-executive Director of aea technology plc. golby is a frequent commentator on the uk government’s scientific and

energy policy, is co-chair of the energy research partnership and a fellow of the institution of engineering and technology and energy institute. he is married with three adult children and is a keen equestrian.

dr michael oglesby

Dr Michael Oglesby DL, LLD, BSc, High Sheriff of Greater Manchester was born in scunthorpe in lincolnshire. he received a degree in building from aston university and spent his early working years in the construction industry before moving to manchester in 1970. he has been married for over 40 years to his wife Jean and they live in bowdon. they have two children, chris and kate, both of whom work in the family business, and five grandchildren.

in 1978, michael founded the bruntwood group of companies, of which he is now chairman. bruntwood owns in excess of 65 buildings in central and south manchester, liverpool and leeds. in manchester city centre, bruntwood owns approximately 20% of the commercial office stock. oglesby is a strong believer in the strength of the family and the unique benefits that core family values bring to a family-owned business. he sees the role of business and business leaders in the community as being key. through bruntwood and the oglesby charitable trust, he currently awards in the region of £1m each year to arts and charitable causes.

he is currently chairman of the steering board for the manchester cancer research centre, miDas, the board of governors of the royal Northern college of music and the oglesby charitable trust. he also sits on the North west business leadership team, manchester enterprises and the manchester international festival. he is currently leading a team building a new school for chetham’s school of music and is Vice-president of the liverpool school of tropical medicine. oglesby was founding chairman

of the manchester city centre management company for the first five years. in april 2007 he was installed as high sheriff of greater manchester for a year’s term of office and in 2006 he was voted cbi businessman of the year in the North west. in may 2006 he received an honorary law doctorate from the university of manchester. michael’s personal interests include theatre, music, sailing, skiing and walking.

Tim WaTTs

Tim Watts joined the family business in 1970. he expanded pertemps geographically throughout the west midlands and divisionally by introducing technical and industrial services. he was made a fellow of the institute of employment consultants nearly 20 years ago. pertemps grew steadily through the 80s, establishing offices in bristol, london and manchester.

the recession of the late ’80s and early ’90s proved to be the catalyst for strong growth. in 1993, he formed an adjoining partnership and changed the name of the company to pertemps recruitment partnership. it was approximately five years ago that the fashionable concept of single source supplying started to have a real impact on pertemps’ growth and geographical expansion for the first time became client led. with a policy of using all the company’s profits to remunerate pertemps’ own employees, coupled with the heavy investment in an outstanding successful iso9002 accreditation across all divisions; the achievement of investors in people and a comprehensive training programme for every pertemps employee has given pertemps the marketing edge which saw its turnover reach in excess of £400 million in 2002.

watts was elected to the west midlands cbi council and installed as one of the founding sponsors for the centre for tomorrow’s company. pertemps now has sixteen operating centres around the uk and was named one of the most visionary companies in an

index of forward-thinking public and private sector organisations in 2001. watts is named one of the midlands’ most powerful figures and is master entrepreneur of the year for central england. in may 2005 he was appointed ambassador for advantage west midlands and in september 2005 Deputy lieutenant for the west midlands. in December 2005 tim was made Vice-president of the spinal injuries association.

other recent achievements include lifetime president of the birmingham foundation and honorary membership of the beta gamma sigma society.

gurjeeT Kaur bains

businesswoman Gurjeet Kaur Bains arrived in britain in 1961 and went to school in hertfordshire. she became a nurse after convincing her mother of her dedication by undertaking a week-long fast and remained in the profession for three years before turning to industry.

in 1979 she married Jaspal singh bains. they had the first of their five children a year later and went into business with gurjeet’s sister and brother-in-law in 1986. gurjeet and Jaspal then moved to Northampton and built a string of successful businesses: four shops, a restaurant, a clothes factory and a café. in addition to her family and business responsibilities, gurjeet worked part-time on the Northampton chronicle. she became editor of the sikh times in 2001 and later edited eastern Voice. she now has a prominent role at the birmingham-based publishing house eastern media group.

gurjeet was the first woman to chair the institute of asian businesses. other notable achievements include winning ‘businesswoman of the year’ (1991) and becoming an ambassador for the 2012 olympics. gurjeet is a member of the birmingham chamber of commerce and industry and the birmingham Divercity board.

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CONFERENCE FACILITIES: conference aston is offering alumni 10% off conferences booked* with them at either of their venues, aston business school conference centre or lakeside centre. they are also offering a discount on accommodation. the following rates are for bed and breakfast and are inclusive of Vat:

classic room (single occupancy) £60.00 standard room (single occupancy) £85.00 standard Double (double occupancy) £100.00 superior room (single occupancy) £91.00 superior Double £106.00

to take advantage of the above offers, please call conference aston on +44 (0)121 204 3011 and quote ‘aston alumni offer’. should you wish to see more details about their conference facilities, please visit www.conferenceaston.co.uk

*must be booked for 30+ delegates

LIBRARy: as an aston graduate you are able to register to use the university library for just £24.50 a year. this entitles you to borrow one medium loan item and five long loan items subject to the library’s normal loan rules. access to aston’s web catalogue is available. printed material can be used in the library and use of the library’s photocopy services subject to the usual rules of copyright. there is limited access to electronic resources for users who are not current staff or students.

to join the library as an external borrower, send an email to library@aston.ac.uk and you will be sent an application form in the post. alternatively, contact the alumni & Development office for an application form. more information about membership can be viewed at www.aston.ac.uk/lis/visitorinfo/alumni.jsp

SPORTS FACILITIES: all aston graduates can now use the sports facilities on campus. once you have joined and become a member you can take advantage of vast reductions on many activities such as swimming, aerobics and badminton. with membership costing £35 for aston alumni, there’s nothing to stop you leading a healthier lifestyle! to join, contact the woodcock sports centre on +44 (0)121 204 4623 or email sportsenquiries@aston.ac.uk for an information pack.

COTTAGES4yOU is offering a 10% discount on your next cottage holiday. cottages4you offer a range of over 13,000 holiday properties across the uk, france, ireland, spain, portugal and italy. to search online, check availability and book visit www.cottages-4-you.co.uk/aston or call the holiday helpline on 0870 192 1751. to receive your 10% discount simply quote code ‘ast10’ when booking.

BEST WESTERN is offering up to 20% discount for aston alumni at all of their hotels – over 290 in the uk and 4,000 worldwide. to book, simply call central reservations on 08457 73 73 73 and quote the connect business plus Number: 01357700.

cancellations must be made prior to 4pm on the expected date of arrival in order to avoid a charge.

APH LTD (airport parking and hotels ltd) is offering aston alumni a 10% discount on participating airport car parks, airport hotels and airport lounges. to check availability, or to

book, please visit www.aph.com/alumni or contact the call centre on 0870 737 7671 quoting ‘alum’.

NATIONAL CAR RENTAL is offering aston university alumni preferential rates on car and van hire in the uk and on international car hire in over 80 countries worldwide – including all the major destinations. for a National car or van quotation, or to make a booking, please call 0870 191 6950. to benefit from these preferential rates please quote:

a001639 for uk car hire a001640 for uk Van hire 8580898 for international car hire a001639g for guy salmon hire

AMAzON ASSOCIATES: the alumni & Development office is an ‘associate’ of amazon.co.uk if you order through the link from our web page www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/amazonassociate/ 5% of any purchases made will come back to the university to support projects in the alumni & Development office.

alumNiDISCOUNTS

On-campus benefits Off-campus benefits

all offers are subject to terms and conditions. the university provides no guarantees or warranties in relation to the quality or suitability of any services offered by third parties, nor in relation to the accuracy or reliability of advertisements placed by them and accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever in relation to such services.

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Orange and the Make your Mark Campaign created the Graduate Panel to help young people and their employers stay motivated, committed and productive in this rapidly changing environment. The Make your Mark campaign is run by not-for-profit organisation Enterprise Insight which aims to create an enterprise culture in the UK by inspiring young people in their teens and twenties to have ideas and make them happen. The campaign is backed by an unprecedented coalition of businesses, charities, education bodies and government.

the graduate panel addressed issues arising from research undertaken by orange and Demos in 2006 called Working Progress: how to reconnect young people to organisations. the panel comprises current students and recent graduates in full-time work or self-employment. twelve panellists met to discuss whether current assessment methods and criteria used by employers for recruitment are relevant to today’s graduates and how graduates can improve the way they identify and articulate their own skills.

the report concluded that graduates can feel demotivated and not connected to the cultures they encounter at work and that organisations would risk losing their best new talent if the differences were not resolved. the findings of the graduate panel have been made publicly available on you tube and, through a series of seminars and conferences, been brought to the attention of hr professionals who, in turn, are implementing the recommendations in their organisations.

Jane has strong views on how her generation is viewed and assessed by potential employers, commenting: “good graduates are trained to get through assessment centres which all now seem terribly generic. it is increasingly harder for students and graduates to show organisations their key differentiating strengths and understand the culture of the company to which they are applying.

it would appear that graduates’ expectations of their first job are also changing. increasing numbers of graduates report that they want to work for socially responsible, ethical companies that are open and transparent in the way they engage with potential recruits. the modern employer is faced with a number of challenges, including how to demonstrate its ethical stance and social responsibility in a sustained and genuine way.

many employers are also unaware of the potential of social networks and blogs where young people build relationships with peers for personal and professional development. graduates clearly value networking opportunities and, once employed, employees continue to network with their peers. the modern employer needs to engage with new technologies and explore how building mentoring and networking schemes can ensure new graduate recruits feel supported in the workplace, learn new skills, stay committed to the organisation and learn about the breadth of the business.

the work of the graduate panel has shown that an unwillingness to take risks and an organisational culture that stigmatises failure discourages creativity and does little to add value to the organisation in the eyes of its young employees. the way forward suggests the need to build an entrepreneurial culture, a risk-tolerant environment where employees can feel confident to suggest and implement new ideas and learn from their mistakes rather than fear failure.

a new generationGRADUATE RECRUITMENT...

every year over 150,000 young people leave uK colleges and universities to enter a workplace that is changing at an unprecedented rate. At the same time young people are entering work with very different expectations and ways of communicating. Aston graduate Jane Aitken (2006 Bsc Managerial and Administrative studies) has been at the forefront of an exciting campaign to recognise and develop the full talent of young people in the workplace and to help businesses better understand the people they employ.

