The Woman of the Future Commonwealth Award recognises outstanding achievements of Commonwealth citizens, based within the UK, within their respective field. St John’s own Hannah Nazri, DPhil candidate at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health and St John’s has been nominated. This achievement highlights her commitment, contribution and success. Hannah had this to say about her nomination:

The Women of the Future Award, founded by Pinky Lalini CBE DL 15 years ago, is a platform for exceptional young women in Britain across a diverse range of sectors. I was gobsmacked to be included in this year’s list of finalists for the Commonwealth category.

The nominees for this award category must demonstrate commitment and dedication to making a positive impact in at least two Commonwealth countries. In the past 10 years, I have been the Chair of the Board of Trustees of a student-led education charity based in Malaysia called The Kalsom Movement, which supports Malaysian teens from disadvantaged backgrounds in their pursuit of tertiary education.

As a junior doctor in the NHS, alongside my medical work, I have been supporting the charitable efforts of the hospitals where I work. One of the most unforgettable memories I have was being part of a hospital comedy show where we raised £11,600 for local charities and for the hospital over two years!

More recently, in 2018, I travelled to Nigeria as a volunteer doctor in Benin, and as part of my work in education in Malaysia, The Kalsom Movement raised approximately £8,000 for Malaysian students stranded in the UK due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown earlier this year.

Of course, in Oxford, I am proud to be a member of the St John’s College Women’s Network as the joint coordinator of the Women’s Leadership Programme. As for people who have inspired me, it would be my parents. I would not be where I am now without their love and support.