Home» 2025 Commendations of Contribution and Honorary Membership
2025 Commendations of Contribution and Honorary Membership
The 2025 Commendations of Contribution and Honorary Membership were announced at the HELOA Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 29th January 2025.
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.
Honorary Membership
Gareth Oliver
Nominated by Lewis Clark, University of Lincoln
“Gareth has worked in HE for around 30 years and has devoted his time to supporting a huge range of students to make informed decisions about their next steps. He has played a key role in widening participation in HE – working with schools and colleges across the UK throughout his career. Gareth is a supportive and proactive colleague, not just within the university, but in the ‘circuit’. He is known up and down the country for his knowledge and genuine willingness to support others, building very strong relationships with other recruitment and HELOA members as well as teachers, advisors, parents and students across the country. As my line manager, he encouraged me to take part in HELOA programmes and particularly in me putting myself forward, and securing the role as Midlands Vice-Chair for Training and Partnerships. He is an advocate for HELOA and has always encouraged my participation – granting time off to work on associated tasks with my Vice-Chair role and other HELOA event support. It is for these reasons I am nominating Gareth for an honorary membership, but also because I know, although he is retiring – he will always have one finger on the pulse!! Thank you for your consideration.”
Jonathan Atkinson-White
Nominated by Andrew Cooper, University of Liverpool
“Jonny was the definition of HELOA. He passionately believed in supporting students through informed decisions and passionately supported our members to enable them to best support students. He took over as the North West & Northern Ireland Group Chair and reinvigorated the group, leading to record attendance and initiating award winning schemes. He took over as HELOA Chair just before COVID and led the charity through one of its most difficult periods. Thanks to his leadership our members still were able to access high quality training, but he also wanted wider fun events to support member’s mental health during an uncertain time. He also helped build bridges with key partners which supported members.
“Jonny has always looked at new ways of supporting students and fellow members. He still supports members today, offering insights online. He may have left working directly in the sector, but he still is involved in Higher Education and supporting students. It is my belief that he still is fulfilling our main goals as a charity, which is why I think he is a worthy nominee for Honorary Membership.”
Commendations of Contribution
Andrew Cooper
Nominated by Fiona Curry, University of Cumbria
“Andrew is a committed HELOA member, and until recently, has been a very valued member of the HELOA UKC and executive team. He has demonstrated his innovation, collaboration, leadership, initiative and adaptability across his roles in both training and membership engagement.
Adapting to online events in the pandemic during his term, as an appointed officer he worked with the training team and wider UKC to provide opportunities for members to continue to learn and share through a challenging time. Always with positivity and a can-do approach to any challenges. Andrew goes above and beyond to welcome new volunteers and members into HELOA, making time for those informal and invaluable conversations, checking in and offering help in any way that he can. This creates a welcoming and inclusive environment, wherever he is. His leadership of the office team, and within a trustee role on executive, has been inspirational, through his calm, kind and considered approach. He is thoughtful, and will listen first to understand, then offer solutions and suggestions to move things forward.
Importantly in a leader, he is also able to take on board constructive feedback to continuously improve his actions to support others. He has been innovative in his approach to bringing a more data-driven approach to tracking membership engagement at group and national level, to prompt discussion and action at UKC level on how we can better monitor and improve this.
Andrew’s characteristic humour, facilitates openness in the face of any personal or collective challenges that he, HELOA, or individuals face and he strives for connection and collaboration with others in a personable and professional manner in his actions. This is why, I am nominating him for this commendation of contribution – as he is an individual who I think embodies the spirit and values of HELOA.
Thank you Andrew, and on behalf of members and volunteers who you have supported for years.”
Gareth Oliver
Nominated by Lewis Clarke, University of Lincoln
“The first thing that comes to mind for his innovative idea is ‘Darcy the Dog’! He has used a branded, different, university asset to bring a smile to many over the last couple of years. Initially, it was a bit of fun when taking pictures to share on LinkedIn but now…it is quite something. Teachers, students, other internal but also external colleagues at other HEI’s now look out for Darcy – where or what shall be up to next? It is without doubt that Gareth has collaborated with colleagues across the sector during his 30 years of service and not only this but has left an impression within the sector due to his willingness to share best practice, support others and positive attitude towards teamwork. To demonstrate this, I have included quotes from a range of internal and external colleagues below:
‘He is the friendly face at an event (for new and experienced people), he is always one of the first there and will have often found where the brews, loos and lunch is at! Hearing him talk to students is inspiring, his passion for Lincoln and HE comes across in how he engages with students and parents’.
‘He is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful staff members I’ve ever met. He is never afraid to help you answer a question, even if you’re embarrassed you don’t know, and has always been warm and kind in the process. He deserves an award for his long service, supporting and friendly demeanour and for having a great sense of humour – even in the maddest of March’s’
‘He is a valued team member not just at the University of Lincoln but within the whole sector. He is happy support whenever and does everything with a smile on his face’
‘Gareth is not only a fountain of knowledge of the circuit and each individual event, but he is also one of the nicest people you could hope to meet at one of those events. He always takes the time to say hello and talk to you, he will always help to set up your stand and he will give out so much advice without any complaints’
‘Gareth is seen as a mentor/supporter and teacher to all on the circuit, be that putting your banner stand up to actual details of how you get out of the venue and the A road which will be the faster route to your destination’
Gareth has provided ideas for a very large range of projects and initiatives throughout his time at Lincoln. I have worked with him for over 5 years now and he has supported with ideas to develop our recruitment strategy, delivered bespoke training for ambassadors and staff in getting the most out of external events and a willingness to adapt to the ever-changing landscape in student recruitment – from being more strategic, formulating ideas to ‘get in’ with feeder institutions but always with the student at heart. He has an ability to be adaptable – never phased by the unknown despite being in the sector for a long time, he is not ‘stuck in his way’ and is able to use his experience to ensure contributions are always meaningful.”
