Ken Subraj supports Westminster students with awards and internships

The award winners were final year Business Management (Entrepreneurship) BA Honours students Elizabeth Olafioye, Sara Elombe and Shauna Thacker, and Real Estate BSc Honours students Ben Chiesa and Bianca Nistor. They were selected by an academic panel who recognised their outstanding achievements in their respective fields. 

Subraj has also contributed to the funding of 12 students to be placed on international work placements at the United Nations Migration Agency. The students embarked on their internships in May and are based in locations across the globe including Geneva, Nairobi and Sarajevo. These long-term internships, which are four to nine months in duration, provide students with excellent opportunities to excel in their professional careers, develop significant skills and competencies, gain exposure to the workings of a leading international organisation, and build a firm foundation for their future careers. In their roles, the interns engage in a wide range of global issues relating to migration and development, migration policy, migrant protection, migration health and disaster preparedness and response.

On 23 July Subraj hosted an Afternoon Tea overlooking the London skyline at Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank to celebrate the successes of each student and present them with their trophies. The event gave the students the opportunity to talk with Subraj about his own experiences and career to give them inspiration for their next steps.

Subraj is a self-made millionaire, born in the suburbs of Guyana. He moved to London at the age of 20 to pursue an Engineering degree at The Polytechnic. From humble beginnings, he developed himself into an international structural engineer, working on projects in South America and the Middle East. He later joined his brothers to establish Zara, which has become one of the foremost property ownership organisations in New York.

The Subraj family’s charitable activity stems from the Zara Charitable Foundation, the George Subraj Family Foundation and the Jay & Sylvia Subraj Foundation. Examples of their donations include the creation of new student technology centres and labs at over ten locations worldwide, as well as the establishment of eye clinics and pioneering organ transplant programmes.

From left to right: Elizabeth Olafioye, Sara Elombe, Jordan Scammell, Ken Subraj, Irene Brew Riverson and Shauna Thacker 

Award winner Bianca Nistor said: “I feel privileged to be the recipient of an award for my final assignment in my Development Project module at the University of Westminster. I would like to thank you for acknowledging my hard work and dedication. The award is also a testament to the amazing support system received by my lecturers throughout not only this module but my three years of studies. This competition has been a tremendous source of motivation for me and I am incredibly grateful to Ken Subraj for this generous prize.”

Fellow award winner Shauna Thacker said: “Being acknowledged among numerous candidates is deeply gratifying; it serves as an affirmation of the value of my business idea and the substantial effort I have devoted to its development. The recognition from industry professionals not only boosts my confidence but fuels my determination to pursue further growth and success with renewed vigour.”

Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising at Westminster, added: “Ken's dedication to supporting our students is truly inspirational, and we are deeply grateful for his continued commitment to their future success. His funding not only recognises their achievements but also provides them with the foundation to excel in their professional careers and make meaningful contributions globally, in similar ways Ken has during his remarkable international career. Thank you Ken!”

Jordan Scammell with Ken Subraj

Dr Irene Brew-Riverson, Principal Lecturer in Finance and Accounting, said: “We are immensely grateful to Ken Subraj for his support for our students. The awards provided our cohort with the opportunity to showcase the results of their diligence and commitment to both their studies and their entrepreneurial ventures. Whilst three students won the awards, the ripple effect goes beyond those students and we look forward to the whole of our business school taking part in the competition during the next academic year.”

Dr Jan Wilcox, Senior Lecturer in Real Estate and Director of Employability in the School of Applied Management at the University of Westminster, added: “The Ken Subraj prize provided such a valuable motivation for students as they reached the end of their three-year Real Estate BSc programme. The prize was awarded for the best final submissions in the Development Project module. The prize is not only valuable financially, but also for the recognition this provides for students as they start their careers. It is also inspiring for all of our students to see what a prize-winning student from the University of Westminster, formerly The Regent Street Polytechnic, has gone on to achieve in his highly successful real estate, entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavours. I look forward to seeing what Ben and Bianca will go on to achieve!"

Subraj’s generous support directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.  

To find out more about how alumni can support students and set up a fund at the University of Westminster, email the Development Team.