Bayes Alumni Award Winners 2025

Prateek Tiwari, Founder & Managing Director of Alcom Carbon Markets & Biofuels, is a Bayes Business School graduate from the inaugural MSc Energy Trade and Finance course (2003).

He worked as a commodities trader starting with ED&F Man in London/Philippines, Bunge London/New York/Singapore, Vitol Singapore and Trafigura before setting up Alcom.

Based in Singapore, he drives innovation in climate tech, carbon removals, and biofuels, leading projects that help organizations transition to low carbon futures, particularly in hard to abate sectors such as shipping, aviation, and agriculture.

Outside work, Prateek is an avid squash player and sailor, reflecting his passion for challenge and exploration.

Entrepreneur and Innovation Award

Alcom develops technology‑driven carbon removals (CDR) through biochar, alongside clean energy solutions.

By transforming organic waste into renewable fuels and biochar, Alcom delivers permanent carbon sequestration while supporting hard‑to‑abate sectors such as shipping, aviation, and agriculture in their transition to net‑zero.

Its projects integrate advanced carbon capture technologies with transparent frameworks, creating scalable, verifiable pathways for measurable climate impact.

George Odera (MSc Actuarial Management, Class of 2013) is more than an accomplished actuary-he is a “techuary”: a visionary who blends actuarial science, technology, and human empathy to design solutions that close financial-inclusion gaps and create meaningful impact in people’s lives.

He is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (UK) and of the Actuarial Society of Kenya, where he also serves as a Council Member. With over 12 years of experience across insurance, regulations, banking, and mobile money, George has helped shape innovative, data-driven products and digital ecosystems that have expanded access to financial inclusion and protection for millions.

Beyond work, he is a husband and proud father of two energetic children, with passions for photography and aviation-where he earned his wings in 2017.

Society Impact Award

As Head of Inclusive Solutions at ZEP-RE (COMESA Reinsurance), I lead a Pan-African agenda that positions insurance as a catalyst for financial inclusion and resilience across 21 countries.

My work focuses on making insurance accessible, affordable, and relevant for unserved/underserved populations by embedding risk-transfer solutions into digital and financial platforms such as mobile money, micro-finance institutions, and various value chains.

Through strategic partnerships with insurers, fintechs, insurtechs, telcos, regulators, and development partners, I co-design and scale inclusive solutions that respond to the realities of local communities.

This builds on more than a decade of advancing financial inclusion in East Africa, during which I developed several market-shaping innovations: the region’s first digital device insurance for the largest telco, enabling smartphone financing; the insurance product strategy for East Africa’s largest bank, enhancing access to integrated financial services; and data-driven health insurance pricing for the country’s largest medical underwriter, expanding access to private healthcare for millions of households.

Alongside these roles, I have served as Vice President of the Actuarial Society of Kenya (TASK), championing mentorship and actuarial capacity building.

As a part-time lecturer in actuarial science, I have guided four cohorts of students- two of my students have since qualified as Fellows of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (UK).

I remain committed to building scalable, inclusive financial solutions that strengthen household resilience, support enterprise growth, and contribute to sustainable socio-economic development across Africa.

Eric: Eric began his career in commodities with SOCAR Trading and LITASCO, where he saw firsthand how vital, fast-moving sectors shape the world economy.

He later cofounded Dévorer while still at university—driven by the belief that, like commodities, food is a universal necessity and infrastructure-level industry, yet often overlooked in innovation.

Daniel: Raised in California and Florida, Daniel was inspired by the rise of food trucks on U.S. campuses. In contrast, he saw UK catering dominated by rigid, asset-heavy models where universities absorb the operational burden and costs. He co-founded Dévorer to bring flexibility, cultural diversity, and data-driven strategy to institutional dining.

Dean’s Award

Eric and Daniel, childhood friends since pre-school, reconnected at Bayes Business School, where they pursued degrees in Business Management and Digital Innovation. Throughout their studies, they searched for a sector where technology could drive meaningful change in a physical, tradition-bound space.

The answer was clear: catering. Dévorer is a food-tech platform that sources, manages and optimises street-food vendors for campuses and workplaces. Powered by data analytics and AI, we match the right vendors to each site and operate an asset-light model that reduces liability and scales efficiently.

Since January 2025, Dévorer operates across 60+ sites—including Imperial College London, LSE, and Everton Stadium—and manages 300+ vendors in partnership with major caterers like Aramark, Sodexo, and Elior

Marcello Forcellini, PhD, is an experienced leader in public administration, finance, and healthcare management. As Chief Financial Officer of the Social Security Institute of San Marino (the National Public Hospital), he guided the organisation through the COVID-19 emergency, leading life-saving initiatives including the national vaccination campaign and major digital health innovations.

His leadership provided stability and direction during one of the most challenging moments in the country’s history. Marcello has held senior leadership roles in the banking sector and teaches banking, financial, and healthcare subjects at universities, where he integrates academic research with practical, crisis-tested experience.

