Anne Stevenson won the top cherry in 2015 and returned for the prestigious annual event last year as a judge.
The Robert Gordon University teaching fellow has been involved with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) at local, regional and national level, including a spell as local branch chairman.
She is also a member of the Energy Institute and its accreditation and approvals panel.
Career highlights include a CIPD distinction and helping to put some of the first women offshore during the 1980s.
Reflecting on her award win Ms Stevenson, who has worked at RGU since 1991, said: “You don’t know you’ve been nominated – you are just told you have won.
“I was speechless – something which doesn’t happen very often.
“I was also delighted to think that people in the industry had taken the time to think of me and put me forward for the award.
“In education there is always a feeling that people in industry may not realise what we do.
“To be given this award showed that this perception was wrong – they do notice and I was overwhelmed to receive the honour.”
She added: “What delighted me was the number of people whom I hadn’t heard from for years who contacted me afterwards to congratulate me.
“Many were former students, which was a lovely surprise.”
So who will follow in the footsteps of Ms Stevenson and all the other past top cherry winners in 2018?
Now entering its 11th year, the 2018 ceremony will be held on June 1 at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, when the winners across 10 categories and the much-prized top cherry award will be unveiled. The deadline for entries is Sunday, February 18.