Thorben Grosser
BA (Hons) Event Management (2008 – 2012)
O
RIGINALLY FROM LUXEMBOURG,
Thorben came to QMU due to its
international reputation for the study
of planned events.
Whilst studying at QMU, he attended
the Professional Convention Management
Association (PCMA), a professional events
management conference in the USA. This
provided him with outstanding learning
opportunities and the chance to network with
important industry professionals. Thorben also
did an exchange in Canada, benefitting greatly
from working in a multinational environment.
During his degree, Thorben took part in
an international PCMA event. This led to
an outstanding job offer with EventMobi, a
revolutionary event management application
technology company, which aims to change the
way attendees engage at live events. EventMobi
now serves clients in 75 countries. Thorben
heads up the company’s European office from
its base in Berlin.
Thorben said:“I am passionate about helping
QMU event management students reap the
benefits of attending international conferences.
I have been pleased to provide financial support
for student networking dinners, which help
facilitate important opportunities for students
to converse with industry professionals. I stay
connected with QMU by taking part in alumni
reunions and acting as a facilitator and keynote
speaker.”
In 2017, Thorben was awarded an Outstanding
Alumni Award for his contributions to QMU. ❒
Samantha Hamilton
BA (Hons) Tourism Management (2007 – 2010)
then MBA Hospitality (2013-2015)
S
AMANTHA HAS DEVELOPED her
career with Dakota, a unique, award-
winning UK boutique hotel brand. Now
Group HR Manager, she has spent several
years focusing on recruitment and talent
development and is helping to identify and
nurture future leaders who can advance
Scotland’s hospitality sector.
Speaking of her MBA, Samantha, who is from
Fife, said: “Returning to study my MBA whilst
working in industry really heighted all of my
theoretical learning. I also benefit greatly from
being given the autonomy to challenge the
way we do things and explore ways to improve
our operation at Dakota as we continue our
expansion throughout the UK.”
Samantha has stayed connected with QMU
by working with the University’s staff to develop
internships and scholarships for current students
of the BA/BA (Hons) International Hospitality
and Tourism programme. In this way, she is
supporting QMU and the emerging generation
of hospitality leaders. ❒
Rose and Carol Tibi
MSc Global Health
28
QMYOU / Where Are You Now?
W
hen Rose Tibi and her daughter,
Carol, fled the civil war in Sudan
in the 1980s, no one would have
guessed that Carol would follow in her
mother’s footsteps by studying with QMU’s
Institute for Global Health & Development
(IGHD)..
As a former nurse in Sudan, Rose completed
two courses with IGHD – enrolling in 1993 in
the MSc International Health and later on a
health visiting course.
Since graduating, Rose has worked as a
health visitor at various locations around
Edinburgh, setting up local community groups
for new parents. Her studies in global health
also influenced her to work with local groups
like Shakti Women’s Aid, a charity which fights
against domestic violence within black ethnic
minority groups, and the Minority Ethnic
Health Inclusion Service (MEHIS), part of
NHS Lothian.
A current student with QMU, one of Carol’s
modules is Psychosocial Interventions for
Displaced Populations. This module focuses
on mental health care support for people
who are forced to move due to persecution,
conflict and natural or man-made disasters.
The module is studied completely online –
something that was not available when her
mother, Rose, was studying at QMU.
Carol added: “My future aim is to work
with refugees and vulnerable people, who
are often marginalised in developing and
developed countries. I feel, more than ever,
there is a need for sustainability and effective
resettlement programmes in communities to
allow refugees to rebuild their lives.” ❒