Anthony and Hazera Forth (née Bibi): BA Hons Media Practices

Anthony and Hazera Forth (née Bibi)

BA Hons Media Practices, 1996

Anthony is now a senior ICT development co-ordinator in the Business Development department at the University of Luton and Hazera is Deputy Information Manager at Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust.

Achieving a degree at University is usually an aim – but finding the love of your life is an extra bonus as Hazera Bibi and Anthony Forth discovered.

The couple married six years after graduating from Luton and now live in Bedford and are planning a family.

Hazera and Anthony both graduated in 1996 but they didn’t start going out together until they had both left and found jobs. While Hazera has stayed on track with her media career, Anthony has veered off into IT. He is back at the University of Luton as senior ICT development co-ordinator in the Business Development department.
He said: “We met as students and were friends but didn’t go out together until nine months after we left the University – we were part of a group of friends making our way through first jobs but still living in Luton."

“When I left I used my media degree to get a job in a PR office in London – they introduced a huge IT system – but had no idea how to use it when the IT person left. I ended up learning how the system worked and making a new career for myself in IT. It’s not as different as it sounds, as when I did the media course, I had gravitated towards the technical side."

“I came back here in 1998 and was in an IT support role before this present job which is varied and interesting. I have to use my own initiative and like to take on the new challenges it brings.”

Hazera has recently joined Milton Keynes General Hospital’s NHS Trust as Deputy Information Manager – she began her career in a healthcare company and went on to NHS Direct when it was launched. She’s moved on to develop her career in the NHS.

Hazera said: “I am looking forward to a long and rewarding career in the health service.”

The couple are both studying for Masters degrees. “I am in the second year of an MA in Health Informatics, run by Sheffield Hallam University,” said Hazera. “Anthony is studying for an MSc in Internet Technologies."

The couple got married in Brighton but still have their hearts in Luton.
Anthony said: “I came to Luton when it first opened as a uni - it has really changed. It is much more dynamic now, a fun place, especially with the international dimension, which gives the whole place a buzz. Students coming here now will find it has a great atmosphere, it’s friendly and very student centred. Luton has a lot going for it.”

Interview took place in 2005