JESUS NEWS 2020 - University of Oxford
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JESUS NEWS
2020
Contents
Welcome from the Principal 3
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & IDEAS
Feeding the Nation’s … Dogs 4
Turning Ideas into Reality 8
From MoD to the Movies 10
Oxford Cancer Analytics 14
Which Wine When 16
From College to Career 18
Closing the Gender Pay Gap 22
PERSPECTIVES
Oklahoma! – A Surrogacy Journey 25
Private Passions: Ice Skating 29
Ask the Expert 32
A Leap of Faith 34
Always Looking 39
Race and Education 44
2020 and COVID-19 49
My COVID-19 Experience 53
INNOVATION & RESEARCH
Teaching and Learning during a Pandemic 60
Jesus Chair of Celtic 62
How Writers Write 64
Stochastic Climate Modelling 67
Researching the Sound of Bells 70
Escape to … Bermuda 72
Sport at Jesus 79
REFLECTIONS
Jesus College in Times of Trouble 82
Head of the River 40 Years On 86
Access at Jesus 92
Development Update 95
450th Anniversary Events 98
Photos front and back covers by John Cairns.
Follow us on…
@jesus.alumni
@jesuscollegeoxford
Jesus College Oxford
2
Welcome from the Principal
Back in early March we had the honour
of welcoming His Royal Highness The
Prince of Wales to College to mark
the appointment of our new Jesus
Chair of Celtic – Professor David Willis
(see page 62) – and to celebrate our
strong Welsh links. It was a wonderful
and memorable afternoon. Despite
the cold and rain, College looked
resplendent, with daffodils in full
bloom, flags flying, and our Welsh silver
illuminating the Hall. Excited primary
school children from our Welsh Access
programme lined the pathways of First
Photo: John Cairns
Quad alongside our staff, students and
Fellows, to give His Royal Highness the
warmest of greetings.
His Royal Highness, who first visited College in 1971 impressed by how our students quickly adjusted to
to open the Habakkuk Building, enjoyed a recital of the online learning, especially those in their last year of
Gweddi Coleg Iesu, a Welsh Prayer sung beautifully by study who faced their Finals with great equanimity.
members of the student consort choir, and viewed the The Fellowship, along with University faculties and
Red Book of Hergest, one of the most important books departments, has worked incredibly hard to ensure
written in Welsh. It was a pleasure to watch as he that teaching and research continues.
chatted animatedly with our specially invited guests.
In this edition of Jesus News, we feature just some
It is heart-warming to think back to that momentous of the inspiring stories (2020 and COVID-19, page 49)
day and the memories made, because so much has of how our alumni, staff and students have responded,
since changed for all of us. Just three weeks later, the locally, nationally and globally, to the pandemic; from
emergence of COVID-19 transformed our lives and clinicians on the front line, to our staff and students
saw College close its doors, to all but a small group of who are supporting the most vulnerable in their local
core staff, for an extended period of time. communities. I read these stories with both pride
and reassurance.
During the Second World War when, following the
onset of the Blitz, the fear of aerial bombardment Our ‘fire-watching’ will continue as we begin the new
was real and ever-present, Jesus undergraduates took academic year, and behind the scenes a huge amount of
turns in nightly fire watches, keeping vigil on College work is being done to ensure the continued wellbeing
roofs, watching for bombs (Reflections: Jesus College in and safety of all College members – old and new. As
Times of Trouble, page 82). This constant tension – a with past crises, we will rise to the challenges presented
sense of apprehension and anxiety – is something we by the current pandemic. Ours is a community that
are experiencing now. This time a virus, little more has always been tempered and strengthened by the
than a tenth of a micron in size, is changing the world challenges we have faced together.
and our lives. Our response will need to draw on the
knowledge and resources contained in world-class
institutions like Oxford. With best wishes
While COVID has inevitably meant that many aspects
of normality as we know it have paused in past months,
College life has continued, albeit in new and innovative
ways. We have been able to adapt. I have been so
3
Feeding the Nation’s … Dogs
Kat Knocker (2003, Chemistry), Customer Director, tails.com
Kat Knocker (née Emmett) read
Chemistry at Jesus College,
matriculating in 2003. After
graduating, she went on to work
in Mergers & Acquisitions before
joining Innocent Drinks and then
graze, both innovative health-
focused foodie brands. She is now
a member of the start-up team and
Customer Director at tails.com, a
nutritionally-tailored subscription
dog food company, founded
in 2014. Kat is a member of
Management Today’s 35 Under 35.
Your career to date seems built
around nutritionally-focused
brands: is that a focus for you,
or just where your experience
took you?
Food has always been a huge focus.
As a child, I was always creating
something in the kitchen and my
parents were very patient and
encouraging as I cooked my way
from inedible early experiments
to full family meals. At Oxford,
food was always present alongside
my degree. I was President of the
Food Society, wrote restaurant
reviews for Cherwell, and on the
home front was always cooking
with my flatmates in our Barts
kitchen. My first venture into an
online world was co-creating a food Why dog food? Many Kat & Pip
website based on local food and entrepreneurs have 10 ideas on
recipes in Oxford. Since Oxford, the “one-size-fits-all” approach
the go simultaneously in order to dog food and nutrition and
I’ve complemented my degree with to find the one that flies: is that
food-based study too. I’ve got a knowing there must be a different
you, or did you just want to way to feed our dogs. I grew up
Diploma in Food and Wine from source better dog food?
Leiths, and studied Food and Wine with dogs, and they’d always been
It’s easy to have an idea! The hard fed a generic bag of food from the
Journalism at City University. It’s a
work is making it happen. As the farmers’ merchant; portions were
patchwork of skills and experience
start-up team at tails.com we had guessed at with a well-used mug.
that ultimately have kept food, and
the spark of an idea, the passion When they got older, rounder, and
the joy of food, front and centre.
and drive to push against the their joints a bit creaky, we didn’t
It gives me a real buzz working on
inevitable challenges, and the skills adjust their food and nutrition to
a product that is a delicious and
to do the hard bit of making it a take that into account. As I look
nutritious part of people’s lives.
reality. The spark was experiencing back now I wish we’d had tails.com
4
– our dogs would have benefitted We’re now serving over 160,000 got a lot of loyal customers, some
from tailored nutrition and perfect dogs in the UK and, excitingly, have who have been with us for almost
portions to keep them happy, recently launched in France and six years. It’s been incredible to
healthy dogs for longer. Germany, with more countries see their messages of thanks and
across Europe set to launch later appreciation.
