South East

Regional Network Coordinators

Oteh Grace Mensah (South East)

Oteh Grace Mensah is a Commonwealth Master’s Scholar from Nigeria currently studying Environment, Climate Change and Development at the University of Reading. Previously, she worked as a programme manager with the WAAW Foundation, where she successfully managed the organisation’s undergraduate scholarship programme, STEM outreach programme, and college-to-secondary mentorship programmes.

Grace holds a BSc in Agricultural Extension from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and has an innate ability to streamline processes and foster collaboration among diverse teams. Her innovative approach and commitment to excellence not only result in efficient operations but also in the cultivation of strong, sustainable relationships with stakeholders.

Furthermore, Grace was named Staff of the Quater at WAAW Foundation for her brilliant display of organisational culture, passion for driving results, and leadership style. She is a certified Agile Project Manager and currently serves as the Financial Officer for the Reading University Nigerian Students’ Society (RUNSS).

Excel Amaefule (London)

Excel Amaefule studied Civil Engineering in his undergraduate studies at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria, and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Environment, Politics, and Development at SOAS, University of London under the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. His passion for addressing pressing emerging and contemporary environmental and sustainability issues stems from personal experiences. He is a member of sustainability-oriented organisations like YOUNGO, the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA), OSHAssociation UK, Agape Earth Coalition, and SustyVibes. Excel sees himself as a poet and a cosmo-surrealism artist. 

Serving as Project Manager at Innovative Recycling Limited, Excel strategically contributes to the battle against plastic pollution through technology-driven project planning and monitoring. Excel actively collaborates on sustainability-driven research projects at SustyVibes. He worked as a field research assistant to Chinedu Candidus Nsude, a renewable energy doctoral student at the University of Oklahoma. The project aims to assess the awareness and perception of renewable energy by businesses/enterprises in Nigeria, and Excel spearheaded activities in Rivers State. At UNFCCC’s YOUNGO, he participates as a core research member in the Loss and Damage Working Group and the Water and Climate Working Group. Excel’s research practice has yielded over 15 published articles, appearing in international peer-reviewed journals and on SustyVibes.org. 

Notably, he was also honoured with the World Bank funded CE-sPESS Master’s Degree Award in Environmental Standards and Climate Change, which he had to decline due to his acceptance of the Commonwealth Scholarship. In 2023, Excel led a team of young people championing projects in Rivers State aimed at boosting community resilience and climate action. These projects were part of the Climate Actors Accelerator Programme (CAAP), an initiative of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s (UN SDSN-Nigeria). These accomplishments have led to Excel’s recognition as a UN SDSN Climate Champion and Innovator awardee. Furthermore, Excel received a nomination for the 2023 SustyVibes Prime Player Award. 

Atmaja Tripathy (Cambridge)

Atmaja Tripathy is an Indian qualified attorney pursuing litigation/ dispute resolution since 2018. During her career at a boutique law firm based out of New Delhi, India, she led matters involving a complex determination of rights in the interplay of technology, media, intellectual property rights, and digital markets. She has represented clients in diverse matters requiring a judicial determination for the first instance, such as the fixation of a statutory license fee for the broadcast of sound recordings on radio; compulsory licensing for radio simulcast on the internet; copyright protection of digital gaming formats; abuse of dominance by internet gatekeepers/ search engine; and liability of android operating systems in offering online gaming platforms. She has also led pro-bono matters for the takedown of women clients’ sensitive personal videos from the internet, despite the absence of statutory recognition of the right to be forgotten in India.

In February 2022, Atmaja was recognised as one of the youngest Future Legal Leaders by the India Business Law Journal. In 2023, she was selected as one of the 8 finalists for the Asia Legal Business’ Rising Star (India and Middle East) Award. Atmaja is a member of the International Technology Law Association.

Atmaja is passionate about personal liberties, particularly free speech and the right to privacy. She has been working with Columbia University’s Global Freedom of Expression Initiative as a legal researcher and editor since 2018, authoring and reviewing blog posts and case summaries on free speech on the internet, right to be forgotten, hate speech, internet shutdowns, blocking orders and SLAPP suits. She has authored articles on contemporary legal issues in reputed international law journals and frequently writes on cutting-edge technology and the intersection/overlap with free speech, intellectual property rights, and competitive markets. She has also delivered guest lectures at leading Indian law schools, including NLSIU, Bengaluru, National Law University, Delhi, and Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai on the issue of free speech and intermediary liability.

As a Commonwealth Shared and Cambridge Trust Scholar, Atmaja is pursuing her LLM (Master’s in Law) from Darwin College, University of Cambridge. Through her LLM, Atmaja seeks to research further into the nuances of technology, and its impact on law, rights, intellectual property and competitive markets. When not occupied in professional endeavours, Atmaja can be seen pursuing her interests in music, painting, dance, and photography, which comes naturally, given her independent Bachelor degrees in Hindustani Classical Vocals, Fine Arts, and Odissi Dance.

Your network

Join the South East Regional Network Facebook group to find out about upcoming events and get in touch with your Regional Network Coordinator and other network members.

If the name used on your Facebook account differs from that on your award documents, please contact engage@cscuk.org.uk with your CSC reference and your name as it appears on Facebook so that your request to join the group can be authorised.

University Representatives

If you are interested in becoming a University Representative and assisting in building a strong network of Scholars and Fellows, please contact the relevant Coordinator for your region or email engage@cscuk.org.uk to find out more.