Celebrating 25 years of loyal service

Ant began his career at Leeds Beckett University in 2001 and has dedicated 25 years of service to supporting the institution through a variety of roles across administration, planning, business intelligence, and data management. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the University and has made a significant contribution to the quality, accuracy and use of institutional data.

Over the years, Ant has held several key positions, including roles within training and assessment, administration, planning and business intelligence. As his experience developed, he became increasingly involved in data quality building extensive knowledge of the University's systems, processes, and reporting requirements. His expertise has been instrumental in supporting colleagues across the institution and ensuring that data is managed effectively to meet both operational and strategic needs.

Ant is known for being dependable, proactive, and highly collaborative. He has built strong working relationships with colleagues across the University and is widely respected for his professionalism, willingness to support others and ability to work constructively with a wide range of stakeholders. His approachable nature and commitment to finding solutions have made him a trusted colleague and valued member of every team he has been part of.

In recent years, Anthony has focused on data quality, where his attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement have helped strengthen institutional processes and data standards. In recognition of his expertise and leadership capabilities, he recently secured the role of Data Quality Analyst, taking on responsibility for managing a team. In this position, he has demonstrated considerable strengths in people management, leading collegiately, supporting the development of his colleagues, and fostering a positive and collaborative team environment.

Ants’ commitment, dedication and contribution over the past 25 years have had a lasting impact on Leeds Beckett University. We thank him for his outstanding service and congratulate him on this significant milestone, recognising the professionalism, expertise and support he has brought to the University throughout his career.

In the early days of her career at Leeds Beckett, Caroline worked as an administrator in the External Income Generation Dept which was part of the School of Leisure & Sport Studies. She has held a few roles over the years, but her move into the world of scheduling started when she undertook timetabling for the School of Sport. When each of the school timetabling functions became a centralised service approximately 8 years ago, Caroline moved along with many other colleagues, and here she continued to schedule for Sport, but quickly gained experience and extensive knowledge of other Schools. It’s this expertise that led Caroline to securing her current secondment role to the Timetabling Change Project as the Timetabling Subject Matter Expert.

Caroline has excelled in this role and has played a key part in supporting the design and development of the University's new timetabling system, bringing valuable operational knowledge and practical insight to the project team.  She has become a highly valued member of the project, building strong relationships with colleagues across the University as well as with our system supplier. Her approachable nature, experience and commitment have made a significant contribution to the project's progress and success.

When not at work, Caroline enjoys spending time with her family and friends, getting out for walks, and attending music festivals and concerts whenever she can.

Emily has been an extraordinary progression from an undergraduate student of BA Hons English and History to Professor of Postcolonial Literature at LBU. In between, Emily has been an MA and PhD student, as well as a Part-time Lecturer, Lecturer, Course Director, and Reader. Throughout all these changes, Emily has remained very popular among students and has been always committed to the idea that literature should be an agent of social change. Emily continues to teach on a number of modules, including our flagship module on Black British Culture. Besides numerous shorter-form publications Emily is the author of the monographs Anansi’s Journey: A Story of Jamaican Cultural Resistance (2012) and American Trickster: Trauma Tradition and Brer Rabbit (2019), as well as two poetry collections published by Peepal Tree Press, Bath of Herbs (2019) and Other Wild (2025). Her current focus is upon decolonising the countryside and The Black Outdoors.

Graham has made an extraordinary and lasting contribution to the subject area of Art and Design. In his 25 years, Graham has continually championed innovation, curiosity and excellence in teaching and learning. With a particular passion for new and emerging technologies, Graham has played a pivotal role in transforming how students engage with their studies. His vision and expertise led to the design and development of the bespoke virtual learning environment, CAGD. A dynamic, responsive platform that has empowered students to navigate their learning within a connected and supportive community. This achievement stands as a testament to his forward-thinking and commitment to enhancing the student experience and continues to gain recognition beyond the university through Compass, a new development created as part of a CLT secondment, which has the potential to break new ground across the higher education sector.

At the heart of Graham’s work is a deep and genuine care for people. He is an exceptionally supportive, kind and patient educator, someone who students naturally gravitate towards and trust. His unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student has the best possible experience is evident in everything he does, from curriculum design to his day-to-day interactions.

Graham is held in the highest regard by colleagues and students alike. His generosity of spirit, professionalism and dedication have left an indelible mark on the subject area, and wider LSA and university community. He is, quite simply, exceptional.