So, how does tails.com work? this year.
We start with the knowledge These days, Jesus College
that every dog is different. They With so many people sourcing has an Entrepreneur
are the most diverse species on food online during the Network – a cohort of alumni
the planet, so it’s unsurprising COVID-19 crisis, have you seen whose collective expertise
that nutritional requirements an increase in demand for pet cultivates innovation and
vary widely. Then we create a food too? entrepreneurship within the
unique recipe and feeding plan for Feeding pets is like feeding a family College community. How did
every dog using the information member and therefore customers your time at Oxford contribute
owners provide (including breed, have been wanting to make sure to your career or equip you for
age, health conditions and activity their pets are well fed at all times. what you’re doing today?
levels), which, combined with our There was a sharp spike in traffic to I think the Number One is love
experience in nutrition and cutting- tails.com, and in people signing up and friendship. I met my husband
edge technology, creates exactly the in the weeks after lockdown, and (David Knocker, 2003, Classics) and
right balance of nutrients for each we appreciate that we are lucky a wonderful group of close friends
dog. Better yet, their recipe adjusts that we are an essential food supply, at Jesus College; they give me so
as they age, so customers never ordered online and delivered direct much companionship, happiness
have to switch food. to our customers’ doors. and strength. Like many, I found
the intensity and energy of the
Our innovative approach to Over the past few weeks, we’ve
short terms both energising and
technology and manufacturing worked really hard to adapt to
challenging, and I’d say that’s the
means we’re able to offer this the challenges of COVID-19 for
vibe of the companies I’ve worked
level of personalisation at a huge our team, product and customers.
for! Oxford’s demanding pace
scale. And because we sell directly We’re proud that we’re getting our
and study also encouraged me
to our customers, we’re able to product into the bowls of dogs up
to develop tools to bat away any
offer their dogs a unique recipe at and down the UK, through France
imposter syndrome of “I’m not
affordable prices. and in Germany too. Our regular
good enough”, and to build up grit
delivery platform means we’ve
5
and resilience too – all helpful in the
working world. The alumni network
itself is an incredible source of
help and advice, and sometimes
colleagues (I work with another
Jesus alumni here at tails.com, Paolo
Woods-Wyatt né Wyatt). Lastly,
Jesus is an incredible community
with a wonderful collegiate vibe
and I’ve certainly found that
environments that are collaborative,
friendly and supportive, yet with a
tinge of competitiveness and high
standards, are my happy place.
What’s been the biggest
business challenge in your
career to date?
Funnily enough, some of the biggest
challenges have been the ones in
which it’s been easiest to know what I wanted out of life, and I’m the face of adversity. Our local café
what to do. We had a rocky few still working bits of this out, but is now selling a whole new line of
weeks at tails.com in our early you don’t need to follow someone products, a local restaurant doing
days when one of our investors else’s version. For those considering home delivery of cocktails, and
lost confidence. Ultimately, what that first job, it’s not all about the outside my little community entire
emerged was an even stronger size of that first salary. Work with businesses, supply chains and apps
tails.com: it was galvanising seeing great people. As we all spend so are springing up overnight. A lot
the real fork in the road speeding much time working, I’ve found of people are working really hard
towards us, where one route was it helps to align your work with to make their ideas a reality. That’s
an end to what we’d built and the yourself rather than the other way very inspiring.
other was an even clearer vision around. Know yourself, understand
that we could change the world of I always get inspiration and energy
your values and work at being
pet food for good. Needless to say, from our wonderful customers
true to that. Then the hard work,
we overcame that challenge. And around the UK, France and
tough decisions and sacrifices along
less than four years later, we knew Germany who have trusted us to
the way will feel worth it and the
we were on our way to changing feed their dogs. I get a stream of
highs, joy and celebrations so much
the world of pet food for good reviews to my Inbox every day, and
sweeter too.
when Nestlé Purina joined us as a hearing the real stories from real
majority investor, as they believe in And finally, what inspires people and dogs whose lives we’re
our way of feeding pets. you – both professionally and impacting so positively always brings
personally? great vibes. Hearing that a dog is
Looking back, what advice playing with a ball again for the
I love seeing what others are doing
would you give to your first time in months after starting
to disrupt industries and create
undergraduate self and also on our food to ease their joints,
newness; there’s a lot of that
to those with a burning for example, can’t fail to give me a
looking around the Jesus College
ambition to build a business for spring in my step.
alumni. Even under the sombre
themselves? To find out more, visit tails.com. Alumni are offered
pressure of COVID-19, I’ve seen so 75% off their first box of food tailored to their dog,
Find your own path! It took me much creativity and innovation in enter code JESUSTAILS at checkout or follow this
a long time to own up to myself link: www.tails.com/gb?pc=JESUSTAILS
6
Turning Ideas into Reality
Anthony Fletcher (2005, Chemistry), CEO, graze
I’ve always been prone to think about how you turn ideas into
daydreams about business ideas. reality. My big two pieces of initial
However, at Jesus I really had advice are:
very little idea on how to follow
A lot of the successful
through. While clueless, I was
entrepreneurs on the market are
also lucky and joined an early
actually second time entrepreneurs,
stage Innocent Drinks recruited, it
or have had experience in another
turned out, simply because
startup or scaleup. Joining a
“… we thought you were
company to build your own
probably good at maths”. fundraising. It has changed an
confidence or skills, or to learn
enormous amount, with the
I was put to work in the supply about a sector you’re passionate
necessity to bet your savings far
chain, working out how to make about, seems to be time well spent
lower than it was 10 or 20 years
the right amount of short shelf fruit and tilts the odds of success in your
ago. Government tax relief such
smoothie as demand fluctuated. favour.
