headshots of eight alumni

LUMS Investors in Excellence

By becoming a LUMS Investor in Excellence, you can support Lancaster University Management School, our students and researchers, across a number of projects.

LUMS Investors in Excellence

By becoming a LUMS Investor in Excellence, you can support Lancaster University Management School, our students and researchers, across a number of projects.

Ways to donate

Linked icons

A message from the Dean

Your support

At Lancaster University Management School, we are a community that embraces those far beyond our physical walls. Students, academics, business and organisational partners, and you – our global alumni, our LUMS Investors in Excellence – are always at our heart.

That has not changed during these turbulent times. We remain steadfast in our priorities: to develop and leverage our academic excellence in order to provide a challenging, inspirational environment, to enhance graduate career opportunities for those following in your footsteps, and to improve productivity and organisational performance across businesses and organisations, regionally, nationally and globally.

But these are unsettled times, and now, more than ever we need your support as a LUMS Investor in Excellence to provide the chance to grow and develop in new, otherwise impossible, ways. As alumni, we will never underestimate how much your valued support helps us safeguard our School now and for future generations. Your assistance provides new opportunities to help keep LUMS at the forefront of management education, ensures your successors can benefit from the same internationally renowned education as yourselves, and allows us to build upon our achievements of the past 50 years. Our aim is to provide significant philanthropic support for our students, researchers and the LUMS estate by inspiring 10% of our alumni to become LUMS Investors in Excellence. This will be a major achievement by our alumni community and will mean increasing support levels from less than 0.5% to an amazing 10% participation rate.

Through your regular giving as a LUMS Investor in Excellence, you will be allowing the School to pursue new strategic initiatives and achieve our highest priorities, enabling us to provide the best opportunities for thought leaders, support for those students most in need, and the best facilities for all of our stakeholders.

Your support is a catalyst for continued success and progress. It enables us to continue shaping the next generation of our alumni community and to be the go-to Management School for cutting edge knowledge of which everyone wants to be a part.

Thank you for being a LUMS Investor in Excellence.

Professor Claire Leitch

Executive Dean, Lancaster University Management School

Professor Claire Leitch
Professor Claire Leitch

The three pillars of your support

Pillar 1: Students

Students achieving their ambitions

Our scholarships and hardship support provide talented students from diverse backgrounds with expanded opportunities to fulfil their potential as future global leaders, regardless of financial circumstances. Our School is committed to promoting gender equality throughout our business and management disciplines and opening up our courses to those from a wide international spectrum of backgrounds, regardless of their circumstances.

As a LUMS Investor in Excellence, you can help us make a difference by expanding our body of undergraduates, postgraduates and MBA students to be even more inclusive. Your help can provide new openings and increased opportunities to develop and thrive as part of our community. Our students follow in the footsteps of thousands of alumni from the past five decades. They too can go on to lead successful careers, working across a range of sectors worldwide, and remaining a lifelong member of the LUMS family. Their experience with us equips them for whatever the future brings.

Group of students working at desk looking at a laptop

The LUMS Investor in Excellence funds have helped an international student continue in their studies where otherwise they might have not been able to.

"The student has experienced various levels of financial emotional, and physical abuse from what would normally be their support system. Without the Investors in Excellence fund this student would not have had this opportunity and they would have fallen through the gaps. With the help of this money the student is hoping to find their own tenancy so that they don’t have to live each day wondering whether they will suffer abuse and can focus on their studies."

- Guy Thomas, Student Wellbeing Co-ordinator

Donors have funded 30 spaces for a career coaching programme, Be Braver. A Mindset, Practice & Programme for females breaking down gender barriers in the workplace.

"Be Braver and LUMS Careers have collaborated on a series of workshops aimed at supporting women into industries where they are underrepresented and giving them the strategies to succeed once they are there. In the words of founder, Caroline Pankhurst, “Be Braver is a mindset, a programme and a practice that has been helping women in leadership, teams and organisations make the brave decisions. Thank you for providing this experience."

