Alumni Past Events 2010
A new paradigm in innovation
MBA alumni working in the South West gathered at the Innovation Centre in Bath to hear about the latest developments in innovation and regional business support. Simon Scott (MBA 2009) outlined the new LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnership) in the South West and the areas they would focus on, compared to funding supported by the government.
Simon Bond introduced Bath Ventures, part of the University, and the Innovation Centre, which supports startup businesses. Simon is integral to several important networks in the South West, including SETsquared (a university partnership), Silicon South West, Low Carbon South West and OpenMIC (mobile apps). The ‘new paradigm’ in innovation is coming; this is all about the jobs agenda, the SME and export agenda, inward investment and the globalisation of R&D.
A lively discussion and networking followed over a glass of wine.
For more details, see the Innovation Centre website; to join the South West MBA network please email the Management Alumni team.
MBA Master Class - Informality, serendipity and rule breaking in innovation
Dr Steve Conway, Senior Lecturer in Operations and Supply Management, presented an interesting insight into the pre-requisite conditions for innovation in organisations. The lecture, which was attended by alumni and prospective students of The Bath MBA, covered the role of informal social networks, mistakes and ‘outsiders’ in encouraging innovation. Many of the guests contributed their own experiences and stories of innovation during the lecture and discussions continued over a networking lunch.
Winning the Olympics for London
Bath Marketing Alumni enjoyed a fascinating behind-the-scenes talk from Sir Keith Mills, the driving force behind London’s successful 2012 Olympics and Paralympics bid. In addition to overcoming the logistical challenges of accommodating athletes, trainers, spectators and officials, building a 50-metre swimming pool, velodrome and running track, Sir Keith and Lord Coe had to persuade the 115 members of the International Olympic Committee that London is the right venue. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair also met dignitaries from all over the world and finally the right to host the Games was awarded to London in July 2005. Sir Keith remains as Deputy Chairman of LOCOG to face the immense task of making it all happen.(More)
The Bath Marketing Alumni Group is for senior professions in this sector and meets 2-3 times a year. If you are interested, please email us.
Hong Kong Alumni Reunion Dinner
Friday September 3rd, 2010, saw the relaunch of the Hong Kong Chapter; some 40 Bath alumni met at the The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Members Club in Central, Hong Kong to network, catch up with friends, and relive old memories. It was an enjoyable evening for all involved and we thank esteemed guest speakers Andrew Watt (MBA 1995) and Mickey Ko (BSc Economics 1976) for their lively and interesting speeches which kept the audiences entertained! Further thanks to Mr. Ko for kindly donating the wine for the evening.
A big thank you to Patrick Yu, Sonia Luk, Winnie Chow and Chris Lau for organising the event.Please email for more details of the chapter’s activities or see the Facebook group: University of Bath Alumni – Hong Kong.
Launch of Taiwan Alumni Chapter
We are very grateful to our alumni who came to share their experience and advice with our undergraduate final year students and MSc students at the Guildhall, when Rhodri Jenkins (BAF 2008), Charles Stanton (MSc 2008) and Will Sargeant (BBA 2008) shared their advice on how to survive the final term and get that all-important job. (more)
More than 40 University of Bath alumni celebrated the launch of the official Taiwan Chapter at the offices of the British Council in Taipei. With the theme, “My Creative Dishes in Bath” our alumni swapped memories of food from student days and shared experiences of life since graduating. The chapter plans to hold another event soon.
If you would like to contact the chapter leaders, Janet Tseng and Vinnie Ong, please email them for news of events and to make contact with fellow alumni.
MBA Master Class - Storytelling in Organisations
Deputy Dean of the School of Management Professor Yiannis Gabriel presented “Storytelling in Organisations: the skills of listeners, tellers and researchers” to alumni and their guests, current students and prospective MBA candidates.
Through stories, Professor Gabriel explored leader-follower relationships, experiences of job loss and unemployment, group politics, dynamics and fantasies, organisational nostalgia, insults and apologies.
Prior to the Master Class, career coach Jane Barratt, founder of Workmaze, led the audience in an exercise to demonstrate the power of networking and how it can help our careers.
South West Bath MBA Network
At the latest meeting at Bristol’s harbourside, our local MBA alumni listened to views by guest speaker Dr Juliet Williams CBE on regional government’s role in South West businesses. Over a glass of wine, Juliet offered her own thought-provoking opinion of how to succeed in business and what support could be expected.
