Charter Day Dinner 2019 – the toast of the town!
27 November 2019
Almost one hundred members and guests of the Queen's Graduates' Association (QGA) gathered in the University’s Great Hall for the annual Charter Day Dinner on Friday 22 November and enjoyed an evening of inspirational speeches, wonderful food and great craic!
Charter Day marks the establishment of Queen’s College Belfast in 1845 and the creation of Queen’s as an independent university in 1908. The annual black tie Charter Day Dinner is organised at Queen’s by the QGA in conjunction with the Development and Alumni Relations Office.
Before dinner was served in the wonderful surroundings of the Great Hall Association President Victoria Denoon welcomed guests – including five former Presidents of the Association – to the annual ‘birthday’ celebration.
“This evening is about coming together to celebrate everything that is great about Queen’s University and particularly, the achievements of some of our outstanding alumni,” said Ms Denoon.
“It is also about strengthening relationships and celebrating lasting friendships,” she added.
The President then introduced Professor Emma Flynn, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise who was attending her first Charter Day Dinner since joining the University in May.
Professor Flynn thanked the Association for the work it carried out with graduates of the University and commended QGA membership to those present who had not yet joined up.
“The Association plays such an important role in the life of our University, providing an important network for Queen’s graduates to stay in touch, funding an important student scholarship each year and enabling former students to maintain links with, and support, their alma mater,” said Professor Flynn.
“In thanking your President, Victoria Denoon, and the Committee of the Queen’s Graduates’ Association for organising this evening’s occasion and many other events throughout the year, I would like to commend QGA membership to all Queen’s graduates.
“The Association is a vital link between graduates and students, between then and now, and one that is highly valued by the University.”
She went on to update guests on the latest news from around the campus and the achievements of the University in the last year, outlining research on both liver and ovarian cancer, progress on the Belfast Region City Deal City in partnership with Ulster University, and the news of the award of a prestigious Queen's Anniversary Prize for further and higher education from Her Majesty the Queen to the Centre for Shared Education, for its work on shared education.
Once the Student of the Year, Gift Sotonye-Frank (who was presented with her award during Summer Graduation), had offered a brief personal reflection on the opportunity afforded by the Charter Day Dinner to meet up with old friends and make new ones, dinner was served.
After dinner, the President invited Charlotte Maguire, Manager at First Trust Bank’s University Road branch, to deliver the citation for the Graduate of the Year Award.
Highlighting the impact of Sheree Atcheson in the fields of diversity and equality, and in particular to the role of women in the IT sector, Ms Maguire said: “Our 2019 First Trust Bank Queen’s Graduate of the Year has what has been described as ‘infectious confidence with expertise in the diversity and inclusion space’.
“She also has the ability to ensure people of all levels, understand the business benefit of diversity and inclusion whilst becoming champions, in their own roles.
Ms Maguire went on to list Sheree’s many accolades including an International Woman Leadership Gold Award, her inclusion in the Sunday Business Post ‘30 under 30’ listing, and the fact that she had moved to a new role in recent weeks as Head of Diversity and Inclusion at UK bank Monzo.
Offering best wishes for her future Ms Maguire concluded: “I wish Sheree well in her new role and have no doubt she will continue to serve as a fitting champion for women, diversity and inclusion, transforming not just her own workplace but everyone she comes in contact with.”
Following the formal presentation of her award by Professor Flynn, Ms Atcheson, who is the first woman of colour to win the Graduate of the Year title, delivered an inspirational address, underlining the importance of inclusion, respect and diversity in the workplace.
In bringing the evening to a close, the QGA President acknowledged those from the Development and Alumni Relations Office, the University’s catering staff and the QGA Committee who were involved in organising the occasion and offered these final remarks to the Graduate of the Year.
“On this the most prestigious alumni event of the year, it is fitting that we were able to present the First Trust Bank Graduate of the Year Award to Sheree Atcheson.
“My congratulations to you Sheree and thank you to all those who helped make this evening so very special.”
Visit the QGA Facebook page for a selection of photos from this year’s Charter Day Dinner. For further information on the QGA or membership of other Queen’s alumni associations, please contact Alumni Officer (Volunteering) Natasha Sharma, telephone +44 (0)28 9097 3135.
To submit graduate news items, or for general enquiries about this story, please contact Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office, Queen's University Belfast or telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.
Photo caption (L-R): QGA President, Victoria Denoon; Student of the Year, Gift Sotonye-Frank; Graduate of the Year, Sheree Atcheson; Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Education, Professor Emma Flynn, and First Trust Bank, Charlotte Maguire.
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