- Rory Daly, Head of Careers, LUMS.

Two people sitting on red seats having a meeting.

Pillar 2: Thought Leadership

Thought leadership that changes the world

All that we do in LUMS, from the highest-calibre teaching to supporting hundreds of businesses to succeed, is underpinned by our strong research foundations and constantly evolving, forward-thinking initiatives. We are proud to house diverse research centres, each with their own focus on key societal and business issues, as well as the Work Foundation – a London-based think tank at the forefront of good work for more than a hundred years whose relevance has been as great as ever during the Covid-19 pandemic. We apply the very latest thinking to tackling today’s global challenges, be it productivity, gender equality, sustainability, or operating during a global pandemic.

With your support as a LUMS Investor in Excellence, we can develop and pursue new ways to make a difference to the lives of individuals, businesses and wider society.

LUMS Investors in Excellence have funded a full PhD scholarship, and are continuing to support the recipient through to graduation.

“I sincerely appreciate your financial support. My current research focuses on sustainable supply chains and logistics operations and how to achieve them with the help of mathematical programming. I currently explore the consistent returnable containers routing problem (CRCRP), which aims to decrease the use of disposable packaging in closed loop supply chains.”

Jin Lyu, Second year PhD candidate, Scholarship Recipient.

Pillar 3: The LUMS estate

Building facilities for the future

For more than 50 years, our students, world-leading academics and diverse partner organisations have benefitted from studying, working and researching in an ever-changing and advancing environment. LUMS has grown with its students, constructing new facilities to encourage better learning, stimulate cutting-edge research, and facilitate the creation and development of wide-ranging business, governmental and other partnerships.

The multi-million pound LUMS Space Programme provides the newest addition to the School, a setting where staff, students and other members of our community can achieve the highest standards in their work. With your support as a LUMS Investor in Excellence, we can expand our horizons further and ensure we can provide some of the best facilities in the country for all the members of our family.

Management School Building

LUMS Investors In Excellence make international study possible

With programmes in Vienna, Montreal, Paris, Rouen, Nantes, Rennes, Lilles, and Singapore in 2022, and more in 2023, Lancaster students are gaining valuable insights into global networks and different ways of working. Thank you to all the LUMS Investors in Excellence donors for providing scholarships for travel and living costs so that there were fewer financial barriers to taking on this incredible opportunity.

Damian Harniess: Our first LUMS Investor in Excellence

Damian Harniess (Politics and International Relations, 2003) is Lancaster University Management School’s first LUMS Investor in Excellence.

Fond memories of his time at Lancaster, combined with more recent experiences working with the Management School and the Investment and Finance Society (LUIFS) created a desire to give Lancaster University students access to wider opportunities through the scheme, as he explains.

"LUMS Investors in Excellence is a great idea. It’s a way to give back and to help improve the University; I spent the best three years of my life at Lancaster – I love Lancaster and I had such a great time when I was studying there.

"All students deserve a chance to flourish in their education and beyond, no matter their background. I work in investment banking, where many workers have been recruited from a narrow list of ‘target’ universities and where they are almost groomed for the roles. There is so much untapped potential at Lancaster and other similar universities, and investing in this programme is a way to help that talent shine through.

"It ties in with the work I do as part of my role at Jefferies International Limited (a diversified financial services company engaged in investment banking and capital markets, asset management and direct investing) with the Management School and LUIFS. I work as an Investment Banker in Equity Capital Markets at Jefferies. As part of my role, I participate in Jefferies’ graduate recruitment programme. I head up a team recruiting from non-target universities across the UK and Europe and, as a proud Lancaster graduate, have piloted a scheme with the University to attract more high-quality Lancaster graduates to apply for jobs in investment banking (at Jefferies, obviously!) and financial services.

"It’s important to retain a relationship with the university and to help out in any small way I can to open doors for people, and that is what both my professional involvement and the LUMS Investors in Excellence programme do.