as EIS, an engaged business angel
The business boomed and allowed
The other piece of advice is to community, crowdfunding, and
me to experience not just the
surround yourself with people who venture capital firms all mean it
start-up phase, but also how they
can give good advice, whether is easier than ever to raise funds.
transitioned into a scaleup, and
they be investors who can add Again, use your network – especially
eventually a sale to CocaCola.
value, your Board, or bringing in others who are in the market – to
I then did it again with graze, co-founders who can complement understand what the right approach
spending ten years turning it into your skills or may have vital for you is.
the UK’s largest healthy snack experience. Having a network of
There are certain issues which are
company, selling $200m of snacks other founders can help you stay
almost inevitable in early stage
in the US (although never making close to the market, whether it’s
startups. The first is that starting
a dollar of profit) and eventually where to go for skills, or help with
a business requires resilience
selling the business to Unilever. approaches to fundraising.
and drive. The sheer amount
Jesus College asked me to have a Lots of people do ask me about of work you – or your small
8
founding team – have to put in easier availability of capital, and with learn and adapt quickly, remain
often surprises people who are that an ability to increase growth, open and surround yourselves with
used to more stable and mature periods of 5-10 years to build a those who can complement your
business. Also, you are going to business are still common. The skills, I think being an entrepreneur
have to be persistent and have a odds really are very poor. I know or working in smaller earlier stage
certain amount of self-belief. Many many people who have devoted businesses is now a perfectly valid
people will discourage you. Plenty 10 grinding years to businesses career choice.
of investors will turn you down. without ever making it.
Whatever and however you decide
People who are energised by their
However, some people are able to to approach turning your ideas into
vision and believe they can win
pull it off repeatedly. Some people reality, I do passionately believe that
through and find a way are well
are naturally suited to the chaos, the brands, products and business
placed to thrive during this stage.
challenge and uncertainty of early models that will change our world
As well as personal belief, having
stage business. At the same time have yet to be invented, and that
a compelling vision will help and
– like all things – it is a skill to be entrepreneurs are uniquely placed
motivate your founding team. It also
learned and mastered. If you can to do it.
helps with investors: money really
does follow vision!
Which leads to a common
conundrum: passionate founders,
imbued with belief, can also be
blind to issues with their initial
idea. In fact, most of the time you
won’t have got it right straight away.
Innocent Drinks was going to be
called “Fast Tractor”; graze started
as a cut fresh fruit delivery business.
It is key that, while you have belief,
you are not deluded. There are
so many things to be aware of.
Consumers may not be interested
in your product, you may have
underestimated your competition,
the economics of your financial
model collide with reality. This is
when it is important to be able to
adapt and pivot. Can you accept
that thousands of hours of work
have led you in the wrong direction,
and that a different approach needs
to be taken, often quickly? Having
good advisors and mentors at this
stage helps pull you out of the day-
to-day and ask the big questions.
Maybe one in ten businesses
achieve a solid Series A fundraising
round. Of these, only one in ten
achieve an exit. Even with the
9
From MoD to the Movies
Andy Barnes (1998, Engineering Science), Moral Victory Productions
Andy Barnes read Engineering like the Jeremy Kyle team took
Science at Jesus (1998), where he a run at The Thick Of It. The
gained his boxing Blue before going MoD is sometimes serious and
on to found film & TV company patriotic, sometimes it’s like Brexit
Moral Victory Productions in negotiators arguing which trifle
2015. In between, he worked for would make the best armour. I got
nine years in the UK’s Ministry of involved in a joint US project and,
Defence, winning a sponsorship once I was cleared, I was soon in
bursary while at Jesus. He started the WMD team.
in project management roles
It was working with the worthy and
before progressing into WMD,
the military that gave me a lust for
then counter-terrorism where he
something more purposeful. Ridding
was, among other things, formally
Iraq of Saddam was a good thing;
commended for his work in Iraq.
the justification for going wasn’t. If
He has since acted in several
you attend a house-party, wreck
prime-time TV programmes, and is
the place and wake up there, you
also an established screenwriter.
should help clean up. The lack of
Let’s start with your MoD thought for how Iraq would work
career. You joined via the after the invasion is now well
student bursary scheme before documented, but I found myself
graduating onto the Cabinet there, in the heart of it, and realising
Office Fast Stream, then senior we were facilitating a state for a
management. Tell us a bit non-state terrorist group. I was
more about your nine years at lucky enough to be at the centre of
the MoD. the right team, in Iraq at the right
time, and was commended for
I was like the frog in slowly boiling
changing the Coalition Campaign I was good at times but I couldn’t
water. I started out with an admin
Plan. I returned and I was never do that often enough. There’s only
job in Bristol, then after a few years
going to do anything like that again. so far vanity, delusion and charisma
I found myself driving around Iraq,
can get you, unless you’re Boris
outside the green zone, with two It’s not an obvious step from Johnson.
