PhD student recognised in 6th OpenUK New Year Honours List

A PhD researcher in Artificial Intelligence at Heriot-Watt University has been recognised in the 2026 OpenUK New Year’s Honours List.

OpenUK’s annual Honours List, now in its sixth year, celebrates individuals who have made exceptional contributions to open source software, open hardware, open data, open standards, and AI governance. The list highlights innovators and leaders advancing the UK’s position in the global open technology landscape.

Godfrey Inyama, whose PhD within the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences is focused on conversational AI and dialogue systems, was included in the prestigious list for his research in ‘AI Openness’ within the UK’s technology ecosystem. Godfrey’s work on agentic AI and mixed-initiative dialogue systems to advance Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and collaboration between humans and AI agents was also recognised in the AI category of the OpenUK Awards, where he was named runner-up at a special event held in the House of Commons in London.

Godfrey said: “It is a massive honour to be included in the OpenUK New Year’s Honours List alongside an impressive array of great minds that are pushing the boundaries of Open Technology in the UK. I’m excited to see what the year ahead will bring, especially within the scope of Agentic AI for Mixed Initiative Dialogue.”

Dr Mauro Dragone, a leading expert in HRI at The National Robotarium, is Godfrey’s researcher supervisor.

He said: “Godfrey is an excellent example of the talent nurtured at Heriot-Watt University.

“Having previously graduated from our MSc Robotics programme, he has consistently demonstrated outstanding work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and ambition. He is now pursuing a PhD focused on conversational Artificial Intelligence to support effective human–robot cooperation, an area of growing national importance.

“His work is strongly aligned with the strategic vision of the UK’s National Robotarium, which serves as a key advanced testbed for translating these technologies into real-world impact across multiple application domains. This research area will play an important role in strengthening the UK’s digital economy over the coming decade.”

Amanda Brock, CEO of OpenUK, said of this year’s honourees: “The individuals recognised in the 2026 New Year’s Honours represent the cutting edge of open technology innovation and community engagement in the UK. Their work exemplifies the commitment required to build an open, collaborative digital future.”

The full OpenUK 2026 Honours List underscores the breadth of talent across the UK, featuring individuals from academia, startups, industry leaders, and community contributors. It reinforces the UK’s role as a global hub for open technology advancement and thought leadership.

For more details on the full 2026 Honours List and category recognitions, visit the OpenUK website.