Welcome to the Knowledge Exchange Awards

The Knowledge Exchange Awards 2024 will celebrate the best collaborations between University of Exeter researchers and external partners regionally, nationally, and globally.

The awards will see three shortlisted projects in each of seven categories, as judged by a panel of senior University staff and external reviewers. All shortlisted nominees will be invited to the award ceremony on Thursday 3 October 2024 at the Great Hall, Streatham Campus.

Judging for the Knowledge Exchange Awards has now taken place.
We were thrilled to receive numerous outstanding nominations, each showcasing remarkable knowledge exchange and innovative activity between our researchers and external organisations. Thank you to everyone who took the time to apply. 

A huge congratulations to our shortlisted nominees. All shortlisted candidates are now listed under their relevant category, further details on each shortlisted nominee will follow shortly. 

About the Awards  |  Award Categories  |  Nominations  |  Speakers  |  Sponsors  

Stuart Brocklehurst, Host 

Stuart Brocklehurst is Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Business Engagement and Innovation, leading the University of Exeter’s collaboration with business and our drive to deliver innovation through our research and education. He also leads the translation of our work on climate and the environment as Director of Green Futures Solutions. 

Stuart started his career in banking, holding a number of roles with Barclays in the UK and Africa, including as Head of Internet Strategy. As Senior Vice President for Digital Commerce at Visa International CEMEA he led the adoption of new forms of technology and business models, including eCommerce authentication, chip and contactless payments and national payment networks. Following a period as a Partner at consultancy Carbon, Stuart joined Amadeus in support of its IPO and served as Group Communications Director after the flotation. He went on to run his own business up to its sale to the Troy Group, where he remains a Non-Executive Director. 

Stuart is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, a Chartered IT Professional, a Chartered Manager, and holds a degree in theology from Oxford. 

He has served on numerous company boards, on the synod and Bishop’s Council of the Diocese of Exeter, as a Governor of Petroc College in North Devon and as a Leadership Fellow of Exeter Business School. He is a Director of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, the Exeter Liveable Place Board and the Great South West Pan Regional Partnership, Chair of the region’s Innovation Board and Chair of the Exeter Science Centre Advisory Board. He sits on the boards of the GW4 and SETsquared university partnerships, the South West Nuclear Hub, the Centre for Resilience in Environment Water and Waste, the UK COP28 Alignment Group, the Zayed Sustainability Prize selection committee, the executive committee of parliament’s Rural Economy Group, and chairs the Devon and Cornwall Military Education Committee. 

David Sheppard, Compere

David is a popular and well-known voice in the West Country, having presented radio shows across the region for more than a decade. His work for BBC South West has included breakfast news and drivetime entertainment shows at Radio Devon, alongside a regular presence on no fewer than 14 BBC radio stations during his career. His long-running programme Late Night Shep gained a national following to become one of the BBC’s top downloads on Sounds.

As a freelance broadcaster and voiceover, David is a prolific voice on the UK public transport network, providing the on-board voices for Great Western Railway (“Mind The Gap!”), Heathrow Airport’s ‘Flightline’ coaches, Reading Buses and many others. He has also voiced imaging for national BBC television, comedy lines for Radio 1 and Radio 4's  I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue.

With a strong interest in social history, particularly transport heritage, David has recently launched The Bus Inspectors podcast on behalf of the National Association of Road Transport Museums, following their project to list and grade the nation’s 10,000 historic buses and coaches. He is also Trustee of an educational charity which provides more than 25,000 free vintage transport rides to the public each year.

David studied at the University of Bristol, where he remains involved in encouraging and mentoring students with ambitions in broadcasting. He also offers consultancy services in media and communications, and is an accomplished stage host for events all over the country - as we hope you will see this evening!