СÀ¶ÊÓƵ

Pamela Wadi

MA graduate Pamela Wadi talks about her experience of studying for a Masters in Corruption and Governance and how the networks she has built up are useful in her role today.

What made you apply to СÀ¶ÊÓƵ?

Having been in continuous full-time employment during and after my Undergraduate degree, I got to the point where I wanted to explore other areas of interest. I was drawn to the course at СÀ¶ÊÓƵ because nowhere else offered a comparable course on corruption. Most importantly, it attracted a range of people from various fields and was taught by academics clearly involved in shaping the discussion in the UK around corruption.

I was anxious about doing a Masters because it had been several years since I was in full time education; however, prior to submitting my application I spoke to Dan Hough at length who explained the course content and outlined the resources available to support postgraduate students. While I commuted from London during the course, I quickly settled in and felt very much part of the campus community at СÀ¶ÊÓƵ.

What is your standout memory of your time on the course?

During the course we went on a trip to Basel, Switzerland, where we visited the Basel Institute of Governance and interacted with leading scholars on anti-corruption and financial crime. We had the privilege of meeting senior executives in Swiss banking as well as an exclusive lunch with Ivan Glasenberg, the CEO of the global commodity trading company, Glencore. These meetings provided practical and commercial insight to the theory we studied. This trip was made possible through the connections the course academics have with the institute, and with key individuals involved in this area.

What skills did you develop at СÀ¶ÊÓƵ which have helped you in your career?

The spectrum of students on the course was great and I made connections with people that I remain in contact with today, for example an Attorney General from Malaysia and an anti-corruption activist from Nigeria. Dan Hough and Liz David-Barrett were instrumental in bringing us all together and the contacts I made have been very useful in my role since graduating.

What you are doing now?

I am a director of the Africa Global Risk and Investigations Practice at FTI Consulting in London. My role is to help companies navigate doing business in Africa. The role involves working with either companies already operating in Africa or those who want to break into the African market. I carry out due diligence; anti-bribery and anti-corruption investigations and assess the political risks on behalf of my clients.