There were an incredible 145 nominations, 114 for individuals and 31 group nominations across the department. The difficult, although rewarding, task of shortlisting nominations fell to a judging panel of five chaired by the Associate Head for People EDI, Catherine Pope, with: Kamal Mahtani, Ruya Abdulsalam, Claire Friedemann Smith, and Jo Gearing as representatives from the Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team and Value Champions.
The panel were impressed by the range of nominations with colleagues nominating teams and individuals in different groups and areas of the departments and also of different levels of seniority.
Congratulations to all those nominated as well as those highly commended and the winners! The highly commended and winners were announced at our Values Award Ceremony on Tuesday 01 July:
Ambitious
There were 29 nominations for this value with one winner and two highly commended.
Winner for the Value Award of Ambitious: Anne Ferrey
Anne brings thoughtful, forward-looking ambition to her work, setting high standards and encouraging others to grow. She leads her team with a clear vision for development and innovation. Anne is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence into teaching, co-leading a project that explored how staff and students use AI in academic writing. This work has had a wide-reaching impact and received recognition through divisional and university-level awards. Anne’s ambition also shows in her support for students applying to competitive scholarships and research programmes, and in their efforts to create development opportunities for colleagues. Most recently, Anne has led the launch of the first THS Summer School—strengthening networks and raising the profile of the programme. 
Highly Commended: James Sheppard
James demonstrates ambition not only in his own work, but in supporting the growth and development of others. He is committed to building the future of the department by helping colleagues access opportunities, develop their ideas, and achieve their goals. James’s leadership is described as positive, collaborative and generous, taking time to understand what motivates individuals and create an environment where everyone feels supported to contribute, challenge, and grow. From mentoring early-career researchers to helping secure funding and guiding career progression, James’s ambition lifts the whole team. Since stepping into a new leadership role, James has brought energy, vision and resilience – all while continuing to contribute across research, teaching and wider departmental life.
Highly Commended: Emma Brant
Emma shows exceptional drive and initiative, balancing a demanding professional qualification alongside a full-time role. Their commitment to personal development reflects a strong ambition to grow and improve. Emma has led work to clarify complex financial processes, making them more transparent and useful for the whole department. She also developed a fairer way to recognise postgraduate supervision, showing both technical skill and collaborative leadership. Emma’s ambition goes beyond their own goals – she actively look for ways to improve systems, support colleagues, and make a lasting difference across the department.
Collaborative
There were 47 nominations for this value with two highly commended and one winner.
Winner for the Collaborative award: Anna Moore
Anna brings collaboration into every aspect of their work, building strong relationships across teams, departments, and institutions. In research communications, she handles complex topics with care, drawing on a wide range of perspectives to ensure outputs are accurate, inclusive, and accessible. Anna’s work on projects like the PANORAMIC trial papers and the Women’s Health Research Showcase shows their ability to bring people together and create shared purpose. Supportive, thoughtful, and generous with their time, they help make the department more connected and collaborative.
Highly Commended: Rebekah Burrow
Rebekah exemplifies collaboration across teams, disciplines, and institutions—bringing people together to produce work that is greater than the sum of its parts. She initiated and led a project to audit how inclusive clinical trials are, working with colleagues across the department and beyond. The project has grown to involve multiple trials units across England, with the potential to create a national picture of inclusion in research. Rebecca consistently involves others in meaningful ways, creating a supportive and open working culture. Her collaborative approach has helped connect researchers from different backgrounds and career stages, opened up new opportunities, and fostered co-created, impactful work. Rebekah’s inclusive, thoughtful way of working embodies the spirit of this award.
Highly Commended: The Practice Liaison Team (Elizabeth Button, Ellya Enesca, Jessica Smylie, Jack Macartney, Timea Suli, Karin Andre, Eva Klamerus, Vanashree Sexton)
The Practice Liaison Team are a part of the Clinical Informatics and Health Outcomes Research Group, for showing outstanding commitment to collaboration and impact. They support more than 2,000 GP practices across the Research and Surveillance Centre network — partnerships that are crucial for national surveillance work with the UK Health Security Agency and important studies like the Food Standards Agency’s Infectious Intestinal Disease Study. What truly sets this team apart is their ability to connect with a wide range of people — from healthcare assistants and practice managers to research sponsors and patient groups. Whether through Microsoft Teams, in-person visits, or national conferences, they go above and beyond to promote vital research and improve health outcomes. Their efforts have been central to the success of high-profile studies, and they exemplify the values of teamwork, dedication, and making a real difference through research.
