Professional Services Excellence Awards winners announced

We are delighted to share the winners of the Professional Services Excellence Awards for 2024.

Nominations were collected from November 2024 through to January 2025, and a total of 146 nominations were made across the 7 award categories.

The winners were then selected by a cross institutional committee, with representation from all divisions and faculties selected by the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).

Due to the strength of many of the nominations made, a number of nominees were also highly commended across the award categories.

Excellence Award for Student Focus

Winner

Student Success Team, Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies

Highly Commended

Sexual Violence Liaison Advisors, Student Advice and Wellbeing Team

Excellence Award for Inclusivity

Individual winners

Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science
Nicola Koyama, Subject Leader Biosciences, School of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Faculty of Society and Culture
Yeni Aqoari, Senior Executive Support Officer, Faculty of Business and Law

Professional Services
Maria McShane, Health, Safety and Training Officer, Estate Development and Campus Services

Team winners

Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science
Clues in the Cues: Professor Amos Fatokun, Dr Bukola Fatokun, Postdoctoral Researcher Dr Yomi Benson

Faculty of Society and Culture
Supported Interns: Lol Baker, Griff Griffiths, Sue Morris and Daniel Taylor

Professional Services
Libraries Inclusive Recruitment Project: Paul Reece, Chris Burns, Michelle Allen, Pauline Dean, Kim Arnold, Jack Azzopardi, David Carrol and Andy Hayes

Excellence Award for Community          

Winner

Mariama Balde-Djaura, Schools and Colleges Account Manager, Outreach

Highly Commended

Legal Advice Centre Administrative Team, Faculty of Business and Law

Janine Melvin, Student Experience Officer, Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies

Excellence Award for Courage

Winners

Holly Keenan-Fallace, Technician, Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies

Maria Follett, Researcher Engagement and Collections Manager, Library Services

Highly Commended

Danielle Anderson, Head of Careers and Employability, Student Futures

Technical Excellence Award

Winner

Jennifer Thomson, Laboratory Assistant, Faculty of Science

Highly Commended

Biological and Environmental Sciences Technical Team, Faculty of Science

Katie Farrance, Technical Resource Manager Teaching, Faculty of Science

Administration Excellence Award       

Winner

Sam Scragg, Receptionist, Student Advice and Wellbeing Services

Highly Commended

Legal and Governance Services

Victoria Walters, Helpdesk Coordinator, Estate Development and Campus Services

Francesca Fradley, Student Recruitment Campaign Officer, Student Recruitment Marketing and Admissions

Estate Management and Campus Services Excellence Award    

Winner

Melisa Paz Sobrido, Helpdesk Team Leader, Estate Development and Campus Services

Highly Commended

Catering Team/Core Café, Estate Development and Campus Services

Security Team 4, Estate Development and Campus Services

More about the Professional Services Excellence Awards

Further information about the award categories is available on the staff webpages.

Staff celebration event

All winners and highly commended professional services staff, have been invited to a staff celebration event in March which will see both academic and professional services colleagues recognised by the university for their work over the past 12 months.