““ i think it’s important to rethink the way graduates apply and how companies assess them as potential employees so that the organisations can uncover differentiating skill sets whilst also enabling graduates to ask whether the company is right for them.

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TELL US yOUR NEWS!

We are always delighted to see so many of you returning the Graduate Update Form which is mailed out with Apex.

it confirms to us the attachment you so clearly hold to your university and that you are committed to keeping in touch. we are very proud to read about all of our alumni’s achievements, whether they be career related or otherwise. however, we’d still like to hear from more of you! for instance, have you just been promoted or started your own business? got married or had a baby? Decided to start a whole new life somewhere else? then tell us! you never know, we may even contact you with a view to publishing an article about you in apex, or ask if you can help by doing one of our Network lectures, designed to connect undergraduates with a graduate who may be in a profession they are interested in.

to update your details with us, please either complete the enclosed graduate update form or go to www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/update.htm where you can update your details online.

WIN DiNNer aND aN oVerNight stay at astoN busiNess school coNfereNce ceNtre!

return the enclosed graduate update form by 4 January 2008 and you could be in with the chance of winning dinner for two and an overnight stay at aston business school conference centre! to be entered, please ensure that you tick the box on the back of the graduate update form to say you wish to be included in the draw. the draw will take place on 7 January 2008 and the winner will be notified on that date. please note that the prize must be taken by 30 June 2008.

good luck and we look forward to receiving your entries!

sTop press – priZe draW!

Back to Business!Did you know Aston university offers a world class portfolio of dedicated conference and meeting venues?

aston business school conference centre offers an award winning residential venue with 24 purpose-built conference and meeting rooms accommodating 2-235 delegates and fully equipped with the latest audio visual equipment. a restaurant seating 260, lounge, bar, central courtyard and 163 luxurious en suite bedrooms all with internet access are also available.

the lakeside centre, overlooking the chancellor’s lake, provides 6 state-of-the-art suites accommodating up to 200 delegates, ideal for conferences, banqueting and corporate entertainment.

campus conferences offer the university teaching and accommodation facilities during the summer vacation period. over 54 high quality conference and meeting rooms and in excess of 1000 beds are available on the city centre campus.

for further information please contact our sales team on 0121 204 3011 or email conferenceaston@aston.ac.uk

get involved!We’re looking for dedicated Aston graduates with ideas and energy who want to continue to be involved in the life of Aston. There are many ways you can be involved with your University when you have left and, if this is important to you, we urge you to consider a nomination to the Standing Committee of Convocation.

graduating from aston university gives you so much more than a well-respected degree. when you graduate you automatically become a member of the university’s convocation. the convocation includes you and your fellow alumni and a body of people who want to support and work with aston. the convocation has contacts with mps, community leaders and professional institutions to name but a few.

the standing committee of convocation is an elected body of graduates and other convocation members which represents the interests of convocation. members receive reports from council, the students’ guild and the alumni & Development office and they have the right to express opinions to the university. there are just six evening meetings a year which members are expected to attend and the nomination procedure is simple.

firstly contact the alumni & Development office and make sure we have your correct contact details. in early January we will be sending out information about the annual general meeting on 15 march 2008 and we will be including nomination forms in the pack. complete a nomination form and return it to the university before the published deadline. results will be announced on 15 march 2008.

if you want to be more closely involved in your university and would like further information on membership of the standing committee of convocation, contact sarah pymm on s.e.pymm@aston.ac.uk or call +44(0)121 204 4541.

10 autumN 07

a sustaiNable future?the past twenty years or so have seen a growing realisation that the way we are living our lives and conducting our business is placing an increasing burden on our planet. our small, everyday actions add up to make a big difference in the world. increasingly, sustainability is becoming a key issue for businesses and society in general, as people realise that current industrial, economic and social systems are storing up problems for the future. Keen to promote the values of ethical business, tom Greenwood (2004 Bsc engineering product Design) has launched scamper Brand strategy – a pioneering approach to sustainable brand strategy.

“Brands are probably one of the most powerful tools ever created,” claims Tom. “We want to help ethically responsible organisations harness the potential of branding to take on unethical competition and transform their markets for good so that we can all enjoy a better future.”

scamper is a brand strategy consultancy specialising in assisting organisations which are committed to sustainability harness the power of branding and increase profits on the triple bottom line. scamper has made a commitment to only work with companies which, like them, are committed to working towards sustainability. “they don’t have to be perfect,” admits tom, “because no-one is perfect. but they must show a genuine intention to improve their practices and move towards sustainability.”

tom’s experience with sustainable business has found that many companies aspiring to improve their practice lack the in-house expertise to develop powerful brands. scamper’s core services include brand creation, brand auditing, strategic brand advice and brand guardianship. scamper tailors its services to the individual needs of each client and works with them to identify the unique elements of value in their company, products and services. scamper then designs and defines brands in terms of their vision, visual and verbal identities and their strategic relationships to other brands within the organisation.

having established the key elements of their brands, scamper advises their clients on how to live their brand through their business activities. why scamper? it represents reaching out for different perspectives through global connections and exploring new ideas – a young, energetic company with a name which suggests an innocent connection with the earth.

tom’s time at aston was the starting point for his interest in sustainable business. “i’d been interested in sustainability for a few years before coming to aston but the product design course helped me to appreciate the importance of business,” explains tom. in his second year of study tom entered the mercia business ideas competition with course mates amandeep chana and mel Nursaw and reached the finals with an idea for a technology that allows shoes to grip in icy conditions. in his final year of study he launched a business with his brother richard producing and selling calendars based on the life and aspirations of J.r.r. tolkein. “my first couple of ventures into business were a fantastic learning experience but were not particularly sustainable. i’ve since set about learning how business can be used as a driver of positive change and contribute to a more sustainable world.” tom was recently awarded the 2007 ktp business leader of tomorrow award for his work helping telford-based fireplace manufacturer charlton and Jenrick ltd develop a strategy to tackle the rapidly declining market and reduce the environmental impact of its products. the judges commended his positive and forward thinking attitude and commitment to sustainability.

for more information on scamper visit www.sustainablebrandstrategy.com

11autumN 07

Aston graduate Siobhan Wylie (1999 BSc European Studies and French) experienced this when, in 2000, she was diagnosed with gluten intolerance, similar to coeliac disease, meaning she would no longer be able to consume food items containing gluten. Replacing once-loved foods with good quality gluten-free substitutes proved difficult, so Siobhan decided to start experimenting with her own recipes. Six years later she is now the owner of her own gluten-free food business, Raspberry Creek Foods. We went to find out more and quite happily put some of her products to the test!

coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease where, upon consumption of the protein gluten, the body produces antibodies that attack the tissues. according to the website for the charity coeliac uk (www.coeliac.co.uk) there is evidence to suggest that the prevalence of coeliac disease is 1 in 100 people across

europe, and even globally. the numbers of people with coeliac disease who are medically diagnosed is much less. symptoms are quite broad, most of us probably suffering with one, if not all, at some point in our lives. they include bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, wind, tiredness, constipation, anaemia, mouth ulcers, headaches, weight loss, hair loss, skin problems, depression, infertility, recurrent miscarriages and joint or bone pain. many people confuse the symptoms with those for ibs or stress and so getting a correct diagnosis can be quite a lengthy process.

siobhan was diagnosed with gluten intolerance seven years ago, and although she may have coeliac disease, an accurate diagnosis has been difficult to obtain, as is often the case. siobhan explains that she initially found it difficult to accept. “i suddenly realised that you take what you eat for granted. i had suspected for some time that certain foods were making me ill, but it was only following various tests that i realised that i would have to completely change my diet. fortunately, there are many foods that are naturally

gluten-free such as potatoes, rice, cheese and polenta. but there are also many foods where gluten is hidden in the ingredients and so it can be quite challenging. my love for pasta and beer was the hardest to deal with, but in the last three years some decent gluten-free beer and pasta has become available on the market.”

siobhan accepted her condition and lived for many years on a restricted diet, suffering, as she describes, ‘poor quality replacement products’. siobhan continued working in supply chain management for ici but also spent much of her free time developing gluten-free recipes at home. “i’ve always loved cooking and so i carried on my gluten-free cooking for pleasure, but at the back of my mind i always wanted to turn it into a business. i felt there was a niche in the market for high quality, home-made products that, despite being gluten-free, could be enjoyed by everyone. i just never seemed to have the time to do it.”

that was until 2005 when she decided to take a year out to travel the world with her fiancé, paul bradshaw (1999 bsc managerial and administrative studies). it was whilst visiting australia and New Zealand, where excellent fresh gluten-free food is readily available, that she was given the motivation she needed to turn her own recipes into a business back home. it was in New Zealand that she found the inspiration for the name for the business. “after a long and bumpy drive to a place called raspberry creek in south island, paul and i spent a day hiking through an alpine forest to a beautiful glacier. whilst having lunch at this stunning viewpoint we decided that, on our return to the uk, i would go into business making gluten and wheat-free foods. as we made our way back down to raspberry creek we decided it would make the most perfect name for the business”.

in July 2006, having returned from her travels, raspberry creek foods was launched and ready for business. raspberry creek foods is run from siobhan’s parents’ kitchen (in agreement with environmental health and the council) and help developing recipes

Cooking up a business

Food is essential to life and one of its many pleasures. Most of us take for granted the ability to be able to eat whatever we want, when we want it. But what if you’re suddenly diagnosed with a food intolerance that means you’re no longer able to eat all of the things you’ve previously enjoyed?

