Rising Leaders 2025

Keele qualifications: Business Administration & Media, Comms and Culture, Class of 2009

Current role: Consulting Client and Alliances Director, PwC 

Bio: James graduated from Keele in 2010 with a Master’s degree in Management; an internship with Stoke-on-Trent City Council catalysed his interest in how organisations grow and transform. His career has spanned regional success stories such as bet365 and The Hut Group during its private equity backed scale up ahead of IPO; global technology with Oracle Corporation, a leading S&P 500 company where he built expertise in enterprise sales and digital transformation; now PwC, where he is a Client and Alliances Sales Director within the Consulting business leading PwC’s Salesforce alliance across the UK. A proud husband and father of two young boys, George (6) and Jack (3); he is also a competitive masters swimmer and active investor supporting the start-up community. He mentors young people from under represented backgrounds and ardently champions neurodiversity and autoimmune awareness.

Keele qualifications: Biology & Psychology, Class of 2013

Current role: Director - Strategic Ecologist, Savills 

Bio: Joe landed a job as an ecological consultant straight out of Keele after a bit of good fortune volunteering with his eventual employer. Since then, Joe has progressed into more senior roles, culminating in managing a team of 50 staff. Joe is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management with over 11 years' experience in working in the environmental planning sector in relation to ecology.

Keele qualifications: Medicine, Class of 2021

Current role: Actuarial Associate, WTW

Bio: Kaiynat is an Actuarial Associate at WTW, specialising in Solvency II, reserving, and pricing within general insurance for corporate clients. Since graduating from Keele with First Class Honours in Mathematics, she has developed innovative actuarial models, delivered risk optimisation projects, and supported international clients through data-driven insights. Passionate about applying analytics to real-world challenges, Kaiynat mentors junior colleagues and advances actuarial processes through tool development and innovation. She credits Keele for cultivating a broad and versatile skill set in mathematics and entrepreneurship, which continues to shape her career. Kaiynat remains a proud advocate of the Keele community and alumni network. 

Keele qualifications: Psychology and Counselling, Class of 2023; Counselling and Psychotherapy, Class of 2025

Current role: Person-centred Counsellor

Bio: "Before I began studying at Keele, I developed a keen interest in supporting individuals who experience mental health difficulties, hence I began my journey at Keele in 2019, studying a foundation year. This allowed me to progress on to my undergraduate degree in Psychology and Counselling. In September 2023 I was delighted to begin my MSC course in Counselling and Psychotherapy. This allowed me to follow my dreams and qualify as a Person-centred Therapist. Since qualifying in July this year, I have continued to volunteer for both of my placement organisations and plan to begin my private practice by early 2026." Read more about Nina >

Keele qualifications: Law, Class of 2014

Current role: Senior Associate, Browne Jacobson

Bio: Rachael graduated from Keele University with a Law degree in 2014. She went on to complete an LLM in Medical Law and Bioethics at Lancaster University focussing on reproductive rights. She then qualified as a solicitor-advocate with higher rights of audience.

Rachael is now a Senior Associate at Browne Jacobson and has built a specialist career in maternity cases, with extensive experience working at the forefront of society’s biggest issues defending high value, complex and high-profile maternity claims for NHS bodies. In addition to managing claims, she supports the NHS and its staff following devastating maternity incidents by advising on public inquiries and safety investigations. Working with NHS Resolution’s Early Notification Team, she helps shape national learning from birth injuries and delivers training that drives safer maternity care across the NHS.

Keele qualifications: Applied Environmental Science and Biology, Class of 2014

Current role: Vice President - Operations at PCI Pal

Bio: Aleck is an operations leader who has built his career around creating scalable solutions to complex problems. After graduating from Keele University in 2014 with a degree in Applied Environmental Science and Biology, he moved into the technology sector—beginning in telecoms as an Engineer and Solution Architect before transitioning into SaaS.

He now serves as Vice President - Operations at PCI Pal, a leading provider of SaaS solutions that empower companies to take payments from their customers securely, adhere to strict industry governance, and remove their business from the significant risks posed by non-compliance and data loss. Since joining in 2018, he has worked across the business, including Support, Engineering, Professional Services and Product. He now leads global support, IT, and service operations across the UK, US, and Australia, evolving operations to support the company's impressive growth.

Keele qualifications: History & Politics, Class of 2024

Current role: Outbound Coordinator - Global Opportunities, Keele University

Bio: Alex is the Outbound Coordinator for the Global Opportunities Team at Keele University. His journey into the world of global mobility began during his own studies at Keele, when he undertook an International Year at both Colorado State University in Fort Collins, U.S.A., and Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, as part of his History and Politics with International Year degree. Now, he oversees the outbound mobility of Keele students participating in semester abroad, international year, and short-term programmes, helping them gain invaluable international experience. Alex said: “Seeing the transformation of students before and after their mobility is truly the most rewarding aspect of the role. The development, both personally and professionally, that students undergo during their global opportunity is incredible, and I feel very lucky to be a part of that."

