The Chevening Alumni of the Year Awards rewards individuals and alumni who have demonstrated significant impact in their communities, countries, and beyond, in promoting human rights, good governance, and sustainability.
The entire selection process for the Chevening Alumni of the Year Awards 2024 was a rigorous one that began in October 2023. In Stage 1, applicants were pre-selected locally by their British Embassies and Chevening Associations based on ten selection criteria for each nomination. Stage 2 saw over 150 applications from over 60 countries received by the Chevening Alumni of the Year Award Jury Board, comprising 15 members from the Chevening Alumni Alliance and FCDO who scored the applications. The winners were then concluded and invited to the prestigious award ceremony.
The award ceremony took place on Thursday, 30th May at the Locarno Suite, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and brought together distinguished alumni, government officials, and representatives from partner organisations to celebrate the accomplishments and the impact of the Chevening Scholarship programme and to recognize the outstanding alumni.
The Ceremony was opened by speeches from the FCDO's Deputy Director of Communications Alison Daniels, OBE, Head of Scholarships Unit, Dr Emma Hennessey, and Emmanuel Artusa-Barrell, President of the Chevening Alumni Alliance. They lauded the transformative impact of the Chevening Scholarship program, its alumni and the purpose of the ceremony.
16 alumni won 10 awards for positively impacting their communities and excelling in their fields. Our Award winners included a diverse group from current Presidents and MPs to Social Entrepreneurs and Human Rights activists from 10 countries. From law and human rights to innovation and entrepreneurship, Chevening Alumni are making an extraordinary impact across the globe.
Full List of Winners by Award Category:
1. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Collaborative Project”: Panama Project VAMOS for revolutionizing political participation by training and supporting over 100 independent candidates, fostering inclusivity and grassroots democracy. Their initiative has diversified political representation, empowering individuals from varied backgrounds to engage in meaningful political discourse and run for office. This has led to a notable increase in independent candidates entering political roles, signalling a shift towards a more inclusive and dynamic political landscape. VAMOS's commitment to promoting citizen participation and democratic values has significantly contributed to positive change, establishing a foundation for a more vibrant and accountable democracy.
2. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Chevening Alumni Association” is the Cameroon Chevening Alumni Association for its contribution to societal development in Cameroon by providing free professional services impacting the lives of thousands of internally displaced people in the country, in partnership with the British High Commission.
3. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Politics”: Jakov Milatovic (Montenegro) for becoming the President of Montenegro in a historic election in April 2023 only 10 years after graduating from the University of Oxford in 2013.
4. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Area of Expertise”: Arman Udumyan (Armenia) for leading the successful initiative to raise Armenia's national minimum wage, in his capacity as Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, enhancing livelihoods nationwide and advancing labour rights in Armenia.
5. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Human Rights”: Oscar Parra-Vera (Colombia) for giving a voice to victims who fought against impunity and promoting truth and restorative justice regarding crimes against humanity in the Colombian armed conflict.
As Magistrate at the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, Oscar co-led the overarching case of “false positives” where truth, justice and reparation were promoted for more than 6000 extrajudicial killings committed during the armed conflict in Colombia as well as acknowledgement hearings where victims and perpetrators of the aforementioned crimes came face to face to promote reconciliation and truth.
6. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Innovation and entrepreneurship”: Pamela Nicole Mejia (Philippines) for her groundbreaking work in merging fashion innovation with social and environmental sustainability. Her visionary projects, such as ‘Phinix,’ ‘FIBERS,’ and ‘PAMMÉ,’ showcase her commitment to reducing textile waste and empowering underprivileged communities, making her a true pioneer in the field. Recognized globally with over 35 awards, Pamela’s impactful contributions epitomize the essence of entrepreneurial spirit and the Chevening community’s values.
7. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Social and environmental impact”: Lanka Bandaranayake (Sri Lanka) for her contributions within the cinema industry, empowering female filmmaker voices and enhancing gender representation in cinema. Her initiatives resonate with Chevening's values of leadership and social responsibility.
8. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Publication”: Sergey Sayapin (Uzbekistan) for being a pioneering figure in Central Asian international criminal law, having completed the region's first doctorate in the field at the Humboldt University of Berlin, and the most cited international and criminal law scholar of his generation in Central Asia.
His extensive publication record and advisory work for organizations like the ICRC, and UNODC underscore the significant impact on legal practice. He serves as sub-editor for Central Asia of the Encyclopedia of Public International Law in Asia and as a founding co-editor-in-chief of the Central Asian Yearbook of International Law and International Relations contributing to the integration of Central Asia in a broader academic community of international law scholars. In 2022, he published, as the lead co-editor, a unique two-volume research handbook on international conflict and security law.
9. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Science”: María Isabel Amorín Cabrera (Guatemala) for the innovative technology specializing in producing biopolymer from shrimp shell waste for wastewater treatment. Notably, she clinched prestigious awards like the Edinburgh Innovation Students Business Ideas Competition and the Fresh Ideas Award. Recognized by institutions like the University of Edinburgh and the US Department of State, Maria's innovative technology achieved remarkable results, with her startup winning pitch competitions and accelerator programs for its sustainable solutions. Her mission of creating a circular economy around seafood waste and wastewater treatment demonstrates Maria's commitment to addressing environmental challenges.
10. Chevening Alumni of the Year Award winner in Category “Other Outstanding Achievement”: Nada Chaiyajit (Thailand) for being a steadfast champion for gender diversity in Thailand, and collaborating with prestigious organizations to advance equality. Her dedication to eradicating discrimination and spearheading legal reforms exemplifies her commitment to creating a more inclusive society. Nada's impactful initiatives have earned her recognition, including the Hero Award for Social Justice, showcasing her transformative efforts.
Summary List of Winners by Country:
· Montenegro: Jakov Milatovic
· Panama: Javier Yap, Gabriel Silva, Mijail Castillo, Beatriz Ho, Hugo Wood
· Colombia: Oscar Parra Vera
· Guatemala: María Isabel Amorín
· Philippines: Pamela Nicole Mejia
· Cameroon: Chevening Alumni Association; John Abongwa Tantoh, Felix Fomengia
· Armenia: Arman Udumyan
· Uzbekistan: Sergey Sayapin
· Sri Lanka: Lanka Bandaranayake
· Thailand: Nada Chaiyajit
The event program included a networking and drinks session, the official award ceremony, the announcement of winners, an informal networking reception, and the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the Chevening Alumni Alliance. Indeed a wonderful day that brought together accomplished individuals, fostered connections, and celebrated a decade of remarkable achievements and impact.
The Chevening Alumni Alliance remains grateful to the UK Government and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for their unwavering support and commitment to providing exceptional education and building future leaders through the prestigious Chevening Scholarship program.
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