“ i suddenly realised that you take what you eat for granted. i had suspected for some time that certain foods were making me ill, but it was only following various tests that i realised that i would have to completely change my diet.

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12 autumN 07

Cooking up a business has come in the shape of siobhan’s future mother-in-law, lyn.

“lyn is a fantastic cook and was so supportive when my diet changed. together we have created lots of recipes over the years and are now able to use them in the business.” siobhan assures me that baking gluten-free products is very different to standard cookery and requires a lot of perseverance and lots of practice.

“with the sweet products the difference is simply the substitution of wheat flour with naturally gluten-free flours such as brown rice flour, potato flour and corn flour. you need to combine the flours carefully for both lightness and taste. bread has been the biggest challenge though as it really needs gluten to become a soft pliable dough. many gluten-free breads are so hard they could break a window, but i think raspberry creek foods is leading the way with soft, tasty gluten-free bread. and sales demonstrate this!”

products currently available from raspberry creek foods include millionaire’s shortbread, carrot cake, chocolate brownies, raspberry and almond slices, various rolls and breads, to name a few. products can be purchased online at www.raspberrycreekfoods.co.uk and some are available in health food shops, farm shops and cafés. siobhan has also recently started to supply two of the leading online gluten-free supermarkets. with products aimed at such a specific market, we ask siobhan how she’s gone about advertising the business to relevant groups of people. she explains: “coeliac uk is a charity offering support to coeliacs and it gives us a network through which to advertise the business.

one way is through the food fairs they organise across the country. i now do around four or five of these each year to an audience of anywhere between 500-800 visitors which is great because we can offer people samples of our products. i can also take advantage of direct mailshots to members of the various groups across the country. in addition i have also placed adverts with a specialist magazine called Foods Matter which covers all aspects of allergies and food intolerances including coeliac disease. since the magazine went online i have also been able to advertise on their website. a lot of business, though, has been through word of mouth which of course is free and is also extremely rewarding. i now have many regulars who i’ve got to know really well.”

plans for the future, siobhan tells us, include hunting for bigger premises to base the business and to see her products stocked in more outlets. her priority right now is to finalise her christmas range and so we leave her in peace. we have a feeling though, that having tasted some of the delights she already has on offer, that an order for mince pies may soon be coming her way!

For more information on coeliac disease, please visit www.coeliac.co.uk

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the royal academy honours the uk’s most distinguished engineers. it aims to take advantage of the enormous wealth of engineering knowledge they possess and, through the interdisciplinary character of its membership, provide a unique breadth of experience to further the art and practice of the profession in all its forms. election to the academy is by invitation only. up to 60 fellows are elected each year from nominations made by existing fellows.

they are distinguished by the title ‘fellow of the royal academy of engineering’ and the designatory letters freng.

professor ashok kochhar, executive Dean of the school of engineering & applied science said: “to the best of my knowledge professor bennion is only the second person to have been given this honour as an aston university employee. the other person was one of our previous Vice chancellors, professor sir frederick crawford, who was elected in 1985. professor bennion has published 650 research papers and is the holder of 31 patents. he has attracted very substantial funding for his research team at aston and has contributed widely to Dti and other national committees, journals, and

eu research management activities. he has an excellent record of leading and motivating highly productive research teams and of generating and developing novel ideas through to practical applications.”

the citation for professor bennion’s fellowship highlights his international recognition for the development of photonic components and systems in both the academic and industrial sectors and for promoting and achieving their exploitation in industry. it also notes his eminence in developing periodic structures in guided-wave optics, and for developing their applications. it also recognises his outstanding achievement in creating the 50-member photonics research group at aston.

The drill does not have to be programmed or made to work from a computer operated by a human. It is smart. It knows where to go and what to do. This has never happened in medicine before.

it was tested in surgery by mr David proops, ear, Nose and throat consultant surgeon at university hospital birmingham Nhs foundation trust. the drill was tested on patients needing cochlear implants. a cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. the implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin. an implant does not restore normal hearing. instead, it can give a deaf person a useful representation of sounds in the environment and help him or her to understand speech.

the new micro-drill is applied to the cochlea (the inner ear hearing organ) and aligned to the correct place, where it drills a hole less

than a millimetre in diameter to enable the cochlear implant to be inserted. professor brett explains: “when working with a traditional surgical drill under the microscope, the drill tip will naturally perforate the surface through the inner flexible boney tissue interface of the cochlea with the inner membrane and protrude into the space. using the new robotic micro-drill, the device is able to detect the approach of the drill tip as it approaches this tissue interface. it is then able to avoid penetrating the membrane, so preventing drilling and other debris dropping into the ear.”

it is expected that this more precise means of drilling will lead to improved hearing for the patient following implantation. the drill has been tested on three human patients – all with successful outcomes. it drills a perfect hole, the perfect size, in the perfect place and to a perfect depth. the drill is currently only being used for cochlear implants, but the potentials for wider surgery applications in the future are extensive. simply put, it will revolutionise this type of micro-surgery.

the world’s first truly robotic micro-drill developed by professor peter Brett of the school of engineering & Applied science, has been used in a surgical operation.

highest hoNour for astoN professorProfessor Ian Bennion, who is Head of the Photonics Research Group at Aston, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng).

WorlD’s First robotic micro-drill developed at Aston

14 autumN 07

uNDerstaNDiNg behaViour: the new cognitive research centre

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The OCNC will aim to develop existing research on subjects such as the so-called toxic manager syndrome – the effective manager who meets all his goals and targets and yet has very poor relationships with subordinates – and how decision-making, such as appointing new members of staff, can be influenced by the attractiveness of candidates.

launched by Dr michael butler and Dr Nick lee of aston business school and Dr carl senior of the school of life & health sciences, the ocNc will particularly look at ways in which organisational cognitive neuroscience can be applied in the world of business.

“our aim is to advance theoretical understanding of the cognitive processes which underlie human behaviour in markets and organisations and to develop applications which have socially and managerially beneficial outcomes,” explains Dr senior.

there have been a number of advances in brain imaging techniques in recent years and Dr lee adds that the ocNc will bring existing research strands together to provide a much deeper understanding.

“in some respects we are taking two steps backwards in order to progress,” he continues. “but there will be significant practical applications in doing this. for example, there is an application in terms of marketing and advertising. we absorb different information in different ways and through cognitive neuroscience techniques we will be able to understand a lot more about how and why people process the information in advertisements. this will enable marketeers to target consumers more effectively.”

such practical applications are key to both the creation of the ocNc and the type of work the research team will be concentrating on. all three Directors of the ocNc are keen to stress that one of the aims is to make links to practice so that when they collaborate in research, they will work on practical issues that affect organisational members.

Dr butler explains that the trio will be publishing a book in December linked to the launch of the ocNc, which will also expand on ways in which businesses and organisations can use the expertise and research gathered at the centre. “traditionally in organisations you have observed behaviour,” he says. “but we want to go deeper and take a detailed look at the motivations that make people think and act in the way they do in a business environment, either as an employee or a consumer. as well as developing the idea of the toxic manager we can also look into why we choose particular banks or buy cDs from particular shops.”

the ocNc will provide research leadership by way of high-quality publications, innovative research collaborations and original doctoral-level research in what is still the embryonic field of organisational cognitive neuroscience.

for more information go to www.aston.ac.uk/ocnc where carl senior, michael butler and Nick lee discuss the creation of the ocNc in a podcast.

NatioNal schools busiNess competitioNASTON BUSINESS SCHOOL HAS PLAyED HOST TO THE REGIONAL FINAL OF THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS BUSINESS COMPETITION. COMPETITORS WERE DRAWN FROM A WIDER AREA THAN THE TRADITIONAL MIDLANDS BOUNDARIES, WITH SCHOOLS FROM yORKSHIRE AND THE SOUTH WEST ALSO COMPETING.

A ground-breaking research centre devoted to understanding the way we think and act in the workplace has been launched at Aston Business school. the organisational Cognitive neuroscience Centre (oCnC) is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the world and will also conduct research into our thought-processes as consumers.

effectively, we will be looking at the differences in our thought processes when we enter the workplace or a business environment and trying to understand why those changes happen.

““

The ten schools had three hours to analyse a case study about a failing hotel and make a presentation to the judges detailing how they would turn things around. They were required to develop a realistic business plan, marketing strategy and appropriate financial forecasts.

aston business school provided two of the judges: pamela pinski from the undergraduate office and gareth griffiths,

head of international relations and mba Director (external). “all the schools did very well,” commented Dr griffiths. “to come to a university environment and present to 40 strangers is no easy task. many innovative ideas were presented and it was difficult to choose the winners.”

first place went to torquay grammar school, closely followed by loughborough high. the two go through to the final to be held at merrill lynch in london.

the winners of the national competition, which is organised by the ogden trust, get an all-expenses paid five-day trip to New york where they will visit the Deutche bank trading floor. the runners up get a three-day visit to paris.

for more information on the National schools business competition go to www.businesscompetition.co.uk

15autumN 07

An osCAr for AstonResearchers in the School of Life & Health Sciences are using powerful brain scanners to develop ground breaking methods of replacing invasive experiments on laboratory animals. Their work has just won an Outstanding Scientific Contribution to Animal Replacements (OSCAR), which is an ethical science award from non-animal medical research charity, the Dr Hadwen Trust.

aston’s Neuro-imaging research group has pioneered human volunteer research using the university’s meg (magnetoencephalography) brain scanner. meg measures the magnetic fields naturally present outside the head due to electrical activity in the brain. the technique is completely non-invasive and harmless.

the Dr hadwen trust first funded the unique meg project back in the 1990s when aston operated the only meg machine in the united kingdom. aston’s research was vital in demonstrating meg’s capabilities and expanding its use. the school now combines a range of complementary non-invasive brain research techniques, including meg, fmri (functional magnetic resonance imaging), eeg and mrs (magnetic resonance spectroscopy), to build up an accurate picture of how the human brain functions.

the meg and other systems are being used in a programme of wide-ranging humane research projects. key research areas include human behaviour, epilepsy, pain, hearing, speech and language and non-invasive drug development for neurological illnesses such as alzheimer’s disease and depression. professor paul furlong, Director of the Neuro-imaging research group, received the award from Nicky gordon from the Dr hadwen trust at a special presentation event.

