University Alliance are delighted to announce the shortlisted nominees for this year’s Alliance Awards.
Each of the nominees, whether an individual or team, has made a significant contribution to their university and local or global communities, going above and beyond to deliver substantial real-world impact.
With brand new categories launched this year (including the Teaching Innovation Award, the Global Impact and Industry Partnerships Award, to name just a few) the nominees include individuals and teams who have made a significant impact across different walks of university life.
The new award categories recognise core strengths of UA universities: from Global to Local Impact, to Innovation in Teaching and Research, as well as Industry Partnerships and Equity and Opportunity.
The shortlists for each award were selected by an independent panel of expert judges from across the higher education and research sector.
Judges were asked to score each nomination based on how relevant it was to the category, the extent to which the nominee had gone ‘above and beyond’ to achieve this work, and any standout achievements and milestones that demonstrated how impactful their work had been.
As with last year, nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award have been exclusively submitted by Vice-Chancellors for just one exceptional member of staff who has served their university over many years.
The winners will be announced at the Alliance Awards ceremony on 18 September, which will be hosted by the University of Hertfordshire.
University Alliance CEO Vanessa Wilson said:
“This year we have renewed the categories for the Alliance Awards – and the response has been phenomenal.
“We have received over 250 nominations across nine categories, and I continue to be awe-inspired by the range, the depth and the quality of the many individuals and teams across the Alliance.
“The judges’ shortlisting to decide the nominees was incredibly competitive and close, with some categories receiving over twenty-five nominations. This attests to the sky-high standard of work that goes on across Alliance Universities.
“In and of itself, it is a massive achievement to be nominated by your colleagues, and every single nominee has had a clear and demonstrable impact through their work. We are very proud of the many achievements of the Alliance community, and we continue to be impressed by the hard graft and shining talent that so typifies our members.
“To those who made the shortlists: many congratulations! I very much look forward to celebrating with you all in September.”
To view descriptions of each shortlisted nominee and their work, go to our meet the nominees page.
The Alliance Awards is kindly supported by: UCAS, Duolingo English Test, TechnologyOne and UA’s Doctoral Training Alliance.
Shortlisted nominees for the Alliance Awards 2025
Industry Partnerships Award
With thanks to our judges:
- Naomi Weir, Director of Innovation at the Confederation of Business and Industry (CBI)
- Tamsin Mann, Associate Director Senior Engagement, Knowledge Exchange UK
- Sharon Perry, Knowledge Transfer Advisor, Innovate UK
Shortlisted nominees:
- Careers and Employability Service, Middlesex University
- LGCHT Aviation team, University of West London
- Natalie Allen, Head of Business Partnerships, Leeds Beckett University
- Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, Teesside University
Teaching Innovation Award
With thanks to our judges:
- Vicki Stott, Chief Executive, Quality Assurance Agency
- Stephanie Harris, Director of Policy, Universities UK
- Alex Stanley, Vice President Higher Education, National Union of Students
Shortlisted nominees:
- Abigail Green, Associate Professor of Clinical Simulation, School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University
- The Future Skills workstream team, Kingston University
- Immersed Festival, University of South Wales
- Social Work Team, Anglia Ruskin University
Research and Innovation Impact Award
With thanks to our judges:
- Professor Chris Smith, Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council
- Chris Parr, Senior Editor, Research Professional News
- Suzanna Tomassi, Higher Education Specialist, Department of Business and Trade
Shortlisted nominees:
- Arnaud Aimale-Troy, Research Assistant at the University of South Wales
- Professor Katie Featherstone, Director of the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory at the University of West London
- Dr. Laura Abbott, Associate Professor (Research) at the University of Hertfordshire
- Dr. Mirna Guha, Deputy Head of School, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Anglia Ruskin University
Local Impact Award
Supported by UCAS
With thanks to our judges:
- Richard Brabner, Executive Chair, The UPP Foundation;
- Professor Graeme Atherton, Director of the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON);
- Stephen Jones, Policy Lead, Research & Innovation at the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB);
Shortlisted nominees:
- Denis Law Legacy Trust, Robert Gordon University
- Hope 4 The Community, Coventry University
- Teesside Sport, Teesside University
- Trusted Adult Scheme, Anglia Ruskin University
The Heroes Award
With thanks to our judges
- Martin Edmonson, Chief Executive Officer, The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services
- Sandra Booth, Director of Policy and External Relations, CHEAD
Shortlisted nominees:
- Dr Homeira Shayesteh, Senior Lecturer in Construction, Architecture and BIM at Middlesex University;
- Peter Garrod, University Secretary at the University of Greenwich;
- Thuy Mason, Senior Lecturer at Kingston University;
- UWE Bristol Centre for Music;
The Equity and Opportunity Award
Supported by Duolingo English Test
With thanks to our judges
- Andrew Disbury, Senior Advisor, Duolingo English Test
- Dani Glazzard, Head of Athena SWAN, Advance HE
Shortlisted nominees:
- Brighton Boost, University of Brighton
- Disability Team, Teesside University
- KU Cares – Young Adult Carer Support, Kingston University
- ‘That’s Me!’ Project Team, Birmingham City University
The Global Impact Award
With thanks to our judges:
- Anne Marie Graham, Chief Executive, UKCISA
- Colin Riordan, Secretary General, The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
- Beth Kennedy, Editor, The PIE News
Shortlisted nominees:
- Professor Michael Sweet, Professor of Molecular Ecology, University of Derby
- Dr Olly Bartlett, Senior Lecturer, University of Hertfordshire
- Dr Neelam Raina, Director of Research, Middlesex University
- Solar Cookers in Rwanda team, Coventry University
The DTA Alumni Award
Supported by the Doctoral Training Alliance.
