The news is now official, Energy Futures Lab, Imperial’s oldest Global Challenge Institute set up to address global energy challenges and promote energy innovation is closing and so my time as your Sustainable Energy Futures (SEF) Alumni Manager has come to an end.
Almost ten years ago, when I first took on the role of Alumni Manager for the SEF course, our network had just 350 graduates. Today, that community has more than doubled to over 800 alumni spread across the globe, each one a passionate advocate for creating a sustainable future. Watching this community grow, thrive, and support one another has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
But this milestone is about more than numbers. It has been a decade filled with shared experiences, both professional and personal. Alongside the SEF journey, I also swam with a dolphin, moved house three times and became a mother to two wonderful and energetic boys, who remind me every day why a sustainable future matters so much for the next generation.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to tag along on three unforgettable field trips to Wales, (making it up to the top of Snowden only once…by train!) but this experience helped me to witness first-hand the curiosity and teamwork that define our SEF students. I’ve cheered at six well organised and informative SEF student conferences, hosted six bustling careers fairs, and coordinated numerous reunions, barbecues and graduations that brought old friends back together. I’ve also invited alumni back to four dinner party reunions and put together more Imperial/alumni quizzes then I can actually remember.
Collaboration has been at the heart of everything. Working with more than 40 dedicated mentors over the last 3 years has given our students a support network that reaches well beyond their time on the course. “Five Minutes With” Alumni profiles interviews have offered glimpses into the inspiring journeys of some of our graduates, giving us all a chance to celebrate their achievements and learn from their stories. And yes I know I’ve sent many requests over the years asking you to complete surveys, attend lectures, or deliver talks, but every time you’ve responded, it has strengthened our community and I have truly appreciated it.
Some moments stand out vividly, like hosting an SEF reunion in Paris, celebrating 10 years and 15 years of the course with a video and a cake, seeing Mervin Azeta (SEF 2015) on all the big screens around the university as a winner of the Emerging Alumni Leader ward in 2022 and accompanying students on two incredible visits to China, where the global reach and relevance of the SEF programme became crystal clear. And through it all, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Gavin, who we all know is the real hero of the SEF. His dedication, humour (he is funny and he doesn’t even know it), and insight have been constant anchors for me and literally anyone else with any SEF connection.
What makes me most proud though, is seeing and hearing about the remarkable achievements of our alumni. Over the years, I’ve watched with admiration as so many of you have published ground breaking papers, received prestigious awards, and launched new businesses that are shaping the future of energy. Those successes are not just individual triumphs, they are proof of the impact this community is making in the world.
I also want to say a huge thank you to the colleagues I’ve worked alongside over the years Gavin (again), Tanisha, Johannes, Graham, Mark, Fei, and all the Energy Futures Lab team who stuck in whenever needed. None of this would have been possible without their time, good energy, commitment and creativity.
And finally, for anyone who finds themselves back on campus, I still have a stash of SEF keyrings and badges. If you fancy a small souvenir of our shared journey, please do pass by and pick one up!
Looking back, I feel a great sense of gratitude for the friendships, the memories, the challenges, and the wins. Being part of this community for the past decade has been more than a job; it has been a journey and I have collected a few pictures along the way to prove it.
Here’s to the next 10 years of the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures and the alumni. May the network continue to expand, inspire, and create the sustainable energy future we all believe in.
Just before I go, a couple of more formal things…
The Imperial Sustainability Alumni Network launched in June 2025. The goals of the network are:
- To cultivate collaboration between alumni, industry leaders and Imperial academics in the fields of sustainability, climate and green energy.
- To unite alumni professionals interested or working in sustainability, to share knowledge and expertise.
- To support Imperial’s commitment in the sustainability sector and related initiatives.
The Network is led by a committee of alumni volunteers, who will develop a programme of activity that will support professional development, lifelong learning and networking opportunities for alumni.
Please join the network as I’m sure you will find it useful.
Gavin is still here. I repeat, Gavin is still here! The SEF course isn’t going anywhere and will now be run under the Grantham Institute and Gavin and Fei are currently still in charge so for all your SEF questions you can contact Gavin at mscinsef@imperial.ac.uk. The SEF alumni community will also continue and the lovely Alex (who you may remember covered my first maternity leave) will be looking after you all and she will be in touch soon.
My time with Energy Futures Lab and the SEF community have come to an (official) end but I am still at Imperial. I will be working for Imperial’s Schools of Convergence Science – Sustainability and Space, Security and Telecoms so no doubt my path will cross with many of you again in my new role.
Stay Engaged, Farewell!
energyfutureslab.blog 