Celebrate Our Staff – June 2022

Join us as we celebrate our colleagues’ achievements across the University during the past few weeks.

Rosa Quintana standing in the archway leading to Clothworkers' Courtyard.

Featured this month: 

HR Magazine’s Most Influential Practitioners list recognition

Paul Boustead and a sign from the HR Most Influential awards

The HR Most Influential List highlights the most influential practitioners in human resources across the UK

Paul Boustead, Chief People and Culture Officer, came 14th in HR Magazine’s Most Influential list for 2022. 

Paul said: “I’m blown away and extremely honoured to be number 14 in HR Magazine’s Most Influential Practitioners list. I’d like to say a massive thank you to HR Magazine and to whichever of you kind colleagues nominated me.

“It’s a great honour to be listed among the leading practitioners and thought leaders within the UK HR community.”

Paul plays a leading role in developing and implementing people and organisational development strategies, while also ensuring the University realises a significant culture shift to become an organisation characterised by its inclusivity, collaboration and respect.

Paul also leads the Human Resources (HR) Directorate – which includes Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Organisational Development and Professional Learning  – in continuing to develop and retain a talented, diverse and adaptable community of staff, equipped to secure the successful delivery of the University’s strategic ambition.

Paul has more than 20 years’ experience in HR and organisational development, including roles in local government, local education authorities, the NHS and HE institutions. He’s one of a select few Companions of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

During his career, he has led several large-scale change programmes, including the merger of three HE institutions to create a single university.

Until recently, he was the elected Chair of Universities Human Resources, and he sits on several national groups and committees, including the national pay negotiation board for the sector, the USS employers’ pensions group and the Excellence in Research Review Panel. Paul is also a Non-Exec Director at an NHS Trust and a school governor.

English Association Fellowship for Head of School

Hazel Hutchinson

Professor Hazel Hutchison is one of six new Fellows

Professor Hazel Hutchison has been named a Fellow of the English Association (FEA).

She is one of six members elected in 2022. 

The English Association is a membership association and learned society for individuals and organisations passionate about the English language and its literatures. 

Their membership includes teachers, lecturers, students, authors and readers, and is made up of people and institutions from around the world.

They work for positive change regarding the study of English language and literature by responding to national consultations about research, teaching and learning.

Professor Hutchison said: “The English Association creates exciting opportunities for collaboration right across the discipline of English, not just in higher education, but also in schools and colleges, in publishing and libraries, and in the creative sector. 

“It brings together a wonderfully talented and diverse group of people, who are all dedicated to promoting the impact that literature has in the modern world. 

“I am delighted to be joining such a distinguished group of fellows, and look forward to working with them.”

Professor Hutchison joined the University in 2021 as Head of the School of English.

As well as an FEA, Dr Hutchison is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). 

She’s also a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management (FInstLM) and serves as a trustee on the board of the institute.

She has published widely on British and American Literature of the 19th and 20th century. She also has a long-standing interest in teaching writing skills, and has published books for students on this theme.

Future Leaders Fellowships for Leeds academics

and Richard Mandle

Two more Leeds researchers have been named Future Leaders Fellows

Dr Evangelos Pournaras, Associate Professor in the School of Computing, and Dr Richard Mandle, a Research Fellow in the School of Physics and Astronomy, have received Future Leaders Fellowships – prestigious positions funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) that are aimed at tackling major global challenges.

They bring the total number of Future Leaders Fellowships at Leeds to 18.

Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, said: “The Future Leaders Fellowships are UKRI’s flagship funding programme and consistently having academics recognised in this way is always a reflection of the incredible talent we have here at Leeds.

“Richard and Evangelos are working in crucial areas to deliver transformational research that is part of our commitment to address pressing global challenges and make a positive difference in the world.”

Dr Pournaras, who leads the project – Digitally Assisted Collective Governance of Smart City Commons (ARTIO). This innovative programme aims to create a new generation of trustworthy decision-support systems that will empower citizens within Smart Cities, to share resources in a more sustainable and democratic way.

He said: “I am thrilled to lead this interdisciplinary fellowship, to unravel human-machine collective intelligence within impactful domains, such as smart transport and energy.

