The Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Staff Excellence 2024

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Early-Career Teacher of the Year recognises and rewards staff who are within their first three years of teaching and have made a significant contribution to enhancing students’ learning experience, and quality of learning. 

This year's nominees are:  Dr Georgia Bowers, Nick Frymann, Dr Nana-Fatima Ozeto

Dr Georgia Bowers, Lecturer, Guildford School of Acting

In 2023, Georgia joined GSA as the Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Applied and Contemporary Theatre - a relatively new course that previously didn’t have a specialist in Applied Theatre. Georgia undertook the Curriculum Design Review within the first weeks of her employment, ensuring that the degree would nurture and launch the next generation of theatre makers. She enhanced the student experience by securing work placements with leading arts organisations and hosting trips/masterclasses with institutions such as the Royal Albert Hall, Frantic Assembly and Chicken Shed.

In 2024, Georgia received 100% in the Individual Lecturers Questions (MEQs) for three modules, and she has been commended for bringing identity, cohesion, focus and clear direction to the Applied and Contemporary Theatre course.

Georgia is deeply passionate about passing on her love for Applied and Contemporary Theatre to her students and actively works to promote a caring, vibrant, respectful and fun environment for her students to thrive.

Nick Frymann, Lecturer, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering

Nick has made significant contributions to teaching and learning innovation in the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering. His focus on integrating industry-strength technologies for streamlined assessment into the curricula encourages students to independently improve their problem solving and technical skills, allowing for scalability to large student numbers whilst offering personalised feedback. He has introduced a new module, Ethical Hacking and Pentesting, demonstrating his dedication to aligning the curriculum with real-world problems which contributes to our status as an Academic Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security Education.

Beyond teaching, Nick has lead technological innovations that support the student experience, including solutions for improving SurreyLearn’s usability, customising the IT provision to improve the AI experience for Computer Science students, and a new technology-enhanced scavenger hunt exercise during welcome week to encourage teamwork and interaction. He has also champions supporting student societies, for example, running hackathons that students that enhances our students' skills.

Dr Nana-Fatima Ozeto, Lecturer, School of Psychology

Fatima enhances cultural responsiveness through an inclusive curriculum that integrates diverse perspectives, supporting students' personal and academic growth. By connecting her teaching to students’ experiences, she fosters a strong sense of belonging and increases motivation to learn. Recognised by students for creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment, Fatima promotes critical engagement with social psychological concepts, encouraging students to reflect on their cultural relevance and limitations when applied universally.

Fatima’s dedication extends to impactful research that informs evidence-based practices in inclusive educational design. Her contributions to research on decolonising the curriculum and the use of diversity statements in teaching demonstrate her commitment to inclusive teaching practices that enhance student outcomes. She is determined to improve the student learning experience through an inclusive curriculum that supports retention, success, and contributes to a more equitable and diverse academic environment.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teacher of the Year recognises and rewards staff who have been teaching at the University of Surrey for three or more years and have made a significant contribution to enhancing students’ learning experience and the quality of their learning. 

This year's nominees are:  Dr Sarah Hack, Stella Kazamia, Dr Christopher Wiley

Dr Sarah Hack, Lecturer, School of Psychology

As a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives, Sarah is committed to supporting students to achieve their potential, regardless of their prior educational experiences. Sarah is the Director of the Psychology Foundation Year, leading in the development of inclusive teaching and learning experiences to enable the FY students, typically comprising under-represented and disadvantaged groups, to fulfil their potential. Her commitment to inclusivity is further demonstrated as the Widening Participation and Outreach tutor for the School of Psychology.

Sarah is one of the University’s leading ambassadors for innovation in education. Her work is informed by her ongoing commitment to research-informed teaching and continuous professional development. Sarah has disseminated ideas and practice through Surrey Excites and SIoE showcases, as well as an invited speaker at external events. Recently Sarah has focused on the implications of GenAI for learning and teaching, and as a member of the AIEIO group has influenced much of the training and support offered by SIoE for staff and students.

