Aakif Imthiyaz

Ethnicity (REACH background)
Sri Lankan Moore, although I spent all my life in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  

Job Title & Department/School
Graduate Management Trainee - currently based in the Learning and Development Team.  

Year started at the University
2022 (but first a student in 2018)

Responses to questions regarding the Network:

When did you join the REACH staff network?
2022

What is your favourite thing about the REACH staff network?
The different lived experiences and the coming together of different cultures. The events that have recently been put on to demonstrate this such as the Chinese New Year Dinner, Loughborough’s first ever Eid celebration and the African Caribbean dinner displayed a real sense of togetherness and I really love the time people take to understand each other’s cultures. 

Why should people join the REACH staff network?
There are several reasons – great food for starters! More importantly it’s a place to learn, we as an organization are very diverse and along with that there’s an opportunity to develop a great understanding of the various cultures and lived experiences that make us unique. Coming from Sri Lanka but having grown up in the middle east my life experiences are significantly different to someone who was born and raised there and that’s something nobody would know about me unless I spoke to them, that’s why I personally find the BAME staff network exciting, it’s a place to be curious and a place to experience life in another culture’s shoes.

Regarding your role at the University:

What is your favourite thing about your role?
As a Graduate Management Trainee (GMT), we move every six months, meaning we get to experience all sorts of different roles and work with several colleagues. With that we get the opportunity to work alongside and observe a variety of working styles...I find that part very interesting, ‘How people work’ and trying to understand why that might be the most effective way in certain situations.

Who is an inspiration for you and why? (It can be anyone!)
I’m a massive cricket fan and my biggest inspirations have always come from there. Kumar Sangakkara will be remembered as a cricketing great for decades. Although I’ve always been inspired by how eloquent he is and how he represents himself. Not only did he raise the profile of cricket in Sri Lanka, but I believe he inspired a generation to be proud of being Sri Lankan.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself!
I designed Durham Cricket Clubs 2021-2022 Royal One day Cup Kit!