Skip to content

Women-Space Leadership Award 2024

Each year, the Staff Development Forum aims to recognise and celebrate outstanding staff development individuals and/or teams.

This year, we are delighted to announce the 2024 Women-Space Leadership Award to acknowledge and recognise the outstanding leadership of women across different grades in promoting gender equality in professional and academic positions. It recognises colleagues who play a role at different stages of their careers, including management and leadership positions.

The Women-Space Leadership Award reflects the 2024 Festival of Learning and Development’s overarching theme of ‘Transform, Empower and Balance: Moving towards an adaptive mindset in times of disruption

The award aims to encourage more women to embody their own leadership styles, increase awareness of the capabilities and successes of women leaders, and raise awareness of women’s own power.

Our colleagues who received nominations are as follows, and you can read details of their nomination via the links. 

  • Thalia Anagnostopoulou – OD People Partner, University College London. Nominated by Felicity Candy
  • Dr Lucy Atkinson – Director of the Centre for Academic Persistence, Arden University. Nominated by Lauren Hamilton
  • Kate Rowland – Talent Lead, Manchester Metropolitan University. Nominated by Paul Walsh
  • Melissa Brown – Deputy Director Commercial Services and Estates, University of Kent. Nominated by Sarah Slowe
  • Laura Dorian – Deputy Director Careers and Enterprise, Durham University. Nominated by Denise McBride
  • Bernie Croft – People and Organisational Development Partner Organisational Development, Brunel University. Nominated by Rachel Farrance
  • Juliet Flynn – Organisational Development Consultant, Canterbury Christ Church University. Nominated by Amanda Maclean
  • Dr Linda Brown – Academic Lead: Inclusive Learning Communities & Partnerships, Anglia Ruskin University, Nominated by Katie Potts
  • Hannah Marsh – Lead for Organisation and Staff Development, University of the Arts London. Nominated by Bekki Shaw
  • Mandy Matthews – Senior HR and OD Lead, Bournemouth University. Nominated by Chloe Ballantyne
  • Dr Danielle Bewsher – Principle Lecturer, University of Central Lancashire. Nominated by Dr Joanne Pledger, Monika Gamza & Silvia Dalla
  • Cathy McDonnell – Assistant Director OD, Culture & Wellbeing, University of Sussex. Nominated by Sarah Engineer
  • Esmay Bear – Apprenticeship Programme Manager, University of the Arts London. Nominated by Bob Artino
  • Kim Rayment – Head of Organisation and Staff Development, University of Middlesex London. Nominated by Helen Ong, Marta Boone, Shazia Mowlabaccus & Lorraine Airey
  • Petra Dodd – Head of Organisational and Professional Development, Queen Mary University of London. Nominated by Laura Pheils
  • Dr Fiona McBride – Senior Researcher Developer, University of Liverpool. Nominated by Dr Silvania Silvestri

Winners will be announced on Tuesday 12th November at 9am, during Professor Christina Hughes’ keynote at the SDF Festival of Learning and Development.

Our judges have enjoyed reading all nominations. It is outstanding that colleagues are doing more than is expected of them in their roles, as well as hearing managers nominating their staff.

Dr. Rossana Gent, SDF Chair