Twelve significant individuals from the disciplines of law, education, film, science and engineering will be presented with honorary degrees recognising their contribution to their fields and society.
An honorary degree is regarded as one of higher education’s most prestigious awards and each year the University carefully elects notable recipients.
The awards will be presented at the University’s degree ceremonies, which will take place in the Great Hall from 11-22 July 2016.
The recipients of honorary degrees this year are:
Ms Andrea Sutcliffe, Doctor of Science
Ms Sutcliffe is currently the Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission (CQC). She leads the inspection, regulation and development of 25,000 care homes, which provide care for over 400,000 people. With nearly 30 years of health and social care experience, Ms Sutcliffe has previously held positions including Deputy Chief Executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2001-2008) and Chief Executive of the NHS Appointments Commission (2008-2012), before moving to the CQC in 2013.
Professor Dame Athene Donald, Doctor of Science
Dame Athene has been Master of Churchill College, Cambridge since 2014. In addition she is Professor of Experimental Physics at the University. Dame Athene was elected as President of the British Science Association in 2015 and is a leading advocate for better representation of women in science. She has been a Fellow of the Royal Society since 1999 and is a member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council, along with being a Trustee of the Science Museum Group. Dame Athene has published over 250 papers in her field of expertise and is a regular contributor to both national and international debates about science.
Professor Sir Christopher Snowden, Doctor of Science (Engineering)
Sir Christopher is an eminent engineer and academic who attained both his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Leeds. Sir Christopher's pioneering work on transistor designs paved the way for his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was awarded a Silver Medal in 2004 by the Royal Academy of Engineering for his vital contributions to the UK's microwave and semiconductor industry. Sir Christopher is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton and was knighted in 2012 for his services to engineering and higher education.
Professor Isobel Pollock-Hulf OBE, Doctor of Science (Engineering)
Professor Pollock-Hulf is an internationally recognised figure in mechanical engineering. She has held senior positions at a number of multi-national companies, including ICI, DuPont and Beatson Clark. In 2012 Professor Pollock-Hulf became only the second female President of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the following year was appointed an Associate of the Engineering Council. Professor Pollock-Hulf’s invaluable work was recognised in 2014 when she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014. The University of Leeds takes pride in having Professor Pollock-Hulf as a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor.
Mr John Stoddart-Scott, Doctor of Laws
Mr Stoddart-Scott graduated from the University of Leeds in 1965 and has since dedicated over 40 years to serving the University. Mr Stoddart-Scott joined the University Court in 1973 as a representative of the Clothworkers’ Company. Since 1978 he has served as a member of the Council, the University’s governing body, provided important business stability. Mr Stoddart-Scott was formerly Managing Director of a textile company in Bradford and is currently Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and a former President of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
Professor John Fisher CBE, Doctor of Science (Engineering)
Professor Fisher joined the University of Leeds in 1988. He was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research in 2001, becoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor in 2006. In addition to his leadership roles he maintains an exceptional research career in tissue re-engineering and joint replacement. Under his leadership, the University's Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering is regarded as one of the world’s most successful research institutes in its field. Professor Fisher is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.
Professor Dame Julia Slingo DBE, Doctor of Science
Dame Julia is one of the leading figures in tropical climate variation. Her areas of particular expertise are in atmospheric physics, climate science and the impact of climate change. Dame Julia is currently the Met Office’s Chief Scientist and she has had a significant influence on the UK’s national policies for science. She has made a number of ground-breaking discoveries, particularly into monsoons in China and India and in 2014 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her invaluable contribution to climate science. The following year she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Ms Anne-Marie Hutchinson OBE. QC (Hon), Doctor of Law
Ms Hutchinson is a University of Leeds alumna and has since become one of the UK's leading matrimonial lawyers. As a partner and head of the children’s department at the family law firm, Dawson Cornwell, