Awardees

Dr Doherty trained as a chemist at Imperial before building an impressive global career and reputation in pharmaceutical science and innovation. She has over 35 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical sector, serving as a senior leader at Warner-Lambert, Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline. In these roles, she was pivotal in developing and launching more than 30 transformative medicines for respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology and immunology.

Beyond industry, Dr Doherty has made exceptional contributions to UK research and innovation. She has provided invaluable advice and insight in roles that span vital organisations, including the Medical Research Council, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, Frazier Life Sciences and Innovate UK. She has also served as a Trustee for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and contributed to the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership.  She has been a Trustee of St John’s Ambulance and a Non-Executive Director at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Doherty is also committed to public service. She is currently Chair of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and former Chair of East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. 

In 2009, Dr Doherty was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to the pharmaceutical sector. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an Honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society.

Professor Petit is a prominent computer scientist and an exceptional researcher with an academic career that spans 20 years. During this time, he advanced important work in computer science, led major French research institutes and was Deputy Director of the French Research Ministry's Research Department.

Over the past ten years, he has become one of the strongest international voices advocating for the critical importance of open and globally collaborative science in making improvements to people’s lives. As a researcher and science leader, he understands that no country can achieve great things alone and stands up to support joint initiatives, including the UK’s access to the Horizon Europe research programme – an unparalleled source of funding and networks that underpin global science. He has also launched the International Research Centres at CNRS to advance bilateral collaboration between higher education and research institutions, so science can make greater impact through partnerships.

Professor Petit has championed interdisciplinary and convergence science collaboration with a particular impact on Imperial that has led to multiple launches of research centres in engineering, mathematics, computing and cancer treatment – to name just a few.

Professor Petit has been recognised for his distinguished service to science with two prestigious French honours, as Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) and Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Mérite (Commander of the National Order of Merit).

Professor Botto has provided outstanding leadership in advancing transparency, accountability, sustainability and responsible practice in animal research at Imperial. She has made an important impact on public engagement through numerous impressive initiatives, including accessible annual reports, staff-led social media takeovers and the launch of the Imperial 3Rs Hub to share best practice. She has also established a Compliance and Risk Management Committee to ensure that regulations on animal research are adhered to by the entire Imperial community. Under her direction, the university has been recognised as a Leader in Openness by Understanding Animal Research over three consecutive occasions. Her work has also directly led to Imperial becoming the first UK university to be accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).

Mr Brown has been an invaluable member of the Imperial community since joining as a junior technician in 1990. Over nearly four decades, his leadership and meticulous management of mechanical and instrumentation support have ensured that the Department of Physics – and other Imperial departments – have maintained their global research excellence. As well as his work to champion a critical £3 million research and teaching facility upgrade and his key role in establishing and leading the Technical Apprentice Steering Committee, Mr Brown has also served on over 20 Imperial Committees, including the University Court, Animal Welfare Review Board, Race Equality Charter Team and Provost Recruitment Panel. His influence expands beyond Imperial, too, in his promotion of university-based technical career opportunities through school visits and his influence in supporting The Blackett Lab Family, the leading network for UK-based Black physicists.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Mr Brown was awarded an MBE for his services to Higher Education in 2017 and was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics – a very rare honour for a non-physicist – in 2021.

Leila Guerra is Associate Vice President (Education) at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), shaping strategy for lifelong learning, executive education and online, non-degree programmes. She brings over 20 years of international leadership in higher education, most recently as Associate Provost (Digital Lifelong Learning) at Imperial College London and Vice Dean (Education) at Imperial College Business School. At the Business School, she oversaw undergraduate and postgraduate portfolios, led growth and student experience, launched the School’s first undergraduate degree, and directed the award-winning iDEA Lab (Innovation, Digital Education & Analytics). At Imperial, Leila also led the university’s lifelong learning agenda and helped launch the Institute of Extended Learning to expand flexible, stackable skills training for professionals and organisations. Prior to Imperial, Leila was Assistant Dean of Postgraduate Programmes at Singapore Management University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business, Executive Director for Early Careers Programmes at London Business School, and Director of Innovation at IE Business School in Madrid. She serves on multiple educational international boards and advisory bodies, including the Politecnico di Milano School of Management Advisory Board and EGADE (Mexico), and contributes regularly to sector events on digital strategy and the future of learning.  A multilingual leader who has worked across Europe and Asia, Leila’s interests span digital learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and inclusive, human-centred education that delivers measurable outcomes for learners and employers alike. 

Following the completion of his PhD in Physics at Imperial, Dr Lawrence embarked on a highly successful finance career, which included roles at Shell and at His Majesty's Treasury. In 2011, he returned to Imperial as Director of Financial Management and was the trusted custodian of the University’s finances for over 15 years. Dr Lawrence’s rigour, experience and approachability provided reassurance to all staff and his willingness to present at training and events provided great transparency to colleagues. During his tenure, he also quietly and effectively championed important initiatives far beyond finance. On two occasions, he stepped into the Chief Operating Officer role and steered Imperial’s key operations teams through an exceptionally challenging period – he is known amongst staff as being a calm, measured and nurturing leader. As Co-Executive Sponsor of the Able@Imperial staff network for disabled staff and allies, he has inspired many and influenced policy to ensure finance is not a barrier to reasonable workplace adjustments. Dr Lawrence served Imperial with distinction and has been an immensely trusted member of the leadership team through to his recent retirement.

Professor Matar is a world-class expert in the use of computers to simulate multiphase fluid dynamics in complex scenarios, as well as a proponent for sustainability and integration of machine learning and immersive technologies into engineering. For nearly 30 years at Imperial, he has made outstanding contributions as an educator, researcher and academic leader. In particular, he has led major programme grants, secured numerous industrial contracts, overseen advanced teaching laboratories, pioneered the use of virtual reality in teaching, and co-founded spin-off companies Quaisr and 2D Nano. As Director of Undergraduate Studies, he made major improvements to many areas of student experience and teaching excellence, including through his drive to refurbish the Carbon Capture Pilot Plant, which remains a world-leading training facility that allows students to simulate industrial scale processes.

Professor Matar’s research excellence has been recognised through election as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Chemical Engineers, and the American Physical Society. 

Dr Raad’s work exhibits extraordinary breadth in connecting two areas that are usually treated separately – the hardware of computing and the verification of software. Her research puts theory into action and her collaborations with industry leaders – including Intel, NVIDIA, Meta, Bloomberg and ARM – have uncovered critical flaws and led to significant improvements and tools that are used by thousands of engineers daily. She has built an extensive global network that spans academia and industry while achieving an impressive career trajectory. She is Co-Director of the UK Research Institute on Verified, Trustworthy Software Systems, Co-Founder of Soteria Tools, has given over 20 invited keynotes, achieved an impressive high-impact publications output, and has success in winning major research grants. Dr Raad is also deeply committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. She leads the Veritas Lab, which mentors the next generation of verification experts, as well as overseeing diversity initiatives of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group in Programming Languages.

Dr Foster has made extensive contributions across all areas of societal engagement with an underpinning ethos to advance the public's understanding of science and to inspire the next generation through STEM opportunities. He is a renowned leader in space outreach and has developed multiple novel initiatives to share Imperial research with people of all ages. This includes his leadership of the CREST Academy, which matches school children with researchers to undertake exciting projects – sparking interest in STEM amongst hundreds of young people every year. Dr Foster has also built longstanding and effective external partnerships that significantly raise the profile of Imperial – from his work with the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) to organise National Mars Week for five consecutive years, as well as helping the Farnborough International Space Show with their school engagement. Through his involvement with Societal Engagement Champions and Practitioners network, he also nurtures the talent of fellow outreach staff, sharing best practice and fostering a learning mentality. He is an innovative and much-appreciated colleague who has most certainly initiated STEM careers for many future science leaders.

Miss Powell is responsible for leading on the Undergraduate Primary Care Unit’s work in community collaboration and engagement. She has developed collaborative and inclusive structures and processes to improve partnership working with community organisations, establishing mutually beneficial outcomes and building strong foundations for sustainable relationships.

Her asset-based community-engaged approach has transformed curriculum development and delivery and the way partnerships are developed. Her work has led to meaningful, long-term collaborations focused on priorities of local communities while enabling students and faculty to further develop skills in community engagement, teamwork and interdisciplinary working alongside better understanding community priorities, diverse lived experiences, and how to practice equitable, person-centred care.

