STEM Alumni Award Winners 2023

Professor Dame Wendy Hall

Dame Wendy Hall, DBE, FRS, FREng is Regius Professor of Computer Science, Associate Vice President (International Engagement) and is Executive Director of the Web Science Institute at the University of Southampton.

She became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2009 UK New Year's Honours list and is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the ACM.

Dame Wendy was co-Chair of the UK government’s AI Review, which was published in October 2017 and a member of the AI Council. She is currently the co-Chair of the ACM Publications Board and Editor-in-Chief of Royal Society Open Science.

She is also a member of the Digital And Computing Skills Education Taskforce established by the Department of Education in 2023.

Jaz Rabadia

Jaz Rabadia MBE, is a Chartered Energy Manager and Fellow of the Energy Institute. She studied her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and postgraduate masters in Energy, Environment Technology and Economics at City University.

With over 15 years of experience in energy and sustainability roles for well known brands such as Sainsbury’s, Starbucks, Debenhams, WeWork and now Just Eat Takeaway.com, Jaz has developed a wealth of knowledge covering topics such as energy management, waste reduction, sustainable packaging and social impact. Over the years she has helped these organisations achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions and embed sustainable practices throughout their operations.

Alongside her executive responsibilities, Jaz has also been appointed to the board of a FTSE 250 company as a non executive director.

In 2015 Jaz was awarded a Royal Honours by King Charles II for her services to the sustainability sector and for promoting diversity in STEM. Jaz volunteers much of her time as a STEM Ambassador to help raise the awareness of energy/engineering careers, helping to create a pipeline of future energy professionals.

Dr Mithileysh Sathiyanarayanan

Dr. Mithileysh Sathiyanarayanan (fondly called as Mit) is a young tech scientist and dynamic CEO at the helm of cutting-edge innovations. With a deep-rooted passion for education and technological advancements, having a track record of driving successful ventures, he has emerged as a visionary scientist-CEO in the ever-evolving landscape of technology with 100+ publications, 50+ patents, 50+ awards, and featured in several newspapers and magazines.

Dr. Mit earned his PhD. in Computer Science from City, University of London, specialising in data analytics and visualisation, where he received £84K grant to work on an industrial project with Red Sift Cyber company. Later, his work was deployed in Google Workspace to address E-discovery, Digital Forensics and GDPR, which became a commercial success. Throughout his academic journey, he made significant contributions to the field, publishing numerous research papers in renowned scientific journals and presenting at international conferences.

Dr Mit took over the leadership position of his parents’ organisation, MIT Square, in Bangalore, India during the pandemic and transformed the organisation 360⁰ from non-technological to a technological organisation. He immediately introduced the disruptive technologies such as IoT, Cybersecurity, Blockchain, AR/VR and many more, where he expanded his offices in London and USA. The organisation achieved ISO status within a year after taking the reins in his hands.

Under Dr. Mit’s leadership, MIT Square has garnered recognition for its forward-thinking approach and disruptive technologies. His visionary leadership has attracted significant investments, fuelling the company's growth and expanding its reach into new markets and domains. Dr. Mit's technical expertise is complemented by his business acumen, honed through his involvement in various entrepreneurial ventures. He has successfully navigated the intricacies of the technology industry, making informed decisions and formulating effective strategies to drive business growth and maintain a competitive edge.

Dr Mit was invited at the British Parliament to give a keynote talk on the UK-Global Education and Innovation. The event at which he spoke brought together prominent Members of Parliament (MPs) and distinguished personalities from various institutions and disciplines to share insights and spart meaningful discussion on the most pressing issues of our time.

At the age of 19, Mithileysh started a charity organisation to empower students by addressing the sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations. In the last 10 years it has made a significant impact and especially played a massive role during the pandemic to support several families affected with COVID.

Raj Square Charity Foundation, a part of MIT Square Group, is creating an impact by providing various facilities and platforms completely at zero cost for the less privileged people to get industry exposure. The foundation also provides scholarships and fellowships to the needy, in a way, making several programs accessible and affordable to all.

