Downing Alumnus/a of the Year: Past winners

The Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of our alumni community and the variety of ways in which you are making an impact in your professional and personal lives.

2024 winners

Dr Lucy Lord MBE (1981, Medicine): Dr Lucy Lord MBE is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and the founding Partner of Central Health Medical Group in Hong Kong where she has lived since 1989.

Lucy set up the Patient Care Foundation (PCF), a charitable foundation, which works to provide vulnerable, stigmatised or deprived groups and communities within Hong Kong with better access to medical care. She founded and is Co-Chair of Mind HK and was also instrumental in the founding of the City Mental Health Alliance in Hong Kong.

During the 34 years she has worked in Hong Kong, Lucy has championed the importance of maternal mental health and the significant contribution this makes to the wellbeing of families. Topics Lucy successfully campaigned on have included the need for hospitals to carry essential supplies of rhesus - negative blood, access to fertility care for the LGBT community and more compassionate care for women who suffered stillbirths.

Lucy received an MBE in the 2023 New Years Honours List for services to health in Hong Kong.

Commentating on her award Lucy said: “Cambridge and Downing have been responsible for my main sources of happiness over the last 40 years. They have given me a meaningful relationship as I met my husband Ashley here, my career in medicine and provided me with confidence to challenge and make changes in my chosen profession."

"I am sure many other Downing alumnae over the last 40 years have been similarly fortunate.”
Amelia Miller (2016, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences): Amelia is the co-founder of ivee.jobs, an innovative job platform dedicated to providing free resources and support for women returning to work following career breaks.

Through her work, Amelia is debunking myths related to the gender pay gap and is tirelessly working to develop answers to the Motherhood Penalty problem.

Inspired by her own experiences, Amelia is committed to restoring women’s confidence following career breaks. As part of this commitment, Amelia is on a mission to highlight that such breaks, in and of themselves, can make women better employees, leaders and team players.

In the words of her nominator: “What sets Amelia apart is not just her innovative approach to solving a complex problem but her genuine passion for the cause. Her commitment shines through in ivee’s mission to ensure women can return to work without compromise. Amelia’s efforts provide not only pathways back to employment but also inspire confidence and hope among women facing similar challenges.”

"I am deeply honored to receive the Downing Young Alumnus/a of the Year award in recognition of my work at ivee. At ivee, we're on a mission to eliminate the Motherhood Penalty, which accounts for 80% of the UK’s gender pay gap, by empowering women to return to the workforce after career breaks. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our efforts recognised by the College," said Amelia.

"My time at Downing from 2016 to 2019 was truly special, and I’m grateful for the supportive staff, especially Dr Amy Milton, who inspired me to pursue my passions. This award reaffirms the importance of our work and inspires us to continue driving meaningful change for women everywhere".

2023 winners

Stephen Mannion (1983, Medicine)

Stephen Mannion is an orthopaedic surgeon, pioneer in effective treatment for club foot and a Royal Navy and Royal Marine Reservist of 40 Years. He combines his pioneering clinical and teaching work in the UK with leading humanitarian surgical missions to conflict zones including Rwanda, Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. Recently he has been deployed to Ukraine to assess and train local clinicians and as Clinical Director for the UK Government response team to help those living in the earthquake zone in Turkey/Syria.

In the words of his nominator; “He has repeatedly stepped away from the orthodox; he has committed to investigating, changing and developing medical procedure; he has practiced in the poorest corners and most dangerous situations; he has maintained his surgical skill at the top of the profession; he has freely shared his time and knowledge and through all this led in practice and by example.”

Commenting on his award, Steve said; “My medical and humanitarian vocation owes so much to my time at Downing. Dr Martin Mays first offering me a conditional offer to study Natural Sciences, Professor Barry Everitt approving the transfer of an academically mediocre natural scientist to the Medical Sciences Tripos and then the inspirational teaching of Downing Fellows including Philip Rubery, Margaret Stanley and Professor Everitt.

However, Downing was so much more than just academia; lifelong friendships were made and the leadership skills forged in the gymnasium at Fenners, on the river and on the playing fields of Lensfield Road have proved invaluable when leading relief teams in challenging situations such as the Rwandan genocide, the war in Ukraine and the earthquake in Turkey. With so many Downing alumni going on to distinguished careers and making exceptional contributions in their respective fields the award of “Alumnus of the Year” is a truly great honour and privilege.”

James Moore (2002, Computer Science)

James embraced all that College had to offer, serving as Treasurer to the College Bar, Head of the May Ball Committee and working as a student caller, all whilst achieving Scholar’s Awards and a first class degree.

His meteoric career saw him rise from software developer to Chief Technology Officer and Board Member at Redgate Software within 8 years. He went on to co-found another company, Flex Legal Ltd and sits on several company boards. At the same time, he devised a training programme for graduates from less traditional backgrounds which leads to roles in FTSE 100 companies including BMW, Vodafone and Unilever. Alongside his business and social entrepreneurship activities, James volunteers in his spare time as a Samaritan.

"I am absolutely thrilled to have been recognised by Downing as Young Alumni of the Year. To be recognised by the college is a real honour. The college holds really special memories for me, it does an incredible job of giving students opportunities to take on real responsibility and run parts of the college be that through the JCR or in my case being part of the bar committee which helped build skills I still use today.

"It's really lovely to be back in college to receive this award and to hear about all the exciting things the college has planned for the future." James Moore.