Stella Kazamia, Senior Lecturer, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, and Director of Employability

Stella places the student experience at the forefront and has made significant contributions through innovative teaching methods and meaningful student-staff collaborations. Her highly interactive teaching style remains effective even with large cohorts (200+ students), as praised by both students and staff. Since joining the University, Stella has made substantial contributions to Programming and Software Engineering at Levels 4 and 5 and has influenced the curriculum by including a Level 6 module that reflect the diverse career opportunities a Computer Science degree can offer.

Stella’s teaching approach emphasises on fostering students' independent skills and self-improvement. The integration of automated formative feedback in her modules has been instrumental in this and has since become a model for other modules within the School. Recently, she launched the Green Tech Jam, a curricular hackathon that integrates sustainability into software engineering education.

Stella also has a profound impact on student learning and employability outcomes in her role as Director of Employability, ensuring both undergraduate and postgraduate students are equipped with the skills and industry insights necessary to thrive in the competitive job market.

Dr Christopher Wiley, Senior Lecturer and Head of Music and Media

Christopher is the University’s longest-standing National Teaching Fellow and Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE, and holds postgraduate degrees in both Academic Practice and Music. His pedagogic research has been widely published, and he has delivered learning and teaching workshops at a dozen UK universities and conference papers across Europe and beyond. He is known for teaching innovations including patchworks texts, incorporating AI use in assessment, and electronic voting systems, for which he served for ten years as International Distinguished Educator with Turning Technologies.

In 2024, he demonstrated worldwide leadership in his field through bringing the three-day ‘Music and the University’ biennial international conference to Surrey. Contributing to 25 different modules last year alone, his current MEQ average is 97%, and he regularly performs with several Surrey student music ensembles on multiple instruments.

As BMus Music Programme Leader from 2019–24, he has been key to Surrey’s success as No. 1 University in the UK for Music in two national league tables.

The Vice-Chancellor's Award for Postgraduate Researcher of the Year recognises exceptional postgraduate researchers based on the excellence and breadth of their cumulative research achievements and acknowledging those who are on a rising trajectory, actively contributing to their field and achieving meaningful impact through their work.

This year’s nominees are: Gul Hameed, Dr Gilang M Majid, Mary Phillips

Gul Hameed, Postgraduate Researcher, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering

Gul, a mechanical and renewable energy engineer turned chemical and process systems engineer, has been at the University since 2022, completing his MSc. Currently pursuing a PhD, he aspires to inspire the people by challenging the frontiers of science and technology, and becoming an expert in sustainable processes.   

His research spans both laboratory work and computational engineering. Beyond pure research, he has delivered seminars and hosted energy decarbonisation workshops in the UK, Malaysia and the Philippines. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and attended a conference in Italy. He also oversees the development and utilisation of DECarbonation Options (DECO2) software that supports decarbonisation journeys of the developing countries. 

Gul leads student sustainability efforts as a lead founding member and president of the newly started Student Energy Chapter at the University and plans collaborations on sustainability-related initiatives with societies and organisations within the University and the community. 

Dr Gilang M Majid, Postgraduate Researcher, Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management

Completing his PhD in under three years, Gilang has published high-impact research in prestigious tourism journals, including the Journal of Travel Research and the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, focusing on efforts to promote artificial intelligence for sustainable tourism. He also contributed to the development of the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024.  

Beyond academia, Gilang has founded the RPIN Foundation, which provides free mentorship programs for underprivileged youth in Ngawi, Indonesia. The programme's five-module curriculum empowers students with skills in public speaking, life management, and technology and has achieved regional recognition.  

Additionally, Gilang’s participation in international research programmes in three different countries through the Locus Work Placement, Erasmus+, and Turing schemes demonstrates his ability to bridge academic research with real-world impact. His achievements reflect a unique blend of academic excellence, professional leadership, and community dedication.

