Our Alumni
As a school we are incredibly proud of all our graduates and the sucess that they have achieved in their careers and life after UEL. Below are some case studies of graduates from the School of Law and Social Sciences:
Mark Stephens
1978, Law LLB; Honorary Doctor of Laws
Current Occupation: Partner at law firm Finer Stephens Innocent; Chair of Governors at UEL
Mark Stephens is a distinguished media lawyer and partner at London-based law firm Finers Stephens Innocent. Specialising primarily in intellectual property, media and human rights law, he has practised before every level of Court in England and Wales, as well as before the European Court of Human Rights and European Court of Justice. Additionally, Mark has been called as an expert witness in court cases around the world.
Following his graduation from UEL in 1978, Mark continued his legal studies in Brussels. He was admitted to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales in July 1982, and served as Senior Partner at the law firm Stephens Innocent between 1984 and 1999, at which time the firm merged with another to create Finers Stephen Innocent.
Mark writes, talks and lectures on media, arts and human rights law, and appears regularly on television and radio to discuss topical issues in these fields. He has held, and continues to hold, a wide variety of appointments, including: member of the Foreign Office’s Free Expression Advisory Board; Champion of the Community Legal Service; Vice-Chairman of the International Bar Association Media Law Committee; former president of the North East London Law Society; and founder of the Joint Ethics Committee for the Visual Arts.
Having been actively involved with the University for many years, Mark became UEL’s Chair of Governors on 1 August 2009. Mark said of his appointment, “I have lived in East London for thirty-four years and it is an honour to have been elected to serve my local university - a university of which I am proud to be a graduate".
Bola Olabisi
1991, LLB (Hons) Law; Honorary Doctor of Business Administration
Current Occupation: CEO of Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network
Bola Olabisi is the founder and CEO of the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWINN), which is the organisation behind the British Female Inventor & Innovator of the Year Award. She has extensive experience in community development, regeneration and the law, and she has gained national and international recognition for her work. Bola also works as a motivational speaker and writer.
GWIIN was founded in 1998 and works on a local, regional, national and international basis. The British Female Inventor of the Year Award has grown to be a leading accolade for bringing inventive and innovative women into the spotlight. Bola has led GWIIN’s expansion into many countries around the world, including: Canada; the United States; South Africa; Spain; Hong Kong; Estonia; Finland; Sweden; India; Iceland; France; Nigeria; Morocco; and Singapore.
In 2001 Bola was awarded the International Federation of Inventors Association Award for her dedicated work and support for inventive women, and she has been honoured as a Pioneer to the Life of the Nation by HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Upon receiving her honorary doctorate in 2003 Bola said: “What I do is all about inspiring women to achieve and gain recognition for their achievements. I found my own experience at UEL to be very inspiring.”
John Bainbridge
2008 BA (Hons) International Development and NGO Management
Current Occupation: On board crew member - Phoenician Expedition
John Bainbridge was selected as one of the crew for an ambitious sailing expedition that will recreate the first circumnavigation of Africa by the Phoenicians in 600 BC.
John joined the multinational crew at the expedition start point in Syria shortly after finishing his degree. “Phoenicia” will set sail from the ancient Syrian port of Arwad, which is where the 70 ft replica vessel is being built. John will be using the skills from his degree to help coordinate the water projects that the crew will be undertaking during the expeditions port visits. The water projects (supported by Global Water Fund) are part of the expedition’s humanitarian programme to help provide clean drinking water for African communities.
The Phoenician Ship Expedition is being led by Dorset based adventurer Philip Beale who successfully headed the Borobudur expedition in 2003-04 sailing a replica 8th century Indonesian trading vessel from Indonesia to West Africa, this latest venture is more ambitious and will see the ship cover 17,000 miles over 12 months before she arrives in London.
“‘It was as a direct result of my degree in ‘International Development with NGO Management’ that I was offered a place on the Phoenicia Expedition. Being involved in such a prestigious venture offers an unrivalled opportunity for personal development, in fact, I cannot think of a more productive or fulfilling manner in which to spend the year after my degree!”.
