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Caitriona Lennox FIH wins Fellows’ Outstanding Contribution Award 2025 as new IoH Fellows welcomed

Caitriona Lennox FIH, Head of Springboard Northern Ireland, has been named winner of the Institute of Hospitality’s prestigious Fellows’ Outstanding Contribution Award 2025. The award was presented at the annual Fellows’ Dinner, held last night (27 October) at The Waldorf Hilton London.

The annual celebration welcomed 37 new Fellows into the IoH College of Fellows and brought together leaders from across the global hospitality profession to recognise exceptional achievement, leadership and contribution to the industry, while celebrating the spirit of Fellowship that underpins the Institute’s global Hospitality Family.

Congratulating Caitriona at the presentation, Robert Richardson FIH MI, Chief Executive of the Institute of Hospitality, said: “Caitriona represents the very best of our profession. Her leadership, compassion and commitment to empowering others have transformed lives and strengthened the hospitality community across Northern Ireland and beyond.

“Through her work she has shown how our industry can be both a driver of opportunity and a force for good. The Fellows’ Outstanding Contribution Award recognises her exceptional achievements and the lasting positive impact she continues to make on our profession.”

All this year’s nominations were exceptional, but the judging panel were unanimous in their decision to honour Caitriona. Her work for The Springboard Charity Northern Ireland has empowered individuals facing barriers such as unemployment and mental health challenges to access meaningful careers in hospitality. Through initiatives such as Destination Hospitality – Steps to Employment for Ballymena and Hospitality Connects, Caitriona has created sustainable pathways into work, strengthened the talent pipeline and positioned hospitality as an inclusive and aspirational career destination.

Her leadership also extends to shaping industry collaboration and professional development, and is underpinned by a clear dedication to innovation, employability and social impact.

On receiving her award, Caitriona Lennox FIH, Head of Springboard Northern Ireland, said:
“I am truly delighted and very, very honoured to have been nominated. I am deeply touched by this recognition. Serving our industry is my absolute pleasure every day, and I am proud to celebrate an amazing profession and an amazing charity that supports and helps so many people."

The evening also celebrated the achievements of the Institute’s 37 new Fellows, recognising their professional dedication, leadership and contribution to the advancement of the hospitality profession

Our new 2025 Fellows:

  1. Kim Bailey FIH - Head of Marketing & PR, Institute of Hospitality
  2. Georgina Bissenden-Hassall FIH - Executive Assistant to General Manager, The Waldorf Hilton
  3. Raj Chakraborty FIH - Regional General Manager, Macdonald Hotels
  4. Chris Cooper FIH - General Manager, The Grand Hotel & Spa, York
  5. Wayne Davis FIH - General Manager, Astor Court Hotel
  6. Stuart Derricott FIH - Sales Director - Zonal Hotel Solutions, Zonal Retail Data Systems Ltd
  7. Youssef El Habbal FIH - Chief Operating Officer, Elegancia Catering
  8. Rachael Fajoye FIH
  9. Clement Gaffney FIH - Chief Operations Officer, Harcourt Developments Ltd
  10. Richard Gosling FIH - General Manager, Hilton Cairo Heliopolis
  11. Louisa Green FIH - Managing Director, RBH Management
  12. Adam Hamadache FIH - CEO, Formula
  13. Alexandros Kaloudas FIH - Food & Beverage Manager, Pullman London St Pancras
  14. Dr Michael Kill FIH - Chief Executive, NTIA
  15. Shelby King FIH - Human Resources Director, YTL Hotels
  16. Nicola Looby FIH - Operations Director, Mount Charles Group
  17. Barry Makin FIH - General Manager, Cromlix House Hotel
  18. Jonathan Mallon FIH - COO, Mount Charles Group
  19. Tom McMillan FIH - Operations Manager, The Dixon Hotel, Tower Bridge
  20. Stefan Micevski FIH - General Manager, Elmbank York, Tapestry Collection By Hilton
  21. Andy Morris FIH - Commercial Director, Enhance Hospitality
  22. Alexander Muir FIH - Deputy Director of Operations, Anglia Ruskin University
  23. Ayoola Olagunju FIH - CFO, Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel
  24. Ash Sarswat FIH - General Manager, Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa
  25. Clare Sheridan FIH - Executive Director of Performance & Development, Opus Professional Development
  26. Gurpreet Singh Dham FIH - Executive Head Chef & Director, Seven Spoons Foods UK
  27. Rory Slater FIH - Managing Director, London COMO Hotels & Resorts
  28. Stephen Stapenhill-Hunt FIH - Commercial & Technical Director, South West Larder
  29. Ewen Thomas FIH - General Manager, High Leigh Conference Centre
  30. Chris Tomlinson FIH - Director, TradeShowsUK
  31. Francisco Ventura FIH - General Manager, Sunborn Yacht Hotel
  32. Scott Wallis FIH - Owner / Managing Director, PS Catering Management Ltd
  33. Garreth Walsh FIH - General Manager, Kimpton Fitzroy London
  34. Andy Watson FIH - Business Controller, The Grove Hotel
  35. David Weston FIH - Hospitality Partnerships, Elavon Europe
  36. Malcolm Wyse FIH - General Manager, Alexander House
  37. Alper Zan FIH - Co-Founder & Country Director, YY Circle UK

A rousing after-dinner speech by The Rt Hon. the Viscount Thurso FIH MI, President of the Institute of Hospitality, brought the evening to a close, followed by final remarks from Robert Richardson FIH MI, Chief Executive of the Institute of Hospitality. He reflected that being a member of the IoH College of Fellows represents a promise to lead with purpose, to mentor and inspire others, and to strengthen the global hospitality community through a shared commitment to excellence.

The next Fellows Dinner will be held on 19th October 2026.