The Dunelmensis Award

The Dunelmensis Award is given by the University’s Senate to a Durham alumnus or alumna for meritorious and exceptional service in support of the University, particularly for our institutional advancement and for enhancing the University’s reputation, nationally and internationally.

Congratulations to our Dunelmensis Award winners 2024:

Kate Davies

As a dedicated and committed alumna of Durham University and Collingwood College, Kate’s contribution a range of activities. However, it is not simply the commission of these activities that makes her contribution so notable; it is her devotion to her university and her college, underpinned by an affection that is manifested by huge levels of enthusiasm and positivity.

In addition to generous philanthropic giving which spans decades, Kate has committed membership of Collingwood’s College Advisory Board since its inception. This involves attendance at termly meetings but, equally importantly, ready accessibility and availability for consultation and advice.

Kate also regularly participates in College and University events held both in London and supports both Collingwood and other Durham University students through mentoring. With a particular area of expertise and interest in the Arts, Kate has guided and supported several leading music and theatre students.

Kate’s respect for, and generosity towards, our students, her drive to help them aspire and achieve, her support of the work of the college and university, her support of Durham’s performing arts, her sensitivity and kindness towards all who work with her, alongside a willingness to question and challenge when appropriate, Kate represents much that we hope we can help inculcate in our students. Kate is an exceptional role model for our college and our wider university community, and we congratulate her on her award.

Ralph Grayson

For more than a decade, Hatfield, History and Business School alumnus, Ralph Grayson, has been extremely active across College, Department and University levels in supporting strategically valuable areas of the University’s portfolio. Ralph has married his support of Durham University as a whole with his attachment to Hatfield College and his passion for widening participation, by offering a range of opportunities for First Generation Scholars (FGS) at Hatfield. For several years, he has provided individual mentoring and introductions for FGS students interested in potential careers in the City.

Ralph has further given generously of his time and expertise leading workshops for FGS students at Hatfield, together with junior colleagues from his firm of FGS background, on networking, the graduate job market, personal branding and imposter syndrome. Several students have also undertaken practice interviews with Ralph and his colleagues at the leading City head hunting firm he co-founded. This programme of support led to eight Hatfield FGS students undertaking salaried internships with the firm, generating introductions to leading Durham graduates in the City and enabling them to compete on a level playing field as they enter the graduate job market. Through great personal interest and mentoring from Ralph, the students gained excellent insight into a busy City Office, and strongly confidence-enhancing experiences.

As a proud postgraduate alumnus of the Business School, Ralph has recently been a regular contributor to Board Room Exercises for the Business School’s MBA programme. Having been a leading recruiter and head-hunter in the City for Executive roles for more than three decades, Ralph brings an extraordinary depth and breadth of professional experience to inform his guidance for current students.

Ralph’s dedication to Durham over the past 10 years or so has been exceptional. He has proved to be an invaluable, dedicated and dependable friend of the University and to Hatfield.

Previous Dunelmensis Recipients

Previous Dunelmensis Recipients

• 2010 - Robert Klein (Grey, 1972)
• 2010 - Graham Barker (Van Mildert, 1980)
• 2012 - Henry Dyson (Grey, 1977)
• 2013 - Stephen Gregory (Grey, 1969)
• 2016 - Ocean Wang (Ustinov, 2009)
• 2016 - Patrick Salaun (Hatfield, 1967)
• 2016 - Lilian Groves (St Hild & St Bede, 1975)
• 2018 - Sir Peter Ogden (University, 1968)
• 2018 - Mark Hillery (Collingwood, 1988)
• 2019 - Ian Ellison-Taylor (Grey, 1990)
• 2019 - Rev Canon Dr Chuck Robertson (Graduate Society, 1999)
• 2020 - Joanna Barker MBE (Collingwood, 1981)
• 2020 - Dr Rashmi Misra (St Mary's, 1992)
• 2021 - Dr Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter (Hatfield, 1984)
• 2021 - Smiti Kumar (Graduate Society, 1981)
• 2021 - Richard Roberts (St John's, 1979)
• 2021 - Charles Wilson (Grey, 1986)
• 2022 - Ziging Yan (Ustinov, 2009)
• 2022 - Michael Shearer OBE (Trevelyan, 1996)
• 2022 - Dr Robert Banks (St Cuthbert's Society, 1995)
• 2023 - Alex Nelson (University, 1983)
• 2023 - Jonathan Hazan (Hatfield, 1991)