With thanks to our judges:
- Sara Bellan, Policy and Research Officer, UK Council for Graduate Education
- Emma Cowley, Postdoctoral Researcher at the SHE Research Centre (Technological University of the Shannon) and Former DTA Alumni Award winner
- Helen Hampson, Head of Learning and Development, Vitae
Shortlisted nominees:
- Dr George Milev, Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate (KTP), Nottingham Trent University
- Ifrah Mussa, Senior Lecturer in Aerodynamics, Kingston University
- Kate Marks, Post Doctoral Research Associate, University of Durham (formerly at Leeds Beckett University)
- Dr Mahmoud Eltaweel, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, University of Hertfordshire
The Lifetime Achievement Award (nominated by UA members’ Vice-Chancellors)
With thanks to our judges:
- Raj Jethwa, Chief Executive Officer, UCEA (the Universities and Colleges Employers Association)
- The Rt Hon Robert Halfon, Former Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education
- Alistair Jarvis, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Partnerships and Governance, University of London
Nominees:
- Professor Andrew Turner, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Curriculum at Coventry University
- Professor Andrew Westby, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Greenwich
- Professor Bernadine Idowu, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, University of West London
- Beverly Wilson, Operations and Programme Office Manager at Kingston University
- Bev Millinchip, Head of People Growth and Potential at the University of Derby
- Professor Debra Humphris CBE, Vice-Chancellor, University of Brighton (2015-24)
- Dr. Gerry Rice, Dean for Students at UWE Bristol
- Professor Linda Lawton, Professor of Environmental Biology at Robert Gordon University
- Mark Cadwallader, Chief Executive Officer of USW’s Student Union
- Professor Mehmet Karamanoglu, Head of Department of Design Engineering and Mathematics, Middlesex University
- Professor Mike Leonard, Visiting Professor in Construction and Manufacturing at Birmingham City University
Read a description of all the nominees’ work on our ‘meet the nominees’ page.
About the Alliance Awards
The Alliance Awards are returning for their sixth year, this time hosted by the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield.
Representing 16 of the UK’s leading professional and technical universities, University Alliance founded the Awards to celebrate the innovation, commitment and excellence that exists across their membership.
The Alliance Awards are a chance to celebrate the hard work and dedication found across the Alliance’s membership. Individuals and teams will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to professional and technical education.
About University Alliance
University Alliance (UA) represents 16 of the country’s leading professional and technical universities. Our members specialise in working with industry and employers. Their teaching is hands-on, and designed to prepare students for careers. Their knowledge and research drive industry to innovate, thrive and meet challenges.
Our members are leading the way in innovation and business support in the green, tech, creative and healthcare industries. They are leading providers of teaching in healthcare, the creative arts and degree apprenticeships.
We collaborate as UA to benefit our members and their communities, and to provide expertise to policy makers.
University Alliance’s members are:
Anglia Ruskin University, Birmingham City University, University of Brighton, Coventry University, University of Derby, University of Greenwich, University of Hertfordshire, Kingston University, Leeds Beckett University, Middlesex University, Oxford Brookes University, Robert Gordon University, University of South Wales, Teesside University, University of West London, UWE Bristol.
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