“Alumnify was born from my conviction that global alumni networks are one of the UK higher education sector’s most powerful yet underused assets.

Having worked with universities across multiple continents, I saw first-hand how alumni could influence prospective students’ decisions far more effectively than traditional marketing or agency channels. Graduates who have lived the experience can tell authentic stories, answer nuanced questions, and build trust in a way no brochure or campaign ever could.

The idea behind Alumnify was simple but transformative: to empower international alumni to become local recruiters for their universities. I wanted to create a structured, scalable way to train, manage, and support these “Alumnifiers,” enabling universities to build more personal and credible connections with students around the world.

What began as a small initiative linking a handful of alumni in key markets has already started to take shape as a growing network across three continents. But the founding vision remains exactly the same — to harness the lived experiences of graduates to promote the UK as a study destination built on authenticity, community, and shared aspiration.”

James O’Grady,
Co-Founder & CEO