Delta Force blokes who had so counter-terrorism to screen
much kit hanging off them they writing and film production. I did have a voice though, a naïve
appeared experts in both urban How did that happen and is romance, and I had life experience.
warfare and Buckaroo. that where your inspiration So I started writing. Then I realised
comes from? how competitive the industry was
I was inspired by everyone at Jesus;
and how much energy it took to
I wanted a bit of that, wanted to do I didn’t know what I wanted to
get something made. After writing
something more in the summers do next so I took an acting class
multiple scripts, I was winning some
and, frankly, I couldn’t afford to for fun. I really enjoyed it; I was
commissions, but I realised my best
stay at university if I didn’t find awful but kept at it. Then, with the
fit was to lead again. A producer
sponsorship. Luckily, I won an confidence of a previous career,
project manages the film; I was back
engineering bursary with the MoD. I John Wayne’d my way around
where I started, what I was qualified
Soho and got an agent. I was in,
At the MoD, the projects were to do, and I was confident again.
then learned crippling nerves would
responsible, big and varied.
accompany me to my auditions. I’ve since had my projects in front
Some days you’re mouth-agog at
Still, as a northerner I got a few of Keanu Reeves and Jason Statham,
military-hero colleagues, other
small roles in the likes of Corrie dealing with Fox Searchlight,
times learning from genius civil
and Emmerdale. Universal and the like.
servants, and other days it felt
10a world of people who were elite, their agents, and brings trusted
clever, sporty, musical, ultra-hard projects to the top directors and
workers and still had lots of fun. talent. The directors are the gods
And some could drink an incredible of the world though, and your
amount. Jesus students were project rests on her/his shoulders.
especially friendly, I love that about I’ve finally got into that position
Jesus. It showed me you could where developing the projects
achieve and be a decent person means getting your face in there.
without compromise. I was forged Resourcefulness, grit and charm
in Oxford. are your main assets, but you
need money.
I learned what successful people
looked like, I understood the graft Most people don’t realise how
and dedication it took to win. long an independent project takes
Training in the boxing squad put to get off the ground. It can be
me through the hardest training I’d three to seven years to develop
It’s a tough industry to crack done at that point, but it also gave and two years to make (including
and there’s a lot of door me a physical maturity to endure post production). For instance,
knocking. What advice have you anything. Oxford, and particularly the Killing Eve script was knocking
got for would-be film and TV Jesus, gave me the confidence and about for nine years before anyone
producers? capability to go on and do what bit; that’s how competitive the
A lot of this is talent but also human I wanted. It gave me the confidence industry is.
factors. I remember someone to leave the MoD and try a
explaining my Jesus interview from Development funding is tough
new career.
the point of view of the tutors: and I was privileged and grateful
they’ll want someone they’ll enjoy Then most of all, Jesus gave me to receive some seed investment
working with for the next four friends and a network; everyone from generous friends/associates
years. That’s it. Don’t get angry knows you can’t be successful to start the business in 2015. The
when you’re rejected, it’s a norm in on your own. My friends have government EIS and SEIS schemes
this industry. Take feedback, learn supported me, advised me, and – are brilliant – you can, for instance,
from it, go again. With energy. in some cases – invested in me. You invest £10k and get £6.4k back
need the right people around you in tax relief, so it was utilising the
I’d tell aspiring producers not to and I met some of them at Jesus. generous government tax relief
listen to “no”. They’ll all say that to enable wins for the wonderful
the first time. Keep improving your In film and TV production, the people who invested.
product, take advice and feedback ongoing challenge must be
well, and keep going. Keep smiling, development funding. How do As for where the work comes
keep your energy up. And keep you respond to that challenge from, I look out for projects in
believing in yourself. and where does your work come competitions, some in writer’s
from? groups, but I get a lot of submissions
Did your time at Oxford help, from writers to my website and
Yes! Money is always the biggest
whether in the development some of those are magic.
issue. If you have money, you can
of your business, or in be in film, meet the stars and be an
the development of core The entertainment industry
exec producer. You’d be surprised is accused of being slow to
transferable skills? at how easy it is to get a top star respond to the allegations of
Without doubt. I met people at for the right project and £400k. But the #MeToo movement. Also
Jesus and the wider university who the stars need projects they can with the current Black Lives
I’m still great friends with and still trust. The producer is the trusted Matter movement, are you
debate with on WhatsApp groups: gatekeeper who gets wealthy noticing any progress towards
these people still inspire me. I met financiers access to the stars via equality?
11COVID-19 has stalled the industry.
I’m developing a small fictional
feature film about having a baby
in lockdown as that’s what we’ve
been living: we had our first baby in
March.
I also have a remarkable true-life
military story about a targeteer
rescuing a UK national, a horror
about the Pied Piper of Hamelin,
and a really fun thriller about
three teenagers committing their
first robbery only to discover the
President’s daughter is at the party
they’re robbing. I’ll be rewriting my
pitches and projects, their budgets
and production viability to suit the
unknown landscape ahead. As a
producer, it’s my job to respond to
that from a business point of view,
and as a writer to also imagine it
from a creative point of view.
Finally, forgive me, it’s an
obvious one: what’s your all-
time favourite film and TV
programme?
TV is easier, I think the first seasons
of both Ozark and Succession
are really special: masterpieces
in craft, humour, drama, tension
and encompassing the full human
persona. In the UK, the Thick Of
It wins for me and I loved Happy
Addressing both these issues should for #metoo. Hollywood also Valley; again faultless productions,
be at maximum acceleration across quickly used its creative power to with the latter providing real
all industries. In London and the highlight these stories in films like humans outside the stringent genres
UK, I’ve noticed a strong movement Bombshell. Netflix is now showing and archetypes.
towards diversity and equality for Spike Lee’s DA 5 Bloods to help
the last few years anyway, both push the #BLM. I hope we see Film is impossible. Notable
in terms of ethnicity and gender. more of this along with a change perfections that spring to mind
are Shawshank, Rocky, Inside Out,
Equality and diversity has to be in representation in front of and
The Dark Knight and French film,
a part of your business plan and behind the camera. Channel 4 is
The Intouchables. And Predator…
policy for any project to receive any making this a particular focus of
plenty more are now coming,
public funding. I think the BFI and their work now. I’ll stop there.
UK do well in this capacity.
What’s next for you?
I think the media coverage was
I think this is a pertinent question Andy delivered a Jesus Entrepreneur Network
pretty big to highlight the deserved for everyone. I’m repositioning to (JEN) screenwriting workshop to students and
disgust of Weinstein’s actions alumni in July. For more information on JEN,
capitalise on the new landscape; see page 20.
