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Congratulations to Daisy Hung, Bob Mahoney and Lauren Wild in the MPLS Divisional Office, and Louisa Bailey (Head of Administration and Finance, Earth Sciences), who were amongst the joint winners and finalists for the inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Services Awards announced on Tuesday 21 March.

Group photo of finalists from the VC's Professional Services Awards 2023 at the University of Oxford, in front of a screen displaying the awards logo

Bob Mahoney (Head of Graduate Policy and Administration) and Lauren Wild (Graduate Funding Officer) were part of the cross-divisional team of 30 members of staff that won the Collaborating Across Oxford Award for ‘Supporting Students in Response to Global Emergencies’. This work included arranging the COVID-19 Scholarship Extensions Fund and COVID-19 Assistance Fund at short notice, to support people during the pandemic, and establishing ground-breaking scholarship schemes for people caught up in the conflicts in Ukraine and Afghanistan.

The Collaborating Across Oxford Award recognises groups of staff who have worked in a collaborative way across the collegiate University, embracing the aims and values of Professional Services Together.

Daisy Hung was Highly Commended in the Role Model category, which is awarded to inspiring leaders who are setting an example for others to follow. She was recognised for being instrumental in driving ED&I initiatives across MPLS Division and the wider University.

Daisy's nomination highlighted her active engagement with University-wide initiatives, where she contributes her insights and experience to improve policies and working culture. Her leadership has led to the implementation of a new rolling ED&I Training Programme and successful Mental Health Awareness Week activities which are available to all staff and students.

Daisy was also recognised as a role model who champions ED&I and adopts a non-hierarchical approach in everything she does, challenging and encouraging those around her to be better people and give everyone a voice at the table.

Louisa Bailey was a finalist in the Making Things Better category, for staff who have challenged and improved processes and, in particular, embraced continuous improvement approaches.

Furthering Oxford's academic mission

The VC’s Professional Services Awards recognise the extraordinary contribution that colleagues in administrative, professional and support roles make to the University, and to furthering Oxford’s academic mission. 

In particular they celebrate colleagues who demonstrate the principles of Professional Services Together – the University’s framework for spreading best practice across our professional services. 

Dr Tracy Gale, Divisional Registrar for MPLS Division, said: “I am immensely proud of all of the professional services staff across MPLS who do incredible work every day to support our academic mission. I know that there were around 140 nominations across the whole university for the VC’s inaugural awards and it was great to see that we had two such excellent role models from MPLS amongst the finalists.

"My warmest congratulations go to Louisa, Daisy, Bob and Lauren, and I hope that everyone who was able to attend the event with them had a wonderful time.” 

The Estates Services team who manage the University's 'living laboratory' at Wytham Woods (Nigel Fisher, Lucy Kilbey, Deborah Steyl, Nick Ewart, Kevin Crawford and Neil Havercroft), was also Highly Commended in the Outstanding Support category. They support many of our staff and students in MPLS who learn and carry out research and related activity at Wytham Woods.

Full details of the finalists, highly commended finalists and award winners can be found on The Vice Chancellor's Professional Services Awards page of the University website.