Simon Scott (Full Time MBA 2009) took up the theme of business clusters in the area and announced that the next meeting of this network will be hosted by The Innovation Centre in Bath after the summer.
Anchors Away at the Business Schools Regatta
MBA alumni Stuart Horlock, Francois van Niekerk and Nick Heard took the helm to lead three teams from Bath in this year’s Business Schools Annual Regatta. Skippering a 37ft Jeanneau racing yacht crewed by mostly complete sailing novices was quite a challenge, but all three fared well and the students declared it one of the best experiences of their life! (Full story and photos)
Greek Chapter celebrates one year anniversary
Congratulations to our Greek Chapter who recently celebrated one year of independent chapter activities with a large summer party at a nightclub in Athens. The evening was generously co-sponsored by the nightclub, Dekko South, and by Palmie Bistro.
Alumni enjoyed the opportunity to socialise together and reflect on a successful year of chapter activities. Plans for developing the chapter further are underway and Greek alumni look forward to more opportunities to network with fellow Bath graduates in Athens.
MBA Master Class - Business Strategy in the Global Economy
MBA alumni joined current students, corporate guests and MBA applicants for a morning lecture presented by Professor Michael Mayer. The taster of the Bath MBA, was held at the University’s recently redeveloped Innovation Centre in the centre of Bath. The Innovation Centre provides practical support and expertise to local technology enterprises and is used by many of our alumni. Guests enjoyed the opportunity to listen to Professor Mayer’s lecture and network over a relaxed lunch.
Tokyo chapter hosts Nomikai
Bath alumni gathered in Tokyo on the weekend of 22 May for their customary Nomikai. All had a good time, sharing memories of Bath and enjoying the food.
Chapter leaders Mika Otomo, Toru Miki and Qiao Jin welcome all University of Bath alumni living in or near Tokyo to join them at future events. Interested? Please email them directly.
"Think global, act local" - Branding Banks
Nigel Gilbert, ex-Lloyds Banking Group Marketing Director (“For the Journey”) presented to the Bath Marketing Alumni Group at the end of April. He masterminded HSBC’s campaign, “The World’s Local Bank” which is seen on television, the press, at airports – in fact, worldwide.
Alumnus Chris Payne, founder of Brand Doctors, gave an equally interesting perspective on branding in his presentation, “Big Trouble in a Little Global Village”. Thoughts flowed through to discussion afterwards – all over a glass of wine.
The session was generously hosted by the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders in their super offices in Mayfair. The committee will meet to agree the next date and speakers in June. For more details, email the alumni office.
Petanque, anyone?
For the first time, the Bath MBA is sponsoring the Bath League de Petanque. Play is every two weeks in Queen Square, Bath, accompanied by French beer and lots of good humour. Our two teams – made up of MBA students, alumni and staff – recognise that it’s the taking part that’s important, although points scored did double on the second outing. If you would like to take part in our two MBA teams, let us know. Everyone is welcome to come and support and socialise.
10th Anniversary reunion of Full Time MBA Class of 2000
Ten years after graduating from our full time MBA programme, members of the class of 2000 were welcomed back to campus in early May. Alumni met at lunchtime in The Parade Bar to reminisce and catch up with what their classmates are doing now. In the evening, the reunion continued at Woods restaurant in Bath. Amazingly, very few of the cohort seemed to have changed at all and were instantly recognisable from their graduation photo! Our thanks to Mark Lowe, for being the lead on this most enjoyable event, and to Aoonsak Saeng, who contacted us in the first place to suggest the anniversary reunion.
Dinner in Delhi
Bath alumna Aruna Sharma hosted a fabulous dinner for fellow Bath graduates on 15 May in Delhi. Abhishek Gupta lead discussions on what future events the chapter would like and Aditya Bhatia volunteered to be the next host. If you would like to join them, email us.
University of Bath visit to Hong Kong
Thanks to all our alumni in Hong Kong who came to meet Ms Gurprite Lehal, Placements, Projects and International Manager for the School of Management when she hosted drinks at the Shangri La Hotel. Gurprite was overwhelmed by the number of alumni who came to meet her and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Special thanks to leading alumni Winnie Chow, Chris Lau and Patrick Yu for their continuing support of this chapter.
