Alex Brooker is an LJMU alumni and Honorary Fellow. He is a role model and inspiration for people of all ages and backgrounds, but particularly for those with disabilities, as he himself was born with hand, arm and leg disabilities. He has attained huge success as a journalist and is renowned as a writer and television presenter.
Andy Cooke has a distinguished policing career spanning more than 30 years, eventually seeing him taking on the highest role within Merseyside Police as Chief Constable. In 2023, he became a Bicentenary year honorary fellow in recognition of his outstanding achievements and the positive impact of his leadership in policing, both locally and nationally.
Nickianne worked at LJMU for just short of 30 years, teaching on and then leading the university’s Media and Cultural Studies provision. Sadly, she died in 2019 following a period of illness, leaving behind a multitude of memories and legacies for students and academics alike.
Chantelle is an alumna and current PhD researcher here at LJMU. She is a writer, public speaker, educator, entrepreneur and activist. She’s a national civil rights campaigner and the founder of Merseyside Alliance for Racial Equality CIC (MARE), a non-profit organisation committed to promoting racial equality across Merseyside through grassroots community-led education and engagement work.
Nicola has more than 25 years of experience in primatology research and teaching, tracing her curiosity about primates back to her childhood growing up in East London and making visits to London Zoo. She is also an advocate for driving forwards inclusivity at the university.
Rio Boothe is an LJMU student and a para-athlete. He competes in athletics with the Manchester Harriers and with the LJMU Athletics Team. He’s a real role model for others with disabilities and is striving to raise awareness about the challenges disabled people face when trying to access sport.
Rachael is the winner of the Rose Paterson Sportswoman Community Award 2023 for her dedication to the sport of netball in Liverpool. Not only is she an inspiring community sports coach she juggles teaching and being a mum alongside her own development, having most recently gained an MPhil with LJMU.
LJMU journalism graduate Ngunan is a successful broadcaster, presenter and producer who is a well-known scouse voice across the city from her work with BBC radio and podcasting. Ngunan is also passionate about supporting the voices of underserved communities, from supporting women with training to get into media to driving culture change and bringing Black voices to the forefront.
Lol is a support officer for our School of Art and Design with a lead role in running the Fab Lab, our digital fabrication laboratory that sees students, staff and partners using technology to make almost anything. He is a champion of supporting creative talent in Liverpool and uses his knowledge to nurture our students’ skills and to work with creative partners across the city.
Fadi is a 2023 graduate from the maritime business and management programme. He came to the UK as a refugee, having fled his home in Damascus, Syria, and gaining his initial qualifications in Greece. He used his dissertation research to highlight the challenges facing the shipping sector and their obligations under international law to help vessels in distress, including refugee and migrant boat crossings.