A team of researchers from the school of life & Health sciences is involved with an innovative research trial at selly oak Hospital which is investigating the use of copper to help prevent the spread of infections including MrsA.

Professor Tom Elliott from Selly Oak is leading the trial with funding of up to £100,000 from the Copper Development Association. Professor Elliott is also a Visiting Professor at Aston University.

on one of the medical wards at selly oak hospital, copper door handles, soap dispensers and other working surfaces are being installed. extensive research has already been undertaken by scientists, including the team at aston, which has confirmed that, under laboratory conditions, several types of bacteria die within hours when placed on copper alloy surfaces. the latest research will enable professor elliott and his team, who have been working closely with professor peter lambert, to put these findings to the test in the clinical environment. professor lambert’s colleagues, including Dr tony worthington, Dr anthony hilton, Dr barbara conway and research and placement students, will help with the research.

professor elliott said: “the qualities of copper have been known for many, many years – it is an intelligent metal that kills bacteria and we want to see if it can help in the control of infection. the trial will run for approximately 18 months. an additional ward is being run as normal and will act as a control and therefore will continue to utilise the standard equipment. this will enable the team to compare results at regular intervals. the potential results may have an effect on how we deal with contamination in the future. i want to ensure our patients have the very best care available and this is a wonderful opportunity.”

Above, back row from left to right: Dr Anthony Hilton, Prof Peter Lambert, Dr Barbara Conway, Laura Wheeldon, Tarja Karpanen, Dr Tony Worthington, front row from left to right: Cait Costello, Manita Mehmi, Preena Mistry, Christian Lowden and Rita Chohan.

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So, what is forensic linguistics? Put simply, it is a sub-discipline of applied linguistics relating to the interface between language, the law and crime. For example, a forensic linguist might work with the police analysing text messages or documents to be used as evidence in court, in order to discover who the author was. They might also look at the language used in the cross-examination of a defendant in court and analyse the language in police statements and in interviews.

aston’s rigorous research activity has relevance to the real world and forensic linguistics is a particularly strong example of this. in 2004, professor malcolm coulthard was appointed as the world’s first professor of forensic linguistics and continues to work on high profile cases. he has prepared reports and acted as an expert witness for both prosecution and Defence in over 180 civil and criminal cases. he has given evidence on author identification in the court of appeal at the royal courts of Justice in london, as well as in lower courts in england, germany, hong kong, Northern ireland and scotland. he was involved with the birmingham six appeal, the bridgewater four appeal and the ronald bolden trial, at the conclusion of which, in 1989, the west midlands serious crime squad was disbanded. Next month he will publish a new book forensic linguistics:

language in evidence, which is co-authored by alison Johnson from leeds university.

malcolm’s new colleagues at aston are all leaders in the field. they are tim grant (senior lecturer with special responsibility for forensic linguistics), krzysztof kredens (lecturer in applied linguistics) and David woolls (honorary fellow). all three have published on author identification in the journal of the association of forensic linguists and have significant experience of acting as expert witnesses in actual legal cases.

krzysztof has recently worked on a case of plagiarism in an english-polish electronic dictionary and language and the law: international outlooks, which he has co-edited, will be published next month by peter lang. in early 2008, cambridge scholars will publish a further co-edited collection by him called evaluating the evidence: studies in forensic linguistics.

David’s company, cfl software, has recently been selected by ucas to be its collusion and detection partner. this exciting role will involve David’s copycatch program checking all the personal statements in half a million or so ucas applications for evidence of collusion and internet plagiarism.

tim started his career as a phD student with malcolm and has worked on similarly high profile legal cases; for instance he

assisted with the investigation of Dhiren barot who was convicted this time last year of terrorism related offences. he has also worked with the national police unit which assists forces in the investigation of serious sexual assault and rape, analysing the conversational strategies employed by serial attackers with a view to identifying crimes committed by the same offender.

in september, aston hosted the seventh international summer school in forensic linguistics analysis. malcolm, tim and krzysztof all participated in this and delegates travelled from as far afield as Japan, malaysia and the usa to take part. malcolm said: “i believe that we now have the world’s strongest team in authorship linguistics at aston thanks to our new appointments. our current work includes examining text messages, emails and other forms of written communication to establish the author of the text. this has relevance in high profile crime cases. David’s work, which involves examining whether or not prospective students’ personal ucas statements are genuine, is particularly exciting. other members of the group, for example some of our current phD students, are interested in exploring issues around language in the criminal justice system, so this is a very exciting time to be part of forensic linguistics at aston.”

Forensic linguistics gathers strength

Forensic linguistics, which is based in the school of languages & social sciences, is now well-established and internationally respected. three new members of staff have recently joined the research group, making it the strongest in the world.

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WHAT WILL THE ROLE INVOLVE?

i joined the combined honours team at the beginning of august as a marketing assistant. my main job is to promote aston university’s combined honours within the competitive higher education market.

WHy DID yOU CHOOSE A

PLACEMENT AT ASTON?

being a placement student offers many benefits for both me and the department. i’ll gain an insight into real working life and have an experience that no amount of lectures can give. working for combined honours at aston university was an ideal choice for me as i have been able to stay close to home and also experience university from a different angle – i’m not a student as such this year!

DOES yOUR STUDENT

BACKGROUND HELP yOU IN A PROFESSIONAL CAPACITy?

i have found that being a student in the university’s work environment has given me an added benefit as i

find it easier to liaise with different departments in the university. i already know my way around the building and i was familiar with a few members of staff before i began my work placement.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF

THE PLACEMENT yEAR?

initially i was very nervous about the sudden change in direction from being a student to working full-time, but as soon as i started my placement i got stuck right in and i have enjoyed every moment of it so far. it has given me responsibilities that i never would have imagined i would be able to cope with but it’s amazing what you can do once you are facing each challenge day by day.

WHy DO ALUMNI NEED TO KNOW

ABOUT yOUR ROLE?

hopefully they will be working with me! i have many tasks to complete but one of my major projects is the combined honours extended family project. this involves liaising with combined honours alumni to find out more information about them and to hopefully organise an event when they

can all come back to aston to celebrate. some alumni reading this will be hearing from me shortly and i want to encourage them to respond positively and participate in the project.

WHAT ELSE DOES yOUR

ROLE INVOLVE?

other tasks have involved producing a monthly e-newsletter for all combined honours students, assisting with clearing at the start of the academic year, writing various articles for staff, alumni and student magazines, assisting with open days and also setting up an employer panel which allows students easier access to more information about possible careers. i am thoroughly enjoying my placement so far.

i work with teams in both the combined honours department and the marketing & communications department and all are incredibly friendly and have made me feel welcome from the start.

WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

my placement isn’t directly linked to my career aspirations. when i have finished university i want to train as a british army officer at sandhurst. one thing’s for sure, though, the placement experience will give me a real insight into working life and will give me the confidence to know i can achieve things that i previously thought were beyond my reach.

At the start of a new academic year, Combined Honours welcomes a new face to the team. lianne robinson, third year Bsc Human psychology student, embarks on a marketing placement aimed at promoting Combined Honours in a competitive Higher education market. We spent the day with her to find out more about her role and some of the projects she will be involved in.

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successful graDuatioN 07this year’s graduation saw 17 combined honours students graduating with first class honours and 113 students with upper second class honours. after the graduation ceremony, the combined honours students made their way to the hospitality area where photos were taken, food was served and celebrations took place. as part of these celebrations, awards were made to the highest achievers. the highest achiever in each year received the combined honours priestly scholarship award and each school recognised the achievements of its graduates. congratulations to the class of 2007!

18 autumN 07

experT guidance aT enTerpriseFesT

Aspiring student entrepreneurs took advantage of EnterpriseFest 2007 on 21 February, which was an action-packed day of advice and information hosted by Aston’s Careers Service.

following the success of enterprisefest 2006, this year’s event encouraged students of all ages in the midlands to understand self-employment and entrepreneurship. experts were available to provide advice on banking, marketing and writing a business plan, as well as guidance on taxation and law. “after last year’s successful festival, the careers service was delighted to be able to produce another similar event,” said siobhan Qadir, careers service advisor. “students received some top quality advice and information on entrepreneurship with the aim to help them set up their own businesses.”

one of the keynote speakers was wade lyn of cleone foods, who was voted one of the top 100 most influential businessmen of the west midlands. also speaking was aston alumnus Ninder Johal (1987 mba), who set up Nachural records in 1991 and Jo miners (née barnes, 1988 bsc french and german) founder of stonehouse marketing. Jo said she owes a lot of her own success to the time she spent at aston and was delighted to be supporting the event, as there was little advice for students hoping to set up their own businesses in the 1980s. “enterprisefest should signpost graduates and undergraduates to some of the support mechanisms that are available. i think that self-belief and practical help from people who have already trodden the path of setting up in business are vital ingredients in getting a new business venture off the ground.” panel members were also on hand from organisations such as the prince’s trust, lloyds tsb, birmingham chamber of commerce and Divercity.