Mary Phillips, Postgraduate Researcher, School of Biosciences

Mary commenced her PhD (part time) in October 2019. She is motivated to undertake research to improve the clinical care of patients with pancreatic disease, a field she has worked in as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Dietitian) for over 20 years.  

Since starting her PhD, Mary has secured two grants, published 19 papers (nine as first author); led the UK guidelines for the management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency; worked on three European pancreatic guidelines; published a book: ‘Nutritional Management of the Surgical Patient (2023)’ and presented her work in Europe, Asia, America and Australasia.  

Mary was invited to join the Scientific Committee of ‘United European Gastroenterology’ in 2023, (the first non-medic), and teaches on their Masterclass in chronic pancreatitis. She is Associate Editor of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vice-chair of the Pancreatic Cancer UK optimal care pathway committee, and a collaborative/clinical supervisor for another PhD student. 

The Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research Supervisor of the Year recognises an individual or supervisory team who has/have created the most supportive, stimulating, and inspirational research environment for their postgraduate researchers during their time at the University.  

This year’s nominees are: Dr Bing Guo, Dr Albert Kimbu, Dr Rose-Marie Satherley

Dr Bing Guo, Senior Lecturer, School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Bing is nominated for her dedication to her students' research and career development. She provides outstanding mentorship, fostering a positive, supportive, and collaborative research environment, where PGRs and postdocs support each another.  

Bing views each student as an individual with unique talents, offering personalized guidance that acknowledges and celebrates cultural and personal differences. She promotes professional development and leadership by encouraging teaching experience, public engagement, and visibility at international conferences. Her leadership extends to building national and international partnerships, enhancing students' research experiences and networking opportunities.

Her mentorship has led to numerous achievements of each individual, including conference presentations with awards, ECR funding, published manuscripts, and successful organization of workshops and events. Additionally, Dr Guo raises awareness and participation on EDI, for example, ECR culture and Women’s Engineering Society.

Her commitment to research culture, student-centred guidance, and EDI, exemplify the qualities of an outstanding research supervisor. 

Dr Albert Kimbu, Reader, Surrey Hospitality and Tourism Management

Albert’s commitment to creating an inclusive, amicable, supportive, stimulating, collaborative and inspirational research environment grounded in mutual respect and trust which respects and values the individual strengths of each student has been critical to the progress of his four current PGRs and success of his nine graduates.  

By consistently demonstrating excellent leadership, steadfast commitment, exceptional mentorship, and actively seeking out opportunities for them, Albert inspires his PGRs to not only strive to do their best research but importantly to be confident, ambitious and forward thinking, leading to wider recognition within and beyond Surrey, and engendering further developmental and professional opportunities for them.  

Relatedly, he is a committed team player who provides mentorship to ECRs in his supervisory teams and is always ready to step in and take on added supervisory responsibilities when needed, and thereby ensuring PGRs continue to get the quality support and guidance needed to progress with their projects without disruptions. 

Dr Rose-Marie Satherley, Lecturer, School of Psychology

Rosie is an inspiring research supervisor who has mentored 43 postgraduate researchers, with nine successful completions this year, guiding them to make significant contributions to academia and healthcare. Specialising in the psychological impact of long-term conditions, her supportive and inclusive supervision has led students to publish in top journals, secure competitive grants, and apply their research in clinical settings.   

Rosie’s commitment to real-world impact is clear through her NHS collaborations, where one student developed a self-help psychological resource for children with gastrointestinal distress, now integrated into NHS practice. She also secures opportunities for her students’ professional growth, funding two to attend an international conference, where they built their networks and forged valuable connections—one with industry and the other with patient involvement for their research.   

Rosie also supports the next generation of supervisors, leading national workshops, and mentoring colleagues at the University of Surrey to develop impactful, student-centred research supervision. 

