Galib Virani (MA Finance and Investment, 1996)

Associate Director, Afren plc

ANG Role: Business School

Upon leaving Exeter I pursued a career in the City of London. From 1998 I worked for the Corporate Finance and Advisory Group at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (now Commerzbank), advising companies on mergers and acquisitions and raising equity capital, ultimately becoming Vice President. In 2005 I joined the founding team at Afren plc, now a leading FTSE 250 independent oil exploration and production company with a portfolio currently spanning 12 countries across Africa and the Middle East.

As a member of the Board responsible for both acquisitions and the market-facing side of the business, I have helped the team both fund and grow our portfolio of assets.

I am a member of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Africa Board Advisory Committee. I am also a Fellow of the Securities Institute and have a Master of Philosophy in Emerging Market Finance.

I believe very strongly in the importance of philanthropy and feel it is a duty to give back. I have been involved in a number of community based projects focusing on education and economic development. For example, in 2007, together with The Citizens Foundation (TCF), we opened a TCF Campus in Shahpur, Punjab. The majority of people there live in rural areas - and only 37% of them get a formal education - even lower for women. The school we've built is currently educating 170 students, and employs a number of teachers from the local community.

I have been a supporter of the University of Exeter Business School’s alumni activity since 2008 when I joined the Business School Alumni Association (BSAA) Advisory Group.

I joined the Alumni Network Group in 2009 with a remit to act as the liaison point with the Business School and the link with the BSAA Advisory Group.