Outstanding, Best and Inspiring’ Students and Staff celebrated
at 2026 OBI Awards
Students and staff from across UHI Perth came together to celebrate excellence at the 2026 Outstanding, Best and Inspiring (OBI) Awards, held at a special ceremony on campus.
Led by HISA Perth – the Highlands and Islands Students’ Association – the annual awards recognise exceptional achievements and contributions from across the UHI Perth community.
During the event, awards were presented across a wide range of categories, including Most Inspiring Lecturer, Best Personal Academic Tutor, Outstanding Student Support, Most Inspiring Student, Outstanding Student Voice Representative, and Best Club or Society.
This year’s event welcomed Colin Munro, Chief Executive Officer of HISA, as keynote speaker. Colin joined HISA in March and works with student representatives, staff, trustees, and UHI colleagues to turn strategy into action and build strong relationships across the partnership. Guests also heard from Jill Elder, Depute Principal, who delivered opening remarks. Closing remarks were delivered by Chris Whatley, Vice Chair of the UHI Perth Board of Management and one of Scotland’s leading historians. A former Vice Principal at the University of Dundee, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, an OBE recipient, and a widely respected public speaker and author.
Andi Garrity, HISA Perth President, explained: “Last year we achieved a record number of nominations, and we’ve continued by breaking the record again this year. Every single one of you have made a significant impact at UHI Perth this year, and whether you are an award winner or a nominee you are all amazing!
“Handing out the nominee invitations was very rewarding to see the warmth and appreciation felt by recipients when reading the thoughtful comments written about them.”
Catherine Etri, Interim Principal and Chief Executive of UHI Perth, added: “The OBI Awards is one of the moments in the year when we step back and recognise what truly makes UHI Perth special - our learners, our staff, and the community that surrounds us.”
The event also showcased the collaborative effort behind the awards, with a judging panel and event contributions from across the UHI Perth staff and student community.