Previous graduates have gone on to promote change in the most influential areas of society. All our alumni are part of an active and influential alumni network which hosts lectures, debates and weekends away. This provides a hugely valuable means for graduates of the Forum for the Future Masters course to use each other as a first port of call when seeking solutions to tricky sustainability problems.

Solitaire Townsend, graduated 1998My experience of the Forum course is now nearly a decade ago, although in many ways it seems like yesterday. Although the career acceleration and ‘know how’ from the course have been invaluable, the friendships forged during my year are even more precious to me. Back then we spent long hours into the night planning what we’d each do to drive sustainable development.
Ten years later we now meet to talk about the companies we’ve established, the departments we run, and the projects we’re managing. As an Arts graduate my learning curve on the Forum Masters was steep, having to familiarize myself with the science and economics of sustainability. But a communications background prepared me well for what happened next. Eight years ago, with two fellow alumni, I established my company Futerra.
We are now the world’s leading communications agency specializing in sustainable development PR, marketing and design. With our team of over 20 staff we’ve developed campaigns for international businesses, charities and the United Nations.
The annual alumni away weekend is one of the highlights of my year, giving us all the chance to catch up and continue those conversations we started years ago.

Dan Rea, graduated 2002

After studying a Masters in civil engineering, I was awarded the (Transco) engineering scholarship for 2001/02. Although I knew I wanted to work in engineering, when I saw the Forum Masters course I had to do it - the six placements alone were like a condensed career of learning.

After graduating I joined the world-leading engineering consultancy, Arup, and have worked in design and project management of large mixed-use regeneration schemes in the UK and abroad and gained my chartered engineering status. In 2005 I took a 12 month sabbatical and went to Zambia to be a site engineer and manager of the construction of a small hydro scheme on the upper Zambezi River.

Since returning to London and Arup I have been awarded the construction industry 2007 Achiever of the Year award. I am in no doubt that the year spent on the Forum Masters gave me the foundation and adaptability for a diverse, exciting and positive career.

Stephen Hale, graduated 1997I was part of the first cohort of Forum scholars, a lifetime ago in 1996-97. It was a fascinating year. I saw the Forum Masters as a way to acquire experiences, insights and contacts beyond campaigning, and to re-invent myself as someone who could work in business and politics.
It worked. I spent the next five years working as a consultant on social and environmental issues in the private sector, and became chair of SERA, the environmental group affiliated to the Labour Party. That in turn led to four years as Special Adviser at the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, to Environment Minister Michael Meacher MP from 2002-03 and then Secretary of State Margaret Beckett MP from 2003-06.
As Director of Green Alliance, I have come home to the voluntary sector. The Masters programme has been an invaluable springboard for my different roles. Just as I had hoped, it has provided me with experiences, insights and contacts across sectoral boundaries. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-track route to making a difference.