Dr Richard van Arkel has made an immeasurable impact on the field of orthopaedic surgery and industry. His ground-breaking research into bioelectronic implants led to intellectual property and the founding of his spinout company Embed Biotech. His work into the function of joint ligaments has influenced surgical approaches and has benefited thousands of patients globally. His work is widely cited by peers and earned him membership in an exclusive society of surgeons dedicated to ACL injury research – one of only six engineers ever admitted. In industry, he has developed research contracts with two of the biggest orthopaedic manufacturers, enabling them to increase market share and reduce barriers for patients to receive implants. He is a prolific winner of UKRI grants, which have supported his own work and that of other researchers across Imperial. He is passionate about outreach, which has led to his research being featured in a CBBC show, and he is committed to leading initiatives that improve the experience of female staff and students as well as increasing support for women’s careers and diversity in his department. He is a valued leader, impactful researcher and talented scientist.

TRUST’s groundbreaking work has overturned long-standing assumptions in medical imaging, particularly the belief that ultrasound cannot image the adult human brain. Based on the PhD of Dr Oscar Calderon Agudo, their research has received over £12 million of funding from major organisations, including the Wellcome Trust, UKRI, Horizon Europe, ARIA and many more. In less than ten years, they have developed precise, non-invasive and affordable technology that has redefined the capability and use of ultrasound to study the whole brain in terms of understanding major organ structures, diagnosing stroke and identifying blood flow. Their findings have been published in top-tier journals and led to the creation of two spin-out companies to translate and commercialise their work. Underpinning this is their mission to develop affordable, portable and universal medical imaging devices that can be deployed anywhere in the world, particularly in resource-limited settings. Their talent and commitment to equity and inclusivity mark them as role models for scientists across Imperial and far beyond.

As Imperial’s pan-professional clinical academic training hub, CATO provides expert knowledge, inspiring activities and invaluable resources that support healthcare professionals in pursuing academic careers. The team provides a comprehensive array of masterclasses and training courses alongside tailored support to individuals as they navigate the complexity of working across both university and NHS contexts. Through their bespoke advice, mentoring and guidance, early-stage clinical researchers have developed their own academic excellence, won important funding and developed skills to succeed in a difficult and competitive field. In recent years, CATO has been recognised as an exemplar of best practice by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and their approach has been replicated by universities across the nation. They not only uplift the reputation of Imperial but also develop the next generation of talented and dedicated clinical academics. The CATO team have also been instrumental in supporting initiatives for women in science, with their work being highlighted as a point of excellence in a recent Imperial-wide review of equality, diversity and inclusion issues.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Chang demonstrated exceptional courage and dedication on the front lines as a clinical doctor. He actively participated in the protection  and treatment of patients, playing a key role in formulating an intubation protocol that made treatment more efficient and safer. Dr Chang’s actions exemplified the medical profession’s commitment to saving lives and protecting patient wellbeing. Dr Chang is also a selfless humanitarian who proactively participates in activities organised by the International Red Cross Association, such as working with Médecins Sans Frontières in Ethiopia to bring medical relief to patients and improve the local healthcare situation. Alongside his commitment to equitable healthcare, Dr Chang has a strong sense of community and regularly conducts CPR training for the public, disseminating life-saving knowledge and skills. This initiative has raised public awareness of, and competence in, emergency response, buying valuable time for patients suffering from acute cardiac arrest. Overall, Dr Chang’s work, passion and dedication fulfil the social responsibilities of a doctor, comprehensively reflecting excellent medical ethics and a spirit of social commitment. He serves as an inspiration to fellow students and the broader community. 

Since Dr Fletcher-Lloyd first joined Imperial as an undergraduate, she has consistently gone above and beyond to support the wellbeing of her fellow students. In 2020, she co-founded Imperial College Us Too (ICUsToo), a student-led campaign group that tackles sexual harassment, sexual violence and domestic abuse on campus and in higher education. The group has delivered several successful social media campaigns on the topic of consent and partnered with the Students’ Union to conduct Imperial’s first sexual misconduct survey. As a passionate advocate for enriching the student experience and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion, Dr Fletcher-Lloyd’s commitment is driven by lived experience and a strong belief that inclusive environments drive innovation, belonging and social justice. She consistently takes meaningful steps to support underrepresented voices, most notably through her work to develop content for the Early Career Researcher Institute’s new ‘Supervising Research Degree Students from Diverse Backgrounds’ module. She has also been involved in a wide range of public engagement activities, including presenting at various UK Dementia Research Institute symposiums and Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. Her outreach work culminated in the departmental award for Public Engagement in 2022.