Five Lancaster University graduates have received Alumni Awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements at this July’s graduation ceremonies.

Nicholas Hope

BSc (Hons) Psychology, Grizedale College, 2005

Nicholas Hope is a successful sports writer and broadcaster, who presents both live coverage and news reports from major events for national and international outlets, most notably for thirteen years with the BBC. He’s covered the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, Rio and Tokyo as well as the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. He has also worked on BBC One's 'British Olympic Dreams', BBC Breakfast and Radio 5 Live, securing unrivalled access to some of the biggest names in UK and international sport.

A champion for inclusion in broadcasting, Nick, who references himself as ‘The Dyslexic Journalist’, has fronted numerous charity events and is a regular reporter for the International Olympic Committee’s YouTube channel.

Andrew Worrall

BSc (Hons) Physics, Lonsdale College, 1992

Andrew Worrall is the Fuel Cycle Technology Leader in the Nuclear Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States. He is also the Deputy Director of the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN), which is a US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy initiative. He has more than 25 years of professional experience in the United Kingdom and the United States in the fields of nuclear reactor physics, fuel and core design, plutonium disposition, fuel development and fuel cycle analysis.

In 2014, the US Department of Energy appointed Andrew as the Laboratory Lead for nuclear energy research programmes with the UK. He is a Chartered Physicist (CPhys), a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (FInstP), and formerly a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Imperial College.

Tom Cheesewright

BEng (Hons) Mechatronic Engineering, Lonsdale College, 2000

Tom Cheesewright is an Applied Futurist who advises global brands and businesses on the trends of tomorrow, helping them build strategies for sustainable success. He is an experienced writer, broadcaster and presenter with more than 2,000 appearances on TV and radio across the BBC, Channels 4 and 5, Sky News, and many other international media outlets.

Tom uses clear and powerful communication to outline what might lie ahead. By using his unique ‘Futurist’s Toolkit’, he works with boards and executives from household names like Sony Pictures, LG and the NHS, to small, hi-tech start-ups. A frequent TEDx speaker dedicated to the public understanding of technology, he regularly engages with Lancaster students, helping them to prepare for the future.

Wendy D. C. Parmley

BEd (Hons) Education & French Studies, Pendle College, 1978

Wendy Parmley is a champion for improved educational outcomes across the globe. After leadership positions at four inner London schools, she joined the Design Council, advising on the impact of the school environment on pupil performance. She went on to found the Transcontinental School Innovation Alliance, establishing partnerships between English schools and the rest of the world. A former Lady Mayoress of London, Wendy served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, a role in which role she promoted IT careers for women. A native of Blackpool, Wendy is part of a team of volunteers working to regenerate the Fylde Coast, and she has played a key role in encouraging engagement between Blackpool Council and Lancaster University.

Oluwafunke Olubunmi (Funke) Amobi

MBA Graduate College, 2008

Funke Amobi is a multi-award-winning Human Resources specialist who currently serves as the Regional Head for People and Culture, Nigeria and West Africa, for Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest Banking Group ranked by assets and earnings. A former Chevening Scholar, Funke’s contributions to the fields of HR and employee Engagement have been recognized internationally. In 2015 she was a global finalist for the UK Alumni Education Awards’ Professional Achievement prize; and in the same year she received the HR Leaders award in Nigeria from HR People Magazine. In 2017, Funke was recognized among the 100 most influential HR professionals globally. More recently, Funke was listed among Nigeria’s Top 50 Corporate Women and she was also named 2019 All Africa Employee Engagement Professional of the Year.