Alumni in action
We celebrate some of our Chevening alumni's remarkable achievements
Chevening alumni are driving meaningful change in their home countries while supporting the UK’s long-term objectives.
Through their work across various sectors and regions, they are making a tangible impact in key areas aligned with the FCDO’s priorities.
Here, we highlight the stories of just a few alumni who are leading the way.
Climate and nature
Growth and prosperity
Development
Chevening alumni represent a global network of influential leaders and change-makers.
As we look at the impact of our alumni community, the following numbers highlight the scale and significance of Chevening’s global alumni community.
Name: Mruaz Mohd
Degree: Climate change, management, and finance
University: Imperial College London
"After returning to Malaysia from the UK in 2022, I was appointed to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) Minister’s Consultative Panel on Climate Change.
This is an extraordinary honour, as it allows me to advise on key environmental policies, including the development of Malaysia's national Climate Change Bill. My involvement in the panel exemplifies the trust placed in my expertise.
I’m proud to be influencing meaningful environmental policies at a national level.
I'm grateful to Chevening for giving me the opportunity to become an expert in climate finance, a field that previously received limited attention."
A project in Cần Thơ, Vietnam, funded by the Chevening Alumni Project Fund (CAPF), is empowering secondary school students with hands-on experience in renewable energy, nurturing future climate and sustainability leaders.
Through expert-led workshops and hands-on training, students built solar-powered models for their classrooms, turning theory into action.
The project not only boosted renewable energy knowledge but inspired students to influence change in their schools and communities.
Teachers are now integrating renewable energy into their curriculum, sustaining this impact for years to come.
The initiative also strengthened alumni networks and positioned Chevening as a catalyst for lasting environmental and educational progress.
The short-term impact has been significant, particularly in raising awareness of renewable energy. Students engaged enthusiastically, showing real passion for climate action.
Read the full story
In just two years after graduating, Chevening alumna Samirah Bello led a team at ThriveAgric to secure millions of dollars’ worth of funding for the company to support farmers across Africa.
Upon returning home, Samirah set up and started leading the Partnerships Department at ThriveAgric. In just two years, her team has raised US $3 million dollars, managed US $5 million worth of projects and spans across several African countries.
This funding has had company-wide implications:
50% increase in the total number of farmers ThriveAgric works with.
Expanded operations to Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, providing financial inclusion to 125,000 more farmers - 60% of whom were women.
Secured a partnership with the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) which will support the work prospects of 1500 young people across Nigeria.
Samirah describes Chevening as more than just education - overall, the course broadened her perspective and, by interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures, she gained the confidence to be who she is and recognise that her work matters.
Studying in the UK has given me the confidence and self-esteem to take on larger projects, such as empowering a million farmers across three African countries.
Samirah's achievements
Name: Ranga Wimalasuriya
Programme: Chevening Research, Science, and Innovation Leadership Fellowship
Through the Chevening CRISP fellowship programme at Oxford, I founded Find My Inner Calm Limited (FMIC), a solution focused on providing affordable, high-quality ADHD diagnosis and therapy.
The UK's mental health system is under immense pressure. FMIC is addressing these challenges by leveraging Sri Lanka’s pool of UK-certified clinicians to disrupt the UK’s mental health care system, offering high quality services at a fraction of the cost and improving access to care.
With FMIC, we’re not just addressing urgent mental health needs; we’re contributing to the UK's global leadership in healthcare innovation.