Karen's journey began in Cleaning before she moved into Food Services. One of her very first roles was spending entire days in the cold room, quietly working away making hundreds of sandwiches by hand, long before they were supplied externally. From there, she took responsibility for preparing the salads for the salad bar, helping to ensure everything was ready for the busy service ahead.
Karen then moved front of house and into the shop, where she really found her stride. She became Senior Shop Assistant, working in what was always one of the busiest areas on campus. Whether it was serving customers in the shop or managing the famously long queues at the deli bar, Karen was constantly on the go, often calling the chefs for more baguettes and the ever-popular Chicken and Bacon. She always had one eye on the students who had conveniently "forgotten" to pay, while making sure genuine customers received excellent service.

She was incredibly proud of the shop and genuinely loved interacting with customers. Helping people, having a chat, and building relationships was what she enjoyed most about the role. Just as importantly, she built strong relationships with her colleagues. Karen became something of a second mum to many of the younger team members, always ready to encourage, mentor, train and support them whenever they needed it.

During the Covid pandemic, Karen stepped up once again, taking on marshalling duties and helping to organise and pack the hundreds of food boxes provided to students during an incredibly challenging time.

Outside of work, Karen enjoys going on holiday, she is particularly fond of Tenerife. She is also a big Leeds Rhinos fan, and her favourite past time is shopping, for clothes she does not need!

Mark began his career as a qualified social worker in Leeds working in both children’s and mental health services. He joined the University in 2001 as a part-time tutor on the social work programmes before becoming a permanent member of the team in September 2005 as a Lecturer in Social Work.

Mark has an interest in psychological approaches to practice and the role of therapeutic interventions in supporting individuals and families. He successfully completed a master’s degree in Counselling and Psychological Therapies while working at the University.

As MA Social Work Course Leader, Mark has contributed to the development of the programme. He has been instrumental in embedding lived experience involvement within the course and acts as the lead point of contact for this group, ensuring that service user perspectives enrich the learning experience of students. Mark is a strong advocate for students and serves as the School's Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and has contributed to both research and teaching focused on equality, diversity and inclusion.

Mark is known for his approachable nature and is a source of support for both staff and students. We thank Mark for his many years of service, and contribution to the University.

Dr Martin Pritchard is a Reader in Civil Engineering with a strong track record in applied research, commercial innovation and industry collaboration. Since joining Leeds Beckett University in 2001, he has progressed from Senior Lecturer to Reader (October 2007), contributing significantly to the growth, reputation and external impact of the Civil Engineering team.

Martin’s work centres on practical engineering solutions that address real‑world challenges. He leads development on a patented geotextile structure, bridging academic research with commercial application, and has established a portfolio of projects focused on low‑cost water purification systems designed to support communities in developing countries. His research combines technical expertise with a clear commitment to global social impact.

He is highly active in industry engagement, working across academic and commercial environments to strengthen the School’s external profile. His consultancy, partnerships and innovation activity position him as a credible contributor to sector‑relevant engineering challenges.

Martin is also known for his collaborative leadership style and commitment to team success. He supports colleagues, mentors early‑career academics and contributes to a positive, high‑performing team culture. His ability to bring people together around shared goals enhances both the coherence and impact of the Civil Engineering group.

Owen McKingley began his career at Leeds Beckett University as a part-time cleaner at the City Campus. He later joined the Portering Team as a full-time Porter and, in 2019, was promoted to Portering Supervisor. This was when I first met Owen.

I joined the University in December 2019 as Campus Services Duty Manager, with Owen working as one of my supervisors. During my first few months, I worked closely with him, and he played a significant role in helping me settle into my new position. Owen introduced me to colleagues across the department, explained key policies and procedures, provided practical training, and shared valuable knowledge about the day-to-day operations of the service. His guidance and support were instrumental in helping me develop confidence in my role.

Owen is a friendly, polite, and approachable individual who is always willing to help others. He is highly respected by both the Portering and Cleaning teams for his kind, calm, and supportive nature. He consistently treats colleagues with respect and is someone that staff feel comfortable approaching for advice or assistance.

Over the years, I have come to regard Owen not only as a valued colleague but also as a friend, and we have met socially outside of work. Family and faith are very important to him. Owen enjoys spending time with his family and is an active member of his church community. He is particularly proud of his role as an uncle to twins and is always supportive of his wider family. Originally from Jamaica, Owen regularly returns there to spend time with relatives and maintain strong connections with his family and heritage.

