AACSB Honours University of Bradford alumnus Huw Kingston for Changing the World

Second Annual Influential Leaders Challenge recognises 30 change makers and business pioneers driving positive change in the communities they serve.

Business school graduates are increasingly using their degrees to make a difference not only in the corporate world, but also across society. While business school alumni continue to push the boundaries of business, AACSB International (AACSB) has identified five inspiring ways these graduates are driving positive social change in communities around the globe.

The important contributions of the alumnus, adventurer, environmentalist, and entrepreneur, Huw Kingston and 29 other change makers have been recognized as part of the 2016 AACSB Influential Leaders Challenge. Launched in 2015 to honour notable alumni from AACSB-accredited business schools, the AACSB Influential Leaders initiative continues to recognize business school graduates for the positive impact they make on society, and the inspiring example they set for others.

A graduate of Bradford’s School of Management, Huw Kingston is owner of Wild Horizons and is an adventurer, environmentalist, speaker, writer and humanitarian. He has had a long interest and involvement in environmental issues as well as a passion for the great outdoors. After graduating from Bradford in 1985 Huw re-located to Australia, and over the past 30 years has enjoyed travelling by human powered means in wild places across the world.

This included a longstanding love affair with the Indian Himalaya and journeys across it by ski and foot. His travelling adventures have been rooted in charitable, environmental and social causes such as tackling war-stricken poverty (children) and reducing marine waste (plastic pollution). He has demonstrated remarkable drive and leadership in engendering social and community change in today’s society.

Huw features in the University's series of videos celebrating its 50th anniversary and the achievements of some of our graduates.

“The 2016 Influential Leaders illustrates how the power of a business degree to goes beyond—beyond industries, reaching lives in every part of the world—pioneering change, fostering global exchange, and improving the quality of life,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “I would like to thank Huw for exemplifying how business graduates can be a positive force in society, and congratulate The University of Bradford’s School of Management for their role in helping to develop the knowledge, skills, and fortitude needed to address some of the toughest challenges we face today.”

Huw Kingston and his peers represent 15 industry sectors—from social enterprise to healthcare to technology—across 11 countries. While all of this year’s leaders differ in their fields and paths to success, many employ similar approaches to helping businesses thrive in ways that positively impact society. Five trends, in particular, represent the contributions of this powerful group, including:

• Pushing the boundaries of business through innovation and technology: Business school graduates harness the power of innovation and technology to not only push the envelope in the corporate world, but also affect meaningful change.
• Advancing education and employment through entrepreneurship: Alumni often use their entrepreneurial talents to create education and employment opportunities for underserved communities in different parts of the world.
• Fostering diversity, inclusion and equality: Knowing the importance of diversity for socio-economic development, business school alumni combat inequality and work towards creating an environment in which people of all backgrounds can flourish.
• Creating a more sustainable future: Business school graduates lead the charge in adopting sustainable business practices for the betterment and protection of our globe.
• Ensuring healthy lives: Public health is another top priority for business school alumni, using their expertise to find solutions to global health issues.

For more information on the Influential Leaders Challenge, including a full list of honourees, visit www.aacsb.edu/Influential-Leaders.

About AACSB International

As the world's largest business education network connecting academe with business, AACSB provides business education intelligence, quality assurance, and professional development services to more than 1,500 member organizations across 91 countries and territories. Founded in 1916, AACSB Accreditation is the highest standard of quality in business education, with 775 business schools accredited worldwide. AACSB's global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA; its Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore; and its Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.aacsb.edu.