London alumni gather for Innovation for Impact forum
On Saturday 27 September 2025, the UWC community gathered at the Department Store in Brixton – and online around the world – for the Innovation for Impact forum. Co-hosted by UWC International, UWC Atlantic, UWC Great Britain and Li Po Chun UWC of Hong Kong, the event brought together alumni, staff, volunteers and friends to celebrate how UWC values translate into action across diverse fields.
The morning opened with reflections on the power of the UWC network and a call to give “time, treasure and talent” to sustain the mission. From there, alumni and scholars took the stage to share their ideas and experiences in TED-style talks.
First to speak was Baher Al Abd (UWC Atlantic), a UWC-Horizon scholar whose journey took him from Syria to Bristol and now Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He described how education had been his “lifejacket” throughout his life:
“For the first time in my life, I had the whole world in front of me and felt I could do something about my life… even though my life has not necessarily gotten easier, I’m now part of a very big global community that can help me make a change.”
From the world of technology and entrepreneurship, Ka Ling Wu (Li Po Chun UWC of Hong Kong), co-founder of Upsolve AI, spoke about how AI can be used for social good, showing how values of intercultural understanding can inform the design of future technologies.
“When you have lived through a UWC experience, you know in your bones nothing is impossible… Idealism and fear aren’t enemies – they’re dancing partners.”
Sunil Hiranandani (UWC Mahindra College) explored what it means to live a values-driven life. Having begun a successful career in international banking and government, he made the courageous decision to pivot, founding Sirf Coffee — a platform connecting the Indian diaspora.
His talk traced this shift from “prestige to purpose”, explaining how his UWC education instilled empathy and a sense of global responsibility that shaped his entrepreneurial path:
“The UWC journey… the return on investment is measured in decades.” He added, “if you can hit two from purpose, passion and profit, you’re very lucky. If you hit all three, you probably went to a UWC.”
Finally, Ffiona Rowland Devasabai (UWC Atlantic) challenged the audience to think differently about leadership and sustainability. As a psychologist and founder of Galera Ltd., she drew on her work guiding changemakers through complex transitions, showing how strategy and psychology can converge to accelerate a healthier, more equitable world.
“We all face double binds: doing the right thing in one way means failing in another. How do we navigate that while staying true to our values?” she asked. “The self is the part in all of us that feels calm, content and loving. Connecting to that gives us courage and creativity to act in line with our values.”
Networking followed, with alumni enthusiastically reconnecting and building new collaborations over coffee. As one participant put it: “When I connect with UWC people, I feel like there is a whole layer of familiarity with the other person. Even though I may not know their name or their background, they already know something about me and I know something about them. It’s an immediate bond”.
The forum closed with remarks from Naheed Bardai, Principal of UWC Atlantic, and Dr Spencer Fowler, Principal of Li Po Chun UWC of Hong Kong.
Spencer reminded the audience that “it changes your DNA to want to do good in the world.” Naheed added: “Too often alumni feel they’re letting the movement down if they think about profit. But if we want to be sustainable, it’s a necessity.”
The Innovation for Impact forum showed how UWC alumni are transforming bold ideas into real-world change – and how their stories can inspire the next generation to take risks, live their values and lead with purpose. Sustaining this impact requires collective effort: today, 80% of students selected through UWC national committees receive financial support.
The UWC Global Endowment is building long-term resources to secure scholarships for future generations – and thanks to a matching challenge from Eijk and Rose Marie van Otterloo, every 2 USD donated will unlock an additional 1 USD for the Global Endowment.
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