Vice-Chancellor's
Alumni Awards 2022
And the winner is...
Alumna of the Year
Professor Nicola Curtin
PhD Biochemistry, 1981
Outstanding Achievement
Dr Nicola Fox
MSc Telecommunications and Satellite Engineering, 1991
Young Achievers of the Year
Tom Berkeley and Ross White
BA Acting, 2017
Volunteer of the Year
Cled Cole
BSc Chemical Engineering, 1978
Outstanding Contribution to Surrey
Mike Banfield
BSc Eng Chemical and Process Engineering, 1958
Alumna of the Year
Professor Nicola Curtin
PhD Biochemistry, 1981
After graduating with a PhD in Biochemistry in 1981, Professor Nicola Curtin enjoyed a prestigious career in medical research and her work on PARP inhibitors has paved the way for novel cancer treatments across the globe.
An advert promoting a PhD position investigating liver cancer first brought Nicola to Surrey.
“I have fond memories of working under my supervisor, Dr Keith Snell,” she recalls. “We eventually discovered there were biochemical similarities between a naturally regenerating liver and one that was becoming cancerous. This suggested there were new potential routes for tackling liver cancer.”
Shortly after completing her PhD, Nicola joined the staff at Newcastle University, where her ground-breaking research into Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) - an enzyme that helps repair DNA - means we can now target cancer cells in certain patients without harming normal cells.
"If you inhibit PARP in a cell with mutant BRCA [cancer], it can’t repair its DNA either way and it dies," she explains.
“Most cancer treatments then involved either poisoning the cancer or damaging the cancer cells, so it kills them without hopefully killing all the healthy cells, too. Exploiting a defect in DNA repair that was specific to the cancer meant it was not going to be as toxic to the patient. It was a new concept in cancer therapy."
When Newcastle University sold part of its holding in Rubraca, a new cancer drug that had been approved for use on the NHS, Nicola received a royalty payment of £865,000, with which she set up the Curtin PARP (Passionate About Realising Your Potential) Fund. Its aim: to help disadvantaged people overcome barriers to education and employment.
“Winning the Alumna of the Year Award is a lovely thing," she said of her award. "Thousands of graduates who’ve done amazing things have studied at the University. To be selected out of all of those is a huge honour.
“Surrey got me started on my career path, so it’s nice to have it come full circle. I also hope that my experiences motivate other students to fulfil their dreams and to do their best. And not just for themselves, but for other people, too.”
Outstanding Achievement
Dr Nicola Fox
MSc Telecommunications and Satellite Engineering, 1991
After graduating from Surrey in 1991, Dr Nicola Fox launched a stellar career in space exploration. This year, she landed the prestigious and key role of Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
"I was inspired to come to Surrey because at the time they were the only UK university to have ever launched anything into space," she recalls. "They also had CubeSats, or cube satellites to give them their proper name, that they were building on campus.
"Before I decided to come, I asked if I could see a CubeSat in the laboratory. It was exciting to be that close to something that was going into space. I was also amazed at how small they were. There’s a huge amount of engineering fitted into this tiny spacecraft about the size of a football."
During her 20-year stint at John Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, Nicola was the Chief Project Scientist on the Parker Solar Probe, which gets to within four million miles of the surface of the Sun in 2024. Image credit: NASA
During her 20-year stint at John Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory, Nicola was the Chief Project Scientist on the Parker Solar Probe, which gets to within four million miles of the surface of the Sun in 2024. Image credit: NASA
As the Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Nicola is in charge of an $8 billion budget and 140+ space missions. Image credit: NASA
As the Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, Nicola is in charge of an $8 billion budget and 140+ space missions. Image credit: NASA
After completing her PhD at Imperial College, London, Nicola landed her first role at NASA.
“I attended a research conference in Alaska," she says. "I’d made a poster presentation and a man I’d never met asked me if I wanted to apply for a postdoctoral position at NASA. I didn’t even know it was an option at the time. I mean, NASA was this shiny institution in another country.”
Nicola completed her research project at NASA, then accepted a new role at the Applied Physics Lab (APL) at John Hopkins University in 1998. She worked at APL for 20 years on many space missions. These included the Van Allen probes, the New Horizons flight to Pluto and the Messenger mission to Mercury.
She returned to NASA in 2018 as Head of its Heliophysics Division before becoming Head of Science earlier this year.
In every previous role, I always thought I had the best job on the planet. As the Associate Administrator, I now have the best job on – and off – the planet."
"The best advice I can give is to really enjoy the experience you’re having at the time... Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. If somebody offers you the chance to work on a mission, never think, 'I don’t know anything about that…' Take the opportunity and learn about it. I didn’t know much about the Parker Solar Probe when I was asked to become its Chief Project Scientist. But I learned about it quickly.
