Dr Tara Brooks from the School of Natural and Built Environment was awarded 'Academic of the Year' for her stewardship on a KTP with the building contractors Felix O'Hare & Co.

KTP Associate at Newry-based Felix O'Hare, Una Barrett - a graduate of the School of Natural and Built Environment - was named 'Future Leader' at the glitzy Birmingham ceremony.

And a third accolade came in the form of 'Best Promotional Video' for the marketing brains among the KTP team at Queen's.

Innovation

KTP is a UK-wide programme funded by Innovate UK and, in Northern Ireland, Invest NI. It aims to connect businesses and industry with academic expertise to drive innovation and growth through strategic projects that improve competitiveness, productivity, and performance.

Queen’s has a long and successful history of delivering impactful KTP projects, partnering with a wide range of industries from construction to healthcare. To date, Queen’s has facilitated over 430 KTPs, contributing to business success and economic growth across Northern Ireland and the UK.

The trio of gongs picked up this week brings the total number of awards given to Queen’s for KTPs to 25 - more than any other participating UK university.

Partnership

A qualified architect, Dr Tara Brooks has worked in both the construction industry and academia and is a strong advocate within Queen's for KTPs. Her areas of research include digital construction, procurement, and quality management and its effectiveness in practice.

Unfortunately, neither she nor other members of the Queen's KTP team were able to make it to Birmingham for the big night due to a fog-bound airport, but Una Barrett represented the broader Felix O'Hare-Queen's KTP partnership. 

Professor Archie Clements, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Research and Enterprise at Queen’s, commented:

"These awards highlight the hard work of both the KTP team and our academics in engaging effectively with Northern Ireland businesses and developing the next generation of leaders.

"For both Tara and Una to be celebrated at a national level, underscores the University’s commitment to transforming research into real-world impact. Congratulations to all on their achievements.”

Lorraine Marks, Head of KTP and Business Engagement Programmes at Queen’s, added:

“It is a proud moment for us. For 30 years, Queen’s has been a leader in KTP, enabling our academic researchers to support businesses in innovative projects that deliver economic growth across all corners of Northern Ireland and beyond.”

Looking ahead to the 50th anniversary of Innovate UK’s flagship programme in 2025, she added:

“As we approach this milestone, our goal is to expand the reach and impact of KTP, partnering with more businesses and supporting them in their innovation journey.”

To learn more about KTP at Queen's visit qub.ac.uk/ktp or contact ktp@qub.ac.uk

Dr Tara Brooks

Senior Lecturer, School of Natural and Built Environment

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Media

Inquiries to Una Bradley u.bradley@qub.ac.uk