My studies and career path have enabled me to grapple with issues concerning both nuclear weapons and peaceful nuclear technologies, and experience first-hand how global debates around proliferation, security, climate change and future technologies are all wrapped up together and need to be carefully navigated.
Why did you choose to study International Relations at Queen Mary and what did you enjoy most about the degree?
I chose to study International Relations out of interest in global political and security challenges, and in exploring different perspectives on how they can be addressed. Being able to study this at a Russell Group university so near to the centre of London but still based on a campus, with all the associated benefits and sense of a student community that comes with it, made Queen Mary the obvious choice for me.
One of the things I really enjoyed about my degree was the process of learning about and analysing different political theories, ideologies and concepts in my first year, and then applying these to the study of the global political system – why it is the way it is, and how it shapes and is shaped by processes such as globalisation.
Was there anything you took part in at university outside of your studies? How did this enrich your university experience?
There was a really lively student community and huge range of extra-curricular activities to get involved in at Queen Mary. I joined a couple of societies, including one that enabled students to provide tuition at schools in the local area, and also took some Arabic lessons in my second year which was challenging but good fun.
In my final year I set up a Queen Mary chapter of the Global Zero campaign for multilateral nuclear disarmament, and ran a number of awareness-raising events. I was particularly proud to be invited by Global Zero to join a small team who travelled to Strasbourg and Brussels to lobby MEPs to support our action plan for nuclear disarmament by 2050, and secured enough votes to be officially endorsed by the European Parliament. Though it was a small, symbolic achievement, it was exciting to be able to engage at some level in a major issue in international relations whilst studying it at the same time.
There is a lot of pressure on students to tick certain boxes in service of future career kudos, but the most important thing is to broaden your personal horizons, get better at the things you want to be better at, and do what you find interesting. There will never be a better time.
Can you describe your career path to date, what you do now and how you landed your current role?
After a year working for a hospitality start-up following graduation, I secured a place on the Civil Service Fast Stream in 2014. I completed a range of postings in different government departments - shaping welfare reform at the Department for Work and Pensions, crafting government communications and dealing with journalists at the Ministry of Defence press office, and developing measures to tackle illicit finance and money laundering at HMRC.
In 2017 I was promoted to head up policy on international nuclear security and non-proliferation at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. This was an exciting role that involved working across government departments, the intelligence community and international partners, to prevent terrorist misuse of nuclear or radioactive materials. I travelled overseas and spoke on behalf of the UK regularly, especially at the International Atomic Energy Agency for which I was the UK policy lead, and at the UN in New York.
Just over a year ago I joined Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), a government-owned company and part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority which specialises in the secure transportation of nuclear materials in the UK and overseas. Building on my government experience, I lead NTS’ international engagement, consultancy and technical support work in nuclear security, serving the global nuclear sector and various UK and US government threat reduction programmes.
How does your job allow you to explore your passions and/or work on the things that you feel passionate about in life?
You’ll see from my career path in recent years that I’m a bit of a nuclear geek, and my interest in nuclear proliferation issues was one of the major drivers for choosing to study International Relations. My studies and career path have enabled me to grapple with issues concerning both nuclear weapons and peaceful nuclear technologies, and experience first-hand how global debates around proliferation, security, climate change and future technologies are all wrapped up together and need to be carefully navigated. So, to get to work at the forefront of policymaking and then nuclear industry engagement on these huge issues is fascinating.
How did your studies and time at Queen Mary help prepare you for your career?
As well as a deeper understanding of the mechanics of international politics, two of the key things I took away from my time at Queen Mary were the ability to analyse arguments critically to get to the conceptual roots of an issue, and to have independence of mind. These are important for success in almost any career path, but it is especially vital in policymaking and international diplomacy to be able to critically engage with other perspectives on an issue and find new avenues to reach consensus. Whether reforming the welfare system so that it delivers the best outcomes for society, or negotiating international agreements on nuclear issues, I’ve found that creative thinking, and the careful use of language and arguments, while understanding how these are interpreted by all sides, are vitally important skills.
What advice would you give to a prospective student considering studying International Relations at Queen Mary?
Firstly, do it, obviously! As well as the great teaching, active student community, campus facilities and central London location, there are so many other benefits to studying at Queen Mary including access to the wider University of London network.
As a general point of advice to new students beginning university, I would say take every opportunity to try something new, different and challenging. There is a lot of pressure on students to tick certain boxes in service of future career kudos, but the most important thing is to broaden your personal horizons, get better at the things you want to be better at, and do what you find interesting. There will never be a better time.