The Birmingham University Awards for Tremendous Achievement (BUAFTAs) offer the opportunity to celebrate and showcase some of the fantastic work of Professional Services staff from across the University. The BUAFTAs celebrate the fact that behind every achievement, however big or small, there are individuals and teams who are making great things happen.
The longlist for the 2019 BUAFTAs has just been announced and it is really great to see so many staff from IT Services being recognised for their hard work and their positive contribution to the University. Congratulations to everyone below that made the list and the best of luck for the awards.
Newcomer of the year
Recognising an individual who has been pro-active in implementing better practice, or who has had a positive effect within a department, generating results in a relatively short time.
Tim Packwood, IT Innovation Specialist – nominated for his professionalism, can-do attitude and his agile and efficient approach to innovation that focuses on delivering solutions to the end user.
Team Player of the Year
Recognising an individual who has excelled at supporting other members of the team, acknowledging those who go above and beyond within their department, and ensuring that others are happy and motivated at work.
Debbie Carter, Research Training and Engagement Officer – nominated for the way she has transformed the BEAR team’s engagement with academics across the University.
Academic’s Choice Award
Recognising an individual or team who carry out high-quality work that either directly or indirectly supports academic staff and/or research.
Advanced Research Computing (ARC) team – nominated for the fantastic super-computing and data storage solutions they provide to thousands of researchers across the University.
Customer Service Award
Recognising an individual or team who has gone the extra mile to give their customers a top quality service experience.
Lydia Rea, Application Operations Support Coordinator – nominated for the great work she has done in transforming the Contensis training programme.
Tom Cave, Desktop Support Specialist – nominated for his fabulous attitude to helping colleagues across the University
Continued Excellence Award
Recognising an individual who has excelled in their role for over 5 years, executing business as usual activity to a high standard.
Tim Hall, Database Analyst – nominated for his introduction of new technologies to IT Services working practices which have streamlined workflows, automated processes, reduced error and speeded the delivery of solutions.
Nikki Dutton, IT Service Desk Manager– nominated not just for her consistent dedication but for her strive to increase the value the IT Service Desk can provide to the University.
Apprentice of the Year
Recognising an individual who has excelled in their work by carrying out high-level quality projects, whilst being a role model for future Apprentices to the University of Birmingham.
Ryan Turrell, IT Service Desk Support Apprentice – nominated for his excellent customer service and his desire to develop and learn new skills.
Dzintars Romans, Desktop Support Apprentice – nominated for providing excellent customer service and maintaining his college work to an excellent standard.
Paul Fogg, Desktop Support Apprentice – nominated for being a great advocate of the apprenticeship scheme, representing his cohort of IT apprentices and supporting the Apprenticeship Scheme Manager in working with our provider to improve the training delivery.
Cameron Jones-Moon, IT Service Desk Support Assistant –nominated not just for his charming way with customers but also for the sensible and mature way he has progressed and the positive impact he has made on the team.
Technician of the Year
Recognising an individual Technician or Technical Team for their contribution to deliver their set goals, whether that be individually or by working exceptionally well as part of a team, whilst providing a high-level of customer service and professionalism.
Web and Digital Team – nominated for the work they have done in delivering a new welcome timetabling system for the University.
Birmingham Professional of the Year
Recognising an individual who embodies the values of the Birmingham Professional.
Rashid Ravat, IT Manager – nominated for his significant contribution to the opening of the Dubai campus.
Nominations that didn’t make the list
Many more staff from IT Services were nominated for a BUAFTA. Unfortunately, not everyone who was nominated made the long list. Nevertheless, the following staff should still feel immensely proud that their good work has been recognised by others at the University for being tremendous.
Deborah Jenkinson
Gavin Williams
Jon Johnson
Dean Parkes
Steven Guest
Zak Ali
Richard James Thomas
Gary Murphy
Paul Byrne
Colleen Romero
Radoslaw Poplawski
Mark Redmond
Cathie Dingwall
Jake Saunders
Chris Withers
Toni Worsley
Shawn Smith
Chris Cooper
Richard Huss
Julian Kobylarz
Liz Simcox
CAL IT Team
Other IT Services / ARC nominees who didn’t make the long list:
Simon Branford
Mike Allaway