Phil began his long and respected career at the university as a temporary member of staff in the Admissions team, earning a permanent role due to his input and commitment. Recognising his technical capability and willingness to assist others, Phil transitioned to a Banner support role as part of the registry department, working in the infamous F block. Phil’s analytical and data experience eventually saw his focus shift to majoring in report development, aligned within the Banner support team, as a Reporting Analyst. This role would see Phil begin a long and successful chapter of his career playing a leading role in the design, definition, and delivery of operational and strategic reporting, underpinning many critical university processes. Phil’s significant data record experience combined with technical capability, excellent customer focussed outcomes and as a respected team player, saw him undertake this role both for Registry and subsequently the central IT department. Phil has been a driving force in this area for many years as both a senior team member and occasional team leader. Ever evolving his skills and capability, most recently Phil has worked to broaden this delivery to a series of other critical projects, operating as a Senior Developer in the Digital Services Platform team.

Phil is a much loved and respected member of the university. His knowledge, experience, capability, teamwork and effort have helped the university deliver critical student and staff processes for 25 years. Regardless of his role, colleagues present and past have spoken of their respect for Phil’s achievements, something we hope will continue for years to come.

Saffron began her career at the university in 2001, as a Course Administrator for Engineering. During her time in Registry and Academic Services, she developed a strong interest in timetabling and progressed into a timetabling role, focusing on the complex scheduling requirements that support both students and staff.

As her expertise grew, Saffron moved into a data focused role within the Timetabling team, where she became integral to the successful delivery of institutional timetables. Her extensive knowledge of timetabling systems, attention to detail and commitment to service excellence provided invaluable support to colleagues across the university. She played a key role in ensuring the smooth operation of timetabling processes and was a trusted source of guidance for stakeholders engaging with the system, helping them navigate challenges and make effective use of the tools available to them.

Saffron subsequently joined the Student Systems team as a Student Systems Support & Development Officer, where she has continued to make a significant contribution. A highly valued and respected member of the service, she is known for her collaborative approach, willingness to share her expertise, and commitment to delivering high quality solutions. She has been instrumental in supporting institutional systems developments and upgrades, including Banner, SEAtS and other key student systems.

More recently, Saffron has played a pivotal role in supporting the university's TimeEdit project. Her extensive experience, deep institutional knowledge and practical insight have been invaluable to the project's progress and success. Colleagues across the university regularly benefit from her expertise, professionalism and readiness to go above and beyond to support others.

Sallyann started her career at the university within the Policy Research Institute (PRI), building significant experience in applied social policy research, evaluation and consultancy, including work in further education corporate strategy and as an independent researcher in the voluntary sector, experience that would go on to shape her teaching and research for years to come.

Since then, she has built an impressive 25-year career spanning teaching, research, academic leadership and student support, including programme and module leadership, curriculum development and postgraduate supervision. Her research has explored the changing nature of work, professional identities, employability, leadership and organisational behaviour, contributing to national and international projects, including European-funded work on work-based learning and graduate employability, alongside editorial and peer-review activity within the wider academic community. Building on this substantial body of work, Sallyann is currently making the case for a PhD by Published Work. Sallyann took up her current role as Academic Resource Lead within Leeds Business School in 2023, where she continues to support colleagues and students with professionalism, expertise and, most importantly, kindness. Across several organisational restructures, including the University's transformation from Leeds Metropolitan to Leeds Beckett, she has been a source of continuity, sound judgement and institutional knowledge, and is widely regarded across the School for her reliability and collegiate approach in supporting many generations of students and colleagues. Sallyann is positive, diligent, caring and quite simply, a joy to work with. When not at work, Sallyann enjoys spending time with friends and collecting pottery.

Sean has dedicated 25 years of service as a joiner at Leeds Beckett University. Throughout his career, he has played a vital role in maintaining and improving the university's buildings, ensuring that staff and students have a functional and welcoming spaces to work and learn. Known for his practical skills, reliability, and willingness to help, his commitment and dependable approach have earned the respect of those he has worked alongside, and his 25 years of service stand as a testament to his loyalty and invaluable contribution to Leeds Beckett University.

Sue has been a valued member of the University community since joining what was then Leeds Metropolitan University, after running a local post office branch. Over the years, she has brought her dedication and expertise to a variety of roles across the Library, from the Mid Yorkshire European Information Centre and European Documentation Centre, to Interlibrary Loans, invoicing, and other projects within the Lending & Environment Team.

Following the 2026 restructure, Sue joined the Library Customer Services team, where she continues to support both Library and Student IT enquiries. Known for her practical approach, initiative, and reassuring presence, Sue is an incredibly hardworking and dependable colleague who is highly valued by staff and students alike.

Sue is very family orientated and enjoys attending archery club.