Professor Cath Noakes honoured with Women of Achievement award 2016

To mark International Women's Day on Tuesday 8 March 2016, the University has awarded 16 members of staff or students the title 'Woman of Achievement 2016', including Professor Cath Noakes.

The Women of Achievement awards recognise the significant contribution and impact that women – both staff and students - have made across the University and beyond.

The awards are part of the University’s commitment to further promote gender equality and support the career development of talented women in all areas of the organisation.

This year's Women of Achievement are:

Professor Cath Noakes, School of Civil Engineering: recognised for her on-going leadership and commitment to the progression of female staff in the University.

Professor Alison Fell, School of Languages, Cultures and Societies: winner of a 2015 Vice-Chancellor's Impact Award for the Legacies of War project. 

Dr Andrea Utley, School of Biomedical Sciences: was joint winner of the Cutlers’ Surgical Prize 2015, one of the most prestigious annual prizes for innovation in the design of surgical instruments or surgical techniques. 

Dr Anja Schmidt, School of Earth and Environment: won the renowned George Walker Award for Volcanology from the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior.

Antonia Jones, IT Service Desk: won Best Support Professional in the IT Service & Support Awards 2015.

Dr Caroline Peacock, School of Earth and Environment: awarded the 2015 European Association of Geochemistry Houtermans Medal.

Emma McNamara, student, School of Law: won the Regional Adult Learner award at the Yorkshire and Humber Adult Learners’ Awards 2014 and also received the NIACE Learning in Families and Communities Individual Award. In 2015 Emma won the Access program award. 

Professor Julia Brown, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research: achieved extensive research grant funding - in particular Yorkshire Cancer Research, NIHR and CRUK Fellowship funding to develop a cadre of fellows into future Leeds cancer research leaders.

Kairen Skelley, Spark, Careers Service: recently recognised as the HE Enterprise Champion 2015 at the National Enterprise Educator Awards.

Professor Karen Lucas, Institute for Transport Studies: awarded the prestigious Edward L Ullman award by the Association of American Geographers for her work on transport and social inclusion.

Lucy Bailey, Student, School of Politics and International Studies: named Yorkshire Woman of Achievement in Education 2015 for her tireless campaign to improve the support available for Leeds students living with mental health problems.

Professor Michelle Peckham, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology: elected Vice President of the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS), and in 2016 assumes the Presidency, only the third woman to hold that prestigious position in the Society’s 175-year history.

Professor Ruth Wilcox, Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering: one of three University academics to have been honoured with Suffrage Science Awards, supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Royal Society.

Sannia Farooque, student, School of Chemistry: selected as one of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 175 ‘faces of chemistry’ celebrating diversity in science.  

Dr Susan Hamer, NIHR Clinical Research Network: named as one of the UK’s top 100 Clinical Leaders by the Health Service Journal (HSJ).

Professor Vivien Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education, 2006-2016: under Vivien’s leadership, Leeds has established a reputation for excellence and innovation in taught student education. 

See the Roll of Honour 2016 list and watch a recording of the Women of Achievement event.