He holds a Bachelor in Economics and Finance from Bocconi University, a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Lugano, a second-level Master’s degree in Healthcare Management from SDA Bocconi School of Management, an MBA with distinction from Bayes Business School, and a PhD in Finance from Bayes Business School.

His commitment to public service and his resilience in times of crisis have been recognised with national honours, including the Golden Cross of Merit from the Sammarinese Red Cross. During his tenure as CFO, the Social Security Institute was also awarded the First Class Medal of Merit by the Heads of State for its service during the COVID-19 emergency.

Leadership Award

During the COVID-19 crisis, Marcello Forcellini, PhD, played a pivotal leadership role in guiding the Social Security Institute of San Marino (the State National Hospital) through one of the most challenging periods in its history.

As CFO, he coordinated the national vaccination programme, contributed to the logistics of vaccines and swabs, and implemented rapid digital health solutions to ensure continuity of care.

His leadership supported staff who stepped into major responsibilities amid deep organisational transitions. These combined efforts safeguarded lives, strengthened national resilience, and earned formal institutional recognition for the Institute’s work during the pandemic.

Semanur Acar (BSc Hons Digital Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business Management, 2022) is an FX Sales & Trading professional at Brown Brothers Harriman specialising in real-money and institutional client coverage across G10, emerging, and restricted-market currencies.

She combines strong product expertise with a data-driven approach to market analysis, delivering insights on macro trends, execution strategy, and FX solutions to clients across global markets.

Semanur is an active contributor to the wider financial community, serving on the ACI UK Financial Markets Association Young Professionals Committee, where she helps shape initiatives that support early-career talent and promote ethical standards across financial markets.

She is also a member of the Society of Technical Analysts (STA) and holds CISI certifications in Securities and UK Financial Regulations, reflecting her commitment to structured professional development and a strong understanding of financial markets and regulatory frameworks. She is fluent in Turkish and English, with conversational proficiency in French.

Rising Star Award

Semanur is strongly committed to visibility, education, and the development of the next generation of market participants. She has spoken at several industry and academic events, including as a panelist at The Full FX Conference – “Voices from the Next Generation”, where she discussed career progression and the evolving expectations of next-generation professionals.

She has also returned to Bayes Business School as a speaker, offering guidance and practical insights to students as they prepare for their own professional journeys. In addition, she has supported community initiatives such as The Lord Mayor’s Appeal #WeCanBe event, empowering young women exploring career opportunities in the City of London. Through mentoring, public speaking, and active involvement in professional organisations, Semanur continues to contribute positively to the financial markets ecosystem.

Pieris is a Portfolio Manager on the Global Growth Team at Allianz Global Investors, which he joined in 2019.

He co-manages a concentrated global equity portfolio investing across a broad range of sectors. Pieris graduated with an MSc in Finance from Bayes Business School in 2019, where he now serves on the Advisory Board for the MSc Finance programme.

Robert Legget Award - Volunteer of the Year

Pieris was nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award for his sustained contributions to the alumni community. He has participated as a speaker on multiple panel events and has consistently provided one-to-one guidance to students seeking career and personal development support.

He also proposed and helped shape the new Mentorship Initiative, which will benefit hundreds of students in the coming years. Through this programme, students are paired with experienced alumni mentors who support their professional growth, career progression, and long-term development.

Sabelo Siyakatshana is a Director in SMBC’s TMT Global Structured Finance team in London, where he leads the origination, structuring and underwriting of large-scale digital infrastructure financings for top-tier developers and financial sponsors across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He drives the bank’s strategic growth across data centres, towers and e-mobility assets, while contributing to the wider industry dialogue on the future of digital infrastructure finance.

Sabelo began his career at Standard Chartered, spending more than a decade in advisory and infrastructure finance, developing innovative financing solutions across transport, power and broader infrastructure in emerging markets.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, he is deeply committed to philanthropy. In March 2025, he supported fundraising efforts for the Kay Mason Foundation, helping raise more than £500,000 to fund scholarships for underserved students.

Professional Expertise Award

Sabelo plays a pivotal role in advancing SMBC’s strategic ambitions across data centres, towers and e-mobility, while shaping industry perspectives on the evolution of digital infrastructure finance. .

In recognition of his leadership and impact, he was named one of Infrastructure Investor’s 20 Rising Stars globally for 2025, joining a select cohort of professionals under 40 who demonstrate leadership, innovation and a unique X-factor that positions them as future leaders in the industry.

Over the past year, Sabelo led SMBC’s first Middle Eastern data centre financing and several landmark, award-winning transactions in the towers and data centre sectors, overseeing more than $3 billion in deals during the 2024 financial year.

He actively contributes to knowledge-sharing across the sector, having spoken at the Pan African Data Centres Conference and being invited to participate at DCD Connect London alongside senior leaders from top global firms. He also mentors junior colleagues, guiding them through the complexities of origination and structuring.