12Photo: Peri Heaton
Oxford Cancer Analytics
Peter Jianrui Liu (2017, Clinical Medicine), Co-founder, Oxford Cancer Analytics
I’m currently in the third year of During my time at Jesus College
a DPhil in Clinical Medicine and and the Oxford University Scientific
a postgraduate student at Jesus Society, I had the opportunity to
College. When I first started meet like-minded colleagues with
the DPhil programme, I vividly expertise ranging from machine
remember my DPhil co-supervisor learning to clinical data science.
Professor Sir Peter Ratcliffe Together, we established a machine
(Senior Research Fellow at Jesus learning-based platform that can
College from 1992-2004 and accurately detect eight types
recently-elected Honorary Fellow) of cancers with 86% sensitivity
speaking fondly of his time in this through an affordable and minimally
vibrant community. This narrative invasive blood test.
sets the tone for my interactions
with mentors and colleagues at We entered the inaugural Oxford-
Jesus for the past three years. wide All-Innovate Idea Competition
with our entrepreneurial project
I have benefitted immensely in 2019. Our team was selected
from the support of colleagues, as Overall Winner from over
alumni, benefactors, and the wider 100 teams after four rounds
community of Jesus College, from
of competition. The generous
my DPhil studies supported by
mentorship provided by Jesus
the Oxford-Hoffmann Scholarship
and Graduate Scholarship at
Jesus, to being mentored as a
physician-scientist in training by
Jesus colleagues and alumni, as
well as being empowered by the
Jesus Entrepreneurs Network to
help enable scientific innovation to
benefit patients who need it most.
Starting my medical training at the
University of Toronto in Canada
prior to this DPhil programme,
I developed a strong interest in
medical oncology. Seeing the
devastating impact of cancer on
patients and their families first-
hand, I believe scientific research is
key to enhancing cancer detection
and treatment paradigms. In
fact, the lack of an effective early
cancer screening test for some
of the deadliest cancers is a main
contributing factor to their high
mortality. Early cancer detection
can save millions of lives annually,
significantly reduce associated
healthcare costs, and enable
people to continue healthy and
productive lives.
14alumnus, Brad Wilson (1967, maintains strong ties with the Jesus On a personal level, I look forward
Geography), who established the community. Matthew Katzman, to a career in medical oncology and
Jesus Entrepreneur Network, was Lecturer in Computer Science at academic medicine in the future,
instrumental to our success in the Jesus College, leads our machine working at the intersection of
competition. The grant provided learning development. We are also science, medicine, and innovation
by the competition has enabled grateful for the ongoing support to benefit cancer patients and their
us to further develop our product and mentorship from Brad Wilson families through novel research
and found the company, Oxford and the Principal, Professor Sir discoveries. My time at Jesus
Cancer Analytics. Nigel Shadbolt. College has been instrumental
in my preparation for fulfilling
Oxford Cancer Analytics has Oxford Cancer Analytics is this role. The holistic mentorship
continued to grow over the past currently based at the Oxford that the diverse community at
year, building collaborations with Foundry where we are growing Jesus has provided goes beyond
professors and physician-scientists through the OXFO L.E.V8 academic support. I have grown as
at Oxford to implement our accelerator programme. We look a scientist and acquired critical skills
product through a clinical trial. forward to beginning a clinical trial to bridge scientific innovation with
We are tailoring state-of-the- to benefit lung cancer patients, clinical implementation because
art machine learning algorithms starting in Oxford, further scaling of generous support from the
to maximise detection accuracy our product for deployment across Jesus community.
with multidimensional cancer the NHS, other healthcare systems, The group from the current accelerator programme,
data from a blood test. Our team and other cancer types in the future. OXFO L.E.V8.
15Which Wine When:
What to drink with the food you love
Claire Strickett (2010, MSt Women’s Studies)
Have you ever found yourself industry where I picked up a fair Claire and co-author Bert Blaize.
buying a bottle of wine based bit of knowledge on the subject of restaurant table – what to order on
on the look of the label, purely wine. As a result, I became used a date.
because it was on special offer, or to receiving a steady drip-drip of
because it’s the same thing you messages from friends asking for After a few years of operating
always drink? last-minute advice about what as a sort of one-woman wine
bottle to take to their in-laws for directory, it felt as though it would
You’re not alone – and I should be a lot simpler for all concerned to
dinner, what to pour for guests
know. After completing my Master’s write it all down in one place. In a
at their weekend barbecue, or –
at Jesus, I spent eight years working book, perhaps.
furtively texted from under the
in and around the restaurant
16All the same, if you’re going to drink region of Bordeaux goes perfectly
108 bottles a year, you might as well with that fast-food classic, the
spend your money (and it doesn’t hamburger. And some are a chance
need to be a lot if you know what to cheerlead for our favourite
to look for) on something you really wines, ones that we hope more and
like, and on a bottle that’s perfectly more people will start enjoying –
chosen for the time and place you an off-dry Riesling, for instance, is
find yourself. That’s why Bert and one of my absolute favourite styles
I decided to start somewhere that and goes brilliantly with anything
we felt almost everyone would feel spicy: I love to pair it with Thai or
comfortable: with the everyday Vietnamese takeaways.
food that we and our friends love
Little were we to know that shortly
to eat.
before the book was due to be
Nothing is easier or less intimidating published, the nation would find
than to think about your favourite itself confined to the house for
food (it’s certainly easier than sitting months – leading to an explosion
down to learn about appellations in ordering wine (online alcohol
And so, working with my co-author,
and vintages). And the fact is that sales jumped 50% in the first week),
the brilliant sommelier Bert Blaize,
if you know what you like to eat, Zoom wine tastings as a great way
that’s what we did. Our book,
you’re a good part of the way to to socialise remotely, and a new-
Which Wine When: What to drink
knowing what you like to drink, found appreciation of life’s simple
with the food you love, is published
because so many of the same pleasures – which, after all, is what
this August.
principles of taste and flavour apply. wine should always be.
