Celebrating the best of Queen’s alumni

It might be a big thing, or it might be a small one. A choice that impacts a nation – or a tiny community. But when times are hard, sometimes the only thing to do is to do something. It can be challenging. The outcome is not guaranteed. So how do you find the courage to go on? 

 

When the pandemic hit, Dr Caroline McElnay (Medicine, 1984) had to find the courage to make hard decisions for her “team of five million”.  As Director of Public Health, she stood alongside Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to lead New Zealand through the crisis, helping to develop policies that saved thousands of lives. It’s why she’s been recognised as Allstate NI Queen's Graduate of the Year. Find out what it was really like making life or death choices for a whole nation.

Back in June 2020, we spoke to McElnay about life on the front line of the pandemic. She recalled opening the first email from the World Health Organization, detailing the emergence of a novel coronavirus in the Chinese city of Wuhan. It immediately rang alarm bells. “Those of us working in public health have always been aware of the potential for a pandemic,” said McElnay, who admitted that dealing with the pandemic had been the challenge of her working life. 

“For an eight-week intensive period, I was just living, breathing and dreaming Covid-19,” she said. “The stress comes when you know that if you get it right, it will have a huge impact – and if you get it wrong, it will also have a huge impact. But somebody’s got to provide advice and make the decisions – and I just happened to be in this job, at this moment.” 

Fast forward to November 2022, and McElnay has been awarded the 2022 Allstate NI Queen's Graduate of the Year award. Reflecting on how her journey to that job started at Queen’s – and how her passion for public health began, she said: “It was sparked by the wonderful teachers I had in the fourth year of my Community Medicine course at Queen’s, where I learned about the impact of water treatment and waste disposal,” she says. 

Those topics might not seem too exciting compared to the operating theatre or the cardiology ward, she admits, but the young McElnay realised the huge effect they could have – and remembered them when the Covid crisis reached New Zealand’s shores. “Those teachers opened my eyes to the impact that living in communities has on our health and wellbeing,” she says, “and that good health really is determined by more than genes and good luck.”

This award is an opportunity to draw attention to graduates who have made exceptional contributions in their fields and to society as a whole, says Feargus McCauley, President of Queen’s Graduates’ Association – and it’s hard to find a better example than McElnay. “The pandemic has brought into focus the importance of a co-operative spirit, following the science, and keeping a clear head when times are hard. These are all qualities that Dr McElnay has in abundance.”

 

Building a life in a new country – and a new language – is tough. But Californian Natasha Oviedo (who is studying for an MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice) realised the power was in her hands to make accessing English language lessons easier. So she did – and now her work has been recognised with the 2022 Allstate NI Queen's Student of the Year award. Here’s how. 

Oviedo had been volunteering ever since she arrived from California in 2020, working with organisations including Horn of Africa People’s Aid NI and the Centre for Democracy and Peacebuilding. When lockdown hit, she continued to give back by teaching English to Somalian mothers over Zoom.

As she met and got to know fellow students, from countries such as Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Kurdistan and Ethiopia, she was inspired to create the Language and Solidarity Initiative (LASI), an English language programme led by students. But along with classes, the organisation also helps newcomers to Northern Ireland regain confidence, make new friends and find their voice – having a positive impact on their lives for years to come.

Now, Oveido and her fellow volunteers have created a warm and inviting interfaith and multicultural space that supports newcomers to integrate, while also celebrating their differences. “In this increasingly interconnected world that seems to be hit with crisis after crisis, building skills to not only interact but build meaningful relations with people of all backgrounds is so important,” says Oviedo. “I’m grateful I was able to do that at Queen’s by providing an accessible service and creating a safe and welcoming community to those most in need.”

 

Ed Vernon OBE (Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 1981), Allstate NI Queen’s Alumni Volunteer of the Year 2022, never sought or anticipated any recognition, he says, for “just getting on and doing things I thought were important for Queen’s”. But the hundreds of students, graduates, colleagues and businesses he’s helped feel differently – and honoured his incredible work.

Vernon has been a member of the Queen’s family for more than 40 years. After finishing his studies, he found success in business as a co-founder of leading tech business BIC systems, later acquired by BT for £18m. But he was – and remains – passionate about the difference that universities can make to people’s lives. “From a personal perspective, volunteering is very rewarding, especially when you see how this work can support the vision for Queen’s, and the wider impact it has on society,” he says.

From leading the philanthropic campaign to create a home for Queen’s Management School at Riddel Hall to driving the launch of the Bright Future Collective, which enlists corporate support for widening participation, Vernon’s contribution has been extraordinary. He’s used his leadership skills on behalf of Queen’s, too, as board member, deputy chair and interim chair of the Queen’s Foundation Board.

“Queen’s has played a huge role in my life,” he says. “After completing my Master’s degree, I took my first steps into the world of work with the Wolfson Unit at Queen’s. It’s nice to walk around the campus, visiting old haunts and seeing how Queen’s is looking towards the future.”

We were honoured to have Queen’s alumni, broadcast journalist and previous Graduate of the Year winner, Bill Neely, interview Ed about his volunteering in person at our Charter Day Dinner last week. Thanks to everyone who came, and made it a very enjoyable evening.

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