Celebrating our outstanding alumni
The Alumni of the Year Celebration returned on Thursday, February 5, bringing together graduates, staff and guests to recognise the achievements of Glasgow Caledonian University alumni and the paths they’ve taken since leaving the institution.
Taking place during the University’s 150th Anniversary year, this special event shone a spotlight on the outstanding achievements of our alumni, a community that has been central to our story of access, equality and inclusion for the past 150 years.
The event was hosted by our 2019 Alumni of the Year winner, broadcaster and journalist Amy Irons. Amy facilitated an engaging in-conversation session with some past recipients of the prestigious award.
This year, the University recognised three incredibly talented graduates – Josh Robertson, Fatma Ibrahim and Michael O’Kane – all of whom shared their inspirational career journeys as they formally accepted their awards.
Josh Robertson: School of Science and Engineering
Josh founded Engineer a Career, a social enterprise inspiring future engineers through articles, podcasts, social media and live events. Sharing real-world stories and practical advice from graduates and industry leaders, Josh creates accessible resources and hosts nationwide events to empower aspiring engineers to thrive – from school pupils to young professionals.
Fatma Ibrahim: Glasgow School for Business and Society
Fatma is a feminist researcher, activist, and founder of Jasadyat, a grassroots collective against gender-based violence, and The Sex Talk Arabic, a pioneering platform delivering inclusive sex education in Arabic. Her work advocates for decolonising sexual health education and creating safe spaces, reaching millions globally.
Michael O'Kane: School of Health and Life Sciences
Michael is a multi-award-winning optometrist and director of three Specsavers businesses in Edinburgh, leading 70 staff. Among fewer than 1% of UK optometrists to achieve Fellowship of the College of Optometrists, he helped shape Scotland’s eye care strategy and co-founded its first clinic for people experiencing homelessness, delivering life-changing vision care.