Concordia Magazine 2025

Neil Prabhakar (2017–2022) Neil Prabhakar graduated from the University of Warwick with a first-class degree in Chemistry and received the Department of Chemistry Award for Outstanding Performance. His time at Warwick was enriched by collaboration with a dedicated faculty, driven peers and research colleagues (many of whom became close friends), making it a truly rewarding experience. Still at the University of Warwick, Neil is now pursuing an MSc by Research in Machine Learning Guided Biomimetics, addressing key challenges in therapeutics and drug development. In parallel, he is gaining hands-on experience training frontier AI models with leading AI companies in Silicon Valley. He remains passionate about learning and contributing at the intersection of chemistry and cutting-edge technology.

Pete Cornish (1998–2003) From a shortlist of eight candidates, Pete was awarded ‘Engineer of the Year’ at the UK IT Industry Awards at their annual event in Battersea last year. Since leaving Merchant Taylors’ School in 2003, Pete gained a first-class degree in Computing and Business Studies at the University of Warwick. He joined the graduate scheme at Deloitte, and over the subsequent 19 years he has worked his way up through various software engineering roles, becoming Head of Engineering for Deloitte Digital UK in 2022. The judges of the award focused particularly on Pete’s many years of contributing to the open-source software community, as well as on his work within Deloitte on growing and supporting the community of hundreds of software engineers at the firm. Pete reflected that the guidance of staff at School helped to steer his early interest. ‘I owe huge thanks to the

Head of IT, Mr Clive Hurst, who recommended the very course at Warwick that I went on to study. Had it not been for his support of my computing ambitions and his well-timed recommendation, I should not have found my way on to the path I have since walked.’

Premal Pattani (2009–2016) On 30 September 2025 Premal Pattani swam the English Channel in thirteen hours and eight minutes.

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Sahil Shah (2006–2013) After graduating in Medicine from King’s College London in 2019 and completing his Foundation Training at University Hospital Southampton, Sahil spent time travelling and working in several A&E departments and a private Harley Street hospital. He then made

the bold decision to change career from clinical medicine to consulting. He joined EY, where he now applies his problem-solving and people-focused skills to deliver change to Government, Health and Infrastructure. Inspired to give back, Sahil recently launched an initiative to support students navigating the challenges of the competitive job market.