The Woodcock Pool, which celebrates its centenary this year, has run twenty courses since the lessons began in July 2004. Although they are open to all University members, they are most popular with international students.

mike kirkman, head of sports and recreation, believes uk students tend not to participate in lessons because they would have learned to swim at primary school as part of the National curriculum. “what we have found at the university since we’ve been operating these lessons is that the prime business comes from international students who have not had the opportunity in their own country.” of the 150 people who have learned to swim in the sessions, two thirds have gone on to participate in woodcock’s ‘improvers’ class, which looks at improving stroke technique, endurance and general water skills.

mike puts this success down to the instructor, Nick campbell, whose classes have become increasingly popular. “in my view he has a real talent for teaching people who have a fear of water and putting them at ease in what can be a frightening situation. since he began teaching, Nick has expanded the programme to such an extent that classes have been fully enrolled over the last academic year.”

the privacy afforded by the woodcock pool further adds to the appeal. time is set aside exclusively for lessons and there is a female only session, staffed by female lifeguards, on tuesday afternoons between 4.30pm and 5.30pm. the gym is also very busy and, although the facilities are targeted at students, staff and the local community can also take advantage of them. Discounts for alumni are also available. please contact the alumni & Development office for an application form.

International students in the Woodcock Pool

swimming – a hit with international studentssWimming sessions aT asTon’s WoodcocK sporTs cenTre

have TaKen on an inTernaTional Flavour WiTh non-uK

sTudenTs increasingly TaKing advanTage oF The FaciliTy.

19autumN 07

Aston Alumnus donates scholarship for Aston studentsAn Aston alumnus has recently donated funds to support Aston students through a named scholarship fund.

Raman Mistry (1977 BSc Administrative Science) has donated CDN $7,000 (approximately £3,500) to provide seven Raman Mistry Scholarship Fund prizes during the academic year 2007-08. Raman has also pledged to continue the Scholarship Fund in future years, with subsequent gifts of CDN $1,000 each year.

raman was born and raised in tanzania and came to birmingham in 1973, studying at hall green college and aston university. raman remembers: “i had very little money while i was studying, so alongside holiday jobs at the post office and a local factory, i applied for, and was awarded, a grant from the city of birmingham. this grant has touched my heart ever since and i will always be grateful. a university education opens so many doors.”

after graduation, raman emigrated to canada, working with accounting firms whilst pursuing the certified management accountant designation, qualifying in 1986. in 1998, he also qualified as a certified financial planner. raman now owns and manages a tax and financial planning practice in toronto and lives with his wife,

lata, and their two children, monika and suneel. raman gratefully acknowledges the foundation set for him by attending aston university and feels compelled to help students at aston today, to encourage those in financial difficulties to complete their education and achieve their dreams.

the raman mistry scholarship is available to aston undergraduate students on any programme of study in years one to four. the scholarship is aimed at students from low income backgrounds who are performing exceptionally well on their courses and who may be struggling to finance their studies at aston. as raman says:

“without financial help during my studies, i would not be where i am today. i would never have done so much or progressed so far if i hadn’t pursued my education at aston.”

if you would like to establish a scholarship fund at aston university, or would like to discuss ways of giving that are meaningful to you, please contact the alumni & Development office via telephone on +44 (0)121 204 3341 or via email on development@aston.ac.uk

We hope to exceed this even further with our current telephone campaign, running from 22 October to 18 November. The money raised has so far funded

projects such as a minibus for the Students’ Guild, Aston Business School’s Undergraduate Common Room, student bursaries and placement grants.

more recently the campaign has funded a presentation suite in the students’ guild opened by sir adrian cadbury at the end of January 2007. the new suite provides a work and meeting space and will be an excellent resource for students to practice their presentations using its new projector facilities.

students who take part in the caller campaign gain many new skills, most noticeably in their ability to communicate effectively with their target audience. some have even had work placements offered to them by alumni as well as detailed advice about travelling and/or working abroad.

each year’s team of students works extremely hard on the campaign, but they also manage to have a few laughs along the way with chocolate incentives and competitions to find the quirkiest alumni story of the night. to the delight of those students involved, many amusing and interesting stories about the university have been revealed.

if you would like more information about aston’s telephone campaigns, or would like to request that you not be contacted during a telephone campaign, please call +44 (0)121 204 3341 or email development@aston.ac.uk

telephoNe campaigN goes from streNgth to streNgththe Alumni & Development office’s telephone campaign has gone from strength to strength in the last three years. Generous alumni donations have enabled Aston to consistently beat fundraising targets, from an historic £53,171 in the very first campaign to a record-breaking £165,563 in november 2006.

20 autumN 07

“I was commissioned by Executive Dean of School, Dr Pam Moores,” explains Amarjit. “My brief was to produce a collection of canvases that reflect the activities of the School. Whilst it was important for the collection to work together, each canvas stands alone as a work in its own right.” Amarjit is currently reading for a PhD in Political Science, one of the research interests of the School, and her collection reflects this alongside international relations, translation and cross-border communication.

amarjit is particularly inspired by overlaying text on images and using these two methods of communication – words and pictures – to produce a powerful message that makes people think. “i wanted students to be inspired about their studies,” she continues, “to think and not to be offended.” her work uses words associated with theorists such as marx, weber and Durkheim, quotations from newspapers on recent world events and a series of translations which question both grammar and syntax and the world in which we find ourselves.

text is not the only inspiration in amarjit’s work. she also enjoys exploring texture. “texture brings the idea to life,” amarjit explains.

“i wanted each canvas to be different, to have a mixture of styles. i chose acrylic over watercolours as they are stronger and could deliver a stronger message. watercolours might not have been able to carry the political messages of some of the people featured in my work.” amarjit was also inspired by maps and her work features interpretations of the european space in terms of country boundaries and historical political borders.

the space for the exhibition is permanent in the school and this had an important influence on the conception of the collection. some canvases can be found in alcoves, whilst others run the length of a complete corridor telling a story as they weave around the school.

each piece was designed for the area in which it now hangs and amarjit made a conscious decision not to use frames in an attempt to avoid putting a barrier between the messages of her work and the observer. if her aim is to make students and visitors think as they walk past the collection, then this decision is crucial to communicating her intentions.

amarjit is not a newcomer to art and has been drawing and painting since a very young age. after gcse and a level studies, amarjit went to central st martin’s school of art and Design in london and continued her studio work. her move to aston was in response to wanting to explore a more academic interest. as part of her work for cultural communication, amarjit was able to combine her studies with her love for art. her commission in the school of languages & social sciences followed an exhibition in the students’ guild. “in some way i feel my art is putting something back into aston. i’m making myself part of the school in a totally different way.”

an

messageArtful

Art provides a space to contemplate both the intentions of the artist and personal reactions to the subject represented. From visual images, meanings are drawn out and messages decoded. this visual language is equally as powerful as the written word – both being vibrant elements of contemporary communication. Aston graduate, Amarjit lahel (2003 Bsc politics and sociology), has combined both of these elements in a powerful and stunning exhibition in the main reception of the school of languages & social sciences.

21autumN 07

itching to find out what your friends from aston are up to? looking to see

who’s up to what and with whom? well look no further because ‘where are

they now?’ is the place to find out the latest news from aston’s thriving alumni

network. you never know, you might just spot someone you want to get in

touch with. if you want your face noticed in the spring edition, contact us at the

usual address with your news – and, go on, send a photograph!

?nowwhereare they

brian harrison 1968 bsc metallurgy

“when i left school i began work as a laboratory assistant at the witton factory of ici. in 1955 i was selected to be one of the country’s first representatives on the metallurgy sandwich course at aston’s predecessor, the college of advanced technology. i became one of the ‘sandwich six’ metallurgy students who helped to increase the Dirty Duck’s profits no end! the course involved six months at college and six on work placement with ici. it was here i met my wife, maureen, and we married in my final year at college. at the same time i served as president of the students’ union. in 1963 i left ici and we sailed on the Queen mary from southampton to New york as i had secured a job with 3m in st paul, minnesota. we thought we’d only be there for a couple of years, but in 1966 i applied for a job at the franklin mint in pennsylvania and

ended up being based there for the next twenty years! we did however return to the uk for three years in 1972 when i ran the international division from london. we put our two daughters into english schools but it did nothing for their american accents! we returned to america in 1975 when i was made president and coo of the company. franklin mint was sold off in 1986 and since then i have occupied myself with other things, hobbies often taking priority. i used to fly my own plane and also enjoy sailing, skiing and golf etc. i am also chairman of the board of trustees of thomas Jefferson university, one of the leading medical universities in the united states. maureen and i recently returned from cruising our 33ft sailboat in the bahamas for two months. we shall celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary this December.”

Did you graduate in the 60s?We’d love to find out what you’re up to!

Email: alumniinfo@aston.ac.uk

or write to: alumni & Development office aston university freepost bm2599/13 birmingham b4 6br

Deadline: february 2008

Brian Harrison and his wife, Maureen.

1960s

22 autumN 07

clare FarnWorTh née masterton, 1985 bsc managerial and administrative studies

“following graduation, i started a career in purchasing with austin rover. i spent the next 21 years in the automotive industry working for rover, bmw, land rover, Jaguar and finally aston martin until summer 2006. i married mike in 1988 and we have two teenage children. although mike and i met in the midlands, we are both originally from the North west and one of our long-term goals was to return to our ‘roots’. we achieved this last year and are now running our own purchasing management consultancy near lancaster.”

marTin Walder 1985 bsc electrical and electronic engineering

“for the last 27 years i’ve continued to work tirelessly assisting uk manufacturing companies to stay competitive in the global economy. i completed a thin sandwich at aston whilst employed by the timken bearing company but soon moved into the supply of factory automation equipment, spending four years at honeywell and 12 years at rockwell in various engineering, sales and management roles. for the last six years i’ve been managing Director of abb robotics in the uk. abb is the uk’s leading supplier of industrial robots and a regular sight on tV thanks to citroen’s picasso adverts!”

caTherine maddox née parratt, 1986 bsc human psychology

“after graduating i attained the cim Diploma and joined a marketing consultancy. i married in 1989 and then spent seven years in hong kong and singapore working for standard chartered bank. back in the uk, with three children and a small property development business, i launched a childcare Voucher operation. this was in response to the change in legislation in 2005, which significantly enhanced the tax and Ni benefits to parents using vouchers to pay for registered childcare. this year, the business has won the childcare Voucher provider of the year award for consistently high service levels and competitive fees.” go to www.allsaveukcom for more information.