"What I usually tell schoolkids is, 'Close your eyes and dream big. Because if you can’t see it, you’ll never be it.'”
Young Achievers of the Year
Ross White and Tom Berkeley
BA Acting, 2017
Ross White (left) and Tom Berkeley graduated from Guildford School of Acting (GSA) in 2017. Their first short film, Roy, was long-listed for a BAFTA. Their second, An Irish Goodbye, won an IFTA, a BAFTA and an Oscar in 2023. The duo are also our Young Achievers of the Year in the Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Awards.
"Awards open doors," says Ross. "We’ve been fortunate to sign with two prestigious agents, Independent in London and WME in the USA. That’s created opportunities to meet great people.
"But we’re aware that we must strike a balance of making the most of these opportunities, while not changing the recipe of how we’ve achieved success too much. All of this was born out of a DIY spirit, and us working with people we’re close to and telling stories we buy into. We need to protect that as we move forward, even though our artistic ambitions and our budgets may get that bit bigger."
"It’s obviously great to win major awards like the IFTA, BAFTA and the Oscar. But this recognition from the University felt more intimate," said Tom.
"The University and GSA has such a personal connection to us and our history. We met here, built a theatre company here and became creative collaborators here. To be recognised by the institution that helped nurture us is really touching and heartening, and we’re thankful for that."
"It was this sudden rush of emotion that comes from that little gold man."
Volunteer of the Year
Cled Cole
BSc Chemical Engineering, 1978
After graduating in 1978, Cled, who met his wife Val at Surrey, enjoyed a successful career at ExxonMobil. A chance trip to Guildford in 2004 inspired a 15-year journey of supporting our students and research.
“We were on our way to Devon,” recalls Cled. “We were driving past Guildford, and we decided to show our sons where we’d met and studied. It reminded us what a special place it was.
“We also realised how lucky we’d been to study for our degrees under the old system, where we had grants instead of loans. That was when we decided to take an active role in giving something back to a place that meant a great deal to us.”
This kickstarted a 15-year journey of re-engagement and volunteering in various capacities. Cled is one of the University's international advocates for The Future Says Surrey fundraising campaign.
"Giving back to Surrey has always been my motivation for my involvement," said Cled on his award. "It wasn’t about collecting accolades. “It’s an acknowledgement of my continued commitment to supporting the University and its aims for the long term. I certainly feel very honoured to receive this award.”
Cled Cole with his wife Valerie
Cled Cole with his wife Valerie
Val and Cled on their graduation day in 1978
Val and Cled on their graduation day in 1978
Outstanding Contribution to Surrey
Mike Banfield (1935 - 2023)
BSc Eng Chemical and Process Engineering, 1958
Mike Banfield was posthumously awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Surrey accolade.
An alumnus of Battersea College of Technology, he enjoyed a successful career in the engineering sector.
“The degree education I received [at Battersea] opened many doors. It allowed me to travel the world through work, before returning to the UK to be with my family,” Mike said in 2022.
This prompted Mike to help establish the Battersea Scholarship Fund, and he began by contacting and enthusing his fellow alumni. Several mailing campaigns and a large reunion event followed as support grew. At the time of writing, 100 of Mike’s fellow graduates have contributed and raised more than £112,000. This will fund nine scholarships to support students estranged from their families to study at Surrey.
Mike commented on this in 2022: “To know the inclusive and supportive spirit of Battersea will be commemorated through these scholarships for many years is a fitting memorial.”
“The Battersea Scholarship Fund is also a fitting memorial to Mike,” adds Daniel Lawrence, the Regular Giving and Legacy Manager at the University of Surrey. “At a time when most people would be enjoying retirement, Mike was helping others.
“He was the driving force behind establishing this programme, inspiring his fellow alumni to raise money to ensure the opportunities open to them were available to a new generation.
“One of my favourite memories of Mike is how delighted he was to meet our first two Battersea Scholars, Anwar Mudh Hid and Luke Burton Dos Santos. It will remain a cherished memory.
“It’s incredibly sad that Mike is no longer with us. But his legacy lives on in our current two Battersea Scholars – and in all our future ones.”
Battersea Scholar Anwar Mudh Hid with Mike Banfield
Battersea Scholar Anwar Mudh Hid with Mike Banfield
Battersea scholar Luke Burton Dos Santos with Mike Banfield
Battersea scholar Luke Burton Dos Santos with Mike Banfield
The Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Awards celebrate and recognise the many diverse achievements of Surrey’s growing and vibrant alumni community – locally, nationally and across the world.
Awards are presented to graduates of the University of Surrey and our predecessor institution, Battersea College of Technology, who have made an outstanding contribution in their profession, through exemplary service to the University or the wider society, through service of a personal or humanitarian nature or through contributions to the arts, charities, business or academia.
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