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Researcher of the Year recognises colleagues whose recent research has successfully challenged dogma, created a new field of research, elucidated a new paradigm, made a fundamental change in thinking, or had a significant impact on society.  

This year’s nominees are: Dr YingFei Héliot, Prof Michael Pluess, Prof Jhuma Sadhukhan

Dr YingFei Héliot, Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour, Surrey Business School 

YingFei is a leading academic in the study of religious identity.  Her research challenges the prevailing taboo surrounding the expression of religious beliefs at work and demonstrates that expression can be construed positively in diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives promoting an engaged workforce opening the field to new lines of inquiry.

The scope of influence of her research includes her seminal paper’s Altimetric top 5% score, the publication of 18 academic research outputs, and citation in the NHS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Improvement Plan (2024) as the ‘case for change’ impacting over 1.2 million NHS employees. She was featured on People Management as a leading academic, a keynote speaker for the NHS annual summit, and Chair of the first UK government conference on ‘Religion and Belief Inclusion at Work’. 

Her revolutionary and seminal research promotes a fundamental thinking change demonstrating the complementarity role of religious identity in encouraging the cultivation of psychologically safe environments. 

Prof Michael Pluess, Professor of Developmental Psychology, School of Psychology

Michael’s research focuses on Environmental Sensitivity, Positive Development, and Mental Health in Humanitarian Crises, particularly in refugee populations. His ‘Biological Pathways of Risk and Resilience in Syrian Refugee Children’ (BIOPATH) study investigates the mental health impact of war and displacement on 1,600 Syrian refugee families in Lebanon.

His work reveals the significant mental health burden among refugee children, linking war exposure to lasting molecular changes. His findings indicate that current living conditions, including caregiver health, often impact children more than war exposure. Notably, his work shows that phone-delivered therapy in humanitarian settings effectively overcomes treatment barriers and improves access, highlighting the urgent need for family-inclusive, innovative mental health interventions. 

Prof Jhuma Sadhukhan, Associate Head (Research and Innovation), School of Sustainability, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Jhuma co-leads strategic large interdisciplinary UKRI grants of over £38million. A Chartered Engineer, Chartered Scientist, Fellow IChemE, and a world-leading innovator at the nexus of sustainability, engineering, AI and global healthcare, Jhuma has successfully challenged traditional approaches and created a new paradigm in lifecycle-inspired resource-efficient climate-resilient systems integrating molecules to supply chains, adopted across diverse global sectors, from healthcare to manufacturing.

She advances sustainable bioproducts as the UK lead of the prestigious $14million Global Bioeconomy Center (one of six NSF/UKRI and four countries-funded centers worldwide). As co-lead of the £14million UKRI-ELEMENTAL-Hub, she advances metals’ circularity. As a BBSRC Strategic Advisory Panel member, she helps shape the UK’s £100million Engineering Biology Mission for the circular net-zero bioeconomy. With ten publications annually, including 4* first-authored, her versatile interdisciplinary research spans FEPS, FABSS, and FHMS, advancing engineering biology, AI for net-zero to pioneering hospitality-tourism carbon calculators. 

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Innovator of the Year is presented to an individual who has developed an outstanding innovative product, technology, process or service that clearly demonstrates an economic, social or environmental benefit to society.  

This year’s nominees are: Prof Melissa Hamilton, Dr Izabela Jurewicz, Dr Carlos Maluquer de Motes

Prof Melissa Hamilton, Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, Surrey Law School

Melissa is nominated for her work in developing a comprehensive toolkit for sexual misconduct investigations within UK higher education institutions. Building on a foundation of decades of research and teaching on issues of sexual misconduct in criminal justice and educational settings across North America and Europe, Melissa recognised a critical need for specialized training in UK universities. She led an interdisciplinary team to create a resource addressing complex issues such as trauma-informed interviewing, perpetrator strategies, and the neurobiology of trauma.

