Distinguished Graduate of the Year

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Nomination process

Every year our graduates continue to produce pioneering, ground-breaking work and and make a significant contribution to society locally and globally. This award is one of the ways in which we recognise and celebrate our amazing graduates.

If you know an amazing, talented and worthy Ulster University graduate, who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in their chosen field, why not nominate them for this prestigious award? Students, staff and the wider community are all welcome to nominate for the Allstate student and graduate awards.

The Award is presented during winter graduations and each year the winning graduate is presented with a bespoke trophy designed and made by a Belfast School of Art student/recent graduate.

Nominations are now open and will close at the end of June. You can find more about the criteria and access the nomination form below.

Criteria

The award is made each year to an alumnus/alumna of the University 'in recognition of outstanding achievement in their chosen field'. In order to qualify as a Distinguished Graduate nominee, graduates must meet the following criteria:

Nominees must have graduated with one or more of the following: an undergraduate or postgraduate qualification, including Masters or PhD. Their qualification can have been in any year from Ulster University or any of its predecessor institutions.
Serving members of staff of the University are not eligible, however previous employees may be suitable for nomination but must not have been an employee of the University within the last 5 years.
Under the recommendations from the Selection Panel in 2011, it was agreed that unsuccessful nominations can be resubmitted only once, and after that time there should be a period of three years before an individual can be nominated again.
Graduates can self-nominate or be nominated by a third party.

Watch this video to hear from Professor Catherine Ross, Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the Year 2023

Previous Winners

View full list of Distinguished Graduate Award Winners

Distinguished Graduate Award Winners
Year	Winner
2024	Samuel Pollock: former Governor of HM Prison Maze, former Chief Executive of the NI Police Ombudsman's Office and former Chair of the Western Health and Social Care Trust BSc Hons, Social Work (Coleraine) 1972 Diploma, Applied Social Studies (Coleraine) 1974
2023	Professor Catherine Ross: Chief Scientific Officer at Scottish Government Postgraduate certificate in Health Science in 2008 (Jordanstown) MSc in Health Science in 2013 (Jordanstown)
2022	Damian Coyle MBE: Chief Executive and Artistic Director for the University of Atypical Certificate in Foundation Studies in Art & Design 1978, BA Hons Fine Art 1981, MA Fine Art 1982, Belfast. MBA Business Administration 2014 (Ulster University Business School) Jordanstown
2021	Dr Eugene Mooney: Director of Information and Analysis, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety DPhil Psychology 1993, BSc Hons Psychology 1986 (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences) Jordanstown
2020	Dr Tara Shine: Adviser climate & sustainability, Public speaker, TV presenter, Author. Co-Founder Change by Degrees DPhil 2003 ;BSc Hons Dip Environmental Science with DAS 1994 (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences) Coleraine
2019	Dr Adrian Johnston MBE: Director of Digital Catapult Northern Ireland PhD Informatics 2007 ;BEng Hons DIS Electronics and Computing 2000 (Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment) Magee
2018	Michael Boyd: Director of Sport, Sport NI Advanced Diploma in Management Practice 2005; MSc in Communication, Advertising and Public Relations 2001; BA Hons Sport and Leisure Studies 1999 (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University Business School) Jordanstown
2017	Colin Williams: Creative Director of Sixteen South BA Hons Design 1995 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Belfast
2016	Sonia Flynn: Chief Operating Officer, Hireup BA Hons Applied Languages 1997 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Coleraine
2015	Alyson Hogg MBE: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Vita Liberata BA Hons Philosophy 1996 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Coleraine
2014	Colin Walsh MBE: Founder and Chief Executive, Crescent Capital NI Ltd MBA International Business 1988 (Ulster University Business School) Jordanstown.
2013	Gavin Campbell: Director Quality, Spirit AeroSystems HND Mechanical Engineering 1985; BSc Hons Engineering 1985 (Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment) Jordanstown.
2012	Colin Davidson: world-renowned Artist Certificate in Foundation Studies in Art and Design, 1988; BA Hons Design, 1991 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Belfast.
2011	Dr Sharon O’Kane: leading entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry BSc Hons Biomedical Sciences 1991; DPhil Biological and Biomedical Sciences 1994 (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences) Coleraine
2010	Kyle McCallan MBE: former Irish Senior International Cricketer BA Hons Sport and Leisure Studies 1998, PGCE 2001 (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences) Jordanstown
2009	John McMullan MBE: Chief Executive, Bryson Charitable Group HNC Business and Finance 1987, BA Hons Business Studies 1991, MBA 1993 (Ulster University Business School) Jordanstown.
2008	Professor Anthony Gallagher: Professor of Human Factors, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland BSc Hons Psychology 1988 (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences) Jordanstown
2007	Terence Cross OBE: Founder and Owner, Delta Print & Packaging HNC Business Studies 1977 (Ulster University Business School) Jordanstown.
2006	Dr Brian Irvine MBE: Composer. DPhil Composition 2002 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Jordanstown
2005	Billy Mawhinney: Creative Director, WJPM BA Hons Graphic Design 1978 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Belfast
2004	Professor Joe Nellis: Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Cranfield School of Management BSc Hons Economics 1976 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Jordanstown
2003	Brian Stirling: International Rugby Referee BSc Hons Education with Economics 1976 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Coleraine
2003	Harry Cayton, CBE OBE: Chief Executive, Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence BA Hons English 1971 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Coleraine
2002	Alison Kitson: Head of Discipline School of Population, University of Adelaide BSc Nursing Studies 1979, DPhil 1984 (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences) Coleraine
2001	Brian Keenan: Writer BA Hons English 1974, MA Anglo-Irish Literature 1985, (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Coleraine
2000	Kate Hoey: MP for Vauxhall Teacher's Diploma in Physical Education 1967, UCPE (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences).
1999	Declan McGonagle: Director of National College of Art and Design BA Hons Fine Art 1975, PG Diploma Fine Art 1976 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Belfast.
1998	John McClelland: formerly Chief Fire Officer/CEO NI Fire Brigade DMS 1985, BA Public Sector Administration 1987, MBA 1989 (Ulster University Business School) Jordanstown
1997	Pat Loughrey: Warden at Goldsmiths, University of London BA Hons History 1976 (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) Coleraine.

