ROLE MODEL
of the year
EDUCATION
FINALISTS
The LGBTQ+ professional, in an educational setting, whose work most inspires the people around them.
listed alphabetically
(by first name)
ANT BABAJEE
Middlesex University London
Ant (he/him) is seen as a pillar of the community at Middlesex University. As a role model he is known for the qualities of positivity, empathy, integrity, dynamism and strength for his advocacy and activism, and his commitment to change and improvement. Work and achievements highlighted in the nominated received included his LGBT+ and HIV activism and advocacy, co-organiser of Barnet’s first Pride in the Park, moving a motion on trans rights at the UNISON National Higher Education Conference and his volunteering in the London chapter of the Impulse Group, which aims to engage, support and connect queer men globally to community health initiatives.
CARLEY OWEN
University of the Arts London
Carley (she/her) was nominated for her unwavering passion and enthusiasm for improving the student and staff experience for everyone at the University of the Arts London. In the last 12 months she has run over 45 events in her role as the UAL LGBTQ+ staf network chair alone, including one for Pride in London organised for 250 students, staff and local charities. The work she does with LGBTQ+ organisation and disabled charities outside of her role at UAL is often brought into her work at the university including ‘Taboo Tuesday’ tackling topics students haven’t discussed in everyday university life and by launching a 'Queer Peers' podcast for students and peers to come together to share their experiences.
SOPHIE ROSE MADISON
University of Bath
Sophie was nominated by one of the students at the University of Bath, who sees her as an agent of change, inspired by her warm and kind approach to all that does, underpinned by an unwavering commitment to driving inclusion. One of the most visible examples of this involved moving Campus Pride from June to April to allow more students to attend - a warmly received move with students saying the event has become the highlight of their year. She works collaboratively with the student LGBTQ+ group, including 2023 Trans Day of Rememberance where a powerful memorial display featuring 392 ribbons representing each of the lives lost to anti-transgender violence.
ZANDER GODDEN
Northumbria Students’ Union
Since becoming the first openly non-binary staff member at Northumbria Students’ Union, Zander (they/them) has been instrumental in NSU’s LGBTQ+ student offerings, supporting numerous LGBTQ+ students to run their own wellbeing projects, and ensuring they have contacts and support resources needed to make an impact – all previous NSU QSA winners have been supervised or mentored by them. For Pride Season, they chaired the working group which developed #30DaysOfPride to countdown the launch of Northern Pride. They have acted as co-chair of the university’s LGBTQ+ staff network and sat on the university’s LGBTQ+ steering group, where they contributed to renaming staff rooms that were named after countries that criminalise LGBT people.