The toolkit, which includes a widely praised consent diagram, has transformed the way universities handle misconduct cases, providing practical exercises and decision-making guides that empower higher education staff to manage cases more effectively and compassionately. Over a dozen institutions and counting, have adopted the toolkit, generating revenue for Surrey and reinforcing institutional best practices. Melissa has also contributed thought leadership through free webinars, publications, and expert guidance on regulatory changes, significantly advancing justice and support systems in academia. 

Dr Izabela Jurewicz, Lecturer in Soft Matter, School of Mathematics and Physics

Izabela's nomination highlights her work with thermochromic vaccine vial monitors to indicate vaccine safety. Her research has a global impact, particularly in low-income countries, as it provides verification of the handling and storage conditions for vaccines transported to reach hard-to-access regions. 

An innovator with interdisciplinary expertise, Izabela leads the Interdisciplinary Research on Interface Structures (IRIS) Group, focusing on self-assembly of nanomaterials and colloidal photonic crystals. 

Following her award of the business-hosted UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, Izabela now also serves as Chief Scientific Officer at Advanced Material Development (AMD) Ltd. She has received a number of fellowships from UKRI and EPSRC and a UKRI innovation award. She is well-respected within both industry and academia as a thought leader and a figurehead of innovation, serving as an inspirational role model for translating research into impactful solutions. 

Dr Carlos Maluquer de Motes, Reader in Molecular Virology, School of Biosciences

Carlos leads a research group studying how viruses interact with our immune system, with the aim of addressing two of the most exciting and universal questions in virology: how our cells recognise virus infection and how viruses escape these processes. Carlos then uses this information to understand host responses to infection and inform the design of therapeutic interventions, effectively merging discovery science with translational research.

With specific training on poxviruses, Carlos and his group are at the forefront of the UK response to the recent global Mpox outbreaks, being a pillar of the UK Mpox Research Consortium and developing a new vaccine and diagnostic tool against it.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, Carlos has over 45 publications, is supported by BBSRC and MRC grants, and serves in several international committees.

The Vice-Chancellor's Award for Wellbeing, Health and Safety recognises colleagues who excel in fostering a safe, supportive environment and promoting a culture of care. It celebrates outstanding contributions to health, safety, and wellbeing, recognising exceptional efforts to enhance practices within departments. The award also highlights innovative approaches to improving physical and mental wellbeing and acknowledges leaders who champion mental health awareness and create open, supportive workplace environments.

This year’s nominees are: Revd Canon Duncan Myers, the Wellbeing Team, Lisa Wernick

Revd Canon Duncan Myers, Anglican Chaplain, Religious Life and Belief

Duncan makes a profound difference in the lives of many students and staff through his constant presence, support, and genuine care. He embodies warmth, love, and compassion, reaching out to students of all faiths and none, and ensuring that every individual feels seen and supported.

Duncan initiated weekly outreach stalls in KGB and the Vet School, where he provides countless hot drinks to students and staff, creating a welcoming atmosphere and building strong support networks. Many in these departments know him by name and turn to him for pastoral care, recognizing him as a trusted figure who is always ready to listen. He has persistently advocated for the establishment of a Hive on Manor Park, where he now serves as a consistent pastoral presence, supporting those who might feel isolated.

Additionally, Duncan has been a steadfast advocate for Christmas provisions for students staying on campus over the festive period. One of Duncan's most significant initiatives has been the establishment of a Bereavement Group in collaboration with the Students' Union, offering vital support to students and staff who have experienced loss.

The Wellbeing team (Pictured l-r): Catherine Stott, Emily Boucher, Emma Marrow (Not pictured: Ella Barrett, Vicky Paterson)

This cross-departmental team is nominated for their fantastic, tenacious work promoting, communicating and delivering Staff Wellbeing. Among many highlights, Catherine has transformed the Wellbeing Champions into a focused and well-equipped group and, in collaboration with Vicky, co-designed an internal wellbeing training plan. To inform newcomers to Surrey, they integrated wellbeing support into the staff induction and new managers’ training, emphasising its importance.

