The winners of the AUDE Awards 2025 were announced at Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd - National Museum Cardiff on 30 April. Many congratulations to all of our award winners, shortlisted and nominated individuals, projects, organisations and teams.
Thank you also to all who applied this year. Your time and support is greatly appreciated, and we hope you have reinforced some good learnings as part of this process, of the kind that emerge from every strong project, simply by taking part.
We have been very grateful for the support of Lancer Scott Facilities Management in bringing the awards to you this year.
Gold Award
Campus Security, Trinity College Dublin
Silver Award
Asset Management, Estate Operations, University of Cambridge
Bronze Award
Estates Team, University of Sunderland and University of Sunderland in London
Gold Award
Ann-Marie Dyer, University of Plymouth
Silver Award
Sarfraz Mohammed, University of Edinburgh
Bronze Award
Jemma Maguire, Nottingham Trent University
Gold Award
The Bright Idea, A solar solution transforming campus energy, The University of Manchester
Silver Award
Smart Estates: Enhancing the sustainability of the existing estate, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Bronze Award
Donation Drive, University of Warwick
Gold Award
Gavin Poyser - Supported Internship Scheme, University of Derby
Silver Award
Inclusive Environments Action Plan, University College London
Bronze Award
Enhancing Mental Health Support: Student Counselling and Security Initiative, Trinity College Dublin
Gold Award
Chris Roberts, Bangor University
Silver Award
Waterside Corporate and Social Value Initiative, Durham University
Bronze Award
Protect - Joint training exercises with South Yorkshire Police, University of Sheffield
This award recognises the outstanding achievements of an individual who has made a significant and lasting impact on the higher education estates and facilities management community through sustained leadership in a senior role. The winner of the AUDE Chair’s Award for 2025 is Paul Morris of Lancaster University.
In speaking about Paul at the awards ceremony, AUDE Chair Syd Cottle said: “Our winner tonight is a true gentleman and much loved by all his peers. He is known for a vast array of achievements and it’s genuinely hard to know where to start. So here goes, and once I start talking I think it will become clear very quickly who the Chair’s Long Term Contribution Award is going to this year.
“Our winner this evening started his career as a mechanical and plant engineer in the nuclear industry, before making his way towards higher education and tucking an MBA under his belt.
“If my information is correct, he joined the sector in 2006 and has held senior roles at 3 universities. His long serving experience cuts across Estate Development, Facilities Services, leading and delivering strategic change, senior project management, achieving commercial success and creating high quality, world class facilities and service delivery alongside process efficiency and continuous improvements.
“He has delivered many capital projects including a £41m Health Innovation Campus that was Awarded BREEAM Excellent for sustainability in its design and construction; and a new purpose built 400-seater Lecture Theatre, designed in-line with Passivhaus standards for sustainability, and built from sustainably sourced materials. The project you might know him for most recently – and which is the topic of our Big Conversation event this November – is the solar farm and energy infrastructure project, after a successful grant award of £21m from the government’s Green Heat Network Fund.
“He has always been an active member of the AUDE network and specifically, since 2007 been a lead member of our Estates Management Record, one of the few who remembers it being delivered in association with IPD and then supporting the data review and rehoming of the record with HESA. Without his knowledge and expertise, we would not have the report you all know and use today, nor the EMR digital portal, established to enable members to manipulate the report, create their own benchmarking groups and bespoke data outputs.
“He has also been on our Professional Development Group, and of course delivered the brilliant AUDE annual conference 2019 at... shall I say it?... it’s obvious, isn't it?... at Lancaster University.
“But now let’s talk about the person. He is an exemplary collaborator. He is always willing to help, share his knowledge and offer support to others.
“I spoke at length with Jane about this award and she told me, ‘His best trait by far is the way he can cut through the noise and create clear, concise and no-nonsense responses to my queries, he ALWAYS helps when asked, I like to think we are both on the same wave length and can call out rubbish when we see it – it’s refreshing and I love that about him!’
“His colleagues speak so very well of him and describe him as a highly respected leader. He is selfless and caring and has mentored many of his team, enabling their career progression.
“What truly stands out to me is his exceptional success in championing sustainability initiatives and the impactful way he has implemented them throughout different projects in his career.”
This residential programme nurtured emerging talent in our higher education institutions. Delegates heard from current estates directors and sector experts on key topical areas of estates and facilities management. This residential is a year-long programme and commitment. Post-event there was a written assignment, and group project work. The winning project group presented a superb reflection on ‘Enhancing Customer-Centric Practices in Capital Project Delivery within Higher Education Estates’. They are:
Sarah Anne Borg (University of Malta), Tshisevhe Nesengani (University of Venda), Kate Powell (University of Glasgow), Graeme Race (University of York), Helen Shaw (Cardiff University) and James Wright (University of Leeds).
The winning organisation and AUDE Supplier of the Year for 2025 is Provelio.
We are so grateful and appreciative to all of the other nominated organisations.