Despite the nation drinking on Which Wine When is available via Amazon and all
From home-cooked classics like
average 108 bottles of wine a year good bookshops from 13 August priced at £9.99,
roast dinners, pasta and pies, to and to pre-order before that.
each, the subject of wine continues
takeaways from fish and
to be one that confuses and
chips to Thai, all the way
intimidates many of us. Certainly it’s
through to cheese and
a vast subject, but the occasionally
puddings, we diligently and
stuffy or haughty attitudes of
painstakingly researched the
some corners of the wine world
perfect wine pairings for our
don’t help.
favourite foods – and over
As students at College, we’ve all 100 in total made it into the
been incredibly lucky to be able book. A terrible job – but
to tap into the College cellars we felt that if someone
and the care and knowledge of had to do it, it should
the Wine Steward. On special be us. Some of the best
occasions, to sit down to dinner in pairings we landed on have
Hall knowing you would be poured a delicious synchronicity:
wine specially chosen to enhance fish and chips, for instance
and complement everything you ate – that most quintessentially
was such a privilege, and helped to British of dishes – goes
foster my own interest in wine. But perfectly with an English
sadly, now that we’ve left College, sparkling wine. Some are
most of us don’t have the benefit of a little iconoclastic, but it
a Steward there every day to help really is true that a rich red
us make our choices. from the august and historic
17From College to Career
Landing my dream job
Adam Robinson (2014, Engineering)
by the careers service, and I had
the framework I needed to start
building a network. The ‘dream big’
plan was set in motion.
Back home in Northern Ireland,
armed with pots of tea and
scones, I settled into the arduous
and sometimes demeaning task
of searching for internships, work
experience, or simply some advice.
For anyone who knows what cold
calling is like, there is no greater
hurdle than HR; my requests
were all ‘passed on’, and eventually
the Inbox pings petered out.
“Unfortunately, we have nothing
available at this time.”
Finally, one Friday afternoon, and on
my 17th call of the day, a mention of
College led to a rummaging on the
other end of the phone and then…
“I’ll just check if Emma is in”. I’d
Adam Robinson. saved the best to last.
The origin of my route from global reach, it is still a small world, Emma Huepfl, Jesus alumna,
College to career rests in a little and one which our tutors help us business woman and entrepreneur,
notebook of ideas into which I navigate over the years we are in went above and beyond, helping
jotted down “investigate Knight College. Luckily, I had the pleasure set in motion a series of events
Dragon, Greenwich Peninsula of being tutored by Dr Stephen that spanned Dublin, London and
and Dr Henry Cheng”, after a Morris, who always has the time to Manchester, where I met some
chance reading of an article in sit and debate important matters, of the biggest names in the real
The Economist on holiday. Three and offer calm and pragmatic advice estate industry. Not only did Emma
years, some experience, and despite his dizzying timetable. Jesus help bolster my experience and
Dr Cheng’s transformational College is an even smaller world, CV, but also my confidence and
donation to the new Northgate and Stephen’s valuable introduction conviction in my own abilities. To
redevelopment on Cornmarket took me, of all places, across have someone take a chance and
later, luck or coincidence gave the quad. vouch for you, to speak with one
me the shot I had been looking of their colleagues or business
A short walk around the grass
for. None of it would have been acquaintances, is a big risk and one
was David Stevenson, Property
possible without the help of some I am truly thankful for.
Director, whose knowledge of the
notable figures along the way.
world of real estate and College’s The next port of call was with
Finding a career that is not a direct history is only surpassed by his Andrew Baum, an academic
follow-on from your degree, but kindness to help and converse and business authority whose
in which you can use the skills and with those interested in this experience in and teaching of the
abilities you have developed in your topic. His imparted knowledge, world of real estate is unparalleled.
studies at Oxford, can be a daunting combined with notes from Dr He is rapid with email responses
task. Although the University has a Mike Moss during a quick pit-stop and before long we were on a
18call. Real estate is a tangible, social mental poker in which William had
business and when Andrew said me read like a book. Pep talk over,
we needed to meet face to face I insights noted, my aims adjusted,
packed a bag and headed back to and a new approach planned out,
Oxford. A close friend and advisor we finished on a line straight out
with years of experience in head of Pulp Fiction, “So, we’re cool?”
hunting and amazing contacts kindly and it was time for me to head to
gave me a place to stay, and a list of London.
names to meet, in return for digging
A few weeks later and I was in
some French drains around her
my fourth spare bedroom in as
beautiful Victorian Gothic home.
many months, courtesy of the
I am indebted to Maggie for her
Greens (my College housemate’s
distinguished career guidance and Emma Huepfl. family home), only this one had
continued support.
Later that afternoon (thanks to the added bonus of two loving
The juxtaposition from relaxed Maggie’s sporting connections) black labradors. By day I flickered
renovation work to direct quick-fire and in a sparse but, as you would between meetings in offices, cafés,
questions from Professor Baum was expect, exquisitely furnished and clubs that try to blend the
enough to make the meeting feel St John’s College office, I met two. Mostly though, I waited faint-
like a roasting. Before I knew it, I William Donger, Director at Savills heartedly in lobbies designed and
had a phone interview on the spot and Thomas White Oxford. built in the intimidating style that
for an internship in a property start- Named after the famous Thomas only corporates know how. By night
up. Andrew also bestowed possibly White, the St John’s company is I was doing research for the start-
the single most important nugget of leading a masterplan to create a up Professor Baum orchestrated my
advice for any career building plan: new innovation district in North interview with, the black labs at this
“For every contact you make, get Oxford. William has a wealth of stage snoozing on my feet. A year
three names from them. That way experience in negotiation and for after my search began, I was back at
you build a knowledge base and the second time that day I was home over the Christmas vacation
network with the most powerful peppered with questions, this time
asset there is; people.” in a Cincinnati Kid-esque game of 3D model of the Northgate project. Lead benefactor
Dr Henry Cheng, Chairman of Knight Dragon.
19Left: Works at Northgate. Photo: BAM Construction. Their impartial counsel and wisdom is
when I received the fateful Inbox ping; an invaluable. Plus, when it comes to looking at
interview with Richard Margree, CEO of a CV or application, they might just give you
Knight Dragon. the most honest criticism you’ll ever receive.
