AAC Members from top left to right: Fayzeh (Nurse, NHS), Firass (Nurse, GenesisCare), Karim (Motion Designer), Ammar (Coding Trainer, Re-Coded), Dalir (Web Developer, Thought Digital Consultancy). 

At Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), we believe in the transformative power of giving displaced talent a voice. In September 2023, TBB UK launched the inaugural Alumni Advisory Committee (AAC), aiming to elevate the stories of individuals who have navigated the challenges of relocation and integration, and to create a platform for their insights to shape future initiatives. By amplifying their lived experiences, we hoped to inspire others, strengthen our programs, and advocate for greater opportunities for displaced individuals across sectors. The success of the UK’s first AAC demonstrates the immense value of empowering alumni to contribute meaningfully to the design and delivery of TBB’s initiatives.

Five members of the alumni community were brought together, representing different nationalities, sectors, and locations, to actively contribute to the design and delivery of TBB’s programs.

The AAC’s objectives included: 

• Reporting on challenges and providing recommendations to address integration barriers for displaced talent and their families in the UK;

• Developing initiatives to increase alumni participation and engagement to strengthen the community and the sustainability of the program;

• Serving as ambassadors to amplify the voices of displaced talent in the design and delivery of TBB programs; and, 

• Raising awareness of the benefits of displaced talent mobility amongst key stakeholders in the private, public, and third sectors. 

Twelve months later and with the first term having come to an end, the importance of elevating alumni voices has only become all the more apparent. As we plan the next iteration of the AAC, we’re taking the time to reflect on the achievements, highlights, and lessons learned  over the last year. 

Improving Integration Support for Displaced Talent

A key objective of the AAC was to improve integration support for displaced talent. Early on, members advised that centralizing and simplifying access to information was essential. Ammar, a Senior Coding Trainer at Re-Coded, and AAC member, took the lead by  developing a website for storing key resources. After months of work and consultations, this resulted in the launch of TBB’s first ‘Displaced Talent Integration Hub’, a platform that all UK alumni can access and refer back to during their integration journeys. The AAC’s contributions had an impact beyond internal TBB resources; members also played a crucial role in providing policy recommendations in a report that evaluated integration support for displaced talent that was presented to UK government officials.

Amplifying Alumni Voices and Representation

Another core objective of the AAC was to elevate alumni voices by creating opportunities for members to be in the right rooms at the right times. Thanks to the support of R-SEAT, an international initiative that amplifies refugee leadership, AAC members underwent specialized training to become effective ambassadors of the wider alumni community. They embraced the challenge and represented displaced talent mobility brilliantly at high-profile events, including the Web Summit in Lisbon, a meeting of the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, and webinars for the National Health Service (NHS). One member, Karim, a Motion Designer, also contributed to the animations in a video that premiered at the EU-funded and IOM-led Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E) conference in Brussels last month, celebrating the achievements of DT4E’s project’s achievements.

Advocating for Additional Training and Support

In addition to external representation, the AAC worked diligently to address concerns within the UK alumni community. Through their feedback, TBB UK became aware that many alumni were unfamiliar with their rights as skilled workers in the UK, particularly regarding political engagement. This prompted TBB UK to partner with DLA Piper’s Know Your Rights team, to organize an information session to empower UK alumni to better understand their rights. Another session led by Ian Robinson, a TBB Trustee and Partner at Vialto with over a decade of experience working in government, covered the UK political system and how alumni can effectively engage with Members of Parliament (MPs). Our partners at Fragomen also provided a session on the transition to eVisas to ensure alumni felt confident navigating the new system. 

Fostering Community and Collaboration

Above all, the AAC has fostered collaboration and community among UK alumni. Members have volunteered to mentor newly arrived candidates, hosted alumni events, and created resources to support others on their integration journeys. Their contributions have already had a significant impact on both the UK alumni community and displaced talent mobility pathways generally. As one member reflected, “I think it’s important for TBB to have an advisory committee not only to leverage alumni knowledge for institutional development but also to cultivate engagement between the alumni themselves, enabling them to feel valued and connected to the institution.” 

As TBB continues its efforts to strengthen existing refugee labor mobility pathways while opening new ones, the UK’s first AAC highlights the critical importance of incorporating the voices of those with lived experience into program design and delivery. Moving forward, TBB will continue to work in synergy with the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility (GTF) to launch the next iteration of the UK’s AAC, as well as the GTF’s AAC, to ensure alumni voices remain at the forefront. Watch this space for more updates!