Volunteers of the Month 2026

We are honoured to have hundreds of amazing volunteers who generously share their time, skills and experience to help our current students succeed. Their dedication makes a big difference, enriching the student experience and contributing significantly to our university community.

To celebrate the incredible impact our volunteers make, our Volunteer of the Month scheme spotlights the passionate individuals who consistently go the extra mile, demonstrating outstanding commitment and making a truly exceptional difference.

Each month, we'll feature a different volunteer, sharing their story, highlighting their achievements, and showcasing the invaluable support they provide. Their inspiring work embodies the spirit of generosity that is so vital to our community.

Are you inspired by our volunteers? Learn more about how you can give your time to help our student and research communities, and perhaps even become our next Volunteer of the Month!

Volunteer of the Month - March 2026 - Tom Newby

What is your current role?

I am a Biosecurity Officer in the Biodiversity and Ecology Team at Severn Trent Water. The team is responsible for protecting and improving biodiversity on company land, and I help to stop the spread of invasive non-native species (INNS) as part of that. INNS are animals and plants introduced from other parts of the word that cause harm to our environment, economy, or human wellbeing – one example is Himalayan balsam. My role involves coordinating and advising on the removal of established INNS, delivering training on the risks and responsibilities, and producing educational outreach material for many different purposes.

In what capacity have you volunteered for the University?

Whilst I was studying at the University, I volunteered for the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) at science fairs and interactive sessions for secondary schools. I also did some practical microscopy outreach in a primary school and local scout group. After graduating, I have travelled back to campus to take part in Biosciences Offer Holder Day alumni panel sessions, Open Day careers talks, and a ‘green careers’ activity for students looking for roles in sustainability or environmental management after they graduate.

What inspired you to volunteer with the University of Birmingham?

I quickly developed an interest in science communication during my MSci Biological Sciences degree studies and knew I needed to strengthen my CV if I was going to pursue a career involving sci-comm after university. I already knew about BIFoR, so I put my name down for BIFoR events open to student volunteer support. I really enjoyed raising awareness of important climate change research – it felt like I was making a difference. I suppose that is why I continued to volunteer with the University, and it just evolved into more careers-focused outreach. I still get to talk all about INNS and explain how my job involves reducing the risk of transferring species from one location to another, on top of the very rewarding experience of giving genuine advice to prospective students about university and life after graduation. It is the best of both worlds!

How has volunteering positively impacted you?

Volunteering has grown my network of like-minded university contacts (both students and staff) and has even led me to take on a work experience student, an opportunity that will really help me grow as a person and a professional. It has also improved my public speaking skills and ability to engage different audiences, which is directly transferable to my day job.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering?

Sign up to one volunteering activity, whether it is sci-comm or something else, and see how you find it! Volunteering has a funny way of creating a chain reaction of opportunities for you, so once you volunteer a few times you will begin to reap the rewards. Just get started and make sure you record what you have done so you can include it in your CV or talk about it at job interviews.

Volunteer of the Month - February 2026 - Fazeela Gopalani 

What is your current role?

I lead EY Academy across the MENA region, where we support organisations in developing their talent capability with future‑ready skills and mindsets. I lead a team across five countries and am deeply passionate about helping organisations drive their talent development agendas, particularly through upskilling and leadership development. This work is closely aligned with supporting national visions and contributing to sustainable capability‑building that benefits organisations, individuals and the long‑term growth of the MENA region.

In what capacity have you volunteered for the University?

Since 2021, I have supported students through a range of careers and employability initiatives. These include Careers & Coffee sessions, Lunch with a Leader events, mentoring‑style conversations and hosting student visits to the EY Dubai office. I also serve on the Dubai Business Advisory Board, supporting the University’s engagement with the regional business community and helping to strengthen links between academia and industry.

What inspired you to volunteer with the University of Birmingham?

I clearly remember my own experience as a student and how valuable real‑world insights beyond the lecture room were in building confidence and clarity about future career paths. I wanted to give back in a practical way by helping students gain exposure, perspective and confidence as they prepare to transition into the workplace.

How has volunteering positively impacted you?

Volunteering has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing students grow in confidence, ambition and self‑belief is always inspiring. One of the most memorable moments for me was supporting an opportunity that led to a student securing an internship, and eventually progressing into a full‑time graduate role. Moments like these reinforce the meaningful impact that early guidance and encouragement can have.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering?

Say yes and start small. Even one session can make a meaningful difference. You will likely find the experience energising and genuinely fulfilling. Volunteering is truly a “win‑win” for both parties - students gain insight and confidence, while volunteers gain perspective and a strong sense of purpose.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your volunteering experience or your connection to the University?

I feel proud to remain connected to the University of Birmingham community in Dubai and beyond. The passion and potential of the students is always inspiring, and I look forward to continuing to support them in any way I can. Gaining networking skills and early insight into the workplace is something that really stands students in good stead for their future careers.

Volunteer of the Month - January 2026 - Harpal Khambay 

What is your current role?

I'm a Freelancer within the creative industries, meaning that I don't have a regular running contract, I jump around a bit more!

I have done long stints on two BBC continuing dramas, working as the Production and Script Secretary. These roles have included a multitude of administrative and editorial tasks, including collating crew lists, proofing and issuing scripts and acting as a point of call for production. Production offices can be very busy, ever-changing environments, which is something that I really enjoy - I find TV really exciting! I also worked as the Script Supervisor on a series of BBC short films that were shot in schools in the West Midlands. I mentored students in this role as well, which felt like a real full circle moment. The Script Supervisor is the person who watches written and verbal continuity.

Aside from scripted television, I worked on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as a runner and logger, at BBC News during their pre-production of the 2024 US Election and on a comedy panel quiz show about black history. In the autumn last year I turned my hand to theatre, working as Outreach Officer on Rifco Theatre Company’s touring production of Surinderella, their first Desi panto. We opened in Wolverhampton, so no matter what I do, Birmingham keeps pulling me back! Throughout these various stints I have managed to get on camera and pop up on TV several times, which is always fun.

Outside of work, I also have my own weekly community radio show in London and maintain an online culture blog, ‘Khambay’s Words, Words, Words,’ which I have run for the past seven years. I also create content for theatre shows. Every day is different.

In what capacity have you volunteered for the University?

I first contributed a piece about myself for the Built in Birmingham campaign and also sat on a panel on an Open Day in November, talking about my career since leaving the University. More recently, I attended one of the College of Arts and Law graduations as Alumni Representative. I did not really know what this meant at first, but I got to walk in the graduation procession behind the mace bearer and sit on the stage. I graduated during COVID, so I never had a proper ceremony – this definitely made up for it! Outside of volunteering, I also gave a lecture about my career to students on the Film and Television: Research and Production MA course.

What inspired you to volunteer with the University of Birmingham?

I reached out last spring, because I thought that my career path, coming from an English Literature and History degree, was quite unique. I really just wanted to share my experiences and tell students that they can do anything with a humanities degree. It is so versatile and people are always surprised when I tell them about my background. I also thought it would be an amazing opportunity to develop my public speaking skills.

How has volunteering positively impacted you?

I think it made me realise how far I had come. The creative industries can be hard – you get a lot of rejection and need a lot of resilience, so volunteering really gave me the opportunity to sit down, reflect and actually appreciate the journey that I had been on. It made me feel quite proud really. Also, I enjoyed that when on the panel you never know what questions you are going to get.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about volunteering?

Go for it! I really enjoyed it. Also, it’s lovely to go back to campus and reflect on university memories.