ALUMNI PROFILES
JASON MOHAMMAD BA Welsh and Politics. Class of 1996. RADIO AND TELEVISION PRESENTER.
Anne is on a mission to revolutionise the banking sector in a way that delivers a better experience for customers. Leading an established UK bank, she is also a powerful advocate for more women to take up leading roles in business. What led you to the decision to study Computer Science and Chemistry at Swansea ? One of the earliest childhood photos I have is of me clasped in my father’s arms as he stood outside the Swansea University campus. I was born and brought up in the city and everyone there was very proud of the University. I had decided to study medicine and was planning on travelling further afield for my degree. My A-Level results didn’t turn out as good as I hoped, so I spent a long morning on the phone speaking to various universities to see what was on offer. Eventually, I spoke to someone at Swansea who mentioned a Computer Science degree and as soon as they said it, I thought, that is what I want to do. It brought together everything I was interested in and would introduce me to some new skills too. What are your favourite memories of your time at Swansea ? I’m afraid anyone wanting any stories of wild days at uni are going to be very disappointed when they talk to me. Most of my days were spent in the library. I had spent most of my childhood in bookshops, or the library, or with my head in the second-hand Encyclopaedia Britannica that my father had bought me during a teachers’ strike. Now I had an opportunity to sit in a library studying all day long. It was bliss. Computing was still quite basic in those days. We had a PDP 11 Unix computer that allowed us to key in data on cards. There was a very exhausting system, where you’d write your programme, then take the punch card and dash off downstairs to another room beside the cafeteria to run it. There would always be a bit of a queue and then an hour-long wait to see if it worked. Then you’d have to go back up to the computer sciences room and make any adjustments necessary to the programme, before going through the whole process again. I got very fit in those days, with all the running up and down the stairs.
Why did you choose to study at Swansea University and why Welsh and Politics ? I knew that Swansea University had brilliant Welsh and Politics departments, I wanted to study there to be taught by the best. Also, the appeal of the nearby Gower and beaches was a massive draw.
Queen, ABBA and 10cc records when I was just five years old, so I was destined to work on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Wales! I also used to commentate on video games back in the 1980s – sporting video games – so I suppose a career in TV sport was also on the cards. Did your time at the University help you start such a successful career in broadcasting ? Indeed. I met a careers advisor, Mr Hugh Jones, when I was applying for the journalism course at Cardiff University and he encouraged me to go for that. I won a scholarship with BBC Wales and the rest is history. Had it not been for Swansea University, I wouldn’t be where I am today. What is the highlight of your career ? Without doubt, getting the email from my producer to say that I was going to be part of the pitchside presenting team for the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil between Argentina and Germany. You’ve travelled extensively with your career. Where was your favourite country ? Russia. I travelled all over the country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals and was absolutely blown away by the history, the splendid architecture and phenomenal food. Who has inspired you – during your youth and throughout your career ? I’ve been so lucky to have been blessed with brilliant teachers, lecturers and producers who have helped me, but throughout my career my inspiration has been my sporting hero Muhammad Ali. His quote of ‘having the skill and the will’ is on my wall and I look at it every single day. Ultimately my faith has given me the power and the ability to succeed.
What are your defining memories of being a student at Swansea ?
Being taught by outstanding lecturers, the friends that I made at University and the many sporting activities that I took part in. What are your memories of being a Welsh speaking student at Swansea University ? It was at Swansea University where my confidence grew as a Welsh learner. I remember the great Hywel Teifi Edwards encouraging us all to use our Welsh speaking skills. He didn’t see any difference between ‘first language’ Welsh-speaking students and second
language ‘learners’. And that is where I gained my confidence.
Why choose a career in broadcasting ? To be perfectly honest, it was the only thing I wanted to do. I used to play
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