Since graduating the last year has been a whirlwind for Penryn Campus alumnus Zack Islam FRSA (Human Sciences, 2025) and it’s only getting busier. Zack is due to co-host the national social mobility awards ceremony at Drapers’ Hall in London on Wednesday 8 July. This follows on from his win in the ‘Academic Success’ category last year. (Pictured above after his win with Tim Campbell from ‘The Apprentice’.)
Zack was the first member of his family to go to university and relied on free school meals throughout his education and went on to win a place at Exeter through the Exeter Scholars Achievement Scholarship. This allowed him to make the most of his university experience, pursue opportunities he may not otherwise have accessed and fully invest himself in the causes and activities that mattered most to him. After graduating from our Penryn Campus Zack has been working in finance, continues to be involved with a variety of social mobility projects, and has recently been awarded a fellowship from the The Royal Society of Arts in recognition of his voluntary work and advocacy around social mobility.
We caught up with him before he dons his hosting responsibilities to find out more about his university memories and post-graduation highlights.
What were your standout moments of your University of Exeter and Penryn Campus experience?
Without question, one of the highlights of my Exeter experience was serving as President of the University of Exeter Asian Society. Leading an incredibly talented committee and helping grow one of the University’s most vibrant cultural communities gave me a strong foundation in leadership, teamwork, communication, event management, creativity and problem-solving. It was also the first time I truly appreciated the impact that student-led communities can have on people’s university experience. We worked hard to create a community that brought together students from all backgrounds, not just those from Asian heritage. Through events celebrating culture, food, music, dance and faith, we created opportunities for people to connect, learn from one another and build friendships that crossed cultural boundaries.
Penryn itself as a place played a huge role in shaping me. Moving from Luton to Cornwall felt like being thrown into the deep end. Everything was different. However, that experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone in the best possible way. Penryn offered the perfect balance: a close-knit community where I felt supported, whilst also challenging me to grow, take risks and become more independent.
Beyond societies, I immersed myself fully in campus life. I was involved in football, boxing, athletics and regular goer of the campus gym. I also worked as a Student Ambassador (via tours, open days, visits to schools, careers fairs and social media) and represented the University as a mentor through Brightside and helped in the Exeter Scholars programme.
Having come through the programme myself in 2021 and received the Exeter Scholars Achievement Scholarship, those experiences were particularly meaningful and played a huge role in strengthening my passion for access to higher education and social mobility. The programme was incredibly important in making my route into Exeter more accessible and my experience as both an Exeter Scholars alumnus and Student Ambassador helped shape a lot of the work I do today.
Looking back, what stands out most is the sense of community. All of these experiences allowed me to meet people from across the University and helped me build friendships and connections that continue long after graduation. Through volunteering, leadership, mentoring and student representation, I always tried to leave a positive impact on the Campus and the people around me. To have those efforts recognised through being awarded Student of the Year at the University’s Success for All Conference in 2024 was an incredibly proud moment and one that I will always associate with my time at Exeter.
Ultimately, Exeter gave me far more than just a degree. It gave me lifelong friendships, confidence, leadership experience and a belief in my own potential that continues to shape my journey today. It reinforced that I can have a positive influence on the environment, people and society around me.
What has been life since graduating a year ago?
If I’m being completely honest, there is no way I could have predicted where I would be today when I graduated from Exeter, let alone when I first arrived at university three years earlier.
University opened doors that I didn’t even know existed. It introduced me to opportunities, people, experiences and career paths that have completely changed the trajectory of my life. Since graduating, I have had the opportunity to continue building my career, take on leadership positions within organisations that I care deeply about and advocate for causes that are incredibly important to me. These include serving on the Sutton Trust Alumni Leadership Board, chairing the upReach Alumni Ambassador Board, and multiple other volunteering initiatives. I’ve also been working in my hometown of Luton, and have recently been selected as both a judge and presenter for the Luton Youth Awards 2026 in July, which I’m looking forward to. On the whole, my circumstances have changed in ways that I am incredibly grateful for and is something I never take for granted.
I firmly believe that success is most meaningful when it is used to create positive change for others. Looking ahead, one of my biggest ambitions is to become an even stronger voice for social mobility and educational opportunity. Whilst progress has undoubtedly been made, the UK still faces significant challenges when it comes to ensuring that talent and potential are not limited by background. There remain too many barriers preventing young people from accessing opportunities, industries and careers that should be open to everyone.
For me, this has become a lifelong mission and an important part of my identity. Having personally benefited from the support of so many people and organisations, I feel a responsibility to help create those same opportunities for others. I do not want to simply be someone who benefited from social mobility initiatives; I want to help drive them forward.
If, in years to come, I can look back and know that I played even a small role in helping young people realise their potential, access opportunities and believe in themselves, I would consider that one of my greatest achievements.
Above all, I hope to be an example to those coming up behind me that your starting point does not have to determine your destination.
You’re hosting the 2026 Student Social Mobility Awards ceremony this July – a year on from your win – what are you looking forward to about the experience and what would yourself in 2025?
Having won a Student Social Mobility Award in 2025, it is a genuine honour to have been invited back a year later to co-host the ceremony. What excites me most is the opportunity to stand on that stage and share my story with an even wider audience of students, employers, senior leaders and advocates who are all passionate about creating a more socially mobile society. The awards bring together some of the UK’s most resilient, ambitious and promising young people, and simply being nominated is an incredible achievement in itself.
I am particularly looking forward to celebrating the success of the nominees, hearing their stories and helping create an evening that recognises not only academic and professional achievement, but also perseverance, determination and potential. There is something incredibly special about being in a room full of people who are striving to create positive change, both in their own lives and for others.
Last year I was sitting in the audience as a nominee and winner. This year, I have the privilege of helping lead the evening itself. That journey is something I am very grateful for. If I could speak to myself in 2025, I would simply say: enjoy the moment, keep fighting the good fight and trust the process.
At the time, it would have been impossible to imagine that just one year later I would be where I am. The opportunities, experiences and connections that followed the award were things I could never have fully predicted. I would remind myself that success is rarely defined by a single achievement. The real value comes from what you choose to do afterwards consistently, the people you meet, the impact you create and the opportunities you use to help others. Looking back now, that lesson has proven far more valuable than any award itself.
What advice do you have for current students or recent graduates looking to make an impact and social change?
My biggest piece of advice would be to be unapologetically passionate about the causes that matter to you. If you genuinely want to create change, people need to know what you stand for. Talk about it. Write about it. Do a podcast about it. Use platforms such as LinkedIn and social media to share your thoughts and experiences. Attend events, build relationships and put yourself in rooms where important conversations are taking place.
Your voice cannot influence a conversation if it is never heard.
To follow along with Zack’s next career steps, connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram.