As Registrar, Joanne Clague is responsible for leading, managing and coordinating the provision of a wide range of professional services and formulating strategies, policies and procedures in support of the University's ambitious vision.

Her leadership has been central to the University’s pandemic response.

Queen’s Research Fellow and virologist Dr Lindsay Broadbent has been at the centre of Queen’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing expertise internally to help inform decision-making and raise awareness of how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In the media, she has been an important and prominent academic voice throughout the pandemic, raising public awareness by providing expert comment on the virus and the prevention of transmission.

Through the pandemic, Caroline Young, Director of Student Plus, has been providing leadership and direction to her team to ensure the safe operation of the areas within her Directorate, including Queen's Accommodation, which has remained open to provide vital support to those living on campus.

Involved in the University’s Major Incident Team and the various sub-groups focused around the pandemic response, Caroline leads out on Queen’s Contact Tracing function, COVID-19 portal and our call centre to support the PHA’s contact tracing.

Putting our people first and protecting the welfare of all within the University community has been the University’s first priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the People and Culture directorate, Joyce Johnston, Head of Reward and Wellbeing, has played a key role in protecting and promoting the wellbeing of staff at Queen’s, including by ensuring that staff wellbeing services and resources remained available to staff throughout the pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic, technical staff from across the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences have supported the QUB Covid-19 response by keeping labs running and helping to support Covid-19 testing facilities in Northern Ireland.

Kirsty McLaughlin, Technician and 3rd Floor Laboratory Manager, PGJCCR, and other Queen’s technicians have been helping to produce buffer solution on campus which is vital for COVID-19 testing facilities in Northern Ireland.

Queen’s campus may be quieter than usual, but our community is more united than ever. Faced with the challenge of COVID-19, we have been pulling together to support our students on and off campus, delivering teaching and assessments online, and reaching out to our most vulnerable students with essential supplies.

Tara McCready and colleagues in Queen’s Accommodation have been working hard through the pandemic to deliver vital services and ensure those living with us on campus in Queen's Accommodation feel safe and at home.

Queen’s Graduate Association President Victoria Denoon has focused on helping Queen’s alumni remain connected during the pandemic.

She has led key activity by the Association, including conducting online events and sponsoring the Student Christmas lunches for students remaining on campus over the holidays.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on our Health and Social Care workforce throughout the UK and Ireland.

Recognising this, Senior Medical students from Queen’s such as Hannah Ferrin have assisted clinical staff with the care of patients on the wards and in the community COVID-19 centres across Northern Ireland as part of a joint initiative with the Health and Social Care Trusts.

iRise is Queen's network for BAME and International members of staff, providing a forum for networking and a means of peer support and representing the interests of BAME and International staff to the University, as well as supporting a range of training and development opportunities, running a social programme, and liaising with other staff networks and student societies.

Dr Yassin Brunger, Lecturer in Human Rights in the School of Law,  Co-Chair of iRise staff network and Co-Director of the Gender Justice and Society Network reflects on tackling racial and gender injustice through the work of iRise and the Gender Network.

Co-chaired by Sally Bridge, Borrower Services Librarian, Queen’s PRISM LGBT+ staff network has been working hard to find new ways to come together as an LGBT community to show solidarity and support during the pandemic.

The Stonewall LGBT in Britain - Health Report has shown that LGBT people are at greater risk of marginalisation during crises, and that those with multiple marginalised identities can struggle even more. While lockdown is, of course, impacting on all within society, social isolation can have an even greater impact on some LGBT people due to their circumstances and experiences.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the People and Culture directorate's Organisational Development team, led by Laura Lynch, team has adapted the University's development offer for a virtual world.

During COVID-19, building networks and connections among our postgraduate student community has been more important than ever.

Kate McCorry, Engagement and Events Officer in Queen's Graduate School, and the rest of the Graduate School team have been working hard to deliver a varied community and wellbeing programme to postgraduates throughout the year.