Joseph and Antonia are among thirty-two emerging leaders from across the UK selected as the newest members of the UK Young Academy. From policy to engineering, education, archaeology and the creative industries, the new cohort of members come from a wide range of sectors and have each made significant contributions to their field.
The UK Young Academy will provide them with a forum to exchange ideas, share expertise and participate in local and global policy discussions with the aim of tackling challenges based on areas that matter to them.
Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, Professor Nick Jennings said: “I am thrilled that Joseph and Antonia have become the latest members of the Loughborough community to join the UK Young Academy.
“This prestigious honour offers an invaluable opportunity for passionate individuals with diverse experiences and expertise to collaborate, discuss, and propel meaningful change in response to societal challenges.
“The rigorous application process underscores the exceptional quality of their work, the excellent application support package provided by our Enhanced Academic Practice team, and it is truly gratifying to witness Loughborough University alumni receive recognition in this manner.
“Whilst the UK Young Academy is in its infancy, I am absolutely delighted that its membership now includes six colleagues from the University, and I strongly encourage others, including alumni, to apply in future."
Loughborough’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Ffyona Baker, added: “For the second year running, Enhanced Academic Practice (Organisational Development) enthusiastically backed the UK Young Academy initiative by coordinating a targeted recruitment strategy of applicants and by creating an intensive mentoring and training program.
“This program was swiftly developed and led by Dr Katryna Kalawsky, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the University staff who generously devoted their time to mentor their colleagues. And, of course, we are delighted that two Loughborough University alumni benefited from the support given by becoming a member of this prestigious group.”
Work programmes and initiatives led by members are already underway, with the aim to address the Young Academy’s strategic priorities set out in its first year. The first of the Young Academy’s major projects, to launch later this year, will be a programme to support researchers and professionals at risk, both in the UK and globally.
The new members take up their posts from 19 March 2024, and membership runs for five years.
Further information about our successful applicants:
Joseph Bentley
Joseph Bentley invented a new technology that stops bleeding from worst-case-wounds, after two of his friends were stabbed in London. This invention led him to winning the First Medical James Dyson Award in 2021. Soon after, Joseph founded ACT Medical, to bring this technology to market. Joseph has experience leading small teams of designers, engineers, and clinical researchers to launch medical devices. In response to Covid-19, he was responsible for human factors design and validation of a rapidly manufacturable ventilator. Joseph is also an active Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and held an Enterprise Fellowship at the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2023.
Joseph commented: “As a student, I unexpectedly found myself in the global spotlight at the very start of my career in industrial design. I’ve since been building my company, ACT Medical, to make a reality of the vision I shaped as an undergraduate. In doing so, I’ve been supported by Loughborough University at every stage, from joining its incubator to being introduced to networks and investors through the Vice-Chancellor and senior alumni.
“Being accepted to the UK Young Academy is a major honour and another key step forward towards my objective. It connects me with other young innovators, from across sectors, who can make a difference from the outset of their careers. As the UKYA itself states, the world is facing enormous challenges, and the next generation of leaders will be crucial to solving them.”
Professor Antonia Liguori
A world-leading expert in Digital Storytelling, Antonia Liguori is a Loughborough alumna and recently joined Teesside University as Professor of Participatory Storytelling and Public Policy at the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law. Over her career, she has had the privilege to experience a very diverse and exciting pathway, both in the heritage sector and the media industry in Italy, and in academia in the UK (Loughborough University, School of Design and Creative Arts, 2014-2023; Teesside University 2024-present). She earned her PhD in History and Computer Science from the University of Bologna, Italy, in 2005.
Since then, she has been involved in a variety of international research projects to develop tools and methods to foster innovation in education; to explore the role of storytelling and memories in today’s digital world; to investigate and trial ways of using digital storytelling as a participatory methodology for interdisciplinary research.
Antonia added: “I am honoured to join the UK Young Academy as a member for the next five years and to be part of this vibrant community of researchers, innovators, and professionals, where excellence and care are combined to generate positive change... for everyone!
“I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Rebecca Cain, who encouraged me to apply last summer, and to Professor Paul Wood, who acted as a brilliant mentor during the application process.”