First degree: University of Nottingham, UK; history
After studying history, I did a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism and then worked as a journalist with the BBC in Leicester and ITV in Norwich. Working as a reporter in Africa was always my ambition and I saw the MSc as a way to give my reporting some depth. The course more than lived up to my expectations; incredibly challenging across a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Our class included people from all over the world each bringing a fresh and unique perspective. At Oxford its easy to make connections to leading academics and research students, as well as experts in non-African fields. A few months after graduation, I became the BBCs correspondent in Congo-Brazzaville. I still feel part of a strong Oxford network, which I hope will allow me to avoid many of the pitfalls western journalists struggle with in Africa.