John Mitchell
BSHDPP Accounting
John Mitchell is currently the Strategic Finance Director at Bawnbua Foods, where he sits on the Board and lead the financial strategy of a fast-paced, highly seasonal FMCG business. John works closely with the commercial function to support decision-making and overall performance. His role spans funding, restructuring, operational performance, and strategic growth, including leading complex refinancing initiatives, securing multi-source funding, and strengthening financial controls and reporting. John has also been heavily involved in corporate restructuring projects and in building strong relationships with lenders, credit insurers, and key stakeholders.
John has also completed his Chartered Accountancy training contract with PwC, further strengthening the technical knowledge and professional skills developed during his time at Ulster University.
Alongside his executive role, John is Chair of the Board of Governors at St Patrick's Academy, supporting governance, leadership, and long-term strategic direction.
John's time at Ulster University was instrumental in shaping his career. The combination of academic learning, expert guidance from lecturers, and the relationships built with peers provided both the technical grounding and confidence to succeed. The placement year, in particular, offered invaluable real-world experience and helped bridge the gap for John between theory and practice, laying the foundation for my progression into senior leadership.
Izzy Boomer
BA Hons Textile Art, Design and Fashion
Graduating in 2025, with First Class Honours from Ulster University’s Belfast School of Art, Izzy Boomer also completed her Foundation Degree in Art and Design from Ulster University in 2021. Now an emerging Designer in world of knitwear, she is still closely affiliated with Ulster University, currently completing a residency in the Textile Art, Design and Fashion department.
Upon graduating in July 2025, Izzy Boomer was awarded a funded internship in the Ulster Folk Museum, working alongside the Textile curator to assist in the archival process of the Museums textile store move. Her interest in history and heritage crafts was further deepened in the 10 week internship that would inform her practice as Graduate in Residence.
Her year as Graduate in Residence within the Knit department has been spent growing her brand; ‘Izzy Boomer Studio’, a contemporary knitwear brand that combines heritage and craftsmanship with modern technology. Creating artwork both physical and digital is an important part of her practice. Making use primarily of electric knitting machines that allow her to convert her artwork into digital designs which will then be translated into knitted fabric using innovative digital knitting software.
With a keen interest in combinations of texture, elaborate surface patterns, embellishment and experimental structure, Izzy Boomer Studio’s approach to knitwear has secured her a place as an Official Designer in Ireland Fashion Week 2026 in the Graduate show taking place this October.
Lorcán McShane
BSc Hons Computing Science
Lorcán McShane is a recent First-Class Honours graduate of Ulster University and the founder of Optimal Innovations Ltd. After graduating, and following a placement year within Ulster University’s Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement, he began developing a product focused on improving how strength athletes train and progress.
Through Optimal Innovations, Lorcán is building an app designed for powerlifters that provides real-time feedback on technique. By analysing each lift as it happens, the platform helps users understand where they’re going wrong and how to improve, without needing constant access to a coach.
He is working alongside fellow Ulster alumnus Neil Dougan, a former British Universities weightlifting champion with extensive coaching experience, bringing a strong practical understanding of the sport. The company is also advised by fellow Ulster alumnus David Patterson, founder of AI spinout Sophia Search, which was acquired by Peloton in 2021.
With early user interest and growing industry connections, Lorcán is focused on making high-quality coaching more accessible to strength athletes at all levels.
Kelly Hardman
Law with Criminology LLB (Hons)
Kelly Hardman is a Solicitor at Fragomen LLP (global leader in immigration services), based between Edinburgh and London, where she advises organisations on immigration, global mobility, and workforce strategy. She works closely with businesses in the space, energy, defence, and critical infrastructure sectors, helping them respond to skills shortages, navigate complex immigration rules, and move talent across borders in a way that is practical, compliant, and commercially focused.
Kelly also assists many individual (private) clients from complex spousal applications and citizenship matters to unusual offshore scenarios involving work within UK territorial waters. Kelly has also been recognised by the Law Society in their Pro Bono Recognition List as a Solicitor who has given at least 25 hours of pro bono assistance in both 2024 and 2026 – her primary pro bono client is a NGO defending individuals facing human rights abuses (including death penalty, torture, and unlawful detention).
Kelly studied Law with Criminology at Jordanstown and spent a year abroad in Salzburg (Austria) under the ERASMUS program. Kelly looks back fondly on her time at Ulster University and on the strong foundation it gave her, as well as the friendships she values to the present day. Those years helped shape her interest in how law and policy work in practice, how clear advice can help organisations and individuals navigate change with confidence and how having teachers (shout outs to Amanda Zacharopoulou, Dr Esther McGuinness and Prof Eugene McNamee!) who inspire the next generation of lawyers make the biggest impact in terms of wanting to ‘give back’.
Since then, Kelly has built a career at the intersection of law, policy, and business strategy. She is dual qualified in England & Wales and in Scotland, is a Notary Public in Scotland (FCO approved), and is also a Council Member and Writer to His Majesty’s Signet at the Signet Library in Edinburgh. Her work often involves translating complex legal and regulatory change into clear, practical advice for employers, whether that means long-term workforce planning or crisis management support when companies need to move people quickly, safely, and compliantly in an ever-changing geopolitical environment.
Kelly is passionate about her work with space and energy sector clients, and the role international talent plays in innovation and growth. With Northern Ireland’s growing space cluster, that feels especially relevant close to home! She has a genuine love of her job and hopes to pass on to her daughter the belief that the stars are always worth reaching for!
