It was lovely to catch up with Old Girl Julia Fentem recently and hear about the amazing work which led to her receiving an MBE in the King's December 2023 New Years Honours for Services to Human Health and Animal Welfare. Read below how BGS helped shape her path and her advice to alumni starting their career journey.

What was your career journey after leaving BGS?

From BGS I headed across the Pennines to study Biochemistry at Leeds University, before spending a year at Birmingham University undertaking a Masters degree in toxicology and completing my PhD in the medical school at Nottingham University.  My first ‘proper job’ was as a science lead for a small animal welfare charity funding research into alternatives to animal experiments, which built on my PhD research. I then headed to Italy for 4 years to work as a toxicologist for the European Commission, leading international programmes to validate non-animal tests for assessing chemical safety. I joined Unilever in the UK in 1998 to lead its alternatives to animal testing research programme, and I am now Executive Vice President for Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Science. The scientists in my group use leading edge approaches to assess the safety and sustainability of Unilever’s products and we collaborate with academic, industry and government scientists across the world to develop new scientific knowledge and tools.

What skills did you develop early in your career?

Initially, technical skills (e.g. laboratory techniques in cell & tissue culture, analytical chemistry, data analyses), then broadening to writing scientific papers and presentations, running team meetings, supervising students, planning multi-laboratory evaluations of non-animal tests, and organising scientific conferences.  Increasingly I took on more people & science leadership activities, and found that the coaching and umpiring skills I had started to develop at school with the netball & tennis teams (and had continued at university) were some of the most valuable and transferable.

What do you like most about your job?

The fantastic, dedicated and passionate, scientists I work alongside every day - all of us trying to do work of societal benefit (improving the safety and sustainability of consumer goods), and the opportunity to interact with a wide range of people across the world – including politicians & government scientists, leading academics, investors, customers and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?

Receiving an MBE from the King for services to human health and animal welfare.  Although, as a toxicologist, I was extremely honoured to be awarded the 2024 Paton Prize from the British Toxicology Society – this is given to “a distinguished leader in the profession of toxicology … having made significant scientific contributions in research, teaching, safety assessment and/or regulation.” In a lighter vein, in March 2020 I was profiled as a toxicologist in British Vogue as one of “three notable names shaping the future of skin care”!

What advice would you give to our alumni starting their first steps in their career journey?

Look for something that you enjoy and where you can keep learning things that interest you; seek input and advice, but make your own decisions and shape your own paths – and there will be quite a few paths (it’s called a ‘journey’ with good reason), and be open to exploring new areas and making the most of opportunities as they arise (most of us don’t ever have a grand plan ..!) 

How did Bury Grammar School help you to be successful in your chosen career?

I thoroughly enjoyed school – whilst the formal teaching provided the skills & knowledge, playing competitive netball & tennis (and not-so-competitive hockey & rounders!) built my team player & leadership capabilities. Together they gave me the confidence, belief and resilience that have been the foundations for my life since school.  I often find myself saying to teams “persist and we will prevail” … that definitely comes from the combination of BGS and growing up in Manchester!