We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 成人直播 School of Management Alumni Awards.

Each year the winners serve as role models to other alumni, students, and potential students: from internationally respected leaders and entrepreneurs driving innovation, to those who go above and beyond to embody the 成人直播 Community spirit and keep our alumni network connected.

鈥淭hese award winners exemplify the power of 成人直播鈥檚 education in action. They are leaders who apply insight, innovation and integrity to real-world challenges, creating meaningful impact across sectors and communities. Their achievements strengthen 成人直播鈥檚 global reputation and serve as powerful examples for our students and alumni. My warmest congratulations to all this year鈥檚 recipients.鈥
Professor Lynette Ryals OBE, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Business and Management at 成人直播 and Dean of the School of Management

The annual awards recognise and honour alumni in four categories:

  • Distinguished Alumni Award: One of 成人直播 School of Management's highest honours. It recognises those individuals who have achieved significant success within their industry/sector, while upholding the highest standards in business practice.
  • Entrepreneur Alumni Award: Recognises alumni who have achieved outstanding entrepreneurial success while upholding the highest standards of business practice. This award acknowledges the importance placed on entrepreneurship teaching, research and practice at the School.
  • Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Graduates: Recognises graduates who have made significant progress in their careers within ten years of graduating from 成人直播 and have the potential to reach the highest levels of success in the future.
  • Alumni Service Award: Recognises those individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the School in a volunteer capacity over an extended period of time. The Alumni Service Award acknowledges the vital role that alumni and volunteering have to play in 成人直播鈥檚 continued strength and success. 

Meet the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner

Neil Heslop OBE (MBA 1992)
Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation

"Being recognised by institutions you once had to battle to join feels curiously life affirming. More than anything, it causes me to reflect on the joy of a career marked by meeting extraordinary people doing amazing things all over the world. I have been incredibly lucky to have experienced many fascinating things, and form some special, enduring relationships. Knowing how highly I think of my 成人直播 cohort, and the business school community at large, it really is personally very rewarding to know that I belong amongst them by receiving such an honour."


Photo of Neil Heslop OBENeil Heslop OBE is a transformative leader whose pioneering spirit, resilience, and advocacy have reshaped the relationship between business, society, and social justice. Through his leadership he has redefined what it means to lead with purpose.

As Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, he leads one of the world’s most influential forces for good - enabling more than £1 billion in donations each year to reach charities and communities worldwide. His leadership brings together commercial acumen and moral purpose, strengthening the global culture of giving through transparency, impact, and collaboration.

Having lost his sight at 21, he turned personal challenge into collective purpose, co-founding Blind in Business to support visually impaired graduates into employment - an initiative that has since transformed thousands of lives. That same drive to remove barriers has shaped his leadership across both the corporate and voluntary sectors, from modernising disability charities to influencing national policy.

A passionate advocate for equality, Neil has been a leading voice in shaping disability rights and inclusion in the UK. His advisory work during the development of the Disability Discrimination Act helped set the foundation for lasting legislative change. He continues to campaign for fairness and opportunity, challenging inequality and amplifying the voices of those too often overlooked.

Awarded an OBE for services to telecommunications and charity, and named among the Disability Power 100, Neil exemplifies leadership that unites intellect, empathy, and conviction. His achievements stand as a testament to what can be achieved through resilience and purpose.

Meet the 2026 Entrepreneur Alumni Award Winner

Antony Jenkins CBE (MBA 1988, Honorary DSc 2015)
Founder, Chair, and CEO of 10x Banking

"I am both surprised and honoured to receive this recognition from such a prestigious institution."


Photo of Antony Jenkins CBE Antony Jenkins CBE is a pioneering entrepreneur whose vision and integrity are redefining the future of global banking. Through his leadership at 10x Banking, he is transforming how financial institutions operate in the digital era - making them faster, fairer, and more transparent.

As Founder, Chair, and CEO of 10x Banking, Antony set out to tackle one of the most complex challenges in finance: replacing the legacy systems that constrain innovation. His solution, a cloud-native core banking platform, has positioned 10x as a trusted technology partner to some of the world’s leading financial institutions, including Chase and Westpac. Under his guidance, 10x has become synonymous with scalable, ethical innovation, enabling banks to modernise without compromising trust or customer focus.

