Celebrate the people shaping the future of universities

Meet our Champion finalists

Universities do not transform themselves. They are transformed by people with vision, courage and determination to make things better.

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The Champions of University Impact are the people helping keep change moving across universities and their wider ecosystems. Nominated through an open call for the Champions Awards, they include academics, professional staff, ecosystem builders and leaders whose leadership, creativity and persistence are helping universities create greater impact.

Across their institutions and communities, they challenge convention, connect across boundaries and build momentum for change. We’re celebrating their contributions because meaningful institutional change depends on people who are willing to push ideas forward, bring others with them and turn ambition into lasting impact.

Award category: Entrepreneurial & Innovation Changemaker

Celebrating those who turn entrepreneurial ideas into lasting change at their universities.

Dora Handrea

Head of EnSpire at University of Oxford

Rod McNaughton

Professor of Entrepreneurship – Academic Director of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The University of Auckland

Youmin Xi

Executive President at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Award category: Innovation Ecosystem Builder

Celebrating those who build the ecosystems that help innovation flourish.

Gareth Scargill

Director at Nexus, University of Leeds

Josep Miquel Piqué Huerta

Executive President La Salle Technova Barcelona and Board Member at University Ramon Llull La Salle Barcelona

Anita Nel

Chief Director: Innovation and Commercialisation at Stellenbosch University

Award category: Institutional Change Leader

Celebrating leaders who make entrepreneurship and innovation part of their university’s strategy and culture.

Dan Johnson

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Enterprise at Macquarie University

Darsel Keane

Director – Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The University of Auckland

Carl Christian Thodesen

Vice President for Social Impact and Collaboration at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)

Award category: Next Generation Boundary Spanner

Celebrating emerging professionals who connect people and ideas to shape the future of universities.

Caitlin Long

Director of Technology Transfer & Innovation Commercialization at Alvernia University, O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship

Catherine McElhone

Research Impact Facilitator at University of Technology Sydney

Gabriele Permoser

Head of Center for Research and Cooperation at USTP – St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences

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