Special Recognition Award 2026
Dr Diana Leitch MBE, FRSC
At the 2026 Halton Business Awards, in Halton’s Year of Culture, we celebrate a woman whose influence has shaped not only our scientific identity but the cultural heritage of our borough. Somone who stands as one of Halton’s most remarkable contributors – a scientist, historian, educator and tireless advocate for making science accessible, Dr Diana Leitch MBE.
A distinguished scientist, respected historian and one of the most dedicated champions of culture and learning in our borough. Diana’s career has been and continues to be extraordinary. From her early scientific work to her leadership roles in academic libraries and major heritage projects, she has spent decades advancing public understanding of chemistry and preserving the North West’s industrial story.
Her contributions to the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, her research into the region’s chemical heritage and her national recognition – which includes being awarded Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) and an MBE for services to chemistry – reflect a lifetime invested in the pursuit and preservation of knowledge.
But it is her tireless commitment to the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre & Museum that has created a truly transformative legacy here in Halton. As a long-standing Trustee Director and previous Chair of Trustees, Diana has helped shape the Catalyst Museum into what it is today, one of the most important cultural and educational assets in our region and the UK’s only museum dedicated to the chemical industry.
Through her vision and leadership, The Catalyst has become a place where science is alive – where children experiment, families learn together and our industrial heritage is celebrated with pride. Diana championed groundbreaking programmes such as the Origins Project, brought world leading scientists like Nobel Laureate Sir Harry Kroto to Halton and helped home one of the “Newton’s Space Saplings” – young apple trees grown from pips that spent six months on the International Space Station with astronaut Tim Peake during his 2015 Principia mission. Diana and the team always ensure that the Catalyst’s exhibitions and activities drive curiosity, generate wonder and inspire the art of the possible.
Her work does more than preserve history – it helps shape the future. The experiences Diana and the team at the Catalyst help create inspire thousands of young people every year to explore STEM subjects, opening doors to a lifetime of opportunities, high quality careers and contributing to the skilled workforce that Halton and the UK’s high performing businesses depend on. Her influence is felt not only in the museum’s galleries but in classrooms, laboratories and workplaces across the borough and beyond.
It is especially fitting that this award was presented by someone who is passionate about the arts, a local author and journalist, committed Halton Chamber Board Member and Chair of Norton Priory, Lynn Pegler, High Sheriff of Cheshire. Lynn is dedicating her year in office to the arts; championing the importance of culture across the county.
Diana Leitch has enriched our cultural life, strengthened our scientific identity, made science accessible by removing barriers and helping the future prosperity of Halton. Her legacy is one of passion, never ending energy and an unwavering belief in the power of science to change lives.