As the community of wellbeing volunteers grew stronger, Emily and Emma co-led the community, bringing diverse perspectives from Student Services and Finance, while Ella created the ‘Staff Wellbeing Hub’— a central haven of effective resources, tools, and expertise to support colleagues in any situation.

Collectively, this group has been actively promoting this fantastic resource through various communications and roadshows. They have received excellent feedback, significantly raising awareness about this crucial topic.

Lisa Wernick, Student Placements and Employability Administrator, Student Success

Lisa dedicates herself to supporting the wellbeing of students and staff. She volunteers as the Wellbeing Champion for Employability and Careers, and as the lead for Disability and Neuroinclusion in the Placements Team, and provides considered and thoughtful advice, resources and support to students and staff within Employability and Careers in relation to Disability and Neuroinclusion. In addition, she attends regular meetings with the Wellbeing Champions Group and the Disability and Neuroinclusion Department and shares informative and useful information and resources.

Lisa works closely with students who require additional support with their placement applications and whilst on placement. In addition, she has developed an EDI video for students, accessible on Professional Training SurreyLearn pages, and been active in improving the EDI pages on Surrey Pathfinder.

Her standout achievement has been the recent launch of the University’s first ‘Staff Wellbeing Room’ located in Senate House. This initiative underscores her commitment and perseverance in providing a safe space for colleagues feeling overwhelmed.

The Vice-Chancellor's Award for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion recognises an individual member of staff who has substantially contributed to the development and/or celebration of our diverse and inclusive culture by, for example, acting as a positive role model who consistently champions equality, diversity and inclusion, or developing events and activities with demonstrated outcomes.  

This year’s nominees are: Jo McCarthy-Holland, Pranay Shakya

Jo McCarthy-Holland, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Human Resources

Jo’s dedication and work in the EDI space have transformed the University and set a standard for others to follow.

Her leadership in EDI at Surrey is unparalleled, especially in advancing gender equality. Through the Springboard Women’s Development Programme, Jo has empowered countless women at Surrey, with over a quarter of attendees achieving promotions.

Among other initiatives, she has spearheaded the sector-leading menopause programme, providing essential support and resources for staff experiencing menopause, and created the Parents Returners Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to support parents returning to work after a career break.

Additionally, Jo collaborates with colleagues to secure and implement Athena Swan (AS) Charters. Institutionally, Surrey has a Silver level charter, with all schools now holding their own charter status—a remarkable achievement attained by very few Higher Education institutions. 

Pranay Shakya, MySurrey Hive Case Coordinator, Student Experience

As Chair of the Surrey Embracing Ethnic Diversity (SEED) Network, Pranay has demonstrated outstanding leadership in fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment at the University.

His efforts in developing key initiatives such as the SEED Allyship Programme, Diversity Walk and Culture Week have significantly promoted EDI values and inspired staff engagement. In 2023, Pranay trained 53 staff members for the SEED Allyship Programme, followed by another 33 in 2024, showcasing his commitment to empowering colleagues to advocate for inclusivity.

One of his most notable achievements is the SEED Listening Circle, which provided a safe, open space for staff in the aftermath of the August 2024 race riots, helping to foster a sense of belonging during a difficult time.

Pranay has also been instrumental in connecting BAME staff members and organising events that enhance community engagement. His work inspires others to embrace diversity and challenge discrimination.

The Vice-Chancellor's Award for Public and Community Engagement recognises colleagues or teams who have excelled in public engagement activities over the past year, enhancing the University's impact and reputation. This includes involving the public in research, sharing its benefits with non-academic audiences, or contributing to societal improvements through stakeholder or policy engagement. This award is open to any member of staff whose efforts have been over and above their normal core duties, and for whom public engagement is not their main role.

