Nduka Amakihe, a final-year MEng Aerospace Engineering student in the School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS), has been ranked 5th nationally on Powerlist Magazine's Future Leaders 2026/27 list.

Nduka represents Queen Mary among 150 rising Black leaders recognised from across the UK.

Alongside his degree, Nduka has been involved in multiple extra curricular groups and initiatives. He founded and led Team Polaris, one of four Queen Mary teams competing in the UK National Rocketry Championship, which launched in June 2026. Team Polaris' rocket was only one of four competing teams to clear every review gate and reach the pad.

Nduka also serves as Software Development Officer for the Aerospace Engineering Society, where he leads Mach Relay, a hypersonic re-entry simulation project, and as Head of Control Systems within the university's Electronics Society, helping prepare an unmanned aircraft for competition. He has now taken the responsibility of Aerospace Society president and Head of Operations at Aurora.

"This year's work has mostly happened out of view," Nduka said. "It means something to have it recognised at this scale, and it's given me more reason to keep pushing."

Congratulations to Nduka on this recognition.