Emeritus Professor David Collinson from Lancaster University Management School has been handed a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the International Leadership Association (ILA).

The global organisation presented him with the prestigious accolade during its recent annual conference in Prague, sharing and celebrating his achievements with peers from across the world.

Professor Collinson’s research focuses on critical approaches to leadership, gender, management and organisation. He has dedicated much of his academic career to exploring leadership and followership dynamics; power, identities and insecurities; gender, men and masculinities; resistance, dramaturgy and conformity; and humour, positivity and ‘Prozac leadership’.

The ILA award honours individuals ‘who have made a significant lifetime contribution to the field of leadership through their published works and influential support of leadership knowledge and practice’. At the awards ceremony, Chair of the ILA Legacy Committee Professor Brad Jackson, talked about Professor Collinson’s ‘cutting edge and groundbreaking research’, stating: “Through his scholarship, institution building and generous mentoring, Professor Collinson has profoundly shaped critical approaches to leadership, inspiring scholars to question, challenge and re-imagine leadership practice.”

Professor Collinson said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this marvellous award and for my work to be recognised in this wonderful way. With so many friends and colleagues in the audience, the ceremony was a very moving experience. Over the past 40 years I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of working with some truly inspirational academics, and I would like to thank them all for their friendship and scholarship. Coincidentally, the ceremony took place just two weeks after I’d moved to Emeritus status at Lancaster University, so the timing of this ILA Lifetime Achievement Award was perfect.”

As part of the prestigious prize, Distinguished Professor David Collinson was invited to give a talk to the conference participants, where he sparked discussions around his lifetime of research, and shared many of his key findings.