Alumni Achievement Award Winners 2024

BA Politics and Contemporary History, Class of 1994

Baroness Barbara Keeley made history as the first woman elected as Member of Parliament for the Worsley constituency in 2005, winning five successive re-elections. Following boundary changes in 2010, the constituency became Worsley and Eccles South. Throughout her career, she has held several Ministerial roles during the Labour Government, including Government Whip and Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. Most recently, she served as Shadow Minister for the Arts, Music, and Tourism. From 2017 to 2020, she was Labour's Shadow Cabinet Minister for Social Care and Mental Health and served on the Health Select Committee from 2020 to 2022. Before her political career, Barbara worked in community regeneration and the IT industry, including a role as a Systems Engineering Manager for IBM. After stepping down as an MP in July 2024, she was nominated for a life peerage and created Baroness Keeley of Worsley in August 2024, officially introduced to the House of Lords in September 2024.

BSc Sports Rehabilitation, Class of 2009

Luke Brown is a community leader, therapist and judo coach, known for founding Lowton Community Hub and transforming it into a centre offering physio clinics, fitness classes, mental health support and more. His leadership secured £400,000 in funding and strengthened ties with local authorities, making the hub a regional model for community projects. With over 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal medicine, Luke integrates essential healthcare services like dementia care into his initiatives. He also leads a not-for-profit judo club, mentoring young athletes and transforming the club into a top performance centre. Luke’s commitment to health, well-being and community cohesion has made a lasting impact, improving lives and inspiring similar projects across the region.

BSc Exercise, Physical Activity and Health, Class of 2015

Ben Andrews is the Founder and Managing Director of Beyond Empower, a Community Interest Company. After graduating in 2015, he secured contracts with the NHS and local authorities to enhance health and wellbeing opportunities for disabled people in Greater Manchester. Ben also provides consultancy support to sectors like infrastructure, transport, sport, leisure and local government, advocating for inclusivity. His impactful work has earned him national recognition, including the Alumni Rising Star Award in 2019.

BSc Quantity Surveying, Class of 1996

Andrew is the UK & European Chief Executive and Global Board Director at Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), a global real estate consultancy in the built environment sector. With extensive leadership and board experience, he drives strategies that address key industry challenges, such as data utilization and sustainability. Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and serves on the RICS Standards and Regulation Board. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors and the Construction Leadership Council’s Next Generation Delivery steering group. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys the performing arts and travel photography. He is married with five children and is also a guest lecturer at the University of Reading.

BSc Social Policy, Class of 2021

Nadine Travers founded ST4ND, a youth organisation supporting over 300 disadvantaged children and young people through alternative education, mentoring, and counselling. Many of the children ST4ND works with face school absences, exploitation, and criminal risks due to social policies. Motivated by her own challenging childhood experience of being removed from mainstream school and being labelled as a ‘disruptive’ child, Nadine is committed to safeguarding vulnerable children. In 2023, she expanded ST4ND to offer specialist commissioned education services for at-risk youth. Alongside her work, Nadine serves as a trustee for the Poverty Truth Network, contributes to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's Grassroots Poverty Action Group, and advises the Greater Manchester Combined Authority on poverty-related issues.

Class of 1999, BA Design Practice (Spatial Design)

Adam has over 20 years of experience in the games industry, rising to senior roles at companies like EA and Activision. In 2017, he co-founded Rezzil, a Manchester-based VR and XR sports tech company that enhances athlete performance through biomechanics and cognitive training. Rezzil works with major sports organisations, including the Premier League, NBA, and Formula 1, and has pioneered concussion recovery protocols. Adam’s innovation extends beyond training, with Rezzil also developing EXAR technology to enhance live sports broadcasts. A BAFTA-nominated creative, Adam remains passionate about family, having designed a game with his young son. His work continues to push the boundaries of sports tech, with Rezzil set to launch a Premier League-branded VR game.

MA Terrorism and Security, Class of 2022

Noor is an Iraqi national with over eight years of experience working with the United Nations. Before attending the University of Salford, she was an Operations Analyst for the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq, managing explosive hazards clearance projects in post-ISIS areas. Awarded a fully funded FCDO Chevening Scholarship, Noor pursued an MA in Terrorism and Security at the University of Salford and interned with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT). She later worked as a Lecturer at Salford, specialising in Terrorism and the Middle East, and served as a Senior Prevention of Violent Extremism Programme Officer with the International Organization for Migration in Iraq. Currently, Noor is a Senior Officer for Programme Management at the UNOCT in Doha, Qatar, while continuing her part-time lecturing.

MSc Digital Business, Class of 2020

Qazeem is a digital technology specialist with over a decade of international experience. As a co-founder of the Nigerian startup Vysend, he promotes sustainability by recycling old phones and has empowered over 5,000 young people, especially girls, through NSBE Nigeria. At Helping Hands, he improved operational efficiency by integrating various technologies and led a CRM Rebuild Project that enhanced usability and data flow using Zapier. Currently, as a Digital Transformation Programme Lead within the NHS in Northwest England, he spearheads innovation and strategic initiatives. Qazeem is committed to driving technological advancement and operational improvement across multiple sectors and was selected for the NHS England Digital Academy’s Digital Health Leadership Program at Imperial College.

BSc Social Policy, Class of 2021

A dual-winner in this year’s awards, Nadine is also awarded the Rising Star award for her dedication to safeguarding vulnerable young people and inspiring her peers through her devotion to charity work. In forming her youth organisation, ST4ND, just one year after graduating, she now supports over 300 disadvantaged children and young people, demonstrating her commitment to supporting marginalised groups.

BA Geography, Class of 2022 and MSc Sustainability, Class of 2023

Emma is a dedicated advocate for sustainability and inclusion. During her final year at university, she founded the Salford Swap Shop, donating hundreds of unwanted clothes to students and raising over £150 for the British Hedgehog Association. With five years of volunteer experience at the Student’s Union, Emma champions equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), working to dismantle barriers for disabled students. Despite facing health challenges, including severe hypermobility syndrome, she remains a beacon of hope for others. Currently, she serves as admin on the Student Union helpdesk, receiving multiple awards for her contributions. As the founder of the first-ever Disability Society at the University of Salford, Emma is now pursuing a PhD with aspirations to become a lecturer.

BSc Business and Management Studies, Class of 2008

Paul has dedicated 16 years to Salford City Council, rising to Deputy Chief Finance Officer and gaining recognition for his expertise during challenging times. As a proud Salfordian, he is deeply committed to social inclusion, particularly in empowering students from one of the UK’s most deprived areas. His volunteering work with the University has spanned over a decade, where he actively promotes opportunities such as sandwich year placements, apprenticeships, and graduate trainee schemes. Paul has also introduced a new initiative for two-day-per-week placements alongside degree courses, enhancing career prospects for students. Through guest lectures at the Business School, he shares insights on the impact of industry placements, significantly contributing to the development of many successful students.