Sue Anstiss MBE (BA English and Physical Education and Sports Science 1988) was awarded in recognition of her outstanding contribution to grassroots and women’s sport. Sue is CEO of Fearless Women, and a passionate activist for equality in women’s sport. For 27 years she ran a multi award-winning sports PR agency which had a momentous impact on grassroots participation in the UK. She holds a number of voluntary positions and is also a founding trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust. In 2019 she launched The Game Changers podcast, which celebrates and amplifies the stories of trailblazing women in sport, and in 2021 she published her book ‘Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport’.
Professor Jo Harris (PhD Physical Education 1998) was recognised for her outstanding contribution to physical education teacher education. She became a Senior Lecturer at the University in 1999, Reader in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy in 2015, and Professor of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy in 2020. She is now an Emeritus Professor of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy. During her time at the University, she led teacher education, at the Teacher Education Programme at Loughborough was rated outstanding in four consecutive Ofsted inspections. She has also made leading contributions to educational strategy and across her career has held leadership roles in local, regional, national, and international organisations.
Professor Mary Nevill OBE (BSc Geography and Physical Education and Sports Science 1982; PGCE 1983; PhD Physical Education 1987) was given the SSEHS Distinguished Alumni Award for her outstanding contributions to sport and sports science. From gaining 180 international caps for England and GB in field hockey, to becoming European Champion and member of the first British women’s team to play the sport at an Olympic Games in Seoul 1988, Professor Mary Nevill OBE has shown huge commitment to sport during her career. In academia, as an expert in exercise physiology, she led and collaborated on some of the most influential papers in sprint and intermittent exercise.
To find out more about this year's winners, as well as previous winners, visit the 'Our alumni' pages of the SSEHS website.