Creative
There were seven nominations for this value with one highly commended and one winner.
Winner for the Creative award: Alison Convey
Alison has created an innovative project using the patient voice to educate both clinicians and the public about various health conditions. Drawing on her experience in theatre and education, they focus on enhancing the understanding of patient journeys through narratives, particularly those involving self-awareness and humour. Alison’s work, including a podcast sharing stories about female urinary incontinence, has helped open up conversations on difficult issues, providing a more empathic approach to understanding the patient experience. Her creativity, energy, and passion for using theatre to explore critical health topics, such as loneliness and domestic violence, have led to successful projects like verbatim theatre that give patients a platform to share their stories. This work not only benefits patients but also offers valuable insights for students and clinicians, providing a novel and impactful way of learning from the patient perspective.
Highly Commended: Gavin Hubbard 
Gavin consistently demonstrates creativity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to try new ideas. He has been an invaluable collaborator, always offering helpful suggestions and innovative solutions to improve projects. Whether updating the PPI webpages or developing ways to encourage researchers to evaluate and report their PPI, Gavin is always looking for better ways to achieve goals. He embraced new tools like AI and were generous in sharing their knowledge, showing a commitment to growth and improvement. Beyond their core role in communications, Gavin also contributed to the department’s strategic review, proposing new themes to innovate and improve future strategies. Their ability to think creatively and push for change has made a lasting impact on the department.
Fair
There were eight nominations for this value with one highly commended and one winner.
Winner: Bullying and Harassment Working Group (Clare Wickings, Ginger Jansen, Kathryn Ungerer, James Sheppard, Jenna Grabey, Polly Kerr, Rebekah Burrow, Richard Stevens, Sarah Lewis)
This group has been recognised for their exceptional efforts in creating a more inclusive, supportive, and fair departmental culture. Established in 2023 as part of the Athena Swan Gold Action Plan, the group has become a key driver in promoting anti-bullying and harassment initiatives, ensuring equity in the workplace.
They have implemented a range of impactful initiatives, including launching support services like the Harassment Advisor network, delivering innovative training for line managers, and providing Active Bystander training for staff. Their work also includes offering post-incident support and creating a dedicated webpage to provide clear guidance on bullying and harassment. 
What sets this group apart is their integrity, care, and emotional resilience in handling sensitive situations. Their unwavering commitment to fairness and professionalism makes a tangible difference in building a safer, more supportive environment for all.
Highly Commended: Freya Cooke
Freya consistently demonstrates fairness in both their personal and professional approach, particularly in managing the department's financial operations. She applies institutional policies with diligence and transparency, fostering equity and trust within the department. At the core of her work is a commitment to integrity, ensuring financial decisions are made with clarity and fairness. Freya takes the time to stay updated with university financial guidance, explaining decisions clearly and fostering understanding. Even when difficult or unpopular decisions need to be made, she approaches them with professionalism and care, maintaining positive relationships across the team. Freya’s approach has contributed significantly to a reduction in issues raised by the central finance team, ensuring processes are robust and well-understood. She also supports her colleagues in adopting the same fair, policy-based approach, strengthening the culture of fairness across the wider team.
Respectful & Kind
There were 31 nominations for this value with two highly commended and one winner.
Winner: Stavros Petrou
Stavros's leadership and actions consistently foster a respectful, kind, and inclusive workplace culture. Under his leadership, the Health Economics team has flourished, growing not only in size but also in diversity and collaboration. He has created a space where colleagues feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Beyond team-building and professional support, Stavros actively nurtures an environment of psychological safety and wellbeing, providing guidance during challenging times, volunteering for onboarding, and encouraging open conversations about workplace values. His kindness extends even in difficult situations, where he approaches feedback and conflict with care, clarity, and a desire to help others grow.