1970ssp

otli

ght o

n...

sTeve sumner 1978 bsc environmental healthsteve worked for leicester city council as an environmental health officer for two years before returning to university in Newcastle to study for an msc in occupational hygiene. after leaving Newcastle he worked for a number of local authorities, his last post at bolton metro where he was group manager for food and occupational safety. During his time with bolton he was seconded to the headquarters of the health and safety executive dealing with technical policy issues. steve now works as National health and safety policy adviser with local government employers. he was awarded the obe in the New year’s honours list for services to local government and received his award from prince charles on 12 July. on receiving the award, steve said: “i was delighted to be nominated and it is very gratifying to have your work recognised in this way, but it was completely unexpected!” steve lives in lancashire with his wife and 17 year old son. he enjoys fell walking, cycling, live music, real ale, cinema and theatre in his spare time.

1980s

Steve receiving his OBE

Clare Farnworth

Martin Walder

Catherine Maddox

Did you graduate in the 70s?We’d love to find out what you’re up to!

Email: alumniinfo@aston.ac.uk

or write to: alumni & Development office aston university freepost bm2599/13 birmingham b4 6br

Deadline: february 2008

23autumN 07

spot

ligh

t on

...

Tim dallas 1988 beng mechanical engineering

“i’m currently working in perth, western australia, as a project manager for a subsea engineering company. we are developing some fascinating technology for performing remote intervention and abandonment work on subsea oil wells (the ones without platforms above them). australia is going through a massive period of growth right now and the work is not only interesting but the lifestyle associated with the location is second to none – if any engineers reading this fancy a challenging career in warmer climes than the uk, give me a call! going back a few years, i ‘first’ left aston to work with my undergraduate sponsors, the ministry of Defence, in r&D. i was soon drawn back to the aston triangle in 1989 though and sat an it course for a year. before long another change in direction saw me driving overland trucks through africa. this was around the time gap years started to become popular. after a couple of extended trips in an old army four-ton truck (the longest covering

26,000km and 17 countries in six months) i decided it was time to get a proper job. the oil industry seemed very attractive – lots of travel to interesting places and a salary few would experience at that age. the downside was that is was tough and technically demanding work. having said that, i enjoyed every minute of it! between stints chasing the dollar i managed to feed the travel bug in me and toured scandinavia, completed two solo trips through iceland (one on a run-down ex-army motorbike), checked out the incas in peru, got lost in thailand for a while, had a look around a bit of china before heading back west on the trans-siberian express. i’ve been a little more responsible in recent years. i’ve settled in perth, bought a house, got married to a local lass, become an australian citizen and, when i’m not working, i race my yacht a couple of times a week. future plans? Next year, i’m taking leanne to italy and then to the uk for a brief tour. we’re even thinking of dropping into the pot or sacks if they are still there. but not on a wednesday night, i’m far too old for that!”

gary deaKin (1994 mba)

“after completing my mba, i continued to work for coca-cola & schweppes in the equipment and sales divisions, but i wanted the opportunity to travel and ‘use’ some of my newly acquired skills and knowledge.

the opportunity came from unilever, who recruited me as their european operations manager for the beverages businesses. i was challenged to improve the top line growth and profit by building the ‘go to market’ capabilities through a number of franchise and joint venture strategic partnerships.

1990s

FaiTh carTer 1994 phd mechanical engineering

“i went travelling to south america in 2001, visiting nine countries in nine months, including argentina, paraguay, chile, uruguay, brazil, equador, brazil, bolivia and peru. it was a great experience. upon my return i decided to work with the elderly to give something back to society and to understand the issues elderly people face. the travel bug hit again though and i ended up going on a trans-siberian train journey across russia, mongolia and china. after this trip, i felt weary of travelling and was tremendously homesick. on my return i decided to consider teaching and a year later i started work as a lecturer at the city of bristol college. i work in the Department of learning and language Development, helping students on a one-to-one basis with maths and english. we also provide in-class support to courses within the college and one-to-one help with assignments. i enjoy my work and it is rewarding to know that you have made a difference by teaching a student to do something that they have not been able to do before. on 7 april this year, i married another mathematician from canterbury university (my first degree was in mathematical sciences). the wedding ceremony and reception were held in axbridge, somerset, near to cheddar. the honeymoon was in mexico, so there are still some countries i have not visited! Now i appreciate my husband’s company as we travel on life’s road together.”

Faith and her husband on their wedding day

Tim Dallas

Did you graduate in the 80s?We’d love to find out what you’re up to!

Email: alumniinfo@aston.ac.uk

or write to: alumni & Development office aston university freepost bm2599/13 birmingham b4 6br

Deadline: february 2008

24 autumN 07

i spent between two to four months in all the major western european countries; paris, Vienna, Zurich, hamburg, milan, lisbon, brussels etc. a great experience that enabled me to put to use many of the tools i had developed during my mba. either by fluke or because of the great training i had received at aston, i delivered strong growth and was asked to expatriate to sunny brazil as general manager of the beverage business, which was essentially a start-up. my wife and three daughters had the adventure of a lifetime! brazil is such a wonderful place with great people, exceptional food and beaches. we lived in sao paolo, made great friends and lived an outdoor lifestyle that dreams are made of. again, with a great team, i was able to build the business quickly to $30m turnover in three years and was ready for the next challenge. i am now back in the uk (great to be back to hp sauce, boddingtons beer and man utd football!) still with unilever, working as beverage global sales and marketing capability Director. i enjoyed studying for the mba and without a doubt it enabled me to look at complex business situations and implement ‘correct’ decisions which resulted in business growth.”

heaTha anderson 1995 bsc business administration and French

heatha is now living in glasgow and working in the environmental consultancy unit of Valpak ltd. she has recently become an lca practitioner, which enables her to assess the environmental

impact of products and services, including their carbon footprint. since graduating she has set up and run her own business in complementary therapies, which she now does as a hobby. also in her spare time she enjoys yoga, running, tennis and skiing and is currently organising her wedding in april 2008 to gav, whilst trying to train her new puppy, stella. “life is busy, but very good!”

ailsa pollard née maguire, 1995 bsc managerial and administrative studies

since leaving aston, ailsa has undertaken an executive mba at london business school and has pursued a career in strategic consulting and real estate. she lived in New york for two years and has spent the last three years living in Dubai with her husband Jac. ailsa is currently head of strategy for the Dubai government’s private equity real estate investment group, acquisitions this year including the Qe2, the mandarin oriental hotel in New york and a number of assets in asia. ailsa is attempting to run the New york marathon this year and spends most of her spare time in italy renovating an old farmhouse which never quite seems to be finished. she keeps in touch with andi rogers, lucy inskip (née elliot) and Jane gambarini from her course at aston and would welcome hearing from any old friends. if you would like to be put in touch with ailsa, please contact the alumni & Development office at the usual address.

2000sesTelle benTall 2002 bsc psychology and management

“i’ve literally just got engaged to rebecca lynch (2002 bsc international business and french) who i met at aston in my final year. we are planning our civil ceremony for late next year. i seemed to manage to avoid the wider world of work when i graduated, spending a year working in the guild as Vp student activities, then a winter doing a ski season, followed by the completion of a master’s degree in sports management. i finally secured myself a job at betfair and my

current role is in the poker arm of the business, where i look after poker players when they qualify on our poker software for live poker tournaments, meaning i occasionally need to travel with them to singapore, monte carlo, las Vegas and london (note: this is not as glam as it sounds!) prior to this i worked in the online acquisition team as a campaign executive. in my limited free time i am the captain of hammersmith and fulham rugby club. bizarrely enough our coach, milton stephens (1987 bsc computer science and french) used to be a cobra! at work i have the pleasure of sitting next to chris harrison (2006 bsc marketing) who used to be a stag. small small world…”

spotlight on...hayley WrighT 2005 bsc applied and human biology

“i met mark evans when we were both first year biology students and we married five years later on 11 august 2007 in suffolk. whilst at aston we were both involved in the entertainments Department at the guild and a large number of aston students and alumni were there to help us celebrate. our best man was martin greyson (2005 bsc computer science), our usher was tim lake (2005 bsc computer science), the bridesmaids were felicity young (2005 bsc applied biology) and alyce markham (2005 bsc applied biology) and our photographers were paul channon (2003 bsc electromechanical engineering) and simon clifford (2004 bsc civil engineering). after an afternoon of games and bouncy castles we ended the day in true aston style with a disco organised by current aston students ending with the infamous New york, New york! mark is now in his final year of a phD at ucl whilst i am finishing mine at kcl and looking forward to many more official and unofficial alumni events.”