Keele qualifications: Education, Class of 2021

Current role: National Teaching Fellow, Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for BA Education, Manchester Metropolitan University

Bio: Dr Alexandra Hay is a policy and educational sociologist and inspirational educator, with a Doctorate in Education from Keele awarded in 2021. Following a decade spent as a teacher and leader in a rural secondary school in Staffordshire in 2019 she moved to Manchester Metropolitan University as Senior Lecturer, becoming Programme lead for BA Education in 2022. In 2025 she was awarded the highly prestigious National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) in recognition of the reach, value and impact of her leadership work transforming undergraduate student outcomes. Only 55 NTFs are awarded nationally each year, making Alex’s win highly impressive given the relatively short time she has worked in the HE sector. To find out more about Alex’s work please click here.

Keele qualifications: Senior Director (Digital, Data & Tech), Starcom

Current role: Marketing & Psychology, Class of 2021

Bio: Archie Davies is a senior digital transformation leader with 15+ years’ experience delivering data-driven marketing and CX strategies across paid media and owned channels. Specialised in identity-led activation, AI optimisation, and scalable digital solutions, driving growth and maturity for global brands in automotive, luxury, and FMCG through cross-functional teams and strategic delivery.

Keele qualifications: Business Management & Marketing, Class of 2019

Current role: Programme Manager, SES

Bio: Claire is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in management across complex and challenging environments within SATCOM and defence industries. Currently as a Programme Manager at SES, her current role is to oversees a group of related projects to achieve strategic organisational goals, coordinating teams and resources to ensure the programme's overall success and benefits capabilities. 

Claire's previous roles as Business Operations Manager (Babcock), Project Manager (Babcock) and Shift Manager (McDonald's) built the foundational business skills of her current role: People Management, Team Motivation, Team Building, Organisational Leadership, and Decision-Making. 

Claire's future ambition is to become a senior leader to set strategic direction, enterprise-wide decisions, and guide an organisation's long-term success.

Keele qualifications: History & International Relations, Class of 2012

Current role: Head of Research Operations for Europe, Russia and the Americas Programmes, Chatham House

Bio: Courtney Rice is the Head of Research Operations for Europe, Russia and the Americas Programmes at Chatham House. Prior to this he was the senior manager of the UK in the World programme which he helped to establish in August 2022. Courtney has worked at Chatham House for over a decade across several departments and in his time has overseen and supported a vast range of projects, publications and events.

From 2016-22 Courtney worked with the US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House, supporting projects exploring such themes as changing transatlantic relations, NATO’s role in the 21st century, America’s relationship with the Indo-Pacific and the role of the US in global trade.

Keele qualifications: Geology and Physical Geography, Class of 2022

Current role: Senior Environmental Consultant at Aqua Consultants (part of Adler & Allan) and Director of Mondrem Nurture CIC

Bio: Ellie-kay Dawe is a Senior Environmental Consultant at Aqua Consultants, part of Adler & Allan, where she delivers environmental support across water resource management and nature-based solution projects, and was recently recognised as part of the Institute of Water Rising Stars programme for emerging industry talent. She is also a Director of Mondrem Nurture CIC, helping to create biodiversity improvement and community-focused initiatives. Ellie-kay graduated from Keele University in 2022 with a BSc in Geology and Physical Geography, where she developed her passion for climate resilience and nature-based solutions. Alongside her work, she volunteers as a Scout Leader.

Keele qualifications: Geography, Class of 2015

Current role: Planning Manager, Spitfire Homes

Bio: "My name is Frances and I’m a Planning Manager for a housebuilder based in the West Midlands called Spitfire Homes. I’m the current National Young Planner of the Year (2024) and I’m part of the West Midlands Young Planners Committee. Following my graduation from Keele in 2015, I worked in Recruitment for 2 ½ years before changing careers and taking a Graduate Planning Officer role with Rugby Borough Council (RBC) in 2018. Whilst working at RBC, I undertook a part-time master’s degree at Birmingham City University in Planning Built Environments which I graduated from in 2020. I later left RBC in 2022 and joined Carter Jonas as a Senior Planner before joining Spitfire Homes in August 2023. "

Keele qualifications: Law, Class of 2019

Current role: Commercial Chancery Barrister, 42BR

Bio: "I am currently a Commercial Chancery Barrister. I started my journey to the Bar when I began an Access to Higher Education Course in 2015. I had to complete that course due to the fact that I trained as a carpenter when I left school, and I therefore had no A Levels. After completing the Access Course, I then began my Law Degree at Keele, in 2016. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, I undertook the Bar course, before then working at the Citizens Advice for a year. I then completed a Masters, before starting Pupillage. Upon completion of my Pupillage, I relocated to London and moved to 42BR, where I have been since."

Keele qualifications: Independent Prescribing Course, 2023

Current role: Patryk is a Pharmacist specialising in Antimicrobial Stewardship, working as a clinical pharmacist on an infectious diseases ward and in a critical care unit. He is dedicated to promoting responsible and safe antimicrobial prescribing through active participation in the hospital’s stewardship initiatives. Patryk is passionate about raising public awareness of antimicrobial stewardship, as demonstrated by his TEDx presentation. He is keen to contribute to expanding the clinical pharmacist’s role in Europe as one of the coordinators of the Antimicrobial Special Interest Group at the European Society of Clinical Pharmacy, and working towards sharing his UK clinical pharmacy hospital experience to help shape policymaking in the Polish healthcare system.