The historic St George’s Hall played host to the 2024 University Staff Awards last week, where numerous individuals and teams from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences were celebrated for their outstanding dedication and achievements.
Faculty winners
David Ellams Award for Outstanding Contribution
Individual winner: Ann Hughes, School of Dentistry
During a time of significant change, Ann demonstrated exceptional dedication by organising and rolling out the complete student timetable for all five years of students in term one, consistently driving the timetabling team forward, improving processes, and making an outstanding contribution to the School.
Team winner: School of Veterinary Science Accreditation Team
In 2022-23, the School of Veterinary Science underwent three rigorous accreditation visits, involving extensive documentation and week-long inspections. Thanks to the team's selfless commitment and focus, all three accreditations were granted with very positive feedback, marking an incredible achievement for the School.
Evans Memorial Professional Services Award
Team winner: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences PAs to Directorates
Maria Simpkin and Joanne Teasdale established a strong working relationship, providing exceptional and proactive support to the Faculty and its five directorates, including managing complex tasks with professionalism and earning high regard from colleagues.
Greatest Contribution to the Student Experience
Team winner: Learning and Teaching Support Officers for the School of Allied Health Professions and Nursing
The team provides dedicated pastoral support to healthcare students, handling over 500 referrals and various student support applications, while maintaining strong links with University-wide services and serving as a crucial resource for both students and academics in the School.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award
Winner: SafetyNet: Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences and HLS Technology, Infrastructure and Environment Directorate
Paul Gilbert and Thomas Craig developed an innovative online system, SafetyNet, for managing Health and Safety documentation, significantly improving faculty-wide oversight and standardisation, and it is now being considered for university-wide adoption.
Innovation of the Year
Individual winner: Michael Aspden, School of Dentistry
As a dental instructor, Michael has played a key role in integrating CAD CAM technology into the curriculum by sourcing and installing digital equipment, creating a progressive framework of resources, collaborating with industry partners, advising other institutions, and providing training and mentoring for staff and technicians.
Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University
Team winner: Neurodiversity Celebration Week and Symposium team - Cross-Departmental
Over the last three years, the team has raised awareness and improved support for neurodiversity through successful events, leading to the creation of the Neurodiversity Celebration Symposium and the Neurodivergent Staff Support group, which has grown as a space for sharing experiences and knowledge.
Outstanding Contribution to Public Engagement
Individual winner: Professor Catriona Waitt, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Catriona develops innovative public engagement projects that bring research on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and medication safety into communities, involving local voices and stakeholders in Uganda to shape research directions and communication.
Team winner: Liverpool Pancreatitis Research Group, Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine
The Liverpool Pancreatitis Research Group has effectively engaged diverse, under-represented communities through popular events like 'Coffee with scientists and medical doctors' and 'Biryani with scientists and medical doctors,' attended by over 100 people, addressing topics such as pancreatitis, diabetes, ophthalmology, and youth mental health.
Volunteer of the Year
Team winner: Papercup Project Volunteers
The cross-departmental Papercup Project team, which includes Dr Janette Greenhalgh from the Institute of Population Health, have used their volunteering leave for fundraising and awareness efforts at Liverpool Central Station, fostering connections and helping to destigmatise homelessness within the University community and the wider public.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim Jones, presented the awards and congratulated all those recognised for their hard work and commitment towards the University: “There are countless examples of exceptional work right across the University. Our Staff Awards celebrate the skills, expertise and innovations that make this University so impactful, delivering the very best of teaching and research.”
“I’d like to offer my congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted in this year’s Staff Awards. There are so many notable achievements and every single person nominated should be incredibly proud of themselves.”
Faculty commended individuals and teams
Alan Beeston Early Career Researcher of the Year
- Dr Tamzin Furtado, Department of Livestock and One Health
Evans Memorial Professional Services Award
- Isla Kennedy, Postgraduate Directorate, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Greatest Contribution to Student Experience
- Virtual Engineering Centre and Orthoptics Department
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award
- Jo Middleton, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences
Innovation of the Year
- Dr Andrew Collins, Liverpool Shared Research Facilities
- Creativity in cross-faculty collaboration: MSc Healthcare Leadership, School of Medicine and Management School
Inspirational Leader of the Year
- Professor Hazel Scott, School of Medicine
Lecturer of the Year
- Jacqueline Yip, School of Allied Health Professions and Nursing
Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University
- Dr Lesley Iwanejko, Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science
Outstanding Contribution to Public Engagement
- Dr Clarissa Giebel, Department of Primary Care and Mental Health
- Computational Biology Facility, Liverpool Shared Research Facilities
Sustainability on Campus Award
- Clare Kenny, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
- Jenna Lowe, Technology, Infrastructure and Environment Directorate
- The Scrubs Sustainability Initiative, School of Dentistry
- The Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology Sustainability Team
Technician's Award for Excellence
- Sarah Northey, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
- Human Anatomy Resource Centre Technical Team, Education Directorate
Unsung Hero Award
- Helen Hubbard, Institute of Population Health
Volunteer of the Year
- Victoria Kewley, School of Dentistry
- Elizabeth Williams, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences
- School of Dentistry Volunteer Working Group
The full list and details of all the winners and commended colleagues have been published on the Staff Awards intranet site. Full photos from the evening are now available here (Staff log-in may be required). (Pictures by Gareth Jones).