Aoife Harvey
New collection showcased at Irish Fashion Week
BA Hons Textile Art, Design and Fashion
Aoife, a Derry-based fashion designer and founder of AH Designs, showcased her latest collection, SECOND NATURE, earlier this month at Ireland Fashion Week as part of The Irish Edit showcase.
The 15-piece collection, designed and handmade by Aoife, celebrates one-of-one design, reclaimed textiles and the transformation of existing materials into contemporary fashion.
For Aoife, presenting SECOND NATURE at Ireland Fashion Week marks an exciting new chapter for AH Designs and an opportunity to bring her approach to sustainable Irish design to a wider audience.
Across the collection, reclaimed denim, tweed, florals and contrasting textiles are reconstructed into contemporary garments. The collection explores renewal, instinct and transformation by giving materials a second life.
SECOND NATURE is about taking something that has already had a life and seeing the potential for what it can become next. Every piece has been made individually, so no two garments exist in the same way.
A first-class Textile Art, Design and Fashion graduate, Aoife won BBC Northern Ireland’s A Stitch Through Time in 2023. Her work has since been presented both at home and internationally.
Photo credit: Barry Colhoun
Pieces from the Collection: SECOND NATURE
Photo credit: Jack McSparron
Catherine Murnin
New book published, 'Pause for Conversations'
BSc Hons Business Studies
Catherine has built a career spanning health, community wellbeing, innovation and leadership, progressing to Director-level roles in care and secondary prevention before establishing her own business, The Wellbeing Pathway. Her studies at Ulster provided the foundation for developing professional networks and opportunities that have shaped a diverse and impactful career.
An author, coach and facilitator, Catherine recently published her second book, Pause for Conversations, a collection of stories, poetry and reflections for women navigating periods of change and transformation. Building on the success of her first book, which led to speaking engagements across the UK, Ireland and the United States, she continues to use storytelling to support personal growth and wellbeing.
In 2026, Catherine was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to further her research into dementia care in rural communities. As part of the fellowship, she will travel to Sweden in 2027 to explore international best practice, helping to inform and strengthen support for those affected by dementia within her own community.
Reflecting on her journey since graduating, Catherine credits her time at Ulster University with opening doors to opportunities and experiences that have shaped both her personal and professional life.
Since graduating from Ulster University almost 30 years ago, I’ve met many amazing people who supported my personal and professional journey across the globe. Little did I know in 1999, the doors that my studies would open for me!
Ulster University alumni leading transformation at PwC
Ulster University graduates Jason McBride and Grainne Rodgers have been promoted to Managing Directors at PwC, based in their Belfast office.
Together, their career journeys highlight the contribution Ulster University graduates are making to Northern Ireland’s growing technology, digital and transformation landscape.
Grainne Rodgers
Newly appointed: Managing Director PwC Operate
MSc Information Systems
Grainne completed her MSc in Information Systems at Ulster University in 1999 and is now a Managing Director within PwC Operate.
During more than 25 years with the firm, she has built extensive experience helping clients manage complex transformation and has recently led the growth of PwC’s Transformation Managed Services capability.
Jason McBride
Newly appointed: Managing Director of Data & AI, Tech Delivery and Service Management at PwC
BSc Hons Computing Science
Jason graduated from Ulster University's Jordanstown campus in 2003 with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science.
Today, as Managing Director of Data & AI, Tech Delivery and Service Management at PwC, he helps organisations harness the potential of data and AI and deliver large-scale technology transformation.