This year’s nominees are: Prof Prashant Kumar, the SpaceCraft Team, Dr Andrew Rogoyski

Prof Prashant Kumar, Chair, School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Prashant, recently honoured with the prestigious Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award (often called the "Nobel Prize in Clean Air"), is an uncommon academic recognised for his dedication to public engagement and citizen science in addressing air pollution. He founded the Guildford Living Lab, which unites researchers, the public, and local communities in sustainable initiatives, and serves as a trustee of Zero Carbon Guildford (ZERO).

A fantastic ambassador for Surrey, Prashant is in his element talking passionately about his research to diverse audiences and is well-known and regarded by local stakeholders and in the community.

His research solely informed the Mayor of London’s clean air in school’s pilot and his appearance at the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s inquiry into green urban spaces helped ensure evidence-based recommendations in the public interest.

Prashant's passion for improving city environments has not only advanced research but also empowered communities to make healthier, more informed choices.

The SpaceCraft team, Surrey Space Centre (pictured standing, l-r): Paul Morris, Maria Campbell, Luca Ferrian. (Pictured seated, l-r): Prof Keith Ryden and Prof Craig Underwood. (Not pictured: Moe Ahmed)

The SpaceCraft team at Surrey Space Centre has been incredibly active in making space more accessible to prospective students and to small businesses wanting to get ahead in the sector.

The team’s key engagements have included: exhibits at four national space shows including UKSpace (Belfast) and Farnborough International; visiting colleges and presenting at school careers fairs; and helping to develop a new Space Hub at Alton College.

This involved working closely with staff and students at Alton College to develop the new hands-on, 1-week, SpaceCraft course for 16–18-year-olds to allow them to experience the fun and exhilaration of space engineering before making career or HE-pathway choices. Twenty students at six local FE institutions have already participated and there is a waiting list of five more colleges. 

SpaceCraft has also opened up SSC’s specialist facilities and expertise to local space businesses and organisations to help get their payloads into space: 27 have approached SSC so far and 11 have already benefited from the facilities.

Dr Andrew Rogoyski, Director of Partnerships & Innovation, Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI

Andrew is a highly effective communicator, generous with his time seizing engagement opportunities that harness Surrey’s AI insights to deliver profile and impact for the University.  

Andrew has represented the University at national party conferences, advocating a people-centred approach at a range of high-profile policy events on AI regulation and the impact of AI in the creative industries. This activity has also brought senior policymakers to campus.

Whether working with colleagues on government consultations or select committee inquiries, developing policy briefs, or making AI digestible for the public at countless local events – from Pint of Science to the South East 7 (reaching CEOs from seven county councils), Andrew is committed to ensuring Surrey’s People-centred AI voice is heard.  

Crucially, he is politically savvy enough to discuss what could otherwise be sensitive matters - delivering substantial additional reach to the public and policymakers via coverage.

The Vice-Chancellor's Award for Leadership recognises an individual member of staff who has exhibited strong and effective leadership (or potential) by undertaking activities either formally through their role or simply by taking responsibility when leadership was required to achieve a particular goal.  

This year's nominees are: Prof Esat Alpay, Hollie Baker, Abigail Bradbeer

Prof Esat Alpay, Associate Dean (Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Esat works tirelessly to make a positive difference in student experience and outcomes, seamlessly bridging the demands of academia and Professional Services to drive the University towards its mission.

His strategic thinking, meticulous planning, and ability to inspire colleagues have been instrumental in helping the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences to achieve its goals but, importantly, Esat strives to support all colleagues, irrespective of their School, and will frequently go above and beyond seeking a solution.

His pragmatic approach has been invaluable in many areas including Confirmation and Clearing, where his ability to analyse data with personal insights from across the University leads to decisions that are informed and widely supported, and international student recruitment, particularly in helping enhance academic-marketing / recruitment / admission collaboration and exploring partnership-based recruitment and transnational education opportunities.  

Moreover, Esat has been instrumental in raising the profile of equality, diversity and inclusion matters in teaching in FEPS.

