Beyond the Projects: Celebrating the Growing Impact of Our KTP Associates

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining one of our newest KTP Associates, Rebecca Platt, and colleagues at Dementia Forward, for a particularly special event on World Alzheimer's Day.

The occasion centred on a Tree of Hope planting ceremony, marking a commitment to hope, resilience and support for those affected by dementia. What made the event even more poignant was the choice of tree: a sapling grown from the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland. The sapling was planted in the beautiful, new sensory garden at Lavender Fields Care Village, alongside Dementia Forward’s HQ in the East Riding of Yorkshire, offering a peaceful space for residents and their visitors to enjoy together.

Having visited Sycamore Gap in New Year 2018, it felt especially meaningful to see a small part of that much-loved landmark finding a new home and taking on a new purpose. It was a powerful reminder that, even when something valuable is lost, new growth and new opportunities can emerge.

Reflecting on the event, I was struck by the diverse range of opportunities that our KTP Associates engage with beyond their projects. While KTPs are recognised for delivering innovation and business impact, they also provide a unique platform for Associates to develop professionally, contribute to academic knowledge, build influential networks and showcase their experiences on national and international stages. One of the things I enjoy most in my role is hearing about the different opportunities our Associates are led to because of their projects.

For example, Temitope Falana (Freight Agency) presented at the Living Lab: Digital Adoption for Business Growth event, as part of Leeds Digital Festival, helping businesses explore the opportunities and challenges associated with digital transformation. Through his KTP, Temi has helped drive a strategic shift, embedding data-driven marketing approaches and supporting the company's growth into new international markets.

Many of our associates have also been sharing their expertise and celebrating success at academic conferences and professional networks:

• In the field of advanced imaging and artificial intelligence, Sina Mahroughi (Father’s Farm Foods) presented his work on hyperspectral imaging at the European Signal Processing Conference (EUSIPCO 2026), one of the leading conferences in the signal processing field, showcasing the innovative outcomes emerging from his KTP.
• It was also fantastic to see Ramith Rajan (Control Station) recognised as runner-up in the Enterprise category at this year's RISE Awards at the SEEDS Conference. His KTP is tackling the challenge of delivering advanced engineering analysis more efficiently through automation, demonstrating how innovation can contribute to more sustainable and scalable engineering solutions.
• Further success at the SEEDS Conference came from Akhil Muraleedharan (Aquatrust), who presented his first research paper on policy management for AI-based systems, exploring how policy frameworks must evolve to keep pace with technological change. The paper, which highlights the growing importance of research at the intersection of technology, governance and policy, received a Highly Commended award, marking an impressive achievement early in his research career.
• Within the construction sector, Neha Joshi (ARC Building Solutions) presented at the recent Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM) Conference at Loughborough University. Her work was further recognised through an award for advancing innovation, highlighting the quality of research and knowledge exchange being generated through the partnership.
• Habiba Elgharably (QMed/NuGreen) presented at the International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD), in Rome. Her paper, Transforming Waste Management from Incineration to Resource Recovery in the UK, explored important environmental sustainability challenges and demonstrates how KTP projects can contribute to wider societal impact.

The variety of sectors represented across our KTP portfolio is perhaps best illustrated by our associates working in sport and education. Karan Rai (Pro Ref) recently attended the World Football Summit in Madrid, engaging with leaders and innovators from across the global football industry. At the same time, Thomas Hawkins (The Grammar School at Leeds) is preparing to share his work at the International Physical Literacy Conference in Toulouse, contributing to international conversations around physical literacy and participation.

These examples represent only a snapshot of the activity taking place across our KTP community. Behind every conference presentation, industry event, publication, workshop or networking opportunity is an Associate developing new skills, building confidence, expanding their professional network and creating impact beyond the immediate goals of their project.

I continue to be impressed by the enthusiasm, expertise and ambition our Associates bring to their roles. What stands out most is not only the impact they create for their organisations, but the way they embrace opportunities to challenge themselves and the passion they share for their projects.

Looking back to the Tree of Hope, a sapling is also a fitting analogy for the KTP journey, where people, ideas and partnerships flourish under the right conditions. Whilst every KTP begins with clear objectives and a project plan, some of the most rewarding outcomes are the skills, connections and experiences that continue to grow long after the project itself has taken root.