By embodying empathy, humility, and integrity, this individual sets a powerful example, shaping the department into a place where people feel secure and respected. Stavros’s leadership is grounded in kindness, making them a highly deserving nominee for this award.
Highly Commended: Ginger Jansen
Ginger consistently helps create a friendly, welcoming, and supportive department. she takes the lead in organising wellbeing activities and team-building events, including impactful training such as neuro-inclusion and menopause workshops, which raise awareness and reduce stigma. With a genuine passion for mental health, Ginger writes the excellent monthly Wellbeing Newsletter and coordinates a team of 17 Mental Health First Aiders. As a Mental Health First Aider and Harassment Advisor, they support colleagues with dignity and respect, offering a calm, non-judgemental presence.
Her work fosters a compassionate and inclusive environment where colleagues feel valued and supported. She also contributed to wider initiatives like the Green Impact team and are a strong advocate for a culture of kindness and respect. Their care and commitment make a lasting difference to the department.
Highly Commended: Charlotte Albury
Charlotte's extraordinary kindness, patience, and compassion have made a lasting impact, particularly during challenging personal and professional moments. Throughout 2024, she provided invaluable support during a period of job insecurity, offering clear guidance and emotional reassurance. Charlotte actively safeguarded their colleague’s employment, ensuring they felt valued and secure, while also fostering a supportive team environment.
Beyond this, she creates a workplace where everyone feels respected and appreciated. From organising team-building events to offering personal encouragement and professional development support, Charlotte ensure each team member feels heard and empowered. Her respect for others is also demonstrated in their handling of difficult situations, such as providing a safe, judgment-free space for colleagues to express concerns and offering practical support when needed.
Charlotte’s leadership, characterised by empathy and respect for individuality, has not only helped their colleagues navigate tough times but also fostered a work environment where people can thrive.
TRUSTworthy & ACCOUNTABLE
There were 23 nominations for this value with two highly commended and one winner.
Winner: Ru Jia
Ru Jia demonstrates dependability, accountability, and a strong commitment to achieving goals, even in the face of changing workloads. A key example of this is their work on the ALCAL project, where she stepped in to complete the project after the original team member left, balancing this alongside her existing research responsibilities with calm and dedication.
Ru has also taken on new roles with success, such as becoming the PPI lead for the BRC theme. In this role, she built a new PPI panel from scratch, ensuring diversity and fostering strong relationships within the team. Ru’s commitment to improving processes is evident in their creation of a user manual for the experimental online supermarket platform, which has been widely adopted across departments and external collaborators.
Even when not in senior roles, she has been involved in transparent decision-making, ensuring clarity and openness in processes like PPI member selection and authorship decisions. Ru’s willingness to take on responsibility and help others makes them a deserving nominee for this award.
Highly Commended: Rachel Byford
Rachel consistently demonstrates trust and accountability, particularly in high-pressure situations. Her proactive and hands-on approach to problem-solving, such as resolving a recent data flow issue, highlights her commitment to addressing challenges directly and ensuring the integrity of critical operations.
Through clear communication and reliable leadership, Rachel fosters a culture of trust within the team, empowering colleagues by providing clear expectations and autonomy. Her calm, steady leadership under pressure inspires confidence, and their long-term vision ensures projects, like the development of a new data engine, are successfully delivered.
Rachel’s transparency, reliability, and commitment to both their work and the team make them a highly deserving nominee for this award
Highly Commended: Emily McFadden
Emily demonstrates exceptional trust and accountability, particularly under pressure. As co-PI on the successful REDUCE-HF bid, she played a crucial role in transforming a complex application into a detailed and successful proposal, praised for its design, impact pathway, and creative public communication strategies.
Even under tight deadlines, Emily’s work was of the highest quality, and she always followed through on commitments, providing clear leadership and stability to the team. She fosters a culture of transparency and collaboration, explaining her decisions and encouraging open feedback. Her dedication, integrity, and consistent support make her a highly deserving nominee for this award.