The winners:

Parineeti Chopra, Arts, Culture & Entertainment category (Outstanding Achiever) (BA Intl Business, Finance & Economics 2009)

A National Film Award winner, Parineeti is an acclaimed artist with multiple honours and recognitions to her name. She has appeared in the Forbes Celebrity 100 list since 2013.

The renowned Bollywood actor, is a household name in India and beyond. Parineeti graduated from the Alliance Manchester Business School in 2009 having studied; business, finance and economics, before turning to acting.

On accepting her award Parineeti said: “Life has come full circle and I’m so glad to be back where it all started! Having studied at Manchester Business School, to be able to come back, receive this award and celebrate it at the UK Parliament is such an incredible, special feeling.”

Somdip Dey, Education, Science & Innovation category (Outstanding Achiever) (MSc Computer Science 2014)

Somdip Dey is a machine learning researcher, educator, entrepreneur and electronic music producer. He is credited with co-developing the Nosh app, an AI-based food management app, aiming to reduce food waste in the household. Dey also co-founded Nosh Technologies and is currently the CEO and Chief Scientist in the company.

Speaking about the award, Somdip said: “Coming from a humble family from the slums of Kolkata, India, if someone told my past self that I would reach where I am today, I might not have ever believed it, especially since being dyslexic and falling in the ADHD spectrum – education in my early life hasn’t been easy. But The University of Manchester has provided me with the right support to achieve my full potential. Given the University’s vibrant learning culture, rich heritage and expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and a network of leading change-makers from around the world, the University is one of the best places in the world to pursue your dreams – as mine came true because of my education at Manchester!”

Dr Srijan Jinda, Education, Science & Innovation category (PhD Chemistry 2020)

Born in Varanasi, Srijan completed his undergraduate studies at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee in 2016 and his Ph.D. at The University of Manchester in 2019. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool for a year after which he spun out a medical device company PhenUtest Diagnostics Ltd. and is working towards commercialising a revolutionary rapid UTI diagnostic kit as the Chief Scientific Officer for the company.

Arundhuti Gupta, Education, Science & Innovation category (MSc Finance 2009)

Arundhuti is the founding trustee and chief executive officer of Mentor Together, a non-profit organisation in India that provides mentoring relationships and networks to young people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.  Arundhuti setup Mentor Together aged 23, to pay forward mentorship that had been catalytic in helping her discover a passion for youth development and social entrepreneurship.