Water Woman Award winners 2025
We are delighted to announce the winners of the Water Woman Award 2025 today, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
By rewarding achievements of women whose work contributes to the objectives of water@leeds in securing competitive research funds, producing world-class research or achieving significant societal impact, we aim to shine a light on their efforts in an academic world in which the hurdles are still greater for them.
Now in its fourth iteration, the award is based on two equally weighted criteria: the nature of the achievement plus its potential for empowering and inspiring other women into following their example.
Outstanding nominations were received across all categories, which this year includes a new Alumna Award. The Water Woman Award panel have been overwhelmed by the inspiring power of the applications.
Panel Chair and awards founder, Professor Julia Martin-Ortega, is Associate Director of water@leeds. She said:
In this fourth edition, we have a new round of amazing applicants and nominations, from which we’re very pleased to have drawn seven exceptional winners and commendations.
The Women at Leeds Network (WALN), which is represented on the awards panel, said: “The Water Woman Award provides a brilliant platform to showcase the amazing contribution and achievement of our hardworking, talented colleagues.
“We’re surrounded by inspirational colleagues, who deserve to be recognised and celebrated as role models.”
Each of the category winners will receive £1,000, transferred into their staff development account, or £500 in the case of the Early Career Award winner.
Inaugural Water Woman Alumna Award
In this first Water Woman Alumna Award, we highlight the bright and inspiring future our water graduates can achieve, in giving this award to:
Dr Hifza Rasheed, Faculty of Earth and Environment, 2018
Director General of the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources in Islamabad.
Panel Chair and Associate Director of water@leeds, Professor Julia Martin Ortega, said:
Hifza is awarded in recognition of her extraordinary and inspiring career. This is a remarkable progression and expression of Hifza’s leadership capacity in a particularly challenging sector for women. We’re privileged to have her as one of our alumna, raising the profile of water@leeds and the University internationally in a real impact-making role.
Hifza said: “I’m truly honoured and humbled by this recognition, especially from my alma mater, the University of Leeds. The Water Woman Award is a wonderful initiative, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such an inspiring and empowering cause for women in water research.”
Water Woman Award for Research Funding
Maria Beger, Professor of Conservation Science, School of Biology
Panel Decision: Maria’s achievements are really underpinned by her persistence and clear dedication to supporting not only her students but her wider team, many of whom are working in the field across South East Asia. Maria’s funding record shows consistent excellence in being awarded competitive grants that really reflect the range of highly impactful work she’s leading her team in. She’s a clear example of how to be a mentor and how to work collaboratively in a decolonial manner.
Nomination: Maria was nominated by Dr Fiona Chong, Research Fellow and Co-ordinator of the ClimateREEFS project in the School of Biology. She said: “I’m inspired by Maria’s tenacity, inclusive collaborative spirit and scientific rigour.
“Her effort is particularly impressive because of how inclusive she is of all local collaborators and co-investigators. In the era of decolonising research, I think it’s of utmost importance that research funds, emergent skills and findings benefit and go to the people, organisations and countries we work in. The upskilling and knowledge exchange ensures the capacities are strengthened and that empathies are developed for all involved.
“I’m proud to work with Maria, who’s pioneering these international collaborative efforts.”
Maria said: “The excitement of research funding stands on the plentiful rubble of rejected grants, and I am no exception. Yet, getting funding tasking me with exciting work that starts with interdisciplinary research and leads to real-world impact directly has been a wonderful journey of collaborations, discussions across timezones, fun, mini-disasters and learning from my team, as we work together to understand and adapt to global change. I am very grateful for the recognition of this work by a Water Woman award, and thank my team members all over the world who inspire me (and keep me in check).”
Water Woman Award for Research Funding (Special Commendation)
Dr Cynthia Kusin Okoro-Shekwaga, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Discovery Fellow and University Academic Fellow, School of Civil Engineering.
Panel decision: Cynthia has shown amazing growth in research excellence, underpinned by consistently gaining grants and fellowships a short time out of her PhD.
During this time, she has pioneered work in Uganda that has genuine real-world impact, as well as mentoring students in Leeds and Uganda to further success. Her work is inspiring as it directly tackles inequalities and access to green energy.
Cynthia said: “I would like to thank the Water Woman Award panel for taking time to review my application and selecting it for the Special Commendation, as I understand it was a difficult decision given the quality of submissions.
“I’m humbled to have been selected, and encouraged to continue to pursue excellent and impactful research.”
“Growing up in Nigeria and experiencing real-life environmental issues associated with poor waste management and unreliable power supply, like flooding, contamination of water sources and poor agricultural productivity, it has been my long-standing vision to develop sustainable systems to tackle these issues, especially in developing countries.
“I feel very proud that through my ongoing research, I’m making progress in line with my vision, and making a significant impact both in waste-to-energy research and real-life socio-economic impact.
Water Woman Award for Research Excellence
Anna Hogg, Professor of Earth Observation in the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science (School of Earth and Environment)
Panel decision: Anna clearly evidenced excellence in research contributions at a global scale and highlighted support for early career scientists, which will no doubt have a lasting legacy and inspire the next generation of researchers in this field.
Nomination: Anna was nominated by Dr Heather Selley, Postgraduate Support Officer in the School of Earth and Environment.
Heather said: “Anna inspires the next generation through her extensive science communication and outreach work, and by being a role model for women in environmental science, and particularly glaciology – a male-dominated field.
“Anna began her career as a European Space Agency (ESA) Earth Observation Young Graduate Trainee and continued her work on the Earth Observation of the polar regions through her PhD at Leeds. She was awarded back-to-back independent research fellowships straight out of her PhD as an ESA Living Planet Fellow and as a Natural Environment Research Council Knowledge Exchange Fellow. Anna has since been promoted to Professor of Earth Observation at the University, all within 10 years of completing her PhD.”
Anna said: “It’s a real privilege and a surprise to receive this Water Woman Award, so I would like to sincerely thank all those involved.
“The polar regions are changing at an increasing rate, with glaciers speeding up, thinning and increasing their contribution to global sea level rise.
“It’s essential we quantify the size of this change, and the regions that are most impacted. My research has focused on using satellite data to make these measurements, and I enjoy collaborating with oceanographers and atmospheric scientists internationally to understand the environmental forcing mechanisms driving this change.
“Cryosphere research feels even more important now than it did at the start of my scientific career, and I’m very grateful to lead a productive and talented research group at Leeds, which has grown our research capability on this important topic.”
Water Woman Award for Academic Support
Madison Wright, PhD researcher Water-WISER CDT, School of Civil Engineering
Madison is also currently completing community work under the Leeds Social Science Institute (LSSI) Postgraduate Research Student Placement Opportunity with the Meanwood Valley Partnership, collaborating with water@leeds on community events.
Panel decision: The panel was keen to recognise Madison’s work in this early stage of her research career, and felt her nomination shone in respect to the impressive job she does in supporting a research project beyond her own PhD.
The panel was inspired by the way she combines technical expertise and scientific knowledge with creativity and civic action. The way she demystifies this area and makes it accessible and user friendly impressed them all.
Nomination: Madison was nominated by Dr Paul Hutchings, Associate Professor in Water, Sanitation and Health in the School of Civil Engineering.
He said: “Maddy’s work is an inspiring example of how women can lead transformative change by combining scientific expertise with community collaboration.
“Her leadership in fostering citizen science networks, particularly in water quality monitoring, demonstrates how academic knowledge can be mobilised to empower others and create tangible environmental and societal benefits.”
Madison said: “I’m passionate about the power of community-scale action to drive real and lasting change.
“It’s an honour to support networks that bring people together to understand and monitor water quality, helping to bridge the gap between academia and the wider world. When we bring knowledge beyond the University and make research accessible, we open the door to meaningful impact and lasting transformation.”