Knight Dragon, and by extension Richard, Throughout your own journey, try to keep
share a unique vision and the distinct a record of events and your thoughts,
capability to follow it through. A short the pattern that builds up over time is a
internship, many interviews, and a signed mosaic that can be incredibly detailed even
contract later, the rest I hope, is history. with simple entries. Your intellectual and
Many hands have helped me open this emotional patterns are just as practical
last door, namely Brittany Wellner James for later reference and in many ways help
and the Jesus Development Office staff, temper the triumphs and comfort the
who went out of their way to make an inevitable anguishes.
introduction to Richard Margree. It is One last essential lesson, as provided
the culmination of generosity of time by Richard Paice (1961, BA Chemistry),
and information provided by individuals I Jesus alumnus and exquisite story teller:
have met through Oxford for which I am mentorship is symbiotic, so remember to
eternally grateful. give back whenever you can.
Questions surrounding your future can be With that, a final thank you to all those
immeasurably tough, but they are greatly who assisted me and are too numerous
alleviated by chatting with a mentor. It is to mention. My journey’s outcome is a
helpful to have support networks among reflection of your time, generosity and
family, friends and throughout education, willingness to help.
but it is also essential to grow a network Emma Huepfl and Adam held a JEN mentoring session,
with a close group of professional mentors. Network like a Boss, for students in July 2020.
The Jesus Entrepreneur Network (JEN) is a fast-growing professional
network committed to sharing expertise, advice, and skills with Jesus
students, fellow alumni and friends of the College.
Founded in 2015, JEN began with its flagship student mentoring scheme for the annual
All-Innovate competition in partnership with the Oxford Foundry. Members of the
Network coached the 2019 All-Innovate competition winners (see page 14), beating
21 other Oxford colleges in the process. This summer, JEN members shared advice on
interviewing, CV preparation and mentoring over three online courses for current Jesus
students and young alumni. Recently, the Network has grown to include Jesus associate
alumni from Saïd Business School and we look forward to expanding its reach to
include a more diverse and global alumni community. The Jesus Entrepreneur Network
welcomes anyone who has an interest in entrepreneurship and student mentoring to
consider joining this valuable group.
For more information please contact eve.bodniece@jesus.ox.ac.uk.
21Closing the Gender Pay Gap
Flex and share
Kat Knocker (2003, Chemistry) & Lindsay Patience (2003, Economics & Management)
The Knocker family – David, Amelie, Kat and Pip the dog.
Kat Knocker and Lindsay Patience schools and individuals to make it the middle man and the middle
met in Freshers’ Week in 2003. happen. woman: for each £1 he earns,
Those first conversations were she earns 83p. That’s the gender
Kat read Chemistry and is now
the start of a great friendship and pay gap – the median difference
Customer Director at tails.com
little did they know that years later between hourly pay for men
(see Kat’s feature on tails.com,
they would both be campaigning to and women (usually quoted as a
pages 4-6). Kat and husband David
right the gender pay gap. percentage). In the UK in 2019 it
Knocker (2003) wanted to parent
was 8.9% for full time employees
After reading Economics and equally from the start and took
and 17.3% for all employees. (Jesus
Management, Lindsay trained Shared Parental Leave. Although
College last reported a gap of
to teach through Teach First. this allowed them to each enjoy
15.6% for all employees in its last
She progressed through various time as primary parent, they
formally published report). Almost
leadership roles to Assistant found challenges, from the admin
four in five UK companies paid
Headteacher and wanted to work involved, to difficult attitudes and
male employees more per hour
more flexibly once her first child lack of support. Kat speaks up for
than female employees on average.
was born. However, she was in Shared Parental Leave as a mentor,
Adding some depth with ethnicity
for a shock when she realised how in media pieces, and on her site
segmentation, the pay gap between
rare school leadership roles with sharedparentalleave.com.
Black, Black British, African and
flexibility were. This catalysed her
So, what is the gender pay Caribbean women vs. White British
to form Flexible Teacher Talent,
gap? First, make two lines of all men was 20.4%, and 21.5% for
an organisation that campaigns for
employees in the UK; one for men Pakistani women vs. White British
improved flexible working in the
and one for women. Then, order men (2018 UK data).
education sector and supports
each line by hourly pay and pick
22Companies with over 250 to leave policies to get dads paid
employees have had to publish their more, and now all new parents get
gender pay gap information publicly the same extra paid parental leave
in the UK since 2017 and it has on top of their statutory parental
now been 50 years since The Equal pay, regardless of gender.
Pay Act was introduced, making
The education sector has one
it illegal to pay men and women
of the worst median gender pay
differently for the same role. The
gaps in the UK at 19.7% (2018).
gap persists and, according to the
Only the construction and finance
World Economic Forum in 2018,
industries have poorer stats. Why?
it will take 202 years to close the
In state-funded schools men are
Global Pay Gap. Years of gradual
disproportionately represented at
progress also look to be reversed
the top. In primary and nursery
by the immediate and medium term years ago, Shared Parental Leave schools only 14% of all teachers are
impacts of COVID-19. (SPL) allows parents flexibility in men, but look to the headteacher
The gap reflects the inequalities, how to take leave in the first year level and men make up 27% of
bias and discrimination that of their child’s life. It’s shown to headteachers. In secondary schools
contribute to women earning create a more equal domestic 36% of teachers are men but 62%
significantly less than men over workload between genders in that of heads are male. There is clearly
their entire careers. Starting a first year and beyond, with positive a deep issue here and we must do
family currently disproportionately effects for women’s earnings too. better to set the scene in terms of
affects women’s career progression. However, uptake and awareness is career aspirations and parenting for
Making senior roles more flexible low (2-4% of eligible couples took future generations.
