Sean Owens, a Culinary Training Officer in the Department of Hospitality Tourism and Events Management at Ulster University, has been honoured with the NI Lifetime Achievement Award for dedication to the NI Hospitality Industry.
The Licensed and Catering News (LCN) Awards take place annually and recognise the brightest and the best in Northern Ireland hospitality. This year’s award ceremony was held on 7 June in Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, where the judges acknowledged Sean’s lifelong dedication and remarkable contributions to the industry.
On receiving this award, which was sponsored by Three Cents Artisanal Beverages, Sean Collins said:
“This award - who would have thought it? I have worked hard throughout my career to mentor and nurture young chef professionals here at home and around the globe. It has been my pleasure to have trained, studied and worked in some of the top establishments in the world. I have travelled extensively to enrich my culinary knowledge and experience and have studied to advance in Culinary Leadership, and I am forever grateful for this award - it means a lot to me.”
Sean has also recently been honoured with the prestigious ‘Educator of the Year 2024’ Award by Ulster University Students’ Union.
This was one of the award categories in the annual UUSU Learning and Teaching Awards and this accolade is particularly significant as it is bestowed based on nominations from the student body.
In his award nomination, our students said:
“Chef Owens has inspired me and many other students to excel in competitive environments. They always believed in me and pushed me to the limit. For this I am forever grateful, he never gave up on me. I remember his mantra, “Train Hard now and live your life as a champion”. I am now the World Skills UK Champion in Culinary Arts. Without Chef Owens’s investment in me, this would never have been possible.”
Sean expressed his deep gratitude to his students and reflecting on his journey, he recounted his initial interview for the role at Ulster University, when he had made a promise to himself, his colleagues, and, most importantly, his students to make a tangible difference. Every day since, he has strived to create an engaging, challenging, and enriching learning environment. His dedication ensures that each student, without exception, gains valuable new experiences and skills.
Sean took the opportunity to thank the many individuals who have supported him in his role, including his teaching colleagues, support staff, Academy colleagues, and, of course, the students who nominated him.
He emphasised the collaborative effort that goes into achieving excellence, stating:
“We agreed at the beginning of each semester that we would all put maximum effort into every kitchen session and that we would travel on the learning journey as a cohesive and highly effective culinary team.”
Looking ahead, Sean is determined to further refine his focus on educating his students to the International Standard of Excellence (ISoE) and on empowering the next generation of Culinary and Hospitality Leaders, to ensure that they achieve their full potential.