Essex graduate reaches Study UK final for her work on sustainability

Promoting ‘green finance’ to combat the impact of climate change has led to Essex graduate Nagima Ayubayeva being named as a finalist in the Science and Sustainability category of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2022 in Kazakhstan.

The winner will be named at the Study UK Alumni Awards ceremony taking place on Saturday 5 March at the UK Ambassador’s residence in Nur-Sultan.

Her Majesty’s Ambassador Kathy Leach and Director of the British Council Eric Lawrie will be hosting the event.

Nagima, who completed a BSc Economics at Essex, said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times so I am happy and proud that I was a part of the team which made the first steps towards Kazakhstan's effort of achieving its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“Thus, me, as a part of the AIFC Green Finance Centre, made possible the issue of the first green bond, social bond and green credit.

“The proudest moment in my career was the day when the first green bonds were issued in Kazakhstan in August 2020.”

Nagima said she first became aware of climate change issues at Essex.

“I became very much concerned about climate change when I, for the first time, heard about it during my lectures,” she says, now she is deeply concerned about “what kind of world we will leave behind for our children”.

She looks back at her time at Essex with great fondness: “I enjoyed everything,” she says. “Starting with all the facilities available on campus that make students' lives interesting and comfortable, and ending with the international community, which made the whole study period a journey full of emotions and positive experiences.

“The University of Essex developed my personality, it made me believe in my own power, to be innovative and to have my own point of view on any issue and to be able to defend it.”

She is inspired by strong women such as Her Majesty the Queen, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde.
Nagima’s motto is: “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment”.

So what advice does Nagima have for current Essex students?

“Be innovative and believe in a green future for our planet,” she says.

The Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of alumni and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education. Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities, professions and countries.