"There is so much we can do to support the University in helping people from different backgrounds, people who might be like I was 20 years ago, not knowing exactly what they want to do or the routes open to them, and to provide them with access to new opportunities. The LUMS Investors in Excellence programme means we as alumni can give something back and provide these opportunities to those who are following in our footsteps as members of the Lancaster community."

Aman giving back to the University that helped shape who he is

Aman Bhutani (MBA, 1999) recognises shared passions with Lancaster University Management School more than two decades after his graduation from a university that helped make him who he is.

Having taken a lead with tech start-up Critical Sense, Aman worked for JPMorgan Chase and Expedia in the USA. He has been CEO of global internet domain registrar and small business technology provider GoDaddy since September 2019, leading their mission to empower entrepreneurs everywhere to make opportunity more inclusive for all.

He hopes his involvement with the Investors in Excellence programme can help give back for the benefits he gained from his studies.

“I have the best memories of Lancaster, and when I talk to my old classmates, I think most of us look back at our experiences with good thoughts and a sense of belonging, a sense that they like the version of themselves who went to that school.

“There are things that I am passionate about, and I know the university is passionate about as well. To have something you are connected to in a very personal way and to have others who have shared that experience, being involved as an Investor in Excellence and as an alumnus is a great way to recall and recreate those moments a little bit.

“I’m learning karate, and my Sensei teaches half karate and the other half, life philosophy. One of the things he has taught me is to divide your life into three phases: the first 20 to 25 years are about learning; the next 25 are about accumulating; and the last 25 years should be about giving back.

“In many ways, I’m at the end of the second phase and the start of the third, and one of my ways is to give back to the school and the community who helped me become who I am. I spent one year at Lancaster, out of 45 years, and that might not seem like much, but it was pivotal for me, and to have the opportunity to help others who are following me at Lancaster is a big thing for me.”

You can read more about Aman’s time at Lancaster and its effects on his career here.

Maria Papadelli: Investing in the students of the future

Maria Papadelli (MSc IT Management and Organisational Change, 2007) is proud to be giving something back to Lancaster University Management School through the Investors in Excellence scheme.

Originally from Lesbos, in Greece, and now living and working in London as Head of Product at YuLife Insurance, Maria wants to provide opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to benefit from the same high-quality education she experienced herself.

I have such good memories of my time as a student at Lancaster – it felt then, and still does, like a community and an excellent place to immerse myself in learning, where I felt really connected to the teachers and my fellow students, many of whom have become lifelong friends.

A lot of the things I learned in my time at Lancaster have helped me greatly in my career, and I felt that the Investors in Excellence programme was a great way to give something back.

I received a bursary for my studies, which was a huge help with the fees and the other costs you have as a student. Studying is an investment, but if you are a young person who hasn’t worked before, or who doesn’t have a lot of money, then getting that kind of help is very important. The idea that through this programme I can invest in helping young people complete their studies is very important.

Creating the opportunity for young people to continue their studies, to progress in their careers and do the things they want to do, providing them with the resources and opportunities to widen their horizons is where we should want to be as a society. We can help develop ways to attract students who otherwise might not have applied, to open up opportunities to students from more diverse backgrounds.

It’s important for those of us who have been students at Lancaster in the past to give back where we can, for us as alumni to support our own university and future students, helping them carry on the good work of producing good graduates and bringing people from diverse backgrounds into higher education.

David Olson: Helping Lancaster continue to excel

David Olson’s ( MA International Relations and Politics, 2000) desire to see Lancaster University Management School continue to excel as a leading business school led him to become an Investor in Excellence.

David met his wife at Lancaster and now works in the Foreign Ministry in his native Canada, travelling extensively through the Americas, Europe and Asia, and believes he has a personal responsibility to give back to the Management School.

"I chose to support this initiative primarily because I believe very strongly in education, and in particular assisting students who otherwise would not have a chance to pursue a university education. The fact that the Investors in Excellence Campaign is directed toward a world-class management school is another reason for my support. I am want to see Lancaster continue to excel.

