Graduate Profile – Abigail Cooke

Abigail Cooke

… graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2009 and immediately pursued her passion for both Science and Education by studying for her a PGCE in Secondary Science. She became a qualified teacher at the age of 21 and quickly rose to Head of Department at the age of 25. Abigail achieved an ‘outstanding’ grade from OFSTED two years running and enjoys supporting her fellow teachers in their professional development. Abigail’s next goal is to create a new community project to empower her fellow Birmingham residents.

If you would like to meet Abigail or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Adam Darkes

Adam Darkes

If you would like to meet Adam or have an informal chat about his suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Adnan Rashid

Adnan Rashid

Age: 26

If you would like to meet Adnan or have an informal chat about his suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

“I have actively contributed within my local community by volunteering in and attending youth advancement programs”

For the last decade, I have actively contributed within my local community by volunteering in and attending youth advancement programs, by teaching disadvantaged children, organising local sports events and CV clinics; local government studies and NGO’s, such as green paper consultations and conferences. During this period of austerity where under-represented communities are being disproportionally affected I wish to increase my participation and make a greater difference.

Currently, I serve as a Governor at my local comprehensive school. I have worked with the school to get integrated with the local community, serve on the Finance and Staffing committees and have worked in collaboration to get the School out of special measures. As a former Assistant Teacher working with Dudley Council I came to understand that the need for leadership, which I then applied as a mentor at Mosaic, and as a local community volunteer within Brierley Hill.

I graduated from the University of Birmingham having read law and had the opportunity to work as an intern within Corporate Policy and the Legal Department at Birmingham City Council. Due to the recession I established my own property management company. For the last decade, I have actively contributed within my local community by volunteering in and attending youth advancement programs, by teaching disadvantaged children, organising local sports events and CV clinics; local government studies and NGO’s, such as green paper consultations and conferences. During this period of austerity where under-represented communities are being disproportionally affected I wish to increase my participation and make a greater difference.

Currently, I serve as a Governor at my local comprehensive school. I have worked with the school to get integrated with the local community, serve on the Finance and Staffing committees and have worked in collaboration to get the School out of special measures. As a former Assistant Teacher working with Dudley Council I came to understand that the need for leadership, which I then applied as a mentor at Mosaic, and as a local community volunteer within Brierley Hill.

I graduated from the University of Birmingham having read law and had the opportunity to work as an intern within Corporate Policy and the Legal Department at Birmingham City Council. Due to the recession I established my own property management company.

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Graduate Profile – Alexandra Birch

Alexandra Birch

… began her career in recruitment before moving in to local government work supporting the New Deal for Communities initiative. Following the birth of her children, Alexandra re-trained as a midwife. She is a passionate advocate for the improvement of children’s and women’s healthcare and has received an Iolanthe Midwifery Trust Midwives Award for her masters research project which investigated policies and strategies available for pregnant women suffering from obesity.

If you would like to meet Alexandra or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Alicia Sewell

Alicia Sewell

If you would like to meet Alicia or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Alison Sheffield

Alison Sheffield

… is an enthusiastic professional who works to develop mutually beneficial relationships between the private and voluntary sectors. This is fed by her passion to promote sustainability, a common thread that has run throughout her undertakings from volunteering as Treasurer for Bristol Fairtrade Network and campaigning with Make Poverty History.

If you would like to meet Alison or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Amanda Lowe

Amanda Lowe

Award winning marketing professional Amanda Lowe has led accounts for high profile companies including KPMG, Standard Life, Clyesdale, and Yorkshire Bank at renowned PR agencies in Scotland and London. In 2010, Amanda joined the team of Marketing Birmingham as Head of Communications a role in which she is responsible for promoting Birmingham’s business and tourism attributes. Amanda is also a dedicated member of Birmingham Leadership Foundation’s Non-Executive Board providing advice and support whenever she can.

