“One of the things that drew me to Queens’ is its instinctive generosity — its determination to go further, especially for those who most need our support.

Since starting this role last September, I’ve sat with alumni, students and Fellows who have said to me, quietly but without hesitation, that Queens’ transformed their lives. Not improved them, transformed them. That is a powerful word, and a powerful legacy.

Philanthropy here has always been steady and purposeful — about backing people, ideas and a community worth sustaining.

But excellence does not look after itself. It must be renewed, deliberately and with intent. We are at a moment in our history where that is truly the case.

The world around us is changing fast, and universities are not immune. Funding pressures are real. AI is reshaping what learning looks like. We want to embrace that – but never at the cost of the deep, rigorous thinking that makes a Queens’ education worth having.

That is why we are launching a new fundraising campaign, Bridge to the Future, to secure Queens’ intellectual strength, physical environment, and inclusive community for generations to come.”

“I’m thankful that I had the opportunity and privilege to come to Queens’, such a fabulous place, a fabulous academic institution and complete my education here. It feels perfectly proper to be here as a benefactor myself so that I can help Queens’ sustain and the next generations, hopefully, enjoy the opportunity I had, too.”

“I am thrilled to be a Vice Chair of the newly formed Queens’ Campaign Board. Queens’ played an important part in my early life and so I am keen to help ensure the future of the College for many generations to come.

What does Queens’ mean to me? Firstly, it is the place where I met my husband, Karim, who was a fellow law undergraduate and the stroke of the Queen’s boat that I coxed in my second and third years. We both share very happy memories of being taught by wonderful supervisors in Queens’, as well as making life long friends, through sport and of course, socialising in the bar.

Queens’ is not just a collection of beautiful buildings and an extraordinary Bridge, it is also a community of academics and students, living together in the College’s extensive accommodation. As undergraduates, we were very lucky to be housed by the College for all three years of our studies, enabling us to access all the College’s facilities readily. By living together, we had an opportunity to mix with a diverse group of students from around the world and to participate in many College activities.

As students at Queens’, we were all lucky to benefit from donors of the past who gave to the College to ensure that we could enjoy our time in the same way as they did. It is now time for us to do the same.”

“As a Fellow with a donated Fellowship, I greatly appreciate the security these donations give to the provision of teaching in my subject at Queens’.

Cambridge colleges are exceptionally well placed to support teaching and research across the full range of academic disciplines; at a time when this range is under threat in so many locations, the contribution of the Lyster legacy to supporting students and researchers in all areas is truly invaluable.”

“I was inspired to join the board because I believe deeply in the value of higher education and in what institutions like Queens’ uniquely contribute to it. At a time when academic freedom is declining globally, and new technologies like generative AI are reshaping how we teach and learn, the core elements of scholarship—intellectual freedom, human dialogue, and the relationships that underpin discovery—are increasingly under pressure.

Queens’ plays a vital role in protecting these values through its commitment to academic independence, interdisciplinary community, and the human-centred learning environment that defines the collegiate system. Supporting the campaign felt like a way to actively defend and sustain the conditions that allow scholarship, curiosity, and intellectual exchange to flourish.”

Earlier in her career, she led the restoration and development of the historic Hacienda Santa Teresa in Venezuela and founded the estate’s tourism and visitors center, transforming it into a model of sustainable cultural tourism.

She has served on numerous cultural boards, including as Trustee of the George Eastman Museum, and is a founding member of the curatorial committee of Photo London. Mrs. Vollmer Maduro read Economics at Queens’ College, Cambridge.

The Campaign Board’s vision, to raise long-term funding for Queens’ “Intellectual Infrastructure” and “Intellectual Opportunity”, represents a critical mission that will strengthen the College’s foundations and directly benefit our future generations of students.

I am honoured to join and lend my support to the Campaign Board as we “Bridge to the Future”. Floreat Domus!”

“Queens’ is a magical place. Arriving in 2008, I could never have predicted that the friends I made there would still be the people I turn to for advice, laughter, and perspective all these years later. We laughed over feasts in Old Hall, talked late into the night in our wonky gabled rooms, and occasionally studied furiously in the library.

I began the journey toward my professional life—not only through lectures and supervisions but through the confidence the community instilled in me. Queens’ taught me that achievement is rarely a solo effort; it’s built on collaboration, teamwork and support.

Even now, I carry that sense of belonging with me, and it’s why I feel such a strong desire to give back—to help create the same opportunities and lifelong foundations for the generations of students who will follow.”

“Queens’ College had a direct and lasting impact on both my academic path and my personal development. When I first arrived in Cambridge, I was facing the challenge of living independently abroad while using a wheelchair.

The support I received through the College’s tutoring system was decisive. Provisions were made based on my needs and this support remained consistent throughout my studies, even during periods of travel. For the first time, I was able to focus fully on my research without being preoccupied with accessibility or logistical constraints.

This environment enabled me to complete both an MPhil and a PhD, to travel and present my work internationally and to engage more actively in College life. During my PhD, I was elected MCR President, which gave me the opportunity to contribute back to the College community in a meaningful way.

Equally important were the everyday interactions within Queens’. Informal discussions during meals exposed me to ideas and research far beyond my own field. Over time, this created a broad base of knowledge and a way of thinking that proved highly valuable. When I moved into the corporate world, I came to realise that these moments were not incidental, but part of a continuous learning process embedded in the College experience.

The benefactors that support Queens’ made all of this possible. The College provided the conditions for uninterrupted study, meaningful participation and intellectual exchange. Its impact extended well beyond my time at Cambridge, shaping both my professional trajectory and my global network.”