Hayley and Mark on their wedding day

Gary Deakin

Heatha Anderson

Ailsa (far left) at Jane’s wedding

Estelle and Rebecca

25autumN 07

alexander gaTTas 2003 msc business and information Technology

“i am currently based in basel, switzerland working for syngenta ag – the world’s leading agrochemical company and currently ranked third in the high value seeds business. i am working as the business controller for area east europe crop protection and am involved in the global headquarters management and control of nine business entities across central and eastern europe spanning from poland and the czech republic to kazakhstan and russia. in my spare time i am enjoying hiking and skiing all over switzerland as well as cycling and endurance running. having been studying for the professional cima qualification since completing my master’s degree at aston (and joining syngenta) in 2003, i am about to sit my final examination paper in November.”

aZhar ali jaFFery 2004 bsc optometry

“i went on to pass my professional qualifying examination after graduating and became a registered optometrist in 2005. i started working for specsavers opticians in cannock and in march 2007 opened my own practice ‘eyesavers opticians ltd’ in bordesley green, birmingham. we provide quality professional eye care using modern instruments. any graduate from aston university will qualify for a 20% discount on all designer frames. i have four children and am enjoying a very successful professional career.”

miKe Wallis 2006 bsc information mathematics

“after graduating i thought it’d be nice to have a break and take some time before deciding what career direction to explore. i had a part-time job with tesco that offered a steady income and, before i knew it, the summer was over and winter was approaching. i had started to look for full time roles elsewhere but nothing was jumping out at me. pressure to find a job increased and i started to do some temp work for an agency, but this was quite boring and not the direction i wanted to go in. in february 2007 i applied to be a graduate risk analyst for a credit card company. i had been so choosy that this was only my second application for a full time role! the job description sounded great and, after a second interview, i was offered the role. i’ve been there over eight months now and i’m still enjoying it. that was my main

aim, to find a job that i would enjoy and not be bored in. the various bits of programming in my course have gone a long way in helping me in this role, so it has made uni seem worthwhile and beneficial. it was certainly worth waiting for the right job to come along!”

ariana mansury 2007 phd management

“i completed my mba in international marketing in the usa before arriving at aston

in 2003 as an international student from Dallas, texas. arriving in a city i had never visited before was an adventure and an interesting story all in itself. luckily, i had visited london several times before. my goal was to complete my phD at aston business school in three years and, amazingly, i was able to do it. professor James love played a vital role in my accomplishment and together we have three academic journal articles in the works. i am indebted to him for his conscientious guidance and for the support of all my family. prior to graduation, i was offered a position at cadbury schweppes’ headquarters, Dallas, texas. currently, i am working as a customer marketing associate manager. i enjoy what i do and i am appreciative of all my experiences which make what i do manageable.”

If you would like to be featured in ‘Where are they now?’ in the spring edition of Apex, please send some information about yourself either by email to:

alumniinfo@aston.ac.uk or by letter addressed to:

Alumni & Development Office, Aston University, Freepost BM2599/13 Birmingham, B4 6BRShould you wish to send a photo to accompany your profile, please either post an original, which we will return, or email one at high resolution (250-300 dpi). We are waiting to hear from you – don’t be afraid! (Deadline for receipt of information is February 2008.)

want to be in Apex?

Alexander Gattas

Azhar Jaffery

Mike Wallis

Ariana Mansury

Did you graduate in the 2000s?We’d love to find out what you’re up to!

Email: alumniinfo@aston.ac.uk

or write to: alumni & Development office aston university freepost bm2599/13 birmingham b4 6br

Deadline: february 2008

26 autumN 07

Birmingham showcases on an international stagea neW promoTional video creaTed To shoWcase briTain To an inTernaTional audience FeaTures The cbso, bullring, local band murdoch and birmingham graFFiTi arTisT, Temper. The Three minuTe video, creaTed by The naTional Tourism agency visiTbriTain, TaKes visiTors on a virTual journey Through briTain’s aTTracTions, ToWns and ciTies. The video is available on The visiTbriTain Web siTe, Which regularly aTTracTs over 13 million visiTors a year.

Dave Hodgson, Marketing Director of Marketing Birmingham, said: “The fact that the film features Birmingham attractions so prominently belies the City’s diversity and vitality, and illustrates that Birmingham has a lot to offer visitors. The city’s rich history, famous landmarks, vibrant culture and top quality facilities and attractions make it a favoured destination for visitors from the UK and around the world.”

this view is borne out by recent research and visitor numbers, which are currently at 30.4 million. according to the tNs perception survey 2007, birmingham is increasingly perceived as a leading city for shopping, restaurants, bars and nightlife and an important city for sports, arts and culture. sixty-three per cent of those surveyed thought of birmingham as a great place for music, gigs and concerts, while 58% perceived birmingham to be a leading city for events and festivals.

katey attwell, Visitbritain’s britain brand manager, said: “we wanted the film to highlight the brightest and the best that britain has to offer for the international traveller, and our challenge was to pack as much as possible into just three minutes!”

the film has used footage from birmingham’s own tourism video, Brilliance, created by marketing birmingham. Brilliance takes a dramatic tour of the city enabling the myths and outdated views of the midland’s capital to be broken. by highlighting the underlying character of birmingham, the film portrays the city’s stars – the local people – and in turn, the opportunities this thriving city has for retail, sport, education, business and tourism.

the energy, cosmopolitan culture and iconic landmarks of Birmingham really lent themselves to the ethos of the film and the end result is a stunning testament to the diversity of both Birmingham and Britain as a whole.

““for further information or to obtain your copy of Brilliance, please contact tracey saunders at marketing birmingham on 0121 202 5002 or tracey.saunders@marketingbirmingham.com

27autumN 07

A globAl community

overSeAS chApterS

vienna, 11 septemberDr helen higson, pro Vice chancellor international relations and associate Dean undergraduate programmes enjoyed dinner with our two alumni in Vienna, sian rowland (1999 bsc european studies with german) and kevin hall (1996 bsc international business and german).

Delhi, 27 september and Banglaore, 30 septemberliza rodger from aston’s international office took time out from her busy schedule to meet aston alumni in india.

Delhi, 2 Julykathryn priest, Director of msc programme, and liza rodger from aston’s international office met alumni in Delhi’s ruby tuesday restaurant.

Hong Kong, 5 Julyprofessor David bennett of aston business school joined alumni from our mba and msc international business programmes and was able to share news of the exciting developments on campus and the recent successes of abs.

re:uNioNs

Aston Beijing Alumni (ABA)are you living in beijing? want to expand your personal network? why not join the official alumni chapter? aba was founded by peter thong (1970 bsc production engineering) and regular events are organised throughout the year. recently members enjoyed a bbQ dinner and a visit to the National centre for performing arts. for more information on joining the aston beijing alumni, contact the alumni & Development office.

the persatuan Alumni universiti Aston Malaysiawe are delighted to report that our official malaysia alumni chapter was inaugurated on 10 september 2007. professor graham hooley took the congratulations and best wishes of aston university to the pro tem committee which was set up under the leadership of the honourable Datuk ir mohamed al amin abdul majid. the minister of higher education y b Dato mustapa bin mohamad was also present. alumni from many different subject disciplines and graduation years met together to celebrate the inauguration of the chapter which was followed by the first agm. the chapter plans to have many events and socials for all alumni in the region including sporting challenges and professional seminars. all alumni living and working in malaysia are invited to join the chapter. for more information on the malaysia chapter, contact the alumni & Development office.

Aston graduates are literally on every continent in the world and we are always delighted to report your meetings and activities in Apex. the past few months have been very busy. our international chapters have been meeting up regularly with each other to network professionally and socially. there have also been a number of occasions when Aston staff have visited overseas and were excellently looked after by our alumni. A big thank you to all our ‘meeters and greeters’ in the four corners of the world. Here’s a taster of our international activities.

28 autumN 07

4 december: chrisTmas pub

reunion – london

come along to the pitcher & piano, trafalgar square, for a

christmas drink with fellow alumni and members of the alumni

& Development team. entrance free. 5.30pm onwards.

12 december: chrisTmas pub

reunion – birmingham

come along to all bar one, brindley place, for a christmas

drink with fellow alumni and members of the alumni &

Development team. entrance free. 5.30pm onwards.

15 march: agm oF convocaTion

all alumni of the university are invited to this annual

event. Details will be out in the New year.

july 2008: london alumni evenT

tbc

july 2008: guild evenT

tbc

Forthcoming reunions and

events for 2007-2008

calendar ’07-’08

Please contact the

Alumni & Development Office for further

details about any of these events.

Call 0121 204 4543 or email alumniinfo@aston.ac.uk

Details are also available at

www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/reunions

Aston graduates hit the roofon 4 august, southeast-based graduates were invited to join members of the alumni & Development office for a reunion bbQ at the kensington roof gardens in london. owned by sir richard branson as part of Virgin limited edition, alumni were able to explore over 1.5 acres of themed gardens 100ft above kensington high street, some even spotting the two resident flamingos (bill and ben) and the pintail ducks that inhabit the gardens. fully booked, the event was a tremendous success and was a successor to our previous london reunions held at equally unique venues including the house of lords and the house of commons. Next year we are hoping to add a reunion dinner at tower bridge to our list of successful london events.

Fondue Memories 2007another successful fondue memories reunion was held this July, with over 400 alumni from 2003-2006 returning to aston to meet up with old friends. a brave few even turned out in the miserable weather to attend the pre-guild bbQ organised at aston business school conference centre. Needless to say, thanks to the weather, the bbQ ended up as an indoor event which was a big disappointment for those on the lookout for hot sunny weather! Despite this everybody had a good time, the evening at the guild made up for it and everyone enjoyed themselves. keep your eyes peeled for next summer’s guild event!

29autumN 07

news from Aston Graduates’ AssociationJenny Martin updates readers on the recent activities of AGA

several subscriptions have been returned as they have been paid to the wrong account. please check that your sub. is paid to aston graduates’ association a/c No 00774235 lloyds bank 2 the priory, Queensway, birmingham b4 6bp (code 30 96 28)

Middleton Hallin april, aga members and friends visited middleton hall near tamworth. we began with a talk (by a former professor of metallurgy at aston – professor

Dillamore) about the history of the hall and its recent restoration. the oldest parts date from the 13th century and the hall itself was originally home to francis willughby, father of the royal society. there are examples of buildings from the 16th and early 19th centuries including a beautiful georgian house, which is now used as a conference and wedding centre. in 1980 the site was in ruins and since then all the restoration work has been undertaken by volunteers. Now almost all the buildings are restored together with about 40 acres of parkland, the gardens, lake, children’s area, shop and much, much more. if you missed this event you would be well advised to add it to your list of future places to visit.

