Our Distinguished Achievement Award winners for 2023
29 Jun 2023
Announcing the winners of this year’s Distinguished Achievement Awards
Each year, the President and Vice-Chancellor invites nominations for the prestigious Distinguished Achievement Awards.
Taking place on Wednesday, 28 June, the President and Vice-Chancellor Nancy Rothwell, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, Patrick Hackett, Professor Judy Williams, Associate Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students, and Colette Fagan, Vice President for Research, presented the winners with their awards in Whitworth Hall.
Distinguished Achievement Awards recognise staff and students who have made outstanding contributions in one of the following categories: Researcher, Postgraduate Researcher, Teacher, Undergraduate Student, or as a member or team from the Professional Services or the Cultural Institutions.
The winners are chosen for their outstanding performances and significant contributions to the University.
Professional Services and Cultural Institutions award winners
Presenting the awards for Professional Services and Cultural Institutions, Patrick Hackett said: “It gives me immense personal pride that we have this opportunity to showcase the best of what we do in Professional Services.
“For both the individual and team awards, the judges were looking for outstanding contributions, plus evidence of how the individuals or teams have shown flexibility and agility and a willingness to embrace new challenges and change and, also, to show their determination to continuously improve.”
Team Winners:
- Large team: The Counselling and Mental Health Service
- Small team: Humanitarian Scholarships Team
Individual Award Winners:
- Steve Fawcett, Senior Business Analyst, IT Services (ITS)
- Michelle Munson, Student Communications Officer, Student Communications and Marketing, Directorate of Communications and Marketing
- Brenda Lomax, Domestic Assistant, House Services, Directorate of Estates and Facilities
Read the citations for the winners of Professional Services and Cultural Institutions
PS&CI highly commenced nominations
Researchers of the Year
Presenting the awards for Researcher of the Year Colette Fagan said: “We have more than 4000 staff doing research at Manchester and the very best are represented in these awards, so I am delighted to have this opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our three Researchers of the Year.
“They have been selected by the judges on the basis that their recent research has successfully challenged dogma, created a new field of research, elucidated a new paradigm, made a fundamental change to thinking, or impacted significantly on society.”
Our Researchers of the Year 2023:
- Professor Michael Brockhurst, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Dr Amir Farmahini, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Professor Tine Buffel, Faculty of Humanities
Read the citations for our Researchers of the Year
Postgraduate Research Students of the Year
“Our postgraduate researchers make a vital contribution to our research community and successors at our university” said Colette Fagan. “They are the pipeline of future research leaders in universities and in the research and innovation activities in all sectors across the world and the very best are represented here today.
“I am delighted to have this opportunity to celebrate their achievements. They have been selected by the judges on the basis that they have excelled in some significant manner, for example, after the presentation of a thesis based on the recommendation of the external examiner; a major research achievement during their postgraduate studies such as a high-quality journal publication, a research spin-off, or other forms of impact.”
Our Postgraduate Research Students of the Year:
- Dr John McDermott, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Max Mowbray, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Chantal Victoria Bright, Faculty of Humanities
Read the citations for the winners of Postgraduate Research Students of the Year
Undergraduate Students of the Year
“A university isn't a university without students and our students make this a vital and vibrant place” said Judy Williams, presenting the awards for Undergraduate Students of the Year. “When they graduate, we want them to have had first class teaching, developed as independent learners, and enjoyed an amazing Manchester student experience.
“The exceptionally high quality of the winners is a credit to our university and we are confident they have successful careers ahead of them, whatever path they choose to take.”
Our Undergraduate Students of the Year:
- George Obolo, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health
- Ho Yiu Nichole Cheung, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Khadhra Qani Osman, Faculty of Humanities
Read the citations for the winners of our Undergraduate Students of the Year
Teachers of the Year
“The University of Manchester is committed to excellence in both education and research” said Judy Williams presenting the award for Teachers of the Year, “and we're working hard to ensure there's parity of esteem between our research and our teaching, recognising that they're different but they're both equally important.
“What this means is finding and celebrating genuine excellence in education and recognizing how important that is to our mission as a successful university.
“These awards don't just recognise individuals, they recognise great, effective practice and they help us to highlight and also to spread that good practice all around our university.”
Our Teachers of the Year:
- Dr Stacey McKnight, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- Dr Akilu Yunusa-Kaltungo, Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Dr Anna Goatman, Faculty of Humanities
Read the citations for the winners of our Teachers of the Year
Watch:
Watch highlights from the 2023 Distinguished Achievement Awards
More information
- In September, Faculties and all members of staff will be invited to nominate individuals or teams at the 2024 Distinguished Achievement Awards. You can nominate a colleague in the Professional Services and Cultural Institutions, and General Distinguished Achievement Award categories on very rare occasions when the other categories of awards are not appropriate.
- Faculties will coordinate nominations for Distinguished Achievement Awards in the following categories: Teacher of the Year, Researcher of the Year, Undergraduate Student of the Year, and Postgraduate Student of the Year.