About us
The University of Cambridge Black Alumni Network, established in January 2021, aims to celebrate, connect and empower black alumni from the University of Cambridge building a strong community which connects the generations of black alumni.
Our Mission
To celebrate, connect and empower black alumni from the University of Cambridge. We hope that this network will inspire alumni and current and prospective students to get involved in the numerous ways we can build and strengthen our alumni network, such that we can better the communities in which we live and work.
Members of the Cambridge black alumni network are:
Celebrated – given a platform to share their life experiences and successes with the alumni network and beyond.
Connected – able to build their network by connecting with a diverse community of black alumni, black fellows and black students.
Empowered – to work together and actively contribute to the university community and beyond.
Where our members are.
We have over 250 CBAN members based around the world…and growing
Meet the Delivery Team
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Nnenda Chinda
CO-CHAIR
College: Downing (2013-2016)
Nnenda matriculated in 2013 and read Classics at Downing College. During her time at Cambridge she co-founded the Black Cantabs Research Society, a historical research project that documents the lives of Cambridge’s first scholars of African descent. She then received a MA in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) as a Bologna and Gita Bekker-Busjeet Memorial Fellowship recipient. After graduating from her MA, Nnenda worked for the United Nation’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome. Currently, she works as an Associate at the Tony Institute for Global Change. She is also a member of Cambridge University’s Black Advisory Hub steering committee.
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Amatey Doku
CO-CHAIR
College: Jesus (2013-2016)
Amatey matriculated in 2013 and read Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Jesus College, Cambridge. During his time there he was awarded a choral scholarship and sang in the Jesus College and Chapel Choirs. After graduating, Amatey stayed on in Cambridge as President of Cambridge University Students Union (CUSU) before joining the National Union of Students (NUS) as Deputy President. Amatey now works as a management consultant for Moorhouse Consulting, as a member of their People and Change Team. He is also an independent Governor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
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Callum McCarthy
MEMBERSHIP LEAD
College: Jesus (2015-2018)
Callum completed MEng Manufacturing Engineering in 2019. During his time at Jesus College, he was awarded College Colours for contribution to sport, namely football and basketball. After graduating, Callum was selected as the UK representative from the Jamaican diaspora, for the 2019 GraceKennedy Jamaican Birthright programme. This included courtesy calls with prominent figures including the Governor General and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Callum has since worked at Boston Consulting Group, a leading strategy consulting firm, on projects across industries and geographies.
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Hassan Yakubu
WEBSITE AND DESIGN LEAD
College: Wolfson (2015-2016)
Hassan Yakubu is a Ghanaian architect, urban planner and researcher working at the School of Architecture, Planning and Design at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco. His work lies at the intersection of infrastructure and science and technology (STS) studies and climate urbanism. Hassan holds an MPhil. in Planning from the University of Cambridge, UK, where he was a Commonwealth Scholar and an Architecture Diploma from the National School of Architecture in Rabat, Morocco, where he was Ghana-Morocco Governments’ Scholar.
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Imogen O’Connor
EVENTS LEAD
College: Murray Edwards (2015-2019)
Imogen studied Engineering and specialised in Manufacturing Engineering for her Masters. She was awarded an Institute of Engineering and Technology Diamond Jubilee Scholarship, sponsored by Siemens and The Belling Foundation for the duration of her degree. During her Masters, Imogen was the President of the Manufacturing Engineering Tripos’ Overseas Research Project, organising and leading a team of 14 students on a research trip around the Netherlands focusing on the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies. Imogen now works as an Analytical Manager at NHS England and also devotes time to healthcare data-focused research at Imperial College London.
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Rea Duxbury
MENTORING AND OUTREACH LEAD
College: Murray Edwards (2015-2019)
Rea studied Human, Social and Political Sciences at Murray Edwards College. Since graduating, Rea has worked in the education sector to improve equal access to learning. She first worked at the National Extension College, an online adult education provider, then went back to Murray Edwards College to work with schools in the College’s link areas. Rea currently works at Worcester College, University of Oxford, where she co-found an Oxford College’s first programme on decolonisation. She also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, being awarded the highest mark in the 2021-22 cohort. Rea is currently making a career change to Law, taking up the role of CBAN Mentoring Lead to help connect network members and support their career growth.
Meet the Advisory Group
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David Ziyambi
Advisory Group Chair
College: Homerton
Subject: Law
Profession: Partner at Latham & Watkins
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Valencia Koomson, MPhil, PhD
Advisory Group Vice-Chair
College: St John’s
Subject: Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Profession: Associate Professor at Tufts University
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David Gayle, MPhil
College: Selwyn
Subject (MPhil Environmental Policy)
Profession: Senior Analyst at the Bank of England
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David Izuogu, PhD
College: Wolfson
Subject: PhD Computational Chemistry
Profession: Associate Consultant at McKinsey & Company
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Debora Brobbey
College: Robinson
Subject: Law
Profession: Senior Policy Advisor, (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)
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Emmanuel Soquar
College: Trinity
Subject: Economics
Profession: MD, Marathon Principal Advisors
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Marcel Hedman
College: Churchill
Subject: Natural Sciences (Physics)
Profession: Product Manager at Axion
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Marcus East
College: Wolfson
Subject: MSt. Management
Profession: Chief Digital Officer, (T-Mobile US)
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Njoki Wamai, PhD
College: Queens’
Subject: PhD, Politics and International Relations
Profession: Assistant Professor, (United States International University - Africa)
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Patricia Mathabe, PhD
College: Newnham
Subject: MPhil Plant Biochemistry
Profession: Investment Portfolio Manager, (Technology Innovation Agency)
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Reginald Graham
College: Selwyn
Subject: International Relations and Public Policy
Profession: Senior Policy Advisor, (Caribbean Development Bank)
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Tanisha Spratt, PhD
College: Newnham
Subject: PhD, Sociology
Profession: Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Greenwich
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Tosin Sulaiman
College: Jesus
Subject: Social and Political Sciences
Profession: Enterprise Business Development Manager at Revolut
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Vaska Atta-Darkua, MPhil, PhD
College: King’s
Subject: Finance & Management Studies
Profession: Incoming Research Associate (Darden Business School - Uni. of Virginia)
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Zareen Roy-Macaulay
College: King’s
Subject: Human, Social and Political Science
Profession: Future Trainee Solicitor at Clifford Chance