If you would like to speak to Gurprite about the opportunity of having Bath students for a placement or project, do let her know – all details on our Business Connections website.
Alumni in Turkey meet to discuss forming a Chapter
A group of alumni representing many different departments from the University of Bath met recently in Istanbul to discuss forming a Chapter in the city. The alumni enjoyed hearing news from the University and sharing stories from their time at Bath. Graduates living in other areas of Turkey were also enthusiastic about the idea of forming a group in Turkey and satellite groups in other major cities were suggested.
Launch of Norway Alumni Chapter
For the first time, alumni of the University of Bath gathered in Oslo to enjoy catching up with former classmates and meeting new friends from Bath. Alumni quickly got to know each other through the “speed networking” session – a quick introduction to everyone that could be followed up in more depth over a glass of wine.
Anne Tryggeset (MBA 1990), Fredrik Harboe (BBA 2007) and Arne Melsom (BBA 2007) are keen to keep our alumni connected with the University and with each other and plan to hold regular events in future.
Scholars recognised
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glynis Breakwell, paid tribute to around 60 of the University’s brightest students at a special Scholars’ Afternoon Tea held on 9 March.
The first- and second-year scholars are part of a burgeoning number of students supported by the Alumni Fund, individual donors and trusts and corporate bodies through scholarships and bursaries, the awards being made to those showing outstanding academic promise. (more)
New York Chapter meet for Wine Tasting
Alumni in the New York area were invited to attend a wine tasting, organised by the University of Bath New York Chapter and held at Cellar 58 in Manhattan’s East Village. Guests enjoyed a private tasting of wines guided by a sommelier before enjoying some of Cellar 58’s live music and getting to know other graduates from Bath.
Bath MBA South West Network
Over 50 MBA alumni who live or work locally to the University came to a Bath hostelry at the beginning of March to start the first meeting of this network. Lead by Simon Scott (full time MBA 2009), our alumni discussed how they would like this group to progress and what benefits they wish to get from it. All agreed that networking is paramount in today’s business environment.
A LinkedIn group has been established to further develop these ideas and continue the networking between events.
Bath Alumni attend British Council Balls in Beijing and Shanghai
The leaders of the University of Bath Alumni Chapters in Shanghai and Beijing were joined by other Bath graduates at the annual British Council balls recently. In both cities 10 Bath graduates represented their University and enjoyed memorable evenings.
The Shanghai alumni Chapter is led by Irene Cheng, Ken Zheng and ShanShan Yang. The group meet regularly for social events such as karaoke and board games parties. Meanwhile, a group has formed in Beijing led by Lanyi Zhang, Snow Wu and Jilly Li which aims to give Bath graduates in the city an opportunity to meet for business and social networking.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Beijing or Shanghai Chapters please contact us in the first instance.
MBA Master Class - Building Brand Authenticity
Local MBA alumni joined prospective students in March for the latest MBA Master Class presented by our new Professor of Marketing, Mike Beverland.
Professor Beverland has recently joined us from RMIT University in Australia and our guests enjoyed hearing about innovative campaigns from Australia and New Zealand during the exploration of how to build lasting relationships with customers. After his presentation many of our alumni stayed for a buffet lunch and the opportunity to network with fellow graduates and to meet current and prospective students.
The next MBA Master Class will be held on Thursday 3rd June and will be hosted by Professor Mike Mayer.
Welcome 2009 Management Graduates!
Our newest graduates celebrated in style at The Guildhall after enjoying their graduation ceremonies at the historic Assembly Rooms. Prizes were awarded to the highest achievers from our corporate partners and we welcome all to our alumni network. Congratulations to all our new alumni, and especially Philippa Harvey, who won both the Flores-New prize for best overall MBA graduate in 2009 and the Intel prize for the highest Full Time MBA project mark.
(full details and photos)
Bath alumni meet in Mumbai
Dr Ajit Nayak, Director of International Relations (India) enjoyed meeting graduates from different courses when he hosted a dinner for our alumni in Mumbai on 7th January. If you are interested in meeting up with alumni living in India, please email for details. Read about other activities in India on our regional chapters page (more)
Second Hong Kong chapter gathering
Alumni in Hong Kong met at the Zentro Bar to enjoy a relaxed social event organised by two of our most supportive alumni, Winnie Chow and Chris Lau. If you would like to join the chapter or just attend events, please contact them by emailing the Hong Kong chapter directly.
