The following profiles celebrate the incredible achievements from this year’s University Medallists, made up of staff and alumni who have made a significant impact on our internal community and beyond.
Anne Cato
As Loughborough Students’ Union’s (LSU) Action Coordinator for the last 14 years, Anne has had an extraordinary impact on our students and our local community.
Known for being ‘cheerful’, ‘supportive’ and ‘utterly selfless’, under her guidance, LSU Action has grown to become one of the most active and wide-reaching student volunteering programmes in the country, with over 50 projects running throughout the year.
From reading with children in schools, hosting social events in care homes, renovating community centres or providing a helping hand in a garden, Anne has played a pivotal role in creating opportunities for students to make a difference. This academic year alone, student volunteers have contributed over 10,000 hours of service to the local and wider community. These achievements would not have been possible without Anne’s dedication and support for our student volunteering community.
Professor George Havenith
An expert in Environmental Physiology and Ergonomics, Professor Havenith’s remarkable expertise and research portfolio have addressed some of society’s critical issues and influenced the design of products by leading global sports brands, with several of his research methods now incorporated in ISO and EN standards.
Since joining Loughborough in 1998, he has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers, contributed to more than 30 books, and has had his work cited over 2,700 times in 2023 alone. Additionally, he has supervised 19 Doctoral Researchers, many of whom have received support from household names including adidas, Decathlon, and Nissan.
Last year, Professor Havenith’s outstanding career was recognised at a national level when he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Academic Research by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
Graham Herring
Described as an integral part of the University’s football club, Graham is nothing short of essential as he takes care of operating floodlights and the scoreboard in addition to serving as the matchday announcer.
His knowledge and enthusiasm for the club and sport is exceptional, but it’s his dedication to volunteering and giving back to the community for over two decades which makes him even more remarkable, a service deeply felt by those who have had the privilege to work alongside him.
Alongside his normal University role, Graham has served in a wide range of volunteer roles for several local and University sports teams, including Loughborough Dynamo Juniors, Loughborough Foxes, Loughborough University F.C., Loughborough Students F.C., Loughborough Lightning, and Quorn F.C. Since the University’s Coach and Volunteer Academy portal was launched in 2022, Graham has worked on 110 matches and recorded over 280 hours – which whilst impressive, account for just a very small fraction of Graham’s total volunteering.
Professor Marsha Meskimmon
Joining Loughborough in 1998, Marsha has been a driving force behind many of the University’s initiatives, including the incredible Institute of Advanced Studies, which she became the Director for in 2018.
The Institute sits at the heart of our research, innovation, and internationalisation strategies, and its evolution and impact are direct reflections of Marsha’s leadership, creativity, and unrelenting commitment to excellence. In less than a decade, the facility has welcomed more than 420 Fellows from over 45 countries.
Last year, Masha’s dedication was honoured when she was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor. This University Medal adds to her list of prestigious accolades by honouring her visionary leadership and lasting impact on the University.
Image: From left to right - Graham Herring, Will Relf, and Mark Sismey-Durrant
Will Relf
The University is renowned for its world-class sports facilities, but behind that reputation is the quiet dedication and leadership of individuals such as Will. For more than 20 years, he has been responsible for the care of our outdoor sports grounds across the campus’s 523-acre estate.
His commitment has supported everything from elite and grassroots sports, including BUCS championships, Premier League youth tournaments and festivals, GB and England Rugby Sevens training, as well as the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Described by his colleagues as ‘simply indispensable’, Will is known for his ability to make the impossible possible through his calm leadership and professionalism, which is why he has been recognised as a University Medallist.
Mark Sismey-Durrant
Mark is a distinguished alumnus whose outstanding career in the UK banking sector has spanned over four decades. In this time, he has also left a remarkable impact at Loughborough through the support and work he has done for the University.
Across a period of 23 years, Mark served as Chief Executive Officer at three specialist lending banks - Sun Bank Plc, Heritable Bank Plc, and Hampshire Trust Bank Plc. Today, Mark continues to shape the future of financial services in a variety of senior leadership roles: Chair of Cashplus Bank, Senior Independent Director at PCF Bank, and as Chair of Risk Committee and Chair of Yourban and Yourcom, two Swedish finance firms.
Additionally, his dedication to the University over the years has seen him serve several roles as Pro Chancellor, President of the Alumni Association, Chair of Audit Committee and Chair of Loughborough Business School’s Strategic Advisory Board.
Jane Snape
Jane, who has been based in the University’s IT Services department for three decades, has immense knowledge of our internal systems, and her willingness to adapt, improve, and support has made her a trusted and indispensable figure within the University.
For many, Jane’s work has probably been invisible, but she has added incredible value to the organisation. Known by her colleagues as ‘helpful and humble’, the impact of her work has reached every single person at Loughborough over the past 34 years.
In particular, her work as the expert for the HESA Student Return has been pivotal, even in the face of unprecedented complexity and challenges within the higher education sector. Jane’s dedication and expertise have benefited the University for many years and remain vital to our success today.
Huge congratulations to all of our University Medallists this year. Alongside these recipients, the summer graduation ceremonies also recognised several other individuals by bestowing them with honorary degrees for their contributions to fields the University has close links with.