Water Woman Award for Societal Impact/Knowledge Transfer
Dr Devakunjari Vadibeler, Postdoctoral Environmental Engineer and KTP Associate with Andel
Panel decision: The panel was very impressed with Devakunjari’s innovative, empathetic, solution-based approach to an issue she herself had experienced. Her positive impact on the communities and individuals she works with is clear, as is her positive mindset when faced with challenges. She is – and will continue to be – an inspiration to those following in her footsteps.
Devakunjari said: “I’m truly privileged to receive this award. Being a scientist is all I’ve ever wanted to be, pursuing my passion of turning research into real-world solutions. This recognition has just fuelled me to keep on going and to push the boundaries even further.
“I hope my journey – in some little way – will inspire other women to have confidence in themselves as they boldly carve a path in the wonderful world of science and innovation.”
“My role focuses on turning research into solutions that help communities manage water-related challenges. Grounded in my experiences, I aim to transform flood management into a tool for resilience, ensuring water becomes a resource of strength rather than devastation.
“As a woman in a field where females remain underrepresented, I’ve always been driven by the desire to break barriers and create opportunities for myself and others who share my passion. Throughout my career, I encountered financial constraints, cultural differences and gender biases, but I chose to view these experiences as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.
Water Woman Award for Societal Impact/Knowledge Transfer (Special Commendation)
Dr Steph Bond, Impact Translation Fellow for the Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP), and Programme Co-ordinator for the West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme (WYFLIP).
Panel decision: The panel was very impressed with Steph’s research success as an Early Career Research (ECR), and her application shone in terms of the positive social impact it’s having at a local and national scale. Steph’s dedication to – and passion for – her field is clear.
Steph said: “I’m delighted to receive this special commendation, which recognises the critical importance of knowledge exchange in generating societal impact. It’s a privilege to work with a wide range of partners to embed cutting-edge environmental science into policy and practice. Strong partnerships are essential for driving research innovation, and I hope our success encourages women at all career stages to maximise their research impact through collaboration.”
“For me, it’s not necessarily about getting my own research out there, but about getting the right message to the right people, so a tangible difference can be made.
“An applied research and knowledge exchange-based role is a non-traditional academic route; I hope my achievements in this will inspire other ECRs.
Water Woman Award for Early Career Academic
Dr Francesca Giliberto, Senior Research Fellow, Management and Organisations Department in Leeds University Business School
Panel decision: The panel was particularly impressed by funding success and published papers, which were evidenced in the application alongside a clear narrative of the social impact of Francesca’s work.
Francesca said: “My story is a testament to what women can achieve in academia despite ongoing challenges.
“Through mentorship, public engagement and leadership by example, I strive to uplift others and create pathways for the next generation of female researchers, empowering them to pursue ambitious goals, advocate for themselves and foster more inclusive and fulfilling academic environments.
“I’m truly honoured and inspired to receive the Water Woman Award for my achievements as an Early Career Researcher. I firmly believe in the power of resilience, collaboration and advocacy – both in academia and beyond.
“I hope my journey encourages other women to pursue their aspirations with passion, ambition and courage, and to drive meaningful change in their fields and the world around them.”
Panel members
We thank our panel members for their time in making these awards:
Professor Julia Martin-Ortega – Associate Director water@leeds and Panel Chair
Professor Laura Carter – UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellow in the School of Geography and Water Woman Award winner in 2021
Dr Josie South – UKRI Future Leaders Fellow in the School of Biology and Water Woman Award winner in 2023
Stephanie Siviter – Resources Co-ordinator for the Institute for Transport Studies and Athena Swan Self-Assessment Team (SAT) Co-chair (Faculty of Environment)
Sarah Budello – Digital Practice Advisor in Organisational Development and Professional Learning (OD&PL) and WALN Co-Chair