AN ABERYSTWYTH University graduate has been named one of Debrett’s 500 most influential people in Britain and one of the 20 most influential in education.

Natasha Devon MBE founded the Self-Esteem Team, which visits an average of four schools per week all over the UK delivering award-winning workshops and presentations on mental health, body image and exam stress. To date, Natasha’s team have worked with more than 60,000 British teenagers.

In August last year, Natasha was named the government’s mental health tsar, advising the Minister for Education and Childcare on matters rel­ating to mental wellbeing in the classroom. In her role, she has already proven herself to be feisty and an outspoken advocate for the rights of teachers as well as young people.

Debretts 500 comprises the most influential and inspiring people in their fields in any given year.

After being named in the education category, Natasha, who studied English at Aberystwyth, said: “This is a real honour. I’d like to thank Aberystwyth University for the part they played in my own education and Wales for being an awe-inspiring place that made me believe anything was possible”.