JoiNt meetiNg with birmiNghamaga hosted the joint meeting with birmingham guild of graduates this year in June. John ray, the Deputy Director of twycross Zoo, gave an illustrated talk explaining how the Zoo developed from two pet shops owned by ladies in sutton coldfield and hints. he explained how the chimpanzees’ tea party, used by a well known company to advertise tea, had provided the revenue for the development of the Zoo into a world primate centre. the talk was followed by a buffet supper to enable us all to update the gossip between the two associations.

visit to twycross Zoo as a result of the talk given by John ray in June, a visit was arranged to twycross Zoo in september to see the collection of primates in situ. we were invited to an educational lecture on the variety and habits of primates by sophie stevens (2006 bsc applied and human biology). she explained that twycross is a world primate centre and is home to over fifty different kinds of primates. although the Zoo is home to elephants and giraffes amongst other animals, it is the chimps, gorillas, monkeys and bonobos for which it is now famous. family groups have grown up here, in some cases over 50 years, and some offspring have been sent to zoos abroad to start new family groups. conservation of endangered species is a major concern of the Zoo and it is certainly working hard to counteract species extinction.

Pétanquethe annual pétanque match took place this year on a bright sunny evening in august. this event is becoming increasingly popular and over 50 people took part. after the first round aga had hardly scored a point, but we pulled the match back and finally won by a single point. well done aston! the hints village team again produced a wonderful buffet supper to sustain us throughout the evening. we look forward to being invited to defend our title again next year.

preserViNg our lifeall museums collect archives for which they have insufficient exhibition space, but the birmingham museum has over half a million items in store. this museum collection in Duddeston has recently been opened to the public and aga members had a guided tour of the facility in october. items both large and small are housed here, from buttons to a bin lorry, from pen nibs to a ten-ton traction engine. the tour provided us with a fascinating insight into the social history of the west midlands and the ways in which this is being preserved for us all.

Calling all budding artiststwo years ago aga’s first art competition was held at aston to inspire and motivate budding artists to exhibit their work to the university community. the competition has gone from strength to strength with last year seeing more entries and more varied work – from photographs to pastels to oils. aga’s third competition will be held in march 2008 – full details will be sent out in the New year. once again three prizes will be awarded by a panel of judges. time to get out that paint box!

Dates for your diaryMonday 12th November fun evening with a quiz and buffet supper in the aston business school. come along and pit your wits against your contemporaries. you never know, you might win one of the fun prizes!

Tuesday 11th December as requested after last year’s visit, we return to the birmingham council house banqueting suite for christmas lunch.

AGA badges are available from the secretary (tel +44 (0)121 427 2047) price £5 to include packing and postage.

30 autumN 07

We’d like to find

phillip Allen (1979 BSc Managerial and Administrative Studies)neAl ArmStrong (1998 BSc International Business and French)helen Arnold (1980 BSc Managerial and Administrative Studies)pAul AShworth (1981 BSc Human Psychology)KAte ASton (2004 BSc Sociology and Psychology in Business)clAire bAgley (1992 BSc French and German)SuSAn bAineS (1988 BSc Managerial and Administrative Studies)Judith bArtelS (2005 MBA)muStAfA bAzelyA (1977 PhD Production Engineering) thomAS beecroft (2006 BSc International Business and German)AdriAnA ceruSo (2005 MSc Engineering Management)SuKhvinder chAhAl (1999 BSc Chemistry)Jennifer chu (2001 BEng Civil Engineering)KierSten cowAn (1996 BSc Optometry)Julie creAton (2001 MSc Financial Management and Control)robert dAley (2004 MRes Photonic Networks)

SebAStiAn dAlheimer (2002 BSc International Business and German)Serge fenouil-gAngi (2001 BSc International Business, French and German)roger fielden (1984 BSc Chemical Engineering)KAren fox (1996 MSc Information Technology)cAroline gArdner (née Bradley, 1985 BSc Business Administration and Computer Science)gemmA glAveS (2004 MPharm Pharmacy)cAtherine grAy (2001 BSc Business Computing and IT)edwArd green (1999 BSc Transport Management) StuArt grimwAde (1980 BSc Building Economics and Measurement)JemmA holmeS (2000 BSc Public Policy and Social Studies)lyndSey holSey (2000 BSc Public Policy and Social Studies)JuliA horwell (2005 BSc International Business and Economics)SArA hugginS (2002 BSc International Business and French)Jenny hunt (1999 MSc Information Technology)

roSie JAllport (2000 BSc Law with Legal Practice Management)fAye Kenning (2007 MSc Human Resource Management and Business)SAid KhAn (1993 BSc French and Society and Government)gibSon Kong (1988 BSc Ophthalmic Optics)SoniA Kundu (1998 MSc Marketing Management)ShAron lAwrie (née Rankin, 1989 BSc Geological Sciences)mAriA lorite (1998 PhD Pharmacy)beverley mArtin (1998 BSc Applied and Human Biology)gAyle mArtin (1997 BSc International Business and French)thomAS mArtin (2006 BSc Computer Science)clifford mAtthewS (1990 MBA)Stephen mcAlliSter (1996 PhD Pharmacy)mArK mcgibbon (1995 MBA)euAn mcKAy (1997 BSc Optometry)ninA miller (2000 BSc Public Policy and Social Studies)peter millington (1998 BSc Logistics)huw oeppen (2001 MSc International Business)StewArt orrell (1997 MSc Information Technology)KetAn pAtel (1994 BSc Ophthalmic Optics)

SArAh pAyne (2004 BSc International Business and French)Andrew peArce (1991 BSc Transport Management)timothy peArcey (1993 BSc Managerial and Administrative Studies)chriStopher phillipS (1996 BSc Management and Computer Science)emmA phillipS (2003 BSc Psychology and Sociology)helen podd (1999 BSc Public Policy and Business Administration) neil pollArd (1995 BSc Optometry)Alice reAdy (2005 BSc International Business and French/German)ivor reed (1984 BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering)Andrew riding (1978 BSc Production Technology and Management)KAren robinSon (2000 BSc Optometry)KAren Slinger (1996 BSc International Business and French)colin Smith (1993 MBA)bryony StAAtS (2002 MSc Telecommunications Technology)neville StAnton (1990 MPhil Applied Psychology)elizAbeth Steel (2003 BSc French)ivor SzKolAr (1980 BSc Physics)lucy tAylor (née Rundle, 1995 BSc Maths and Society and Government)

mArK tAylor (1981 BSc Electrical and Electronic Engineering)iAn thorne (1978 BSc Chemical Engineering)deniS thornley (1960 BSc Engineering)dAvid tinline (2005 BSc International Business and French/German) helen todd (2000 MSc Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)mArK trAcey (2001 BSc Information Technology for Business)henry turgooSe (2005 BSc Marketing)JoSephine tyAcK (1985 BSc Civil Engineering)nicholAS vAn de weyer (2003 BSc Information Technology for Business)edwArd weeKeS (2004 BSc Logistics)StuArt wellS (1996 BSc Business Administration and Maths)rebeccA well (née Eastham, 1997 BSc Managerial and Administrative Studies)liSbeth weStbrooK (née Jessen, 1992 BSc International Business and German)mcdonAld willcox (1999 BSc Public Policy and Social Studies)deborAh wilSon (2001 BSc Psychology and Management)rowennA wood (2002 BSc European Studies and Sociology)zheng zhAng (2007 MSc Accounting and Business)

the alumni & Development office has lost touch with the following graduates. Do you know any of them? we need your help to track them down…

a number of you take advantage of our in touch service to track down long lost friends. whilst many are happily reunited, others remain far more difficult to locate. Do you know any of the following? if so, let us know!

rAchel collinge (1997 BSc International Business and German)pAul fleetwood (1997 BEng Chemical Engineering)

rob hemStocK (1981 BSc Transport Management and Computer Science)JoAnnA michopouloS (1995 MBA)

cAroline neAve (1995 BSc International Business and French)mArK purSglove (2001 BSc Applied and Human Biology)

You’d like to find

intouch

if they aren’t listed on our email directory on the website www.aston.ac.uk/alumni/contactsdb then contact the alumni & Development office and we will see if we are in touch with them. if we have a current address you will be invited to write a letter or leave your contact details. we will pass these on to the address we hold. as we rely on alumni

telling us when they move on, we cannot guarantee the person you are looking for will still be at that address. we would like to hope, however, that you all keep in touch with us and let us know of any changes to your address. the in touch service does not give out individual names and addresses to enquirers and all mail is treated in the strictest of confidence.

looking for somebody from Aston?

news from Aston Graduates’ AssociationJenny Martin updates readers on the recent activities of AGA

31autumN 07

gift shop

Item Description Price Quantity Total

1 tie and cufflink set £15.00

2

pink sweater s m l Xl £25.00

grey sweater s m l Xl £25.00

light blue sweater s m l Xl £25.00

Navy sweater s m l Xl £25.00

3 scarf £20.00

Item Description Price Quantity Total

4 mug £4.00

5 rollerball £6.00

6 bookmark £2.00

7 lapel badge £1.00

8 shot glasses (x4) £8.00

9 crest keyring £2.00

Total

TO ORDER yOUR ASTON UNIVERSITy GIFTS, PLEASE COMPLETE THE ORDER FORM AND RETURN IT TO: alumni relations office, aston university, aston triangle, birmingham, b4 7et, uk. all prices include postage and packaging.

Tie and Cufflink Set Sweaters Scarf Mug

Parker Rollerball Bookmark Lapel Badge Shot Glasses (x4) Crest Keyring

Payment can be made by credit card or cheque made payable to Aston University, in sterling and drawn on a bank in the UK. all orders must be accompanied by full payment. refunds will only be given if the goods are faulty. please allow 28 days from receipt of order.

Dr mr mrs miss ms Name:

address:

postcode: country:

tel: email:

tick as appropriate: i enclose a cheque in pounds sterling drawn on a bank in the uk for £

i wish to pay by mastercard Visa switch/maestro access Delta solo

please charge to my account:

card number

Name on card

security no.

expiry date issue number

cardholder’s signature

Name: address:

postcode: country:

Delivery details (if different)

32 spriNg 0732 autumN 07