"As Lancaster alumni, we have a responsibility to support the University to foster excellence. My wife and I have successful careers due, in large part, to the quality and calibre of education we received from Lancaster and to its reputation as a world-class university.

"I believe Lancaster’s reputation for top-quality education will continue to grow. But I also believe that, as alumni, we have a responsibility to foster this growth through continued financial support. Every one of Lancaster’s students and faculty is responsible for its top-notch reputation and for helping the University to excel in its role in developing the best researchers and talent to make the world a better place."

No question on LUMS Investors in Excellence involvement for Cathie

A BBA degree from Lancaster University Management School taught Cathie Hall how to critically analyse any opportunity or event her career has encountered in the last 20 years.

Cathie had no reservations about becoming a LUMS Investor in Excellence and giving others the chance to take a journey into higher education they might otherwise miss out on.

Cathie (BBA, 2000) remains the only member of her family to have gone to university two decades on and has enjoyed a career that has taken her from running her own consultancy business to being CEO of SYSPRO Europe and now to the role of Senior Vice-President for Product Experience at global enterprise software solution provider IFS.

The BBA gave Cathie skills in finance, economics, management and – crucially – critical thinking and analysis that have been essential in a successful career, and she hopes that through Investors in Excellence others from family backgrounds where university is not seen as an obvious choice will be able to explore previously unexpected avenues.

“I’m really passionate about education,” says Cathie, who is hopeful her two children will follow in her higher education footsteps. “Having a degree really changed the course of my life. If I can help other people through university, enabling social mobility and allowing people from backgrounds where you don’t usually set your sights on university to achieve what they are capable of, then that’s something I prioritise.

“Being part of this is about saying that people from different backgrounds do go to university. It’s important to let people know there is a way, and that’s why I wanted to be involved.”

Thomas helping others on a life-changing journey with LUMS

Not everyone will meet their husband or wife at Lancaster University Management School, but Thomas Frenehard wants to help potential students take what can be a life-changing journey through LUMS Investors in Excellence.

Thomas (BBA, 2002) met his future wife Vanessa during his two years at Lancaster. They now live together in Australia with their two children, where Thomas is Vice-President Global Finance and Risk Centre of Excellence at SAP.

His happy memories of Lancaster – both in and out of the classroom – combined with a desire to help those who might not otherwise be able to study in LUMS take that step to join the Investors in Excellence.

“The area which really hit home was around scholarships and hardship,” said Thomas. “I was privileged to be able to go to higher education, but I understand that personal financial situations can sometimes limit access. I think everybody should have the same opportunity to study and achieve their full potential; I hope the modest contribution I am making can help give someone that opportunity.

“I’ve seen people who would have benefited from this sort of support; have seen the impact it can have on careers. Without support, they might take out massive loans and then have to choose a job that might not be the one they wanted but rather the one that allowed them to pay off their debts, so Investors in Excellence gives me the potential to support students in that situation.”

Ray’s investment in Lancaster’s future success

Ray Williams has seen Lancaster University grow and prosper since he graduated in the mid-1980s. For him, LUMS Investors in Excellence provides a way of ensuring that success continues long into the future.

Ray (MPhil Marketing, 1984) was already a well-established and respected marketer when he came to Lancaster – having won the National Marketing Award for Outstanding Achievement in British Marketing for his company Camping Gaz.

Ray continued his work with Camping Gaz while studying at Lancaster – alongside serving as Vice-Chairman of Outdoor Leisure Industry, and chairman of the Parliamentary Liaison Committee promoting camping and caravanning in the UK – and benefited from studying in a renowned Marketing department.

He has felt an affinity with Lancaster ever since and wants to see the University continue to succeed.

“I have watched Lancaster University grow in stature over the years and I want the Management School to continue to grow,” says Ray, who completed two more Master's degrees after the age of 50. “I hope that my modest contribution as an Investor in Excellence will enable more young and old students to play a key role in the future prosperity of Britain. They deserve all the support and encouragement we can give them, and I fully recommend that other business leaders become Investors in Excellence.