Driven by his passion for knowledge sharing, Dr. Mit also holds an adjunct professorship at City, University of London, where he imparts his expertise to the next generation of engineers and technologists. Through his mentorship and guidance, he strives to cultivate a new breed of innovative thinkers and problem solvers.

Dr Mit is currently working on I5-Framework with the European Universities and Industries to strengthen institution-industry interactions through academic innovations and incubators for addressing sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations.

As part of the I5-framework, Mithileysh has initiated several Global programs to connect people around the world such as Indo-Global Abroad Studies, Indo-Global Student Internship, Indo-Global Research Fellowship, Indo-Global Doctoral Fellowship, Indo-Global Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Indo-Global Teaching Fellowship, Indo-Global Industry Fellowship, and Indo-Global Incubation Fellowship program to create industry-centric enablement and development.

Dr. Mit's profound impact on the technology landscape is evident through his contributions to a diverse range of projects. Recognised for his achievements, he has been honored with prestigious awards and accolades. His thought leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to technological advancements have positioned him as a respected figure in the technology community.

Dr. Mit's unique blend of technical expertise, visionary leadership, and entrepreneurial mindset defines him as a scientist-CEO at the forefront of technology-driven innovation. With an unwavering commitment to shaping the future of technology, he continues to steer MIT Square toward new horizons, leveraging transformative technologies to solve complex challenges and drive positive change in our interconnected world.

Dr Fatemeh Najibi

Dr. Fatemeh Najibi completed her doctoral studies at the City University of London in September 2021, graduating with a thesis titled "Enhanced power system operation with coordination and forecasting techniques." During her time at the university, she was affiliated with the CitAi Centre and worked under the supervision of Professor Eduardo Alonso and Dr Dimitra Apostolopoulou.

After completing her PhD, Dr. Najibi joined the industry, applying her multidisciplinary knowledge in AI and Power Systems. Her primary focus is on contributing to the achievement of a net-zero emission power network, utilizing her expertise to drive significant advancements in this field.

During her PhD studies, Dr. Fatemeh Najibi made significant contributions to the field of AI for Power Systems, publishing four articles that have garnered recognition within the academic community. Her research work has been widely acknowledged, with these articles amassing a notable 142 citations on Google Scholar. These publications reflect her expertise and dedication to advancing knowledge in the intersection of AI for Power Systems. Dr. Fatemeh Najibi's expertise and contributions have been recognized by TechNation in the UK, where she has received the endorsement as an Exceptional Talent.

Following the completion of her PhD, Dr. Najibi embarked on a career in the industry, leveraging her diverse expertise in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Power Systems. Her primary objective is to contribute to the realization of a net-zero emission power network, utilizing her multidisciplinary knowledge to make significant advancements in this area.

She currently holds a position of a Senior Energy Consultant at Arup. With over 11 years of experience in consultancy and academic research, Dr. Najibi has established herself as a knowledgeable individual in the field. Holding a PhD in Computer Science and an MSc in Power Systems Engineering, her innovative mindset and proficiency in AI, data wrangling, renewable energy, power systems, project management, smart grids, and microgrids have been instrumental to her success.

Dr. Najibi's primary focus revolves around leveraging AI-based forecast models and nature-based heuristic optimization techniques to enhance power system operations. Additionally, she has developed TSO-DSO coordination schemes that enable the seamless integration of distributed resources, addressing the challenges posed by the evolving landscape of power systems with numerous distributed generations and a growing presence of renewable-based resources.

Throughout her career, Dr. Najibi has collaborated with various UK-based local authorities, the UK Government, DNOs, and investors, providing invaluable assistance in their pursuit of net-zero agendas. Her involvement in industry projects encompasses vital areas such as local area energy planning, whole system energy modelling, grid capacity assessments, as well as reviewing and advising DNOs on their price control business plans and funding applications. Furthermore, her expertise extends to conducting due diligence and performing hydrogen technical assessments.

The Recognition Excellence Award stands as a testament to Dr. Najibi's unwavering commitment to excellence and the positive impact she has made within the energy sector. She accepts this honor with gratitude and humility, and her dedication remains steadfast in driving advancements and contributing to a sustainable energy future.