Advancement

Shona has been leading SOAS’s Advancement team since 2021. Working closely with the Vice-Chancellor, Shona has strategic oversight of institutional philanthropic priorities and the global alumni engagement strategy. 

Since becoming a philanthropy professional in 2008, Shona has worked in a number of higher education institutions with particular expertise in international fundraising, notably Southeast Asia and North America. She is a member of the Senior Management Team, the Fundraising Advisory Board, and the Ethics Panel for Philanthropic Gifts.

• sa165@soas.ac.uk
• +44 (0)207 898 4128

Suzy joined SOAS in 2018, bringing extensive experience in the charity and higher education sector. She is the fundraising liaison for the College of Humanities, SOAS Library and Gallery, the SOAS Middle East Institute and Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies.  

Working closely with alumni, donors and volunteers in the UK, Asia and Middle East, she is passionate about connecting people and projects together to create impact and transformation. 

• sr77@soas.ac.uk
• +44 (0)207 898 4600

Sam joined SOAS in February 2024 and has been working as a professional fundraiser in higher education and healthcare since 2018. She is the fundraising liaison for the College of Development, Economics, Finance and Management. She works closely with supporters to enable gifts that transform the lives of students at SOAS.

• sa179@soas.ac.uk  
• +44 (0)754 091 3729

Ben has been working as a professional fundraiser across higher education and the arts since 2015. Since joining SOAS in January 2022, he works with supporters at all levels, guiding them in creating transformative and meaningful impact for our students and programmes through philanthropic support. 

Ben is the fundraising liaison for the College of Law, Anthropology and Politics as well as the School of History, Religions and Philosophies, and is Secretary to the School’s Fundraising Advisory Board. He also works closely with our alumni, donors and senior volunteers in the USA.

• bs53@soas.ac.uk
• +44 (0)207 898 4335

Anna joined SOAS in March 2021, having worked in higher education stewardship since 2017. Her work focuses on fostering positive relationships with donors and supporters through acknowledgement, recognition, and engagement, including regular communication with donors.   

She ensures that donors receive personalised thank you letters for their support and coordinates donor events to provide opportunities for engagement and networking. She is the key point of contact for philanthropic scholarship programmes. 

• ab175@soas.ac.uk
• +44 (0)207 898 4330

Laura joined SOAS in May 2023, and has been working in alumni engagement within higher education since 2021. Her work at SOAS revitalises the global alumni community by strengthening local alumni networks. Laura works to support alumni ambassadors around the world, and to develop alumni groups in key regions, with the aim of empowering volunteers to create community spaces where alumni feel valued, supported, and able to advocate for their university.  

She organises alumni events around the world to connect the alumni community with academics and members of the Vice Chancellor’s office when travelling.

• ld35@soas.ac.uk
• +44 (0)207 898 4710

Haleema joined SOAS in May 2023 and is dedicated to enhancing alumni connections worldwide. She plays a key role in delivering alumni experiences and supports the Alumni Engagement Manager and Officer in all aspects of alumni engagement, including leading on communication, event management, and network development.  

Haleema facilitates international and campus-based events and cultivates relationships with over 95,000 alumni. Additionally, she ensures effective management of alumni data and supports the Alumni Engagement team in compliance with data protection legislation. 

• ha41@soas.ac.uk
• +44 (0)207 898 4165

Ale joined SOAS in May 2022, bringing a wealth of experience in Operations within higher education. As part of the Advancement team, Ale manages the Alumni and Fundraising database, which currently holds over 100,000 records.   

She oversees the management of gifts and funds, including giving mechanisms, developing tax-efficient giving methods for overseas donors, and advising on HMRC guidelines on Gift Aid. Additionally, Ale produces tailored reports on philanthropic activities for senior leadership.

• mr56@soas.ac.uk
• +44 (0)207 898 4137

Ciara joined SOAS In November 2023. She has extensive experience in fundraising intelligence, prospect research and due diligence. During the course of her career she has worked in the arts, museums and a range of NGOs both in permanent roles and as a freelance researcher.  

Her work at SOAS is particularly focused on enhancing our knowledge of alumni across the globe and looking for new funding streams. 

• cf52@soas.ac.uk
• +44 (0)207 898 4105