The British Ambassador to Egypt, Gareth Bayley, hosted the ceremony, which was organized by the British Council. During the ceremony, 12 UK university alumni were recognized for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs, innovative creators, and community leaders. They were also recognized for strengthening ties between the UK and Egypt.
Representatives from the higher education government sector, university presidents, UK alumni, and other community members attended the ceremony.
Rawya Mansour, Founder and Chairwoman of RAMSCO Trade and Distribution, Ahmed Ghoniem, CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum, and Omar Samra, the first Egyptian to climb Mount Everest, presented the awards.
Mahmoud Mohieldin receives his award from the British ambassador Gareth Bayley and British Council Country Director Mark Howard
The jury also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN Envoy for Financing Sustainable Development. A graduate of a British university, Mohieldin was honoured for his services to his local community and humanity.
In an inspiring speech, Mohieldin said he was proud of this award. He recalled his days as a student in the UK and how studying there had changed his life, shaped his personality, and helped him achieve his goals.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hany Sweilam delivers his speech at the ceremony
In addition, Hany Sweilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, attended the ceremony, where he delivered a speech congratulating the award winners and praising the advantages of UK university education. Sweilam also recalled his experience with the British Council and UK universities, stressing that it was the most influential in his professional and personal life.
Dr. Mustafa Refaat, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Universities, also delivered a speech in which he praised cooperation with the UK in higher education and expressed appreciation for honouring distinguished Egyptian graduates of UK universities.
The Study UK Alumni Awards honour leaders who have leveraged their UK education to contribute significantly to their communities, industries, and countries. Over 1,300 alumni from almost 100 countries, representing approximately 120 UK universities, applied for the award.
The independent judging panel selected recipients for the four award categories: Business and Innovation Award, Culture and Creativity Award, Science and Sustainability Award, and Social Action Award.
Alumnus of the University of Edinburgh Jaida Gamal, buisnesswoman Rawya Mansour with British ambassador Gareth Bayley
Ambassador Bayley said, "Congratulations to the winners of this year's 2025 Study UK Alumni Awards. Today is an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding Egyptian alumni of our UK-Egypt education partnership and our shared commitment to academic excellence in areas such as business, science, arts and social impact. The contributions of our alumni in these areas highlight the transformative power of UK education in driving innovation and social progress."
Similarly, Mark Howard, British Council Country Director to Egypt, noted that we "celebrate the achievements of the outstanding Egyptian alumni of UK universities. Every one of the finalists has used their experience of UK study, and all their own abilities, skills, initiatives, to make a career in which they have made a significant difference. Every one of the finalists has a very compelling story to tell."
The Study UK Alumni Awards 2024 Winners
The Business and Innovation Award was presented to Jaida Gamal, an alumnus of the University of Edinburgh and Financial Advisory Manager at Grant Thornton Egypt.
Previously, a finance expert at Egypt's Ministry of Finance, she issued $500 million in Samurai bonds and secured financing for key infrastructure projects. She also contributed to Egypt's asset monetization program with the IFC (International Finance Corporation). A recipient of multiple professional accolades, Gamal applies her expertise to pioneering strategies that foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The Culture and Creativity Award was presented to Amir Elshenawy, an alumna of Goldsmiths, University of London. Elshenawy is an acclaimed Egyptian documentary filmmaker celebrated for award-winning works. His debut feature, Kilo 64, premiered at the Cairo International Film Festival in 2018. The film earned nominations for Best Arab Film and Best Artistic Contribution and won First Feature Film at the National Festival for Egyptian Cinema. A 2017 MA graduate in Screen Documentary from Goldsmiths, University of London, Elshenawy teaches filmmaking at AUC and MIU. His next feature, American Dream, is set for a 2026 release.
The Science and Sustainability Award was presented to Dr Ahmed Osama Dawoud, an alumna of London South Bank University. Dawoud is an Assistant Professor of Construction Engineering at BUE, holding a PhD in Construction Management from London South Bank University and an MSc from the University of Alberta. A certified engineer in the training field, his research spans waste management, modular, and digital construction. He leads sustainability projects as a consultant at Egypt's Ministry of Environment. Passionate about advancing construction, Dawoud is a Global Ambassador for Sustainability and a leader in future studies.
The Social Action Award was presented to Amira Saber Qandil, an alumnus of the University of Sussex. Qandil is an Egyptian MP and Secretary General of the Foreign Relations Committee. She is VP of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and a member of Egypt's Youth Leaders Coordination Committee. She introduced bills on food waste, climate change, and AI governance. Qandil represents MENA in the World Bank's Young Parliamentarians. She is also a Vital Voices Fellow. She holds an MA from Sussex, an MBA, and a BSc. Founder of Kayan NGO, Qandil champions climate, women's rights, and youth empowerment.
Ambassador Bayley also recognized and congratulated all Study UK Alumni Awards national finalists in Egypt:
Business and Innovation
Mohamed Alaa Eldin is a finance professional at the Export Development Bank and an alumna of Buckinghamshire New University.
Tarek Tantawy Mohamed Hemeida, Dental public health researcher and Lead of the Planning Committee for 3 Sixty Academy. He is an Alumna of the University of Dundee.
Culture and Creativity
Ahmed Elsharkawi is a seasoned media executive with nearly 30 years of experience in the Middle Eastern media industry and an Alumnus of Royal Holloway, University of London.
Rehab Ismail, Journalist and Media producer Alumnus of the University College London.
Science and Sustainability
Dr Saddam Hussein Ahmed Bekhet, Head of the Quantitative Techniques Department at South Valley University, Alumna of the University of Lincoln.
Dr Tarek Ihab Abdel-Salam is a lecturer in mechanical engineering at the British University in Egypt. Alumna of The University of Edinburgh and Durham University.
Social Action
Nermine Mounir, co-founder and director of Misriyati LLC, is an alumnus of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
Samar Mohammed Al-Mutawakel is a global health leader at the World Health Organization and an alumnus of the University of Leeds.
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