“I aspire to a digital (r)evolution in how citizens can scale coordinated actions to create direct impact on the prosperity of cities."

Dr Richard Mandle leads the project entitled ‘A New Order of Liquids’. This builds on his recent discovery of a new phase of matter, and will deliver advanced materials that will underpin a range of emerging new technologies.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been awarded this prestigious fellowship, and to have the long-term support of UKRI for this ambitious project.

“Already the molecules we are designing and synthesising here at Leeds are rewriting the rulebook of what is possible, and will enable the discoveries and technologies of tomorrow.”

Read the full story

National Cleaning Operative of the Year award

Rosa Quintana and Carol Haynes

Rosa Quintana won the Cleaning Operative of the Year and Carole Hayes was nominated for the Supervisor of the Year award

Rosa Quintana – whose recent exhibition ‘Unobtrusive Impact’ at Leeds University Union won widespread acclaim – has been named Cleaning Operative of the Year by the British Association of Cleaning in Higher Education (BACHE). 
 
The award acknowledges those who’ve performed their role to a high degree of professionalism throughout the year, and who may have shown initiative in contributing to the student experience and outside the normal requirements of their role.
 
Rosa said: “I’m very happy to receive this award and want to thank Jill Roberts, Head of Cleaning Services, for nominating me and for all her support.
 
“Mostly, though, I want to say thank you to my colleagues in the cleaning team, who let me photograph them and tell their stories. I wanted to show students, staff and visitors what we do and how essential we are to the success of the University.
 
“I also wanted to shine a spotlight on these amazing individuals from all over the world who are often quite ‘invisible’ – their lives, their hopes and fears.”
 
Professional photographer Rosa started work at the University in 2017 after coming to Leeds with her son from Spain, when he started at university in the city.
 
Jill Roberts, Head of Cleaning Services, which is part of the Facilities Directorate at the University of Leeds, said: “Like all our cleaning team, Rosa brings skill and commitment to her work and thoroughly deserves this award.

“I was so pleased when she came to me with the idea of the exhibition, which highlights the essential role of cleaning teams everywhere.”

The award ceremony took place last night at Manchester Metropolitan University, organised by BACHE.

A special mention also goes to Carol Haynes, who was shortlsted for the Supervisor of the Year Award.

Find out more about Rosa and ‘Unobtrusive Impact’

International Economic Law prize

Dr Karina Patricio Ferreira Lima
Dr Karina Patricio Ferreira Lima, from the School of Law

Dr Karina Patricio Ferreira Lima (School of Law) has been awarded the 2022 SIEL-Hart Prize in International Economic Law.

The prize is awarded every two years for an outstanding unpublished manuscript by an early career scholar in the field of International Economic Law.

Dr Karina Patricio Ferreira Lima has been awarded the prize for her doctoral research on the political economy foundations of international sovereign bankruptcy law.

Sponsored by the Society of International Economic Law and Hart Publishing, this is the most prestigious award for early career scholars in the field. 

The prize committee said Dr Patricio Ferreira Lima’s manuscript provided novel  propositions that are “intelligent, audacious, and interdisciplinary: the author covers the subject of sovereign debt in a comprehensive and rigorous manner”.

Dr Patricio Ferreira Lima said: “I could not be more delighted at the news of this prize. I am incredibly thankful to the Society of International Economic Law and Hart Publishing for this recognition, as well as the opportunity to publish my manuscript with such a prestigious publishing house.  

“I hope my forthcoming manuscript will contribute to the debate on the need for structural reforms in the international legal governance of sovereign insolvency towards achieving sustainable development for all.”

Profession Practice Fellowship to shed light on literary networks

Old books contained in the University Library's Special Collections

The fellowship aims to build a network map featuring various well-known writers

Dr Ruth Burton, Interpretation Officer in the Library’s Special Collections team, has been announced as one of fellows in the coveted Profession Practice Fellowship scheme.

Research Libraries UK and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) are funding the digital humanities research fellowship. 

The scheme was launched in 2021 to enable library colleagues to set research agendas, be active participants and leaders of multidisciplinary research, and to provide intellectual leadership in their own disciplines and professional practices.

Dr Burton will join nine other fellows in researching topics central to the role of academic libraries as partners and leaders of cross-disciplinary research.