“I’m nearly 85 now, and for a long time, I have been giving back and contributing to those organisations, charities and people who are important to me. In my heart, I have a great deal to thank Lancaster for, and I want to give back, to help the young people there.

“I have been a student myself. I won a scholarship from the Institute of Marketing, which supported me through my studies, and I want to support and encourage young people who are coming into their studies today. We have to support the younger generation because they are the drivers for the future and for prosperity.”

Sara excited to be part of making a difference to a new generation of thinkers.

Originally studying at the University of Stockholm, Sara Bell (BA Management and Organisation with HRM, 2004) was drawn to study at LUMS as it offered her the opportunity to critically learn about human behaviour, something which has stood her in good stead in her career.

She now works as an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant following a career in management consulting and senior people roles in telecommunications, FMCG and financial services companies.

Social mobility and background diversity are core to her work, and she says: “The Investors in Excellence programme matters to me personally, as my Lancaster experience set me up to have an amazing career that would not otherwise have been possible. Enabling and supporting different backgrounds and perspectives in being heard in society and industry is crucial, and I am proud to play a small part as part of this programme.

“I learnt many valuable things at Lancaster, academically and personally, and it is an experience which gave me the opportunity to completely change the trajectory of my life. I received a partial bursary which allowed me to reduce the student debt I left with, and I am happy to now be in a position to repay that to someone else, who I am sure will go on to do great things with their life and career. I hope more alumni join us and support students as well as great quality research.”

Our first Investors in Excellence

Some of the first 100 LUMS Investors in Excellence explain why they have donated to the programme:

A man with dark hair wearing an white open-necked shirt and black jacket

Giles Candy (BSc Environmental Sciences, 1989)

“From my first visit to the Lancaster campus, I felt at home. I enjoyed a challenging and rewarding three years, and Lancaster and Fylde College gave me a great educational and social foundation for a career and life. I am happy to repay a little of the help Lancaster and many associated with it gave to me.”

A woman with long dark hair, smiling

Kath Loosemore (MA International Relations and Diplomacy, 2018)

“I'm thrilled to be able to help the university and its students achieve their potential. 2020 was such an unsettling year for those in education – students and teaching staff alike – and even small gestures can really help make a difference. In these uncertain times, it's more important than ever that we invest in education, making sure tomorrow's innovators and leaders get off to a good start.”

A man wearing glasses and a Hawaiian shirt

David Ong’olo (MSc Industrial Economics, 1987)

“It is an honour to contribute to the LUMS Investors in Excellence initiative. I am confident that, together with my fellow alumni, we can make a great contribution to helping LUMS continue to attract the brightest students from all over the globe.”

A man wearing a striped shirt

Andy Dunstan (BSc Marketing & Organisational Studies, 1991; IMPM, 2019; MSc International Management, 2019)

“I have a great appreciation for all that Lancaster University and LUMS have helped me achieve in my personal life and business career. It is, therefore, a pleasure as an alumnus to support the Investors in Excellence initiative to provide LUMS and its students with opportunities to further their successes.”

Transparency and integrity

Transparency and integrity are essential to all that we do at LUMS and so, towards the end of each year, LUMS will report to you, our LUMS Investors in Excellence, on how these philanthropic funds have been allocated and to which pillar of support the funds have been applied. Your support will ensure that, wherever the need is greatest, LUMS will be able to respond quickly and effectively and continue in its mission of excellence for all.

Contact us:

By post

LUMS Investors In Excellence Campaign
Development and Alumni Relations Office
Lancaster University
Bailrigg
Lancaster
LA1 4YW
United Kingdom

By phone

+44 (0)1524 594109

By email

friends@lancaster.ac.uk

Fundraising Promise

Lancaster University is committed to ensuring that our fundraising is legal, open, honest and respectful.

View our Fundraising Promise and Formal Complaints Process.