Staff and students honoured in 2025 HISA Awards

UHI North, West and Hebrides’ staff and students have been honoured for their exceptional contributions in the 2025 Highlands and Islands Students’ Association (HISA) awards this year. The winners will be recognised at graduation ceremonies later this year in Fort William, Stornoway and Thurso.

The HISA Awards allow students to nominate staff and students in various different categories, with entries judged by a panel consisting of staff, students, and student officers from across the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) partnership. 

This year, there were 59 nominations for staff and students at UHI North, West and Hebrides– of these, 10 staff and 8 students were highly commended, and one member of staff was overall winner of her individual category.  

Annemarie Douglas from Stornoway has been announced as winner of the regional UHI-wide category Best Personal Academic and Learner Support. Annemarie is a Learning Support Officer, based in Stornoway in the Student Support team. 

Speaking about her award, Annemarie said: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive this award from HISA. It reflects the dedication of our entire student support team, whose work often happens behind the scenes but makes a real difference in student journeys and success. Supporting student wellbeing and success is a shared effort, and I’m proud to be part of a team that cares so deeply about what we do.” 

Lydia Rohmer, Principal and Chief Executive of UHI North, West and Hebrides said: “My warmest congratulations go to Annemarie on receiving such a meaningful award.  The HISA Awards are a fantastic, student-led initiative which demonstrate how highly our students value our staff who support their successful learning experience and learner journeys. The awards also recognise some truly inspiring students who have supported their peers and contributed to our wider college learning community.   I am very proud of all our staff who so diligently care for our students, and I want to congratulate them all for their individual contributions to helping our learners succeed.  However, special congratulations today also go to the following, who were highly commended in their categories.  Well done to all!” 

• Alasdair MacLeod –Highly Commended, Best Personal Academic or Learning Support (Fort William) 

• Ally Taggart – Highly Commended, Most Inspiring Lecturer (Portree) 

• Charles McCrimmon – Highly Commended Above and Beyond - Staff Award (Portree) 

• David Skene – Highly Commended, Best Research or Dissertation Supervisor (Stornoway) 

• Duncan Crofts – Highly Commended, Above and Beyond - Staff Award (Thurso) 

• Hazel Stewart – Highly Commended, Best Assessment Feedback (Thurso) 

• Janek Mamino – Highly Commended, Best Research or Dissertation Supervisor (Fort William) 

• Kara Smith – Highly Commended, Best Research or Dissertation Supervisor (Stornoway) 

• Louise Penny – Highly Commended, Best Professional Services or Support Staff (Fort William) 

• Sara Bailey – Highly Commended, Most Inspiring Lecturer (Alness) 

Here is the full list of nominees from UHI North, West and Hebrides: 

1. Adam Cheesman - Most Inspiring Student - The Students' Choice 

1. Alasdair MacLeod - Best Personal Academic or Learning Support 

1. Alasdair Murray - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Ally Taggart - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Annemarie Douglas - Best Personal Academic or Learning Support 

1. Ashley McWalter - Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

1. Ben Williams - Best Personal Academic or Learning Support 

1. Billy Kennedy - Most Inspiring Student - The Students' Choice 

1. Charles McCrimmon - Above and Beyond - Staff Award / Most Engaging Online Delivery 

1. Chelle Tucker - Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

1. Christina MacKenzie - Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

1. Christine MacNeil - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Christopher Macleod - Best Research or Dissertation Supervisor 

1. Claire Flyn - Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

1. David Hymers - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. David Olds - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. David Skene - Best Research or Dissertation Supervisor / Best Assessment Feedback 

1. Deirdre MacKenna - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Donna Bain - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Duncan Crofts -               Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

1. Eilid Ormiston - Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

1. Elaine Jackson - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Elspeth Robertson - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Finn Geddes - Most Inspiring Student - The Students' Choice 

1. Hazel Stewart - Best Assessment Feedback / Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Heckie Cormack - Most Engaging Online Delivery 

1. Jake More - Most Inspiring Student - The Students' Choice 

1. James Tait - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Jamie Monteith  - Most Inspiring Student - The Students' Choice 

1. Jane Henderson - Best Professional Services or Support Staff  

1. Janek Mamino - Best Research or Dissertation Supervisor / Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Joel Thomson - Most Inspiring Student - The Students' Choice 

1. John Newton - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Kara Gray - Best Personal Academic or Learning Support / Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Kara Smith - Best Research or Dissertation Supervisor / Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Karen Higgins - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Kasey Oliphant - Best Assessment Feedback 

1. Lara Hinde - Above and Beyond - Staff Award / Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Lesley Mackay - Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

1. Lewis Sturrock - Most Engaging Online Delivery / Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Linda Ramsoy - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Lizzie Aucott-Hall - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Lois Gray - Best Assessment Feedback 

1. Louise Penny - Best Professional Services or Support Staff  

1. Mandy Cameron - Most Inspiring Student - The Students' Choice 

1. Marina Morrison - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Mike Walkey - Best Assessment Feedback / Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Nicola Hearnden - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Peter Noble - Most Engaging Online Delivery / Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Rebecca Rennell - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Sara Bailey - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Scott Spence - Best Assessment Feedback 

1. Sean Lavelle - Most Inspiring Student - The Students' Choice 

1. Shaun Escott - Above and Beyond - Staff Award 

1. Simon Rodgers - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Susan MacVicar - Best Personal Academic or Learning Support 

1. Tamara Griffiths - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Tommy Dunn - Most Inspiring Lecturer 

1. Val Matheson - Best Personal Academic or Learning Support  

Awards Context/Background Information 

An integral aspect of the university calendar, the HISA Awards give recognition to staff and students who dedicate their time to making the institution more diverse and inclusive for all. A total of 656 nominations were received across the partnership, recognising individuals for their excellence in learning, feedback, support, and inspirational roles. 

For more information, please contact   

Email cherylmacrae@uhi.ac.uk  |  marketing.nwh@uhi.ac.uk   |  telephone 01847 889 000.