If you would like to meet Amanda or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Andrea Smithen

Andrea Smithen

If you would like to meet Andrea or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

She is passionate about working with young people in particular, knowing from personal experience that obtaining exposure from an early age will equip them with necessary life skills.

Andrea graduated with LLB (Hons) First Class and an LLM in Commercial Law (with Merit) from Birmingham City University and Birmingham University respectively in 2003 and 2004. She then completed the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, Birmingham.

From 2006, Andrea trained at Cobbetts LLP, an international full service law firm. She qualified as a Solicitor into the Commercial Litigation Team in 2008. Her practice encompasses varying aspects of commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution work. She is involved in numerous contractual claims, property disputes as well as injunctive and enforcement proceedings. She has a strong specialism in professional negligence claims and is heavily involved in contentious probate cases, trust disputes and charity litigation/regulatory matters.

Andrea is greatly involved in mentoring college and university students where she assists with CV drafting, profile building and self-development. She is also an active member of her Church’s young adult’s group where organises and co-ordinates outreach programmes, social events and fundraisers.

Andrea is a founding and steering group member of Birmingham Black Lawyers, a non-profit organisation launched in April 2011 with a key aim of encouraging integration within the Birmingham legal profession and the wider community.

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Graduate Profile – Andrew Baker

Andrew Baker

If you would like to meet Andrew or have an informal chat about his suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Anna Clifford

Anna Clifford

Beyond Anna’s professional career as a Commercial Property Solicitor she is also heavily involved in community fundraising. She has organised events and led a team in the 3 peaks challenge and the Birmingham Half Marathon.

If you would like to meet Anna or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Anneka Milldam

Anneka Millham

If you would like to meet Anneka or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Anthony McCourt

Anthony McCourt

If you would like to meet Anthony or have an informal chat about his suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

“Quote goes here”

Anthony read law at the University of Birmingham 2004. Upon Graduation, The University of Birmingham awarded Anthony the annual prize for ‘that student who, in the opinion of the University, has made an outstanding contribution to the life of the University’.

Anthony joined Wragge & Co as a trainee solicitor and then qualified as a commercial development solicitor in 2007 acting for development clients such as Salhia Kuwaiti Sovereign fund and CBRE and Jones Lang La Salle.

Anthony decided to leave the law in late 2008 to pursue an opportunity within the commercial development industry, joining a small company developing The Cube in Birmingham City Centre. Upon that company entering administration, Anthony was asked to stay on and, then as co-Director, help lead the multi-million pound mixed-use scheme, on behalf of Lloyds Banking Group, to completion in 2010. The Cube is now home to the City’s leading brands such as Marco Piere White, Hotel Indigo, The Club and Spa, The Highways Agency etc.

In 2008, Anthony was the youngest winner ever of the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year award and is the youngest placed person in the Birmingham Post’s Power 50. Anthony is the youngest Chairman of a Career Academy in the UK chairing the City’s Enterprise Academy after founding it in 2009. In 2011, Anthony was placed in the Midlands Insiders list of ’42 under 42’ entrepreneurs to watch. In December 2011, Birmingham Metropolitan College awarded Anthony a Fellowship to the College for his services to Birmingham.

Anthony has since helped set up a commercial telephony vehicle in the Jewellery Quarter and in addition, a property specialist consultancy outfit too.

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Graduate Profile – Asma Mushtaq

Asma Mushtaq

If you would like to meet Asma or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Avril Grant

Avril Grant

… is a professional empowerment coach and the CEO of a promising community interest company. A Vision for Empowerment delivers motivational workshops to re-ignite the passion and self-belief of participants and help them to discover their desired career pathway. Working in partnership with employment agencies, the criminal justice system and the education sector Avril has positively impacted upon the lives of community members, ex-offenders, the unemployed and Birmingham based students.

If you would like to meet Avril or have an informal chat about her suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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Graduate Profile – Basel Hammoda

Basel Hammoda

If you would like to meet Basel or have an informal chat about his suitability as a mentee please call us on 0845 505 1875.

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