About the Honoree

Dame Nancy led The University of Manchester as President and Vice-Chancellor for 15 years, stepping down on 31 July 2024.

During her tenure, the University raised £273M in philanthropic income received and £250M in new funds committed to support world-leading research, capital projects and life-changing scholarship programmes. Dame Nancy has championed philanthropic initiatives which have significantly impacted Manchester’s growth and success, including the creation of the Alliance Manchester Business School; the extension of Manchester Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery; the addition of a visitor centre to Jodrell Bank Observatory, which led to it being awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

She has also committed her time to fostering strong and enduring relationships with the University’s community of stakeholders from its local community to international alumni, placing social responsibility at the heart of the institution’s strategic mission. She has regularly visited groups across the globe, celebrating the contribution that alumni make to the student experience and social responsibility agenda. And she has encouraged the flagship School Governors Initiative, with more than 350 staff and over 1,000 alumni becoming school governors in a range of educational settings.

Dame Nancy has taken every opportunity to elevate the University’s profile, communicating its achievements to a broad, public audience nationally and internationally. This has included delivering the Royal Institution Christmas Lecture, launching a community festival and supporting a Royal Society of Biology annual children’s drawing and painting competition in her name!

Philippa Hird, the University of Manchester’s Chair of the Board of Governors said: “Dame Nancy has a rare blend of creativity and strategic acumen. Her tireless dedication, exceptional leadership, and remarkable achievements makes her an ideal candidate for this Leadership Award. Her ability to inspire support, be it through philanthropy, volunteering or advocacy, sets her apart as a true leader in our field. And she has done all this while still maintaining an active research career with some of her major discoveries now being translated into clinical benefit. This award honours her individual accomplishments and also highlights the importance of visible leadership both within universities and in the broader community.”

About the Award

The CASE Leadership Award celebrates a CASE member institutional president or CEO for outstanding efforts in promoting and supporting education and institutional advancement.