Celebrating Imperial staff for supporting women in academia

Inspirational figures from across Imperial who are championing women in academia have been recognised with community awards.

The winners of this year's Julia Higgins Medal and Awards were announced at a special event on Wednesday 15 July, hosted by Associate Provosts (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Professor Bernadette Byrne and Dr Wayne Mitchell.

The accolades are awarded annually to recognise individuals, groups, and departments that have made a significant contribution in supporting women in academia at the university. They are named in honour of Dame Julia Higgins DBE FRS FREng, Emeritus Professor and Senior Research Investigator.

Bernadette Byrne, Associate Provost of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion said, “I was delighted to see so many outstanding awardees celebrated at the Julia Higgins event. The work that we do to support our women makes Imperial a more inclusive, supportive and attractive place to work and study. In addition, the medals have gone to initiatives which have also had far-reaching positive influence beyond Imperial. Imperial has the potential to be leading EDI nationally and internationally and the work we have celebrated today shows our potential to do just that.”

This year five awards and two medals have been announced:

 Julia Higgins Medals

 Emma Victoria Carrington

Department of Surgery and Cancer

 This award is presented in recognition of exceptional contributions to supporting women in academia at Imperial, through leadership in advancing women’s health research, transformative mentorship, and advocacy for inclusive and equitable opportunities in academic and clinical careers.

WEInnovate Team

Imperial Enterprise Lab

Team members:​

Nadia Aharzem

Laura Barclay​

Maggie Dallman​

Ben Mumby Croft​

Sarah Ranchev-Hale​

This award is presented in recognition of the WE Innovate team’s exceptional contributions to supporting women in academia at Imperial, through a transformative programme that advances gender equity in entrepreneurship, expands access to funding and mentorship, and drives long-term impact for women founders.

Julia Higgins Awards

Professor João Cabral​

Department of Chemical Engineering

This award is presented in recognition of exceptional contributions to advancing and supporting women in academia at Imperial, through his transformative leadership, dedicated mentorship, and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. 

FoNS Emergency Period Care Team

Faculty of Natural Sciences

This award is presented in recognition of exceptional contributions to supporting women at Imperial, through the implementation of a compassionate and inclusive Emergency Period Care Provision initiative that improves access, reduces stigma, and strengthens an equitable and supportive environment for staff and students.

Team members:​

Amelia Barron​

Clara Bradberry ​

Cristebel Groves​

Emma Mattin​

Emma Pallett​

Kate Grimwood​

Kasia Kmieckowiak​

Mery Fajardo​

Morena Mills​

Sai Nathan​

 

The Ava Lovelace Academy​ (Whole Department Award)

Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering

This award is presented in recognition of the Ada Lovelace Academy team’s outstanding contributions to advancing gender equality in STEM at Imperial, through their visionary leadership, inclusive programme design, and transformative impact on student representation and success.

Carolyn Newell

Diana Cano Bordajandi

Emma Watson

Gareth Collins

Gege Li

Gerard Gorman

James Percival

Joanna Morgan

Joanna Owens

Marijan Beg

Mark Sutton

Martin Blunt

Matthew Jackson

Matthew Piggott

Mike Warner

Parastoo Salah

Rebecca Bell

Rhodri Nelson

Rossella Arcucci

Samantha Symmonds

Saskia Goes

Simon Warder

Sophia Quazi

Sophie Pirouet

Thomas Dray

Tina van De Flierdt

Tom Davison

Ying Ashton

The Women’s PhD Network

Cross-department collaboration between the Early Career Researcher Institute, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Surgery and Cancer

 This award is presented in recognition of the Imperial Women’s PhD Network’s exceptional contributions to supporting women in academia at Imperial, through the creation of an inclusive and thriving community that promotes collaboration, confidence, visibility and peer support among doctoral students.

Team members:​

Bethan Ritchie (Early Career Research Institute)​

Gemma Mortell (Department of Surgery and Cancer)​

Martha Day (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)

School of Public Health Gender Equity Writing Group​ (Whole Team Award)

This award is presented in recognition of the School of Public Health Gender Equity Writing Group’s exceptional contributions to supporting women in academia at Imperial, through collaborative, data-driven work that advances equity and shapes a more inclusive and reflective research culture.

All awardees:

Abeer M Arif  

Anne Cori 

Chinedu Udeh-Momoh 

Clare McCormack 

Daniela Fecht 

Gemma Clunie 

Hillary Topazian 

Isobel Blake 

Jenny Husbands

Julia Michalow 

Kate M Mitchell

Lucy C. Okell 

Marc Baguelin 

Matteo Pianella 

Michael Pickles 

Nora Schmit 

Paula Christen 

Sabine L van Elsland

Sarah Essilfie-Quaye 

Sequoia Leuba 

Shazia-Pesantez 

Ruybal Sondus Hassounah 

Tini Garske 

Tristan Naidoo 

Wendy Kwok

 

Article by Eleni Erotokritou