The Winners of the Nottingham Alumni Awards 2025

On 7 February 2026, the Nottingham Alumni Awards 2025 were announced at the graduation ceremony, which had taken place in the University of Nottingham Malaysia’s (UNM) own Great Hall. Renewed and refurbished, the Great Hall welcomed the February graduates and our alumni winners in its regal glory. 

It was a Saturday filled with pride and laughter as graduates, family members, and friends alike graced the halls of our Semenyih campus. 

During the ceremony, the Nottingham Alumni Awards 2025 were presented first by Professor Jane Norman, the President and Vice Chancellor at the University of Nottingham. 

We believe that by witnessing these alumni’s success as they walked across the stage to receive the awards, the graduates—patiently waiting to be called onto the stage to receive their degree—would be inspired to chase this milestone and, one day, strive to achieve it. 

Let us congratulate the winners of the Nottingham Alumni Awards 2025. 

Arts, Cultural and Creativity Award

 

Meng Huat Chau is a distinguished Professor of Applied Linguistics and Language Education at Zhejiang International Studies University, China, with a research focus on how language, communication, and education can foster ethical, sustainable ways of living. His academic background spans Malaysia, the UK, and various global roles, including long-term positions in China, South Korea, and the UK. 

His research integrates corpus linguistics, ecolinguistics, global English, and AI-mediated communication, emphasising the importance of human-centric and socially responsible scholarship. Meng Huat is dedicated to mentoring early-career scholars and building inclusive, diverse research communities. 

He has contributed to international projects focused on sustainability and social justice and received multiple awards, including the 2024 British Council ELTons Awards. Creative expression also plays a key role in his work, with contributions to literary and reflective forms alongside academic writing. His approach to scholarship values connection, care, and curiosity, principles nurtured during his time at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. 

Business and Entrepreneurial Award

Julius Lim is the CEO and Co-Founder of B&B Labs, a pioneering Malaysian skincare brand that specialises in microbiome-friendly products. With over 25 years of experience in cosmetic science, business strategy, and product development, Julius has led the company to integrate prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics with Asian botanicals like durian and mangosteen through its unique E-Cology Plus+ complex. 

B&B Labs, founded in 2014, has become a trusted name in the region, particularly known for its innovative CustoMask, the world’s first customisable microbiome-friendly treatment-grade sheet mask. Julius is a recognised thought leader, frequently speaking at global events such as in-cosmetics Korea and Asia. 

He is also a mentor, collaborating with universities like Monash and UNM to guide emerging entrepreneurs. His contributions have earned him recognition from Tatler Asia and a Top 10 spot in the Selangor E-Commerce Xccelerator Program 2024. Passionate about wellness and fitness, Julius believes in skincare that works in harmony with the body, reflecting his personal philosophy of living well, feeling good, and looking great. 

Community Service Award 

Azhar Sholgami is a humanitarian practitioner, researcher, and community advocate focused on conflict response, post-conflict reconstruction, and underfunded humanitarian crises, particularly in Sudan and Africa. A PhD candidate in Africana Studies at Cornell University, her research explores post-war recovery, humanitarian financing, and the political economy of aid in conflict-affected areas. 

Azhar’s personal experience as a refugee due to the Sudan war has deepened her commitment to people-centred humanitarian action. Professionally, she has worked with the UNDP in Sudan and OCHA in New York, securing over $150 million in aid for climate and conflict-affected countries. Her fieldwork spans Darfur, Rwanda, and the borders of Sudan, Ethiopia, and Egypt, where she applied indigenous methodologies to understand refugee and community needs. 

Azhar was also involved in Sudan’s 2019 revolution and led grassroots emergency responses, including sports peacebuilding projects with FIFA for refugees. Beyond her professional and academic roles, she remains committed to advocacy, community organising, and supporting international students at Cornell. Sport, particularly football, has played a key role in her journey, having been a member of Sudan’s first national women's football team. 

Environmental and Sustainability Award 

Azamuddeen is a freshwater ecologist and environmental scientist focused on biodiversity conservation and public engagement in Malaysia. He is currently pursuing a PhD in the ecology and genetics of freshwater fishes, particularly developing environmental DNA (eDNA) for biodiversity monitoring and conservation. Azamuddeen’s research tackles the challenge of assessing and protecting biodiversity in complex, threatened tropical freshwater ecosystems using scalable, scientifically rigorous methods. 

In addition to his academic work, he is passionate about sustainability education and science communication, engaging with the public through workshops, citizen science initiatives, and social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. With over 100,000 followers, his content raises awareness about wildlife, freshwater biodiversity, and field-based science, reaching millions of viewers. 

Azamuddeen has collaborated on interdisciplinary research in ecology, genetics, and microbiology, and works closely with conservation practitioners to apply scientific knowledge in meaningful ways. His outreach efforts emphasise the importance of freshwater systems for biodiversity, food security, and human well-being, while fostering long-term environmental stewardship. 

Research and Knowledge Exchange Award 

Dr Chai Wai Siong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China. A graduate of the University of Nottingham Malaysia, he earned his undergraduate degree and PhD from the same institution, demonstrating the “Nottingham-to-Nottingham” academic pathway. 

Dr Chai is a leading researcher in clean and sustainable energy technologies, with a focus on green fuel development, biomass-to-biofuel conversion, ammonia utilisation, and green propulsion systems. His work has resulted in over 45 peer-reviewed journal articles, seven book chapters, and significant contributions to industry-academia collaborations in clean energy. 

Dr Chai has received over 5,000 citations and is on the Stanford University World’s Top 2% Scientists list for three consecutive years. He also holds leadership roles in various academic and professional organisations and contributes to knowledge exchange through editorial positions and peer reviews. 

A dedicated mentor, he supervises doctoral and postgraduate students and actively engages in outreach, promoting scientific education and enhancing the global reputation of the University of Nottingham. 

The Nottingham Alumni Awards 2026

As we prepare for the next round of the Nottingham Alumni Awards, we would like to highlight that graduates of the recent two years are not eligible to be nominated. For instance, if you graduated in 2024/2025, you are ineligible to apply for the Nottingham Alumni Awards 2026, but may be nominated the following year. 

We would also like to give a special thanks to our alumnus, Harith Ridzuan, for the creation of the Nottingham Alumni Awards trophies. Harith graduated from UNM in 2008 with a degree in Management Studies and is the founder of The Green Factory. 

His high-quality and sustainable products align with UNM’s values to promote sustainability whilst supporting our own alumni in the magnificent work that they do. 

Keep an eye out for the Nottingham Alumni Awards 2026 nominations! Follow us or register to the UNM Alumni Network today so you don’t miss out on future announcements.