Antony’s influence reaches far beyond technology. A recognised advocate for responsible leadership, he continues to challenge the industry to align profit with purpose. His principled approach, first evident during his time at Barclays, has shaped a generation of leaders and helped shift the conversation around culture and accountability in banking.

Awarded a CBE for services to business and the economy, Antony remains deeply committed to education and leadership development. Alongside his entrepreneurial work, he serves on the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Committee, is Chair of Redpin, and was appointed Chancellor of Manchester Metropolitan University. His ongoing support for 成人直播 through the Antony and Amanda Jenkins MBA Scholarship for Women Leaders reflects his belief in the power of education to drive lasting change.

Meet the 2026 Excellence in Achievement Award for Recent Graduates Winner

Rachel Harris (Exec MBA 2022)
Founder of striveX and @accountant_she

"成人直播 was such a pivotal chapter in my life, and to be recognised by the university that helped shape my confidence as both a business owner and a leader means a huge amount. This award feels like a full-circle moment and a reminder that taking an unconventional route into higher education doesn’t limit you; it can actually make your story even more powerful."


Photo of Rachel HarrisRachel Harris is redefining modern accounting through a rare combination of entrepreneurial vision, authenticity, and purpose-driven leadership. As the Founder of striveX and @accountant_she, she has transformed accounting from a numbers game into a movement for transparency, inclusion, and empowerment.

Rachel has built a seven-figure firm serving hundreds of clients while creating a global community of more than 250,000 followers who look to her for clarity and practical financial education. Her digital-first approach has reshaped how the profession communicates, opening doors for aspiring accountants, small business owners, and underrepresented groups who often feel excluded from traditional financial discourse.

As a Director and Trustee of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), she launched the organisation’s first fully funded bursary scheme to widen access to professional qualifications. As a profoundly deaf entrepreneur, Rachel is also a powerful advocate for accessibility, using her platform to champion inclusion and better representation across the industry.

Recognised as Accounting Personality of the Year, and a frequent contributor to national media, Rachel brings clarity and confidence to conversations about finance, economic growth, and personal development. Her role as a trusted voice — advising government, speaking on major broadcast platforms, and inspiring audiences through TEDx — reflects her extraordinary ability to translate complex topics into meaningful, motivating insight.

Meet the 2026 Alumni Service Award Winner

Adam Cox (MBA 2011)
Founder, Legacy Note 

"Over time, I’ve come to see these interactions with students as a series of quiet and often unseen contracts: I will hold this with you, not for you, while you decide what you want to do next. These moments don’t appear in any formal records, but they are where people test new ways of thinking about their careers, their relationships, and themselves. This award, for me, recognises the significance of those unseen commitments."


Photo of Adam CoxAdam Cox is an exceptional ambassador for 成人直播 whose generosity of time, insight, and spirit has made a profound and lasting difference to the 成人直播 community. His sustained commitment over more than a decade exemplifies the Alumni Service Award - giving back selflessly to inspire others.

Adam has dedicated countless hours to mentoring and coaching, offering one-to-one guidance to every full-time MBA student. His sessions are consistently described by students as transformative - combining professional wisdom with empathy, candour, and practical insight that builds confidence and clarity of purpose.

As a Visiting Fellow and regular speaker, Adam brings energy and expertise to the classroom and beyond. His contributions to 成人直播’s Ready for Scale, Ready for Net Zero, and Help to Grow programmes have enriched entrepreneurial learning and connected students with real-world practice. He is a familiar and generous presence at events such as VentureDay, where his thought leadership on entrepreneurship, consulting, and cybersecurity continues to inspire students, alumni and peers alike.

A champion for the School’s reputation, Adam regularly features 成人直播 faculty on his professional platforms, showcasing the University’s research and expertise to a global audience. His advocacy has strengthened 成人直播’s visibility internationally, while his professional excellence as Chief Strategy Officer at Reflare, as an adviser to leading global companies, and as Founder of tech company Legacy Note reinforces the calibre of 成人直播’s alumni network.