The impact of the Vitae Impact, Culture and Engagement (ICE) Awards 2023

ICE Award shortlist and winners
The 2023 Vitae ICE Awards winners and shortlisted nominees

“Very often this work happens under the radar but the role and the people in these roles make a real difference.” Dr Lisa Thompson, Ulster University, Shortlisted for the Research culture impact through researcher development Award

The inaugural Vitae Impact, Culture and Engagement (ICE) Awards were hosted at the Vitae International Researcher Development Conference Gala dinner at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, UK. The awards ceremony brought together just over 180 guests. 

We received 55 nominations across the four Award categories, these nominations included Researcher developers, Researcher Development Managers, Project teams, Managers, Professors, Lecturers and Pro Vice Chancellors. In those 55 nominations, 33 different institutions were nominated. 

ICE Award banner

“Being nominated feels incredibly humbling and gratifying, and it's really, I think, an affirmation of the increasing recognition of researcher development and research culture initiative.” Dr Saneeya Qureshi, University of Liverpool, Winner of the  Outstanding Contribution Award 

Congratulations to our 2023 winners: 

Newcomer Award Winner: Oli Schofield, Doctoral Development and Training Manager at University of Bath

Oli will be putting his prize fund towards hosting a one-day training workshop for researcher developers to enhance their digital skills so that they can better support researchers and feel more equipped to operate in a digital environment. The Digital Skills Team at the University of Bristol will facilitate the workshop.

Innovation and Inclusive Practice Award winner: Helen Matthews, Institute Manager for the Institutes of Cardiovascular Sciences, Metabolism and Systems Research and Microbiology and Infection at University of Birmingham

Helen has recently become a licenced Menopause Champion and will be using the money to undertake a couple CPD courses and to run a variety of sessions across the University and wider community related to Menopause and the Workplace, Menopause and Nutrition and Menopause and Psychology, as well as a 7 week coaching course on support the Menopause and the symptoms. 

Research Culture Award winner: Dr Loice Natukunda, Lecturer in Research methods at University of Lincoln

Dr Loice Natukunda put the prize money towards the new and improved NEMRA website

Outstanding Contribution Award Winner:  Dr Saneeya Qureshi, Head of Researcher Development and Culture at University of Liverpool 

With the prize money Dr Saneeya Qureshi worked with Dr Elizabeth Adams to put together a series of exciting new workshops focused on unlocking solutions, insights and influence, the workshops are taking place February-March 2024.

Dr Saneeya Qureshi has completed a report on the impact of these workshops reflecting on the success and outcomes. 

View the 2023 Vitae Impact, Culture and Engagement (ICE) Awards Shortlist & Longlist.

Nominations are now open for the Vitae ICE Awards 2024!

Find out how to nominate a colleague for the Vitae ICE Awards 2024. 

Are there opportunities for sponsoring the Vitae ICE Awards 2024? 

There are opportunities at multiple levels for those interested in supporting the awards. Please contact events@vitae.ac.uk for further information. 

Clare presenting at the ICE Awards 2023
Clare Viney, CEO of CRAC hosting the Vitae ICE Awards 2023 in Manchester