Blog posts

Student Mental Health Advice team: Creating a safe space to talk

Left to right: Iain Boyd, Danielle Peiris and Joe McCoy

“The most rewarding thing about our work is seeing students grow in confidence and self-assuredness.”

Senior Student Mental Health Advisor Iain Boyd and Advisors Danielle Peiris and Joe McCoy work to support students with ongoing complex mental health issues. These can include symptoms including depression or anxiety, or conditions such as psychosis, bipolar or eating disorders.

The team offers ongoing support to students over multiple sessions, enabling the team to really get to know their students and build strong therapeutic relationships. They can also support students to navigate other support systems, such as GPs and the NHS, to enable them to get the help they need. (more…)

Graduation volunteers: Making Commemoration special

Darren Ng and Lilia Morales

Lilia and Darren volunteered at Commemoration Day in October 2024, which saw 3500 graduands awarded their degrees. Volunteers are essential to the successful running of the event and take on roles including crowd management around the South Kensington Campus, supporting on the information desks, ticket scanning at the receptions, and stewarding the livestream screening. Details of how to get involved at the 2025 ceremonies can be found at the end of the article. 

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Christine Larbie: Over 40 years of supporting science

Christine Larbie

“I have always felt part of a family at Imperial” 

Christine Larbie, Support Technician in Central Biomedical Services, joined Imperial in 1979 when she was 21 years old.  

In 1985 Christine moved to the animal unit, where she was trained as an animal technician. She has worked at the South Kensington Campus ever since, in roles ranging from animal tech to support services and housekeeping roles.   

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Jack Leyshon-Richards: Improving the recruitment journey

Jack Leyshon-Richards

“I’m excited to learn more about Imperial and help find the best candidates that meet the organisation’s needs.”  

What if finding your next brilliant colleague was easier and quicker? That’s the question Jack Leyshon-Richards, Imperial’s new Head of Recruitment, is working towards. Jack joined Imperial in January 2025 with almost 10 years’ experience in HR, most recently working with King’s College London as Head of Recruitment. 

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EDI volunteers: supporting an inclusive workplace

Harassment Support Contacts (HSCs), Neurodiversity Champions (ND Champions), and Staff Supporters are colleagues from across the organisation who volunteer their time to support an inclusive workplace culture.

They are available for informal, confidential conversations on a range of topics and are available to all employees, including line managers.

Each volunteer group has its own network which provides opportunities to get to know colleagues from across Imperial.

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Amaya and Amy: Creating space for women in physics  

Women at Imperial: Know no bounds

Amaya Calvo Sanchez and Amy Thornton

“This society gives me a sense of belonging where people value me and my work” 

To mark Women at Imperial Week, the co-Presidents of the Society for Women and Non-Binary Individuals in Physics shared the work they do to create inclusive spaces in the Department of Physics, how they are creating networking opportunities, and why it’s important to highlight underrepresentation in science.  

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Semra Bakkaloglu: A sustainable future for all

Celebrating Sustainability Fortnight

“My work here isn’t just a career—it’s a calling to make the world a better, more sustainable place.”

Dr Semra Bakkaloglu is a research associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering. She will share insights into her work at the intersection of innovation, science, and impact at a Women in Sustainability Talk on Thursday 6 March – part of Sustainability Fortnight. Sign up for the event. 

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Emilio Garcia Padron: Championing sustainability and growth

Celebrating Sustainability Fortnight

“At the garden I aim to create a ground for growth in which people from all backgrounds can share challenges and solutions.”

Emilio Garcia Padron is an MSc Applied Mathematics part-time student at Imperial and the founder and coordinator of RE:GEN @ Imperial – an Imperial College Union campaign aiming to protect, restore and expand green spaces around campus. 

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Cate Goldwater Breheny: creating community for Queer students

Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month

“Seeing other Queer people in medicine inspires me to be my whole self within the practice – it’s so important to see other people like you in the same space.”

Cate is a fifth-year medical student who identifies as Queer and uses they/them pronouns. They are an advocate for the Queer community in medical education, a volunteer for a sex education charity and an active member of campus life.

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Owen Cheshire: Inclusivity in action

Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month

Owen Cheshire

“I think it’s important now more than ever to be present and do what you can to amplify and advocate for voices  who may not have the ability to talk about their communities.”

Owen is the Marketing Operations Officer for Enterprise, where he supports the communications and marketing managers to deliver on their specific portfolios.

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