He is recognised for his work over a distinguished career, where he has sought to create transformational and inclusive Higher Education both regionally and nationally.

The first British born Black and Ethnic Minority (BAME) Vice-Chancellor of a mainstream UK university, this honour coincides with Professor Thirunamachandran’s anniversary as ten years as Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Among his many achievements are helping to create the Universities at Medway campus, spearheading the establishment of the brand-new Kent and Medway Medical School, promoting women into engineering, and leading a university that has equipped thousands of students, both young and mature, for fulfilling careers to the benefit of Kent and Medway and the wider region.

Professor Thirunamachandran said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this award. It is in large part a recognition of the hard work and significant achievements of Canterbury Christ Church University colleagues, students, communities and organisations over the past decade I have had the great privilege to work with.

“An important driver for me has been contributing to the creation of an inclusive and transformative university experience for all, regardless of someone’s background. I am proud to share this honour with all those who have supported me throughout my career. It celebrates the key role of higher education in society and the economy."

Appointed as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Canterbury Christ Church University in 2013, Professor Thirunamachandran has led the institution forward in a number of strategic areas cementing it as an inclusive and civic university, that works hard for the communities it serves, locally, regionally and beyond, with sustainability as a core focus.

Over the last ten years Professor Thirunamachandran has achieved significant accomplishments at the University, these include the acquisition of the former Prison site in Canterbury and a major campus estate transformation, most notably the development of the £12million Daphne Oram Creative Arts building and the £65 million Verena Holmes building for Science, Technology, Engineering, Health and Medicine. The Verena Holmes Building is one of the largest STEM buildings in the south east and incorporates part of the region’s first ever medical school, Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS), which in partnership with the University of Kent delivers a critical health requirement for the region. He also led on the establishment of the School of Engineering, Technology and Design, a vital support for the region’s growing and changing workforce, which is also based within the Verena Holmes Building.

Professor Thirunamachandran has championed widening participation in Higher Education regionally with the aim of increasing diversity in creative arts, engineering, medicine and health education, supporting Kent and Medway’s future workforce development, and retaining high-quality graduate skills in vital science, technology, health and arts sectors. In the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022, the University was ranked third in the UK* for graduates in employment in large Higher Education institutions.

He has significant strategic leadership experience in universities across England, holding posts at the University of Bristol, King’s College London, Royal Holloway (University of London), and was Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Keele University.

From 2002-2008, he was the Director for Research, Innovation and Skills at the former Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), with responsibilities that included the development of the current Research Excellence Framework (REF), the system for assessing the quality of research in UK Higher Education Institutions.

Professor Thirunamachandran was also a Board member of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (2010-2013) and chaired a national review of the University Admissions system in 2011 that led to its reform in a nationally recognised fairer end to end application process.

As Chair of MillionPlus (2020 - 2022) he led work to secure additional places nationally in key public sector work areas of health, teacher training and social work.