The AUA Annual Awards are usually announced and presented as part of our Gala Dinner. As our Annual Conference & Exhibition has been postponed, we have had to rethink how we will recognise and acknowledge the hard work by our members and networks for this year’s awards.

Each weekday from Thursday 26 March, we will be publishing a short article about each member and network that has been shortlisted by our awards panel. This will lead into Monday 6 April, which would have been the date of this year’s Gala Dinner, where we will announce the winners.

Here you can read about Michael Monaghan from the Liverpool John Moores University, who has been shortlisted for member of the year!

What it means to be shortlisted

Being nominated for the AUA Member of the Year for the fourth time in a row is amazing. Definitely the biggest achievement in my 12 years working in HE, as it demonstrates my long-term and consistent commitment to the AUA and its values related to supporting and enabling HE staff.

Last year I had to give up my role as an AUA Advocate and this year have worked really hard to still maintain a high-level of engagement and contribution as a regular AUA member. Seeing my article printed in the AUA Annual about the AUA resources I had developed was brilliant and just the catalyst needed to encourage more universities to try the newest (and best) resource ‘AUA Creating Conversations’.

Designing and delivering the first Regional AUA Advocates CPD Away Day was my favourite activity, and my most meaningful work was coaching and mentoring the LJMU AUA Advocates team; a group of incredible staff I really care about.

I do most of my AUA work at lunchtimes or by staying an extra half an hour a once or twice a week, and I would encourage any members looking to increase their AUA engagement to do the same; it is a really pragmatic way of incorporating the AUA into your daily practice without having to reprioritise other work

Why Michael was shortlisted

In Michael’s nomination, it is described how he has supported the LJMU AUA network by coaching and mentoring LJMU’s new AUA Advocate team of eight, along with developing and launching peer support networks for his colleagues.

With regards to events, Michael designed and delivered a session for regional AUA Advocates, acted as a moderator for the Annual Conference and delivered sessions at a wide range of regional and national events. Michael has also promoted the AUA CPD Framework within his institution and the HE sector, along with contributing to the AUA Blog and the Annual.

The panel acknowledged Michael’s long list of achievements, with particular praise for his strong enthusiasm for supporting others and promoting the AUA at Liverpool John Moores University and the North Wales & North West regional network.