In this section

Samuel Pollock, CBE, 2024

Sam Pollock, CBE, former Chief Executive of the Police Ombudsman's Office & Chair of the Western Health Trust, awarded Distinguished Graduate of the Year 2024.

Professor Catherine Ross, 2023

Professor Catherine Ross has been honoured with the prestigious Allstate NI Ulster University Distinguished Graduate Award 2023 at the Ulster University graduation ceremony at the Waterfront.

Damien Coyle MBE, 2022

Damien Coyle MBE, Chief Executive and Artistic Director for the University of Atypical, has been named Allstate / Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the Year 2022.

Dr Eugene Mooney, 2021

Dr Eugene Mooney, Director of Information and Analysis, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, has been named AIB / Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the Year 2021.

Dr Tara Shine, 2020

Dr Tara Shine, environmental scientist, policy advisor and science communicator, specialising in the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on people and their rights, has been named as this year’s AIB/Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the Year.

Dr Adrian Johnston, 2019

Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, Director of Digital Catapult Northern Ireland, has been named as the AIB/Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the Year.

Michael Boyd, 2018

Michael Boyd, Director of football development at the Irish Football Association (IFA) has been named as the First Trust Bank /Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the Year.

Colin Williams, 2017

Colin Williams, Creative Director of Emmy-nominated and Bafta award winning children’s TV production company Sixteen South, has been named as First Trust Bank / Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the Year.

Sonia Flynn, 2016

The Vice-President of SoundCloud, the world’s largest music and audio platform, has been named as First Trust Bank/Ulster University Distinguished Graduate of the Year.

Alyson Hogg, 2015

The University recently recognised local businesswoman Alyson Hogg’s outstanding achievements when it presented her with the First Trust Bank/Ulster University Distinguished Graduate Award for 2015/16.

Colin Walsh, 2014

Colin Walsh graduated from Ulster University with an MBA (International Business and Industrial Development).

Gavin Campbell, 2013

Gavin is Director of Design Engineering and Technology Development at Bombardier Aerospace Belfast.

Colin Davidson, 2012

Colin Davidson is a contemporary artist living in County Down, who exhibits internationally.

Dr Sharon O’Kane, 2011

Sharon currently holds a portfolio of Non-Executive Director / Advisory positions including being Non-Executive Director at TPP Global Development; is Entrepreneur in Residence and Chair of the Drug Discovery Advisory Board at the University of Manchester intellectual property company; and is Non-Executive Director of MIDAS, the Manchester Investment & Development Agency.