Alumni News in Brief
Simon Bridges named Leader of New Zealand’s Opposition
Catz alumnus Simon Bridges (2004, Law) was recently voted leader of New Zealand’s opposition party, the National Party. On his successful election, Simon told us: “I am excited by the challenge but also feel a real sense of responsibility to ensure we keep coming up with new plans to improve the lives of New Zealanders, that we continue to represent them and that we hold the Government to account.
“I’ll also work to ensure New Zealand remains open to the world and that National remains Parliament’s strongest advocate for free trade and international investment, and welcoming of people from around the world – a world view which my time at Oxford helped shape.”
Emma Godivala founds York Gin
Emma Godivala (1990, Human Sciences) is the Director and Founder of York’s first ever gin distillery, ‘York Gin’. Since its launch earlier this year, York Gin has received increasing numbers of orders from department stores, bars, pubs and restaurants, and in May was featured as the Juniper Club’s ‘Gin of the Month’.
Emma cites the skills she learned at St Catz reading Human Sciences, which she considered “a degree for all-rounders, multi-taskers and those of us who loved learning but couldn’t face giving up every subject but one”, as fundamental in this new challenge. (Pictured right)
Success in the Law for Jawdat Khurshid and David Temkin
In Law news, Catz alumnus Jawdat Khurshid (1990, Law) was successful in last year’s Queen’s Counsel appointments, taking Silk at a ceremony in February, while in the latest round of Recorder appointments the Queen appointed Catz alumnus David Temkin (1991, Modern History) as a Recorder on the Northern Circuit.
John Little chairs Museum of Technology
Upon retirement, John Little (1968, Chemistry) has begun to pursue more historical interests. He has recently taken up the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees at Cambridge Museum of Technology, where a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £1.57m is helping to fund a project transforming the museum’s facilities and educational programmes. One of the museum’s key aims is, using educational outreach, to encourage students into STEM subjects, having recently appointed a trained teacher and engineer as Education Officer.
John Moore-Bick appointed High Sheriff
Major General John Moore-Bick CBE DL (1967, Forestry) was earlier this year appointed as High Sheriff of East Sussex with a formal Declaration Ceremony at Lewes Crown Court, a tradition which stretches back over a thousand years. The voluntary appointment lasts one year, and will see John serving as the Queen’s representative for law and order in his county, as well as taking an active part in supporting and promoting local voluntary organisations. (Pictured right)
John Pettingell working to bring innovative cancer treatment to UK
In his role as Chief Physicist & Head of Radiotherapy at the Rutherford Cancer Centres, John Pettingell (1991, Physics) is part of a team bringing proton beam therapy to the UK for the first time. With the first centre recently opened in Newport, three currently being built in Northumberland, Reading and Liverpool, and more currently in planning stages, this will be the first network of proton therapy centres in the world – and for the first time, UK patients will not have to travel abroad to receive this revolutionary form of radiotherapy.