Bradford Alumni Speaker Series
Expert insights from your alumni network
The Bradford Alumni Speaker Series features inspiring and stimulating talks from distinguished alumni which allow you to enjoy direct access to their thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
BASS events will be delivered as exclusive webinars, or live campus-based talks, covering a range of topics allowing Bradford alumni and students from across the world to expand their knowledge and discuss topics with experts in real-time. Details of upcoming talks are provided below.
Why I Love Tech
Wednesday 21 April, 18:00-19:00 BST, Online
Karen Bach (BA Management Studies), Chairman of Amino Technologies Plc, DeepMatter Plc and Consult Red Ltd, and non-exec director of Datapharm Ltd and Escape Hunt Plc
Lover of clever tech and fascinated by the human brain. Chairman, non-exec director, and mentor. Karen Bach supports CEOs and leaders to solve business challenges, whether those challenges are scale-up, growth strategy, execution plans, funding, team building, or transaction readiness.
Karen is a huge fan of digitalisation and simplification and chooses to work with teams with energy, passion, and transparency. She is Chairman of Amino Technologies Plc, DeepMatter Plc and Consult Red Ltd, and non-exec director of Datapharm Ltd and Escape Hunt Plc. She also mentors budding entrepreneurs through Neuro-Nexus and Kickstart Global and women in tech through Rebus.
With 30 years in international tech/TMT, 5 IPOs, 25+ acquisitions, two exit processes, and funding of all types under her belt, she brings insight from 15 diverse boards of directors: Plcs, private equity, venture capital and charity boards. Karen will share insights and lessons from her life and career as a business leader and as a lover of tech.
The Gem in the Wordpile
Tuesday 18 May, 18:00-19:00 BST, Online
A FATHER’S PROTEST
My father played the banjo
but it’s more guitar for me
and I came from Bradford, Yorkshire
with a rather poor degree.
I only received a Lower Second
but, without it I should add -
there would not be
this poetry;
you try telling my dad!
I had a dream the other night,
I was playing my guitar
when I was kicked quite forcefully
by Monsieur Cantona.
I said, ‘hey, Eric,
now why do that to me?’
He said, ‘that is from your father,
for your rather poor degree.’
John will reflect on his time before, during and after Bradford including life, work and play. It will be delivered in his own unique and engaging style which never fails to entertain, inspire and uplift viewers and readers alike.
Image credit: Polly Hancock
John Hegley (BSc Social Sciences 1976), Performance Poet and Author
Performance poet John Hegley was born in 1953 in the London Borough of Islington.
He grew up in Luton and was educated at Bradford University, where he studied European Literature and the History of ideas with Sociology. He has worked as a bus conductor in Bristol, and in children's theatre in London.
In 2008 he coedited an anthology of poetry for young people, The Ropes: Poems To Hold On To, with Sophie Hannah. His most recent collections are Peace, Love and Potatoes (2012), New & Selected Potatoes (2013) and I am a Poetato (2013).
John Hegley has also released his own CD of songs and poetry, 'Saint and Blurry', and collaborated with Robyn Hitchcock as John Hegley and The Popticians.
In 2000 he received an honorary Arts Doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire, where he has also let creative writing classes. John also helped launch"Warning: May Contain Nuts", a project using comedy to increase awareness of mental illnesses. He performed these shows in 2010 with other performers, including comic Mackenzie Taylor, talking about mental illness. For an analysis of John's work please visit the British Council website.