Hollie Baker, Associate Director, Student Success

Hollie’s dedication to supporting colleagues and students, prospective and current, is exceptional.

Since starting as a Widening Participation Officer in 2012, she has supported under-represented learners with a consistent care and empathy to all, and since being promoted to Associate Director of Student Success, she has led the extensive project of writing the University’s Access and Participation Plan and implemented key objectives and met targets within the University’s employability and careers provision.

Pragmatic, positive and hardworking, Hollie’s passion for widening access and student success shines through everything she does, especially when discussing new ideas and initiatives that will benefit learners.

She has led on the Kings College Guildford partnership, helped to steer the Higher Education Outreach Network and managed the Student Success and EDI team in recent years.

Furthermore, Hollie has played a pivotal role in shaping the safeguarding policy, registration and welcome week processes.

Abigail Bradbeer, School Manager, Surrey Business School

Abi has consistently played a pivotal role in the management of Surrey Business School, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment.

Her supportive, calm and approachable nature brings out the best in all who work with her.

This year she faced significant challenges, including Faculty and School restructure, and significant staff changes, which she tackled calmly, with professionalism and positivity. 

As the leader of the Professional Services team, she has not only effectively managed daily operations but has also empowered her team to thrive and grow. Her oversight of critical initiatives in SBS has been instrumental in driving the school's success, ensuring SBS consistently meets its strategic goals in education, research, and external engagement.

Her dedication and collaborative approach have made a lasting impact on the school’s achievements. 

The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Colleague of the Year recognises an individual member of staff who has markedly and consistently enhanced the working environment of other staff in the University, and exemplified our core values: Inclusion, Inspiration, Innovation and Integrity.  

This year’s nominees are: Lucinda Ditchfield, Kim Hart and Laura Smythson

Lucinda Ditchfield, Campus Welcome Manager, Campus Services 

Lucy will do everything in her power to help and support anyone who comes through the door, whether they be a colleague, a student, or a visitor. Always helpful, positive and knowledgeable, she makes time to help everybody and goes above and beyond to assist.

Considerate and collegiate, she always brings as many people as possible across different directorates around the table, ensuring they are kept up to date and feel able to share their opinions.

Lucy is always looking for ways to evolve the Campus Welcome offering, including an enhanced key collection package for conference visitors, compiling information from across the institution and leading on a new virtual reception programme.

She always holds herself to the highest of standards and her strong understanding of both the commercial and customer service aspects of the business makes her an invaluable asset to the University.

Kim Hart, Head of Accommodation, Campus Services

Kim’s contribution to Surrey over the last 10 years has been truly immense. Described as a dedicated, supportive, and invaluable member of the University, her consistent contributions as Head of Accommodation have had a profound impact on student experience and wellbeing, as well as the smooth running of campus operations.

Kim is a beacon of common sense, able to resolve urgent, complex problems while offering unfailing, pragmatic support to her colleagues. Her positive influence extends across the University, balancing the needs of individual students with the wider student body, as well as leading and considering the welfare of her team. 

This is reflected in the wide range of nominations she has received from across the community, praising her wealth of knowledge, experience and compassion.

Laura Smythson, Associate Director Student Wellbeing and Disability, CSO

An expert in the health and wellbeing of Surrey students and colleagues, Laura works tirelessly to ensure that the appropriate services and support are in place for all those studying and working on campus.

The success of the Centre of Wellbeing is down to her expert leadership and the unwavering support she offers to all the team. By always considering different opinions and views, the teams always feel listened too, supported and empowered.

With integrity and compassion, Laura creates the conditions for colleagues to be the best versions of themselves, which translates to improved services for students and beneficial relationships with partner agencies.

Over the last year Laura has faced the challenge of increasing demand for her services with a spirit of innovation, continually looking at different modes of delivery. She has led on work on both the University Mental Health Charter and Access and Participation Plan.