Catz in Conversation
St Catherine’s College is delighted to announce the return of ‘Catz in Conversation’, an all-new webinar series bringing together alumni and the wider Catz community for engaging discussions on a variety of topics.
With up to four alumni speakers each term, these talks are the perfect chance to strengthen your professional network, to advance your knowledge, and to hear from past generations of Catz alumni working in future-forward fields. For marketing and analytics purposes, please note that a joining link will be sent to all registrants up to seven days before the event.
The Trinity Edition features four exciting talks from a diverse line-up of speakers, each of whom will share their expertise and experiences in a 45-minute talk followed by a live Q&A. Free to attend and hosted on Zoom, the talks will then be uploaded to our YouTube channel, unless stated otherwise. All talks in the series will take place in either a lunchtime (1-2pm) or an evening (6-7pm) slot.
A full archive of previous talks in the series is available here.
‘Catz in Conversation’ – Trinity Edition 2026
Professor Jennifer Prah, ‘Post-Separation Abuse: An Ignored Public Health Crisis and Preventable Injustice’
Wednesday, 6th May 2026 – 6-7pm
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Professor Jennifer Prah (1991, MSc Comparative Social Research) will present insights from her research examining post-separation abuse as a critical and often overlooked public health crisis. Working at the intersection of health equity, law, and policy, she will explore the prevalence and human rights implications of psychological and physical violence against women and children, with particular attention to intimate partner violence and its enduring, intergenerational effects.
Drawing on her experience in global health policy and medical ethics, and her recent ground-breaking article on the subject, Jennifer will consider how post-separation abuse has frequently been minimised or treated as a private matter, despite its far-reaching societal consequences. The session will examine the need for more coordinated and systemic responses, including the role of healthcare professionals, legal systems, and child protection frameworks in recognising and addressing ongoing harm.
Accessible to those with an interest in public health, social justice, and policy, the talk looks at how interdisciplinary research can inform more effective approaches to prevention, accountability, and support for those affected.
Jana Bakunina, ‘The Good Russian: What Do Ordinary People Think in Putin’s Russia Today?’
Wednesday, 20th May 2026 – 6-7pm
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How does everyday life seem inside a country at war with itself, as much as it is at war with others? In this session, Jana Bakunina (1999, Economics & Management) reflects on her return to Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, and the questions that she encountered when researching and preparing to write her topical new bestseller.
Through personal encounters and lived experience, Jana will explore how ordinary people interpret the conflict, negotiate what can and cannot be said, and sustain a sense of self under growing pressure. Her perspective offers a rare insight into the gap between external narratives about Russia and the internal realities experienced by those still living there.
This talk will also consider the themes of Jana’s recent book, The Good Russian, including the resilience of national identity, the personal cost of political crisis, and the limits of hope in uncertain times.
Anthony Church, ‘S-Stammering: Normality Is an Illusion’
Wednesday, 3rd June 2026 – 6-7pm
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For many, speech is something taken for granted – but for those who stammer, it can be unpredictable, effortful, and deeply bound up with questions of identity and self-perception. In this talk, Anthony Church (1977, Chemistry) offers a candid reflection on a lifetime of living with a stammer, challenging common ideas of fluency, confidence, and what it means to appear ‘normal’.
Moving beyond the surface features of stammering, the session will examine its less visible dimensions: the internal negotiation behind everyday communication, the impact on decision-making and self-expression, and the ways in which individuals adapt over time. Anthony will also consider how stammering intersects with leadership, public speaking, and professional life, questioning assumptions about limitation and capability.
The discussion will introduce the idea of the ‘iceberg’ as a way of understanding the hidden depth of the condition, alongside reflections on why stammering remains widely misunderstood despite affecting a significant proportion of the population. Open to anyone interested in communication, psychology, and lived experience, the talk offers both insight and perspective on a subject rarely explored in such personal terms.
John Ramsay, ‘From Corporate Law to Social Impact: Building a Business to Transform Dementia Care’
Tuesday, 16th June 2026 – 1–2pm
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A conventional career path can be reassuring – until it no longer exists. In this last session of the Trinity Edition, John Ramsay (2003, French & Linguistics) reflects on stepping away from corporate law in the City to build a social venture now operating across thousands of care settings in ten countries.
His story reflects the tension between stability and purpose: the early momentum of a legal career, the growing sense of misalignment, and the decision to pursue something less certain but more meaningful. What emerges is not just a change in direction, but a sustained effort to create a business that delivers both commercial viability and tangible social impact.
At the heart of this work is dementia care. Through his experience founding Social-Ability, John will share how interactive technology and structured programmes can bring greater connection, engagement, and quality of life to people living with cognitive conditions – and how small shifts in approach can have far-reaching effects.
As the series draws to a close, this session offers a thoughtful perspective on careers, choices, and the possibility of building something that impactfully responds to real-world challenges.
All talks in the series are scheduled for either a lunchtime (1-2pm) or an evening (6-7pm) slot. All are free to attend and open to all. Lasting 45 minutes and followed by an audience Q&A, these talks are the perfect chance to strengthen your professional network, to advance your knowledge, and to hear from past generations of Catz alumni working in future-forward fields.
All webinars are hosted on Zoom. Unless stated otherwise, they are recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel.