The 2026 Commendations of Contribution were awarded at the National Conference Awards on Thursday 15th January 2026 and the Honorary Membership announced at the HELOA Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 28th January 2026.
A Commendation of Contribution provides an opportunity for members who have gone above and beyond in service of the association, or, been influential in the development of the association to be recognised.
Individuals can also be nominated for Honorary Membership. This is for individuals who are no longer represented by institutional membership of the Association and are unlikely to be in the future, and therefore cannot be considered for HELOA membership, but have previously served to support the Association in achieving its aims and objectives.
Commendations of Contribution
Natalie Johnston, University of Salford
Nominated by Eleanor Collins, Manchester Metropolitan University:
“I would like to nominate Natalie Johnston for a HELOA Commendation for her exceptional voluntary service with HELOA and dedication to the higher education sector.
In her role as the UCAS Partnerships rep for the North West and Northern Ireland (NW&NI) group, Nat demonstrated outstanding initiative and leadership. Recognising the importance of member engagement and meaningful feedback, she implemented a feedback form specifically designed to capture the thoughts, concerns, and ideas of our NW&NI HELOA members. This innovative approach has given members a stronger voice and has ensured that their views are clearly represented at national-level discussions. Recognising how rapidly things can change with the UCAS events, Nat ensured members were kept informed of key discussions and outcomes promptly.
Beyond her voluntary role, Nat has also played a key role in strengthening the HELOA community through her own institution. She has inspired others to get involved, notably encouraging two colleagues from her own university to take on voluntary HELOA roles.
As the primary HELOA contact for her institution, Nat is a reliable and proactive source of communication. She regularly disseminates updates from HELOA to internal teams and ensures that key information is clearly highlighted for colleagues. Her efforts directly support the day-to-day effectiveness of her colleagues and helps build a stronger, more connected professional community.
What sets Nat apart is her genuine commitment to sharing best practice and empowering others. She exemplifies the values of HELOA through her collaborative approach and her dedication to enhancing the work of colleagues. Massive thank you, to you Nat, for the lasting impact you continue to make through your contributions.”
Oliver Speke, Bangor University
Nominated by Emily Day, Lancaster University:
“Oliver’s contribution as NPC Manager has been nothing short of exceptional. Taking on a HELOA role is a significant commitment in itself, particularly in a demanding sector where workloads are high and time is precious. That Oliver stepped into this position and excelled despite changing jobs just two months into his term this is a testament to his resilience, dedication, and professionalism.
Throughout his time in post, Oliver has navigated numerous challenges: increased delegate expectations, sourcing quality speakers, managing new venues, and even a last-minute train strike ahead of his first conference. All of this has occurred against a backdrop of financial pressures impacting delegate access to training. Despite these obstacles, Oliver delivered high-quality, engaging conferences that received outstanding feedback.
Not only has he grown in confidence as a conference manager, he has also shown an impressive ability to adapt, seek support when needed, and lead with assurance when it counts. Oliver brought fresh ideas to the role, enhanced the quality of NPC events, and worked collaboratively across the HELOA network to ensure every detail added value for members.
His efforts have positively impacted hundreds of new practitioners, empowering them to better support students across the country. His commitment to continuous improvement, coupled with his warm, thoughtful personality, has made him both a valued colleague and a true friend to many.
Oliver’s name was met with an outpouring of appreciation at AGM 2024—and rightly so. His legacy as NPC Manager is one of growth, generosity, and genuine impact, and we are incredibly grateful for all he has given to HELOA.”
Left-right – Annette Priest, Keir Robinson, Reena Littlehales
Annette Priest, University of Buckingham
Nominated by Daniel Valbonesi, University of Buckingham:
“I am thrilled to nominate Annette for a Commendation of Contribution award. I have seen firsthand the exceptional and lasting contribution she makes to student recruitment and outreach. She inspires young people across the UK to believe in themselves and to see higher education as an achievable and exciting possibility.
Over the past year alone, Annette has visited more than 100 schools. No matter where she goes, she brings energy, warmth, and authenticity. I have seen how easily she connects with students, always approachable, always smiling, and always genuinely invested in helping them imagine their future at university. Her passion is infectious, leaving a lasting impression not just on the students she meets, but also on teachers and colleagues alike.
Annette’s impact is both wide-reaching and deeply personal. I have seen her build a network of school teachers and careers leads entirely from scratch, which is now a powerful channel for promoting wider university initiatives. I have seen her represent the university at careers events across the UK, deliver engaging and tailored presentations, and maintain strong, lasting relationships with local careers leads across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Bedfordshire. She works tirelessly with colleagues across faculties and central teams to ensure our outreach is joined-up, consistent, and strategic. This approach has enabled Annette to support academic colleagues at The University of Buckingham to improve their engagement in schools, delivering curriculum-linked workshops that truly enrich the student experience.
What stands out most about Annette is the way she embodies our values to enhance best practice in student recruitment and outreach:
Innovation – Annette devises fresh, creative approaches to engagement. Building a network of educators from the ground up is a remarkable achievement and a testament to her vision and determination.
Collaboration – I have seen her bring people together, schools, careers le ads, academics, and professional services colleagues to make outreach more impactful and inclusive.
Leadership – Annette leads by example, setting the tone with her energy, professionalism, and authenticity. She inspires everyone around her colleagues and students alike.
Sustainability – I have seen the long-lasting relationships and networks Annette builds, which will continue to benefit schools and the university for years to come.
Initiative – Annette adopts a proactive approach to find ways to strengthen engagement, from involving student ambassadors and alumni in schools to launching a university led session guide alongside a quarterly schools’ newsletter
Adaptability –Annette thrives in diverse settings and with different audiences, embracing change, adapting her approach, and turning challenges into opportunities.
Looking ahead, I am confident that Annette will continue to build on these achievements to expand academic and student ambassador presence in schools, strengthen relationships with alumni, and enhance the experience visiting students have whilst on our university campus.
Annette transforms the ways in which students experience outreach. She makes higher education feel possible, welcoming and exciting for students who may or may not have considered university as a possibility for them. Her drive, vision, and unwavering commitment make her an outstanding candidate for a Commendation of Contribution award.”
Reena Littlehales, Keele University
Nominated by Jonas Rae, Swansea University and Emily Day, Lancaster University:
“Reena’s contribution to HELOA over the past seven years has been outstanding, while facing unprecedented challenges. Since joining the UK Committee in 2018 as NPC Manager, then stepping into the role of Vice-Chair (Training), and now serving as our current Chair, Reena has demonstrated dedication, integrity, and leadership.
Her time as VC Training was marked by one of the most challenging periods in HELOA’s history: the global pandemic. With face-to-face training halted overnight, Reena quickly adapted our model to ensure members still received high-quality development opportunities in a virtual environment, showing creativity, composure, and care in a time of crisis and who can forget the National Conference at Carden Park – neggy latte anyone?
As Chair, Reena has led the organisation through a vital period of change. Her current work to restructure HELOA’s operations has been crucial to securing its financial sustainability and future growth. She has not only chaired with her vision in mind but has also stepped into other senior roles when needed, most notably as interim VC Finance, ensuring continuity and support without hesitation.
Reena is the leader who quietly gets on with the job, never seeking praise or recognition. In fact, she’d be the first to say “no commendation is needed—I was just doing my role.” But we respectfully disagree. Holding a variety of roles, facing challenges head on which working the day job including job moves, completing a masters, getting married and moving house!
She has guided us through uncertainty, and her passion for the sector, and the people in it, has never wavered. Reena has been a colleague, mentor, and friend to many, and we are incredibly fortunate to have had her at the helm.”
Honorary Memberships
Helena Ziegler
Nominated by Ali Clark, University of Stirling:
“Sadly Helena retired from the HE sector in 2024, having led the UK recruitment team at the University of Aberdeen and been a long-term HELOA member. During this time she was appointed to the role of HELOA’s UCAS Events Working Group representative for Scotland and proved to be an informed and passionate voice, in this group both regionally and UK-wide.
Helena embodies the values of HELOA and of collaboration. The HELOA/UCAS relationship is extremely important to Scottish HELOA members and Helena represented the group diligently throughout her time.
She was an engaged and active member of the UCAS Events Working Group on behalf of HELOA Scotland and was vocal (and successful) in fighting to save Scottish UCAS events from being axed from the calendar. She was a calm, reassuring and knowledgeable presence to all on the Scottish events circuit.
Helena advised UCAS as to appropriate travel and set up times for their events in Scotland. Due to a high turnover in UCAS Events staff, there had been a poor understanding of the time required to transport materials to venues, especially those situated in the Highlands & Islands. Her forward-thinking advice avoided any logistical difficulties and led to the smooth delivery of Scottish UCAS events during her tenure.
She is much missed from the Student Recruitment community, a trusted and committed colleague and friend, which is why I feel she would be a very worthy recipient of HELOA’s Honorary Membership.”
View previous Commendations of Contribution and Honorary Memberships.