The project will explore the personal links within archival correspondence in our own Special Collections and the University of Victoria in Canada – particularly letters between Herbert Read, T S Eliot and Bonamy Dobrée – and will examine how the links between people found within letters can be extracted and used to increase our understanding of literary and artistic networks.

Dr Burton said: “I’m interested in the intersection between the digital humanities and archives, and this seemed an excellent opportunity to showcase the research that archivists routinely do – and to explore how digital maps can help us visualise and interrogate our collections.”

An initial tranche of about 500 letters held in our Special Collections and the Special Collections of the University of Victoria will be selected, digitised and transcribed. 

References to individuals and organisations will be turned into code, and a methodology will be developed to weight these different kinds of interaction in order to build a network map of those mentioned.

Read the full story

Influential Women in Engineering

Ornella Iurio crouches under an arch in a laboratory

A leading researcher at Leeds has been named as one of the most influential women in engineering

Professor Ornella Iuorio, Director of the University’s Cities, Infrastructure and Energy research group, has been named as one of the most influential women in engineering.

The 2022 ‘Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards’, launched by Women in Engineering Society (WES) was given to Professor Iuorio, whose research on architectural engineering and structures is said to be bridging the gap between the traditionally separate fields of architecture and engineering to develop new and more sustainable construction methods. 

Following news of her award, Professor Iuorio said: “I feel very honoured that I have been nominated and I am excited that I am among a group of very talented and incredible individuals, who are striving for a more sustainable and just future.

“It shows women are playing a key part in designing, developing, building and operating the solutions that will reduce the major problems facing the world.” 

Elizabeth Donnelly, Chief Executive Officer of WES, said: “It is a joy that so many innovative women are making a difference to our everyday lives and working to mitigate the impact that engineering has on the environment.”

Alongside her pioneering research on sustainable construction, Professor Iuorio is leading the international Novavida project, in which experts are developing proposals for post-disaster reconstructions that will allow the long-term sustainable development of Ecuador. 

With a degree in architecture and a PhD in structural engineering, Professor Iuorio started her research career at MIT in the US and has published more than 100 scientific papers. She’s a qualified architect in both the UK and Italy. 

Read the full story

Members of the Leeds community honoured

An aerial photograph of campus taken from above the Parkinson building

A number of people have been honoured from across the University

Leading academic researchers, alumni, a former Vice-Chancellor and a University Council member have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their services to the country.

Professor Paul Johnson is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University and a sociologist and member of the School of Sociology and Social Policy. He becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to equality, to diversity and to human rights.

Professor John Barrett is part of Leeds’ School of Earth and Environment and the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI). He receives an OBE for services to climate change assessment.

Professor Michael Arthur, who served as Vice-Chancellor of the University from 2004 to 2013, has been knighted for services to higher education. 

Professor Simone Buitendijk, current Vice-Chancellor, said: “These honours are richly-deserved, reflecting the fantastic work of remarkable colleagues past and present and members of our alumni community. I am personally thrilled for each and every recipient. 

“This recognition of their services demonstrates the breadth of talent that the University attracts, and reflects our community’s commitment to harness research expertise and education to help shape a better future for all.”

A number of other members of the Leeds community were also honoured. 

This includes Seb Elsworth – a Leeds alumnus, former Leeds University Union executive and current member of the University Council – who was awarded an MBE for services to social investment, as well as members of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and several alumni.

Read the full story

Collabor8 Fund’s first awards

Professor Lea Berrang Ford

Professor Lea Berrang Ford is one of the academic leads of the N8 Climate and Health team

Five research communities have received funding from the Collabor8 Fund following the first call earlier this year, including teams from the universities of Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool and York. 

The funded community from Leeds is N8 Climate and Health.

Professor Lea Berrang Ford (School of Earth and Environment) is one of the academic leads of the N8 Climate and Health team, and Dr Helen Rajabi (Research and Innovation Development) is another Leeds participant in the N8 community.

The Collabor8 Fund is designed to support new and emerging groups of researchers with the vision and enthusiasm to work together across the N8 Research Partnership.

Led by a collaboration of academics and professional services staff from the universities of Leeds, Liverpool and York, N8 Climate and Health proposes to develop solutions that will help protect human life from the direct threat of the climate crisis.

