Catherine is a Professor of Creative Writing and Associate Dean Research at LJMU and in 2023 released her own memoir documenting her family’s move to Australia for a better future, as many Brits did in the ‘50s and ‘60s. With the help of an LJMU grant she was able to travel to her parents native Yorkshire to conduct research for the book, bringing a personal perspective on migration to audiences around the world.
Valeria completed her PhD in antimicrobial resistance with LJMU having fallen in love with the city during her Erasmus project. She became one of only five winners of the inaugural Pandemic Institute Student Excellence Awards 2022.
Joe is the Chief Executive of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and was chosen as one of LJMU’s Bicentenary year honorary fellows because of his impressive career in the NHS and the positive impact of his leadership in the field across Merseyside and beyond.
Louise is the Chief Executive of Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust and has a distinguished NHS career spanning more than 30 years. In 2023, she became an honorary fellow of LJMU in recognition of her transformative, visionary leadership in healthcare for the benefit of young people.
Sarah Wright is a Circuit Judge at Sheffield Combined Court and was one of 10 Bicentenary honorary fellows chosen to mark the university’s 200th anniversary in 2023. She is a graduate of Liverpool Polytechnic and has dedicated herself to the law and judicial system for more than 40 years.
Habi was born in the Gambia but spent most of her formative years in Germany before moving to the UK. She has overcome the obstacles and discrimination that she faced throughout her childhood and teenage years in Germany, to seek out her own opportunities, to educate herself and to work with others to challenge unconscious bias and promote inclusivity.
Andrea is part of LJMU’s dedicated School of Education team who support and train our teachers of the future. She is also committed to driving forwards social justice, putting that ethos into all that she does, inspiring others so that they can raise their own aspirations.
Emily is LJMU’s Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, responsible for looking after the university’s collection of rare, unique and distinctive books and archive materials. It was during her time at school that she first began thinking about a career working as the custodian of such special documents, publications and artefacts.
Gordon plays a key role in Liverpool’s lively theatre scene as the Artistic Director and CEO of Unity Theatre, a venue that started life in the 1930s and continues to explore current societal matters through its performances. As an LJMU drama alum, he continues to support current students who were once in his shoes and is proud to have many new graduates working at Unity today.
Rio Boothe is an LJMU student and a para-athlete. He competes in athletics with the Manchester Harriers and with the LJMU Athletics Team. He’s a real role model for others with disabilities and is striving to raise awareness about the challenges disabled people face when trying to access sport.