Mairaid McMahon
Finalist: The Impartial Reporter Community Champion Awards 2026
PG Dip Human Resource Managment
Adv Dip Sustainable Investment for the Third Sector
PG Cert Executive Leadership
"As an alumna of Ulster University’s flagship 25@25 Leadership Programme, I have benefited from outstanding opportunities, most recently completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Executive Leadership in 2025. This built on my experience of working with communities through a range of campaigns and strengthened my understanding of collaborative leadership, particularly the importance of bringing people together to create positive change.
To have some of that work recognised through a nomination for the Impartial Reporter Community Champion Award has been truly humbling. I am a proud advocate for rural communities and have supported numerous campaigns to protect vital local services.
Working alongside families, businesses, community organisations and elected representatives to save our local school from closure showed the power of shared determination. Our success created further opportunities to support strategically important small schools and rural communities, and I hope it offers encouragement to others facing similar challenges.
As Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, and in previous roles with Macmillan Cancer Support and NIACRO, I have had the privilege of working with, and learning from, people facing many different challenges. I hope to continue combining academic knowledge with real-world experience to deliver change and help build a better future for all."
Anna Donnelly
Scholarship Winner: CompareNI.com Fintech Scholarship 2026
BSc Hons Finance and Investment Management
Mini MBA Fintech and Data Science
Anna Donnelly has been awarded the CompareNI.com Fintech Scholarship 2026, recognising outstanding achievement in one of Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing industries. Originally from Armagh, Anna recently completed a Master’s degree in FinTech and Data Science at Ulster University’s Derry~Londonderry campus. As part of the award, Anna received a £1,000 bursary and the opportunity to gain valuable work experience with Seopa, the fintech company behind CompareNI.com.
Passionate about the diverse opportunities within financial technology, Anna is encouraging other students and graduates to consider careers in the sector. Anna highlights how fintech combines technology, finance and data skills, opening pathways into fields such as software development, cybersecurity, data analytics and fraud detection.
Anna’s success reflects both personal dedication and Ulster University’s leadership in fintech education, helping to develop the next generation of talent in an industry that continues to drive innovation and economic growth across Northern Ireland.
Holly Neill
New Position: Company Nutritionist at Bio&Me
BSc Hons Food and Nutrition
PhD Life and Health Sciences
Dr Holly Neill holds a BSc and PhD in nutrition from Ulster University and is currently the Company Nutritionist at Bio&Me in London where she drives science-led innovation and consumer education, making the latest gut microbiome research accessible and actionable. She was previously the Head of Science at Yakult UK and Ireland. Before transitioning to industry, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Ulster University and has experience managing and conducting human trials across a range of topics including vitamin D, polyphenols, B-vitamins and cardiovascular health in both healthy populations and ileostomy patients.
Despite originally never wanting to go to university, Holly credits the academic and pastoral support from Ulster University for giving her the knowledge, skills and confidence to get where she is today. In particular, accepting a placement year at Nestlé Headquarters during her undergraduate degree, co-ordinated by a Visiting Professor, was instrumental in her career trajectory. In 2021, Holly was the double award winner at the Ulster University Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition which, in part, led her current employer to reach out with a job proposition.
Holly is a proud alumna and continues to champion Ulster University by offering guest lectures and 3MT mentorship. She encourages students to embrace placements, networking and extracurricular experiences to empower them to compete with graduates both locally, nationally and internationally, opening doors to career opportunities that may once have seemed beyond reach.