Professor Lea Berrang Ford said: “This N8 collaboration is an important catalyst in emerging northern coordination of research in climate and health, and contributes to northern leadership and the levelling-up agenda. 

“Expertise is growing rapidly but remains fragmented. Our goal is to bring together these hubs of excellence and build a northern powerhouse in climate and health research and policy.”

Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at Leeds, said: “Collaboration is at the heart of the N8 universities’ research missions, and we are committed to creating an environment in which people work together across disciplines – both within and beyond our institutions – to tackle some of the greatest challenges we face, not just as a region but as a world.
 
“Each of these new communities focuses on an important aspect of the climate crisis and the journey to Net Zero, and I am excited to see them flourish.”

Principal fellowship for contribution to learning in HE

Joanne Shiel

Joanne Shiel has been recognised for her positive impact

Joanne Shiel – Director of Year 1 of the Leeds-SWJT Joint School and Director of Languages for Engineering Programmes – has been awarded Principal Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) for her leadership and contribution to learning and teaching in higher education.

This award recognises her contributions to the development and ongoing success of the Joint School, as well as her academic leadership within the faculty, University and wider higher educational community.

Joanne also has a highly positive impact on the Leeds campus, from her work with the Welcome, Induction and Transition team, through developing language support provision for all students and instigating a closer relationship between Leeds and Chengdu cohorts, to her work with the TALENT network, of which she was a founding member.

Beyond our institution, Joanne is instrumental in developing scholarship in transnational education with BALEAP (a global organisation supporting those involved in learning, teaching, scholarship and research in English for Academic Purposes), and through this is influential across the higher education sector.

Professor Nora de Leeuw, Dean: Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, said: “Joanne occupies perhaps a unique position amongst Engineering and Science faculties, as a language specialist working with our subject experts. 

“The impact this collaboration has on our students and staff is considerable, combining thoughtful pedagogic advances with practical advice and support to ensure our teaching and learning is effective for all students. 

“Joanne is well-known in the wider community for her work, and generous sharing of her expertise, and thoroughly deserves her Principal Fellowship.”

Major show of support for solo SES fundraiser

Antony Butcher in America wearing a cycling helmet.

Antony Butcher’s SES lanyard made it to the highest point on his ride

Antony Butcher, a member of the Student Education Service (SES), is closing in on the final stages of his solo bike ride from New York to San Francisco.

So far, Antony has cycled 3,000 miles and climbed the equivalent height of Mount Everest twice.

The trip aims to raise mental health awareness, as well as funds for the MS Society.  

It also inspired his colleagues in SES to get involved and support him through a distance challenge in which they planned to match the 4,000 miles Antony will travel between April and July.

In total, 170 members of the team got out and about over 12 days, clocking up a collective distance of 10,188.07 miles! 

Together, they travelled the equivalent of New York City to San Francisco and back again – then made it a further 2,868.03 miles across the Atlantic towards Leeds. A total of 3,229.53 miles were registered during the final weekend. 

Antony said: “I want to thank everyone who took part.

“As I stand here in the middle of a really isolated landscape in America, it’s just so wonderful to know that there are so many of you supporting me back home – cheering me on, taking part, meeting new people, getting out and getting active.

“This leg of the journey that I’m on now is probably the toughest leg I’m going to face. Going into that knowing I’ve got a community of people behind me is so powerful and wonderful, so I want to thank each and every one of you.”

Antony recently passed the highest point on his ride – Cameron Pass, Colorado – followed swiftly by Rabbit Ears Pass, another high-altitude section of the Rocky Mountains and the second highest point he’ll be traversing. 

Donations for the MS Society can be made via Antony’s JustGiving page. You can also follow his progress on social media.

Get in touch!

We know there are lots of great things happening to support the work of the University – and we want to hear about them!

Please follow the staff Twitter account to see the latest updates and copy in our @UniLeedsStaff handle when posting success stories, so we can share them with colleagues.

You can also contact Internal Communications directly if you or one of your colleagues would like to appear in this monthly feature. This is open to all staff – professional and academic.

Please note Celebrate Our Staff is taking a break during the summer, but you can still send us your success stories in the meantime.

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