Alumni Achievement Awards

BSc Quantity Surveying, 2001 

Family-owned and run PP O’Connor is a well-known force in the region’s construction sector. It is a demolition, earthworks, remediation and civil engineering specialist, employing 250 skilled workers from its headquarters in Irlam, Salford and offices in Liverpool and Leeds. At its helm as chief executive is Charmaine O’Connor, who was named on Insider’s Ones to Watch list last year. She is also North West regional chairman for the National Federation of Demolition Contractors.

In September 2018, PP O’Connor announced the acquisition of Galvac, a provider of vacuum excavation equipment for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition provides PP O’Connor with a fleet of vacuum excavation trucks that can service a national footprint supporting major infrastructure contracts, utilities and the broader industry with the latest innovation in safe dig techniques.

BSc Computer Science, 2005 

Ed Thompson is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Matillion. Before he launched his own company he worked as an IBM software consultant and spent 11 years consulting for some of the premier blue-chip companies across the UK. 

Along with CEO Matthew Scullion, Ed launched Matillion in 2011 and set about building a crack team of data integration experts and software engineers. He and his team launched Matillion’s flagship ETL product in 2014, which has driven the company’s growth ever since. Ed’s strength is his ability to bring together best-in-class technologies from across the software ecosystem and apply them to solving the deep and complex requirements of modern businesses in new and disruptive ways.  

As well as dreaming up problem solving tech solutions, Ed is also a father of three and has recently begun training assistance-dog puppies for blind people.  

BEng Computers, Management and Electronics, 1994 

Justin was appointed Director of Communications and Business Development for Siemens plc and to the Siemens UK Executive Management Board on 1 October 2017.  

A Chartered Engineer, Justin joined Siemens in 1994. He worked in engineering, product and project management roles before taking on senior marketing, strategy and business development positions within the organisation.  

Justin has a passion for education, leading Siemens’ university engagement in the UK. He is passionate about furthering the UK’s engineering, digital and technology skills pipeline and champions greater diversity.  

As well as being a dad of two children, Justin is a member of Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership Board. 

BSc Nursing: Adult, 2012 

Suzann Harrison is an Advanced Clinical Practitioner within the NHS, having served as an Intensive Care nurse in Salford, a staff nurse in Wythenshawe, a district nurse serving the community of South Manchester and a Senior Practitioner for North West Ambulance Service. 

However, it is in the Crisis Response area of community nursing where Suzann has led the biggest transformation. Following the completion of her master’s programme at Salford, Suzann led on initiatives to improve links with North West Ambulance Service and refine the Manchester Triage System for Crisis Response across Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester Local Care Organisation.  

As a result of this work, Suzann was awarded the title of Queens Nurse in 2021, a title only awarded to a tiny number of nurses in Greater Manchester.  

Suzann is also engaged in charity work. Following the loss of their son Declan during pregnancy in 2013, Suzann co-founded the support group Stockport Sands and serves on the committee. Through the group, Suzann has raised thousands of pounds for Stepping Hill Hospital Sandalwood bereavement suite. She also provides voluntary support for local support groups for bereaved parents.  

BA Television and Radio, 2018 

Nick, who studied a BA (Hons) in Television and Radio, is now an assistant producer in documentaries. He is currently working on Inside the Autistic Mind, a two-part BBC documentary series on autism presented by Chris Packham.  

He said: “Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to make TV. It’s a real honour and responsibility to be making a programme that’s so close to my heart.” 

Nick graduated in 2018, after which he started working for BBC Children in Need. He then progressed in a number of digital roles before moving into documentaries.  

Outside the BBC, Nick runs the Neurodiverse Media Community which aims to connect, support and engage those with neurological conditions in the industry. He hopes his work will help improve the representation of those who are autistic, have ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia in the media. 

BSc Business Management with Sport, 2020 

MSc Digital Business, 2021 

Azeem Amir has been visually impaired since birth, yet he has never let it be a barrier to success. Azeem plays Blind Football professionally for the England and Great Britain blind football team and is working towards achieving international success. Playing across the globe he and the team are aiming to qualify for the next Paralympics. His football skills on the pitch have paved the way for him to be a part of several national and international media campaigns, working with brands from an array of industries from across the globe.  

Azeem has risen to fame as a highly respected advocate for disability rights. He is now an ambassador for several disability awareness charities and organizations and through public speaking, coaching and workshops aims to inspire as many young people as possible to achieve their own version of success.  

With support from University of Salford business incubator Launch@Salforduni, Azeem has launched his own organisation called Learn With ESS, a disability awareness and team cohesion business that runs courses designed to allow organisations to learn about and tackle the stigmas and attitudes towards disabilities.  

BA (Hons) Modern Languages, class of 1992

An internationally recognised leader in social investment, Clare Woodcraft credits her hugely successful career as starting at Salford.

Clare is now Executive Director at the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy at University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School. This prestigious appointment builds on her experience working with leading philanthropic organisations to achieve social impact, most recently as CEO of Emirates Foundation (the national foundation of the UAE). 

Here she worked at the highest level, advising the UAE government. Under her leadership the foundation worked to impact the lives of over 60,000 young people, leading to Clare’s inclusion as one of the top 20 influential British leaders in the UAE and the most influential British woman. 

Clare remains an enthusiastic ambassador for Salford, helping to grow our international reach and reputation and sharing her expertise with staff and mentoring to students. Most recently she has represented the alumni community on the committee to identify a new Chancellor for the University.  

BSc Electrical Computer Systems, class of 1987

Chief Growth Officer at Capita, Ismail Amla is a senior executive with over 20 years international experience in high tech and technology-enabled business services, software, and consulting organisations. 

A transformational leader, Ismail creates value through the institutionalisation of innovation, business, and operational re-design. He authored “From Incremental to Exponential: How Large Companies Can See the Future and Rethink Innovation”, released in September 2020. 

Ismail also has several board memberships including the University of East London, Network Rail and UK Sport. He has recently accepted a voluntary Industry Fellow position with Salford Business School and regularly delivers guest lectures and masterclasses, as well as hosting students at Capita.  

BA Dance, class of 2016 and 2017

Upon graduation, Rachel and Fern formed Coalesce Dance Theatre, achieving limited company status in 2018 and successfully gaining Arts Council funding to support four projects to date. 

Their mission is to connect people of all backgrounds with dance through exciting and powerful professional dance theatre productions, educational outreach and professional development opportunities. 

They have performed all over the UK and run a series of projects for the dance communities of Greater Manchester and across the North West. Their ethos places people at the heart of their practice, specifically supporting and making space for underrepresented female voices in their work, enabling their stories to be told through exciting and powerful dance theatre.  

BSc (Hons) Social Sciences and BSc (Hons) Science (Joint Honours), class of 1983 and 1984

Tony and Sandra Lewis met as students Salford. They went on to marry and in 1988 Sandra gave birth to their son, Conrad. On February 9th 2011, Private Conrad Lewis became the 353rd British soldier to be killed in Afghanistan war at just 22 years old. In 2014, Tony and Sandra decided to honour Conrad through helping others and the 353 Trust was established in his memory.

353 is a charitable trust with the aim of helping members of the military community by delivering long-term support to a variety of charities, soldiers and their families. They also guide and support mourning families who want to raise money for charities in the name of the person they have lost.
The trust’s ultimate mission is to become a recognised force for good worldwide through partnerships with other organisations and to achieve their objective of providing a career and income within 353 for those affected by military conflict. 
The 365 Trust gave more than £536,000 in grants to the end of 2018, supporting the welfare of Parachute Regiment veterans, animal rescue in Afghanistan and many other military related causes. 

Anthony is also Managing Director of Westway Nissan - the largest Nissan dealer group in the UK.  

BSc Human Relations, class of 1991

Elaine is a passionate advocate for improving opportunities for young people. She was awarded an MBE for services to apprenticeships and young people in the north west, in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List.

Elaine has worked in Human Resources for more than 25 years. She spent a significant proportion of her career at United Utilities where she eventually became HR Director of Operations. She recently started a new role as HR Director at Highways England. 

For eight years Elaine held the voluntary role of Chair of the North West AAN (Employer Apprentice Ambassador Network), a group whose aim is to encourage employers to engage in apprenticeships, which involved her leading the network as well as spending time in schools, colleges and with local employers explaining the value of apprenticeships. As chairman of the North West Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network she developed the network into one of the largest and most proactive in the country.

She is also a founder member of the Apprentice Diversity Champion Network (ADCN) - chaired by MP Helen Grant, the SDCN is a network used to encourage more people from under-represented groups, including those with disabilities, women and members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, to consider apprenticeships.  

MA Human Rights and Ethics, class of 2011

Nadia has over nine years’ experience working in the humanitarian aid and development sector across Pakistan. Her focus on advancing human welfare, delivering emergency relief and longer-term societal development programs, makes her a truly inspirational member of our alumni community.

With a passion to fight for the rights of individuals who would otherwise not have a voice, Nadia’s advocacy work has brought her to many organisations during her career. Currently she is Advocacy and Communications Officer at HelpAge International, working on campaigns designed to draw policy makers to the issues facing older people. She works with Universities, civil societies, researchers, media and federal & provincial government departments on legislation for protection of rights of older people. As a result of her advocacy efforts, the views of over 20,000 older people have been heard in government.

Nadia also champions gender specific programs and has visited female refugees to record and share their stories. She has taken regular field visits and contributed to the implementation and monitoring of Refugee Education projects. Through the Direct Aid Program she has facilitated youth work with refugees to increase their knowledge of essential skills, vocational skills, capacity building, awareness sessions and one to one counselling. The sessions focus on human rights, education and promoting advance health education and have benefited more than 1,000 young people.   

BA (Hons) Dance, class of 2013

Upon graduating in 2013, Emmy founded Meraki Dance Theatre where she is Artistic Director. The company was created to promote cross artform collaboration through intriguing, meaningful and socially engaged performances, workshops and conversations. Regularly hosting Meraki Sessions across Greater Manchester, Emmy has nurtured an arts community that offers members the opportunity to network, socialise, experiment and jam.

Much of Emmy’s commissioned work has attracted support from Arts Council England and in 2019 she was awarded the female bursary at Physical Fest for ‘Kill a Witch or Die Trying’. In 2016 she was selected to take part in the PROJECT X residency at HOMEmcr and she is a co-founder of DRIFT – a collaborative project supported by The Lowry, formed to create a network showcasing artists who create work that combines art with music, technology and performance.

She has worked as an associate Artist for Manchester International Festival, collaborating with Theatre Rites and Z-Arts on a schools’ outreach project to encourage children from disadvantaged backgrounds to explore different themes through movement. As Engagement Manager & Lead Artist for Selina Thompson’s ‘Missy Elliot Project’, Emmy also worked with black teenage girls to encourage the next generation of BAME theatre makers and creators.

Emmy remains a great supporter of the University, visiting often to mentor current students and host workshops, as well as offering paid internships to students and recent graduates.    

MSc Manufacturing Systems and PhD Management/Computer Sciences, class of 2010 and 2014

Dr Mingxu Sun completed his postdoctoral studies at Salford before founding a new company, Bei-Ming, based in Jinan. He is focussed on developing functioning electrical stimulation (FES) systems, helping patients to regain movement following a stroke.

Mingxu is also making a positive impact on the care and treatment of people who have lost limbs or have major injuries. In particular, he has established a new unit for gait analysis in a major hospital in Jinan. His work helps people to overcome their injuries and increases their quality of life, as well as allowing them to return to work and provide for their families.

Mingxu is a true advocate of the School of Health & Society and the University. He has worked hard in developing relationships with many in the education and health fields in Jinan and has opened doors for us in the local area in support of student recruitment and partnership opportunities. 

Mingxu continues to share his knowledge and regularly mentors students and has been proactive in identifying potential funding opportunities for student bursaries and scholarships.