2023 Alumni Awards Winners Announced
Pembroke is pleased to announce the first winners of its inaugural Alumni Awards, Greg Jackson (1991), Alicia Barber (2017) and Mike Wilson (2004).
The Development Office received over 150 nominations from Pembroke Members, across the three categories, with the winners voted for by the PCCS Committee.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Greg Jackson
This award recognises and celebrates alumni who graduated more than 10 years ago and who have demonstrated sustained outstanding professional achievements, civic leadership or have made a real difference to their field of work or society at large through pioneering or seminal contributions.
Greg read Economics at Pembroke in 1991 and is now one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs. Following his time at Cambridge, he embarked on a career as a serial tech entrepreneur, setting up and running smaller start-ups. Inspired by his own childhood experience of having his family’s energy supply cut off when he was growing up, he founded Octopus Energy in 2015, the UK’s second-largest energy company supplying 6 million homes to help make access to energy greener and fairer. In his own words, Greg 'loves building organisations around people, disrupting industries which underserve customers and society.'
On receiving this award Greg said, 'It means an enormous amount to receive this award - more than you might imagine.
'As for all alumni, Pembroke was pivotal in my life - not just the world-class educational experience but for the lifelong connections formed.
'It was at Pembroke that I met my Octopus Energy cofounders - Stuart Jackson and James Eddison. We spent time on the JP and ran our first ventures together for example (The Event 1992, for example!) And Pembroke has been a crucible of talent now delivering the energy transition - Tim Pick was made Offshore Wind Tsar, Bill Rogers oversees CPPIB's investment in our company and others in the sector, and Chris Cheetham-West runs Number 10's policy in the area - not to mention Octopus's own Strategy Director, Hamish Lazell.
'I wanted to work with very smart people with great integrity and decency. That probably sums up the Pembroke I experienced. Somewhat understated, with respect for both intellectual rigour and deeper values.'
Emerging Alumni Leader Award: Alicia Barber
For alumni who graduated within the last ten years and recognises our rising stars and leaders of the future.
Alicia did her MPhil in Translational Biomedical Research at Pembroke and is currently completing her PhD in neuroscience at Dartmouth College. She is a researcher, advocate and writer on the subject of Alzheimer’s disease. She set up Brain Health Media, a platform for science-based advocacy and journalism. A dedicated volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association, Alicia has met with the governors, senators, and representatives in America to discuss the importance of Alzheimer’s research, raise public awareness, and improve treatment access. Alongside her research and advocacy work, she is also passionate about inspiring young women, through public speaking and social media, to pursue studies and careers in STEM.
On receiving the award, Alicia said ‘It is an incredible honour to be chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Emerging Alumni Leader Award! Being a member of Pembroke College and studying at Cambridge has been an incomparable experience which taught me the value of interdisciplinary thinking and instilled a desire to tackle global issues head-on. All of my work in the Alzheimer’s community has been motivated by my grandmother, Lauren Barber, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2017, and was my biggest supporter. She would have been over the moon about this award. Thank you to the PCCS Committee for their recognition.’
Alumni Impact Award: Mike Wilson
This award recognises innovative and creative alumni who can demonstrate commercial success and growth or positively impact society through their personal and professional, voluntary or charitable activities.
Mike became Executive Director of Pembroke House in 2018 and immediately set about community building and improving in Walworth where the mission is located. He transformed the traditional business model in favour of social action and partnership-working. He has done a huge amount to meet the challenge of community inequalities in the borough and during the pandemic, created a food hub that made a huge difference in very rapid order and eased some of the pain that residents felt in the face of extraordinary challenges.
On receiving the award Mike said I'm honoured to receive the Alumni Impact Award in its inaugural year. I often describe Pembroke House as Pembroke College's best-kept secret and I hope that this award will shine a light on the college's ongoing links with the neighbourhood of Walworth, South London, and the incredible Pembroke House staff team and community.
'Founded by Pembroke students in 1885 to tackle inner-city inequality it was one of the first settlement houses and formed part of a movement that has a wide-reaching impact, including inspiring the architects of the modern welfare state.
'Today, Pembroke House is a thriving and much-loved Walworth institution, providing crucial spaces for people to meet and build relationships, access support and take action together on local issues. Many Pembroke students have come to spend time here, whether living in our six-bed residency or giving time and financial support to our projects, and I hope that many more will consider visiting and getting involved in the future.'
Congratulations to all three winners, and thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination.