Alumni Awards 2025 winners

We were delighted to celebrate a number of inspirational success stories at our Vice Chancellor’s Outstanding Alumni Awards.

Alumni who have achieved success and made a difference in their careers and lives returned to ARU for an awards celebration. The achievements of ARU alumni in their respective fields were showcased through their nominations in seven different categories, highlighting their outstanding accomplishments.

The ceremony was held at our Chelmsford campus, and was compered by Libby Homes, Director of Student and Library Services. During the course of the ceremony, we celebrated our winners and highly commended.

Read more about this year's shortlisted alumni



Alumni Contribution to Culture Award

Winner: Thea Lu
MA Children's Book Illustration (2021)

Highly Commended: Dr Philp Noel
BSc Hons International Business Management [EXD] 2022

Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year

Winner: Joe McGrath
MBA 2024

Highly Commended: Dr Utkarsh Gupta
Doctor of Philosophy (School of Psychology and Sport Science) (2024)

Alumni Public Service

Winner: Dr Manshi Satishchandra Mankwiala
MSc Public Health (2011)

Highly Commended: Fiona Henderson
BA Hons Criminology 2013

Alumni Rising Star

Winner: Ariana Soares Dias Portela
MSc Applied Bio Science 2021

Highly Commended: Dominika Kalinowska
MSc Consumer Psychology (2021)

Alumni Sustainability Champion

Winner: Norbert Edomah
Doctor of Philosophy Global Sustainability (2018)

Highly Commended: Paullando Richards
MBA Project Management (2018)

Alumni Voluntary Service

Winner: Oa Hackett
Certificate of Higher Education (Charity and Social Enterprise Management [LDS]) (2019)

Highly Commended: Ibrahim Rahman
BSc Hons Information Systems (2012)

Lifetime Achievement

Winner: Mary Prior KC
LLB (Hons) 1984