working-friendly, and rebalancing SPL in 2018/19). Employers can be
unhelpfully ignorant – parents can Whether through choice or
the number of women in senior
find themselves writing the policies societal pressure and expectation,
or high-earning roles, will reduce
as they go – and some mums and women still take the majority of
the gap. And it’s not just about
dads* are reluctant to share (mums caring responsibilities and are more
families: other factors such as men
have to give up their maternity likely to request flexible working.
being more likely to negotiate pay
leave for SPL to work). Easy access Teaching is a sector that has a
rises and the discrimination that
to simple documents and processes high female ratio, perhaps due to
still takes place, despite laws against
are big helpers. the perception that teaching and
it, contribute to the gap. FairHire
school leadership is a great career
reported that when a woman’s Financial concern can also for women and mothers with long
name was replaced by a man’s discourage couples as there’s holidays and finishing early. Anyone
name on a CV, companies were – ironically – a Shared Parental who is or lives with a teacher will
60% more likely to say they’d hire Leave pay gap. Kat estimates that know this is not true! However,
the candidate. This is exacerbated makes the pay gap -64% for a the reality is that securing a flexible
for BAME candidates; when names representative couple, meaning for role as a classroom teacher is
were changed to sound “more every £1 a mum on SPL is paid, a challenging, and flexibility is nearly
western” almost all candidates dad is paid only 36p. The simple impossible if you are a senior leader.
reported higher response rates. solution is to pay mums and dads Female teachers are therefore
There are ways forward, and many the same for taking time out of leaving the profession, or stepping
successful strategies are proven to work. Some employers already do down from leadership roles,
reduce the gap – Kat and Lindsay this, for example Diageo offers six because they can’t get the flexibility
highlight two: Shared Parental Leave months’ paid leave to all employees they need.
and flexible working. in the first year of their child’s
life, and O2 gives 14 weeks. At If men and women can work
Introduced by the government five tails.com, Kat championed changes flexibly at all levels then flexible
23WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Even if you don’t need to use them, check your
workplace’s policies for flexible working and all types
of parental leave. Make sure they are easy to come
by, clear and fair.
Find out your workplace’s policies on paying enhanced leave to all
parents. If you find a gap between pay for male and female parents,
are there ways you can use your influence for more parity?
If you work flexibly, do it loudly and proudly – making it accessible,
successful and normal is the aim. Share your experiences with others:
Lindsay and her daughter. how did you secure the flexibility, how do you manage it, what are the
benefits for you and your organisation?
working won’t be seen as such a
barrier to progression. Women will If you are a manager or leader, be proactive in your approach to
be more represented in senior roles flexible working for your team, don’t just wait for requests to come
and it won’t be the case that those in. There will be benefits for staff wellbeing, productivity, retention,
who want or need to work flexibly recruitment and diversity.
get stuck at less senior levels. Men
working flexibly allows them to Consider how to create long-term meaningful changes to you and
take on more caring responsibilities, your colleagues’ unconscious bias. One-off bias training can be a
which in turn plays a role in shifting helpful introduction, but it’s through continual action that we impact
attitudes as more role models of all change.
genders become visible. For the education sector, consider becoming a school governor and
Flexible Teacher Talent helps school support your headteacher and senior leadership team in championing
leaders to realise the benefits of flexible working practices.
flexible working and supports
them in introducing it. Much of the Reach out to Kat and Lindsay – we’re both passionate about making
advice provided seems like common change, and believe that can happen at all levels – we’d love to hear
sense, but cultures and attitudes from you.
can be ingrained and difficult to The calculations for the ‘shared parental leave pay gap’ assume
change. The more that schools both parents are paid £50k annual salary, and that they’re only paid
see successful flexible working, the
statutory maternity and paternity then statutory shared parental pay
more widespread the practice will
– i.e. no extras from their employers, and take 5 months leave each.
become. COVID-19 has forced
many schools to operate remotely, That gap gets beyond -80% if the mum is paid 3 months maternity pay,
showing that school leaders can for example.
work effectively from home. We *
Shared Parental Leave is available to all parents that meet some
are also seeing more job shares eligibility criteria. It’s worth noting that, as this an article about the
and co-headships. Fellow alumna gender pay gap, we’ve focused on ‘mums and dads’ but SPL is not only
Lucy Helan (2002) has co-founded
available to heterosexual birth parents. Parents of all sexualities and
an organisation called the Shared
genders can apply, as well as couples who’re adopting children or who
Headship Network that pairs up
and supports job-sharers looking have children through surrogacy.
for top jobs in schools.
24Oklahoma! A Surrogacy Journey
Michael Cavers-Davies (1997, Jurisprudence)
Michael Cavers-Davies (1997) read As we settled down and became We decided to pursue surrogacy in
Jurisprudence at Jesus College more financially secure, we started the US. A surrogacy agency helped
and stayed in Oxford for his Legal exploring the possibility of having manage the process. They arranged
Practice Course. From there, he children. We considered adoption social workers and lawyers to
joined global law firm CMS, where but were quickly put off by our protect everybody’s interests and
he is now a Board member and local council. Progress has been ensure that the law recognised us as
a partner in the Capital Markets made in the last ten years, but the parents from the outset. They
& Derivatives team. He and his we were essentially given the also helped us match with an egg
husband Bryn live in Hertfordshire impression that we were unlikely donor and a surrogate, who tend
with their two daughters, Annabel to be successful. Even if we were to be different women because
and Georgia. accepted, we were told it would it is easier when determining
probably be for older sibling groups parental rights.
I met Bryn shortly after leaving
from difficult backgrounds. I have
Oxford and we married in Choosing an egg donor was like
the greatest admiration for couples
2008. We have two wonderful choosing a date online. You select
who adopt, and particularly those
daughters through surrogacy, a match based on profiles with
who help children in challenging
aged two and three. Although our photographs, biographies, interests
circumstances, but we quickly
path to parenthood hasn’t been and medical histories. We were
considered alternatives when we
straightforward, it hasn’t ultimately looking for somebody with rounded
faced significant barriers.
proved as difficult as we feared. interests, ideally tertiary educated
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