Rank Memorial Award Winners 2025

It is with great pleasure that we announce the winners of the Rank Memorial Award 2025.

This year, the Memorial Award criteria focused on igniting change – learning from inspiring leadership from across the globe. As usual, applicants were invited to learn from outstanding examples of leadership that address a social issue or opportunity, and to consider how those insights could be applied within their own communities. 

The award is highly competitive, and we are delighted to announce that following careful consideration, the selection committee awarded two grants of £7,000 each to Alejandra Arcila and Nadine Peters.

Alejandra Arcila

Alejandra Arcila, Administration, Marketing and Finance Manager at Greenhill YMCA and a former Time to Shine Leader, will be travelling to Melbourne and regional Victoria, Australia, to learn from social entrepreneur Luz Restrepo and the organisations she founded: SisterWorks, Migrant Women in Business and Village Business.

Inspired by Luz’s journey as a migrant who built successful social enterprises supporting other migrant women, Alejandra wants to explore how entrepreneurship, financial independence and community leadership can empower women and strengthen communities. During her visit, she will learn how these organisations have grown, sustained their impact and built trust with migrant communities.

Alejandra hopes to bring these insights back to Northern Ireland, where she will apply them through her work at Greenhill YMCA. She aims to strengthen opportunities for inclusion, leadership and community engagement, helping create more welcoming communities and empowering migrants to become confident leaders and changemakers.

Nadine Peters

Nadine Peters, Creative Impact Lead at The Ubele Initiative and a Time to Shine Leader, will be travelling to New York and Toronto to explore how public art and placemaking can strengthen communities and address social issues.

During her four-week trip, Nadine will visit Free Arts NYC, Groundswell and STEPS, three organisations using arts and creative engagement to empower young people, celebrate cultural diversity and transform public spaces. She hopes to learn how these organisations build partnerships, involve local communities in the creative process and use art to inspire confidence, leadership and lasting social change.

Nadine plans to bring these insights back to the UK, applying them through her work with local authorities, cultural organisations and community groups. She hopes to champion more inclusive approaches to public art and increase opportunities for people from all backgrounds to participate in creative and cultural life.

We would like to congratulate Alejandra and Nadine on their successful applications, and we look forward to hearing from them during and after their travels.