Creative TV producer from Qatar wins British Council Alumni Award

Maryam Alsubaiey has been announced as a regional winner at this year's British Council Alumni Awards for her work inspiring young people in Qatar.

Maryam is a founder of multiple projects supporting young people and is also a successful writer, producer, director and creative leader in Qatar.

The Middle East and North Africa regional winner is a pioneering force in the Qatar media world while also helping many young and talented people reach their potential.

Maryam decided to leave her home country and study Political Science at Essex in 2003.

She said: “Studying in the UK was not only useful in terms of having a great academic qualification, but for me it showed a different way of life and empowered me to be true to myself.

“Being an active student in the UK enabled me to know the value of an active civil society and the importance of the role of youth. Therefore, I wanted to create similar platforms and enable young people to grow and be active.”

As a result Maryam started two youth initiatives in Qatar - Uchange and Qatar Together - to promote the country's most talented and creative young people across different disciplines. These initiatives had a great impact on the youth community in Qatar and encouraged many young people to pursue subjects and issues they are really passionate about.

Following this success, Maryam created her own start-up, QTalent, whilst studying a Masters Degree in Development Studies at SOAS University of London.

She said: “I was very interested in human development yet I was also interested in the creative industries, and I thought why not combine the two and help young talented people achieve their careers? QTalent has enabled many young people in Qatar to get exposure and gain more confidence in their talent.”

When Maryam joined Qatar Television (QTV) she was the only woman and the youngest manager. For the re-launch of the channel, Maryam was responsible for the creative process, creating structures and workflows and the marketing and sales department.

After the launch she was promoted to Director of Programs. Her education and career in the UK proved vital for developing her skills as a director.

She said: “Coming back with professional British work ethics I was able to use those skills into creating a new work environment. The launch of the channel was a success and I was happy to provide this great project for my country.”

Maryam also broke barriers in 2017 by becoming the first female jockey to participate in a high-profile horse-racing event in Qatar. As a successful female role model, Maryam continues to inspire others as a freelance creative consultant. 

She said: “My personal journey of self-empowerment has also inspired many young girls in Qatar who are afraid to take bold steps to achieve their dreams.”

The British Council Alumni Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of alumni and showcase the impact and value of a UK higher education. Now in its fourth year, more than 1,700 entries from 125 countries representing 140 UK higher education institutes were received for this year's awards.

As a regional winner, Maryam will go on to compete for the prestigious Global Alumni Awards which will be announced at the end of May.

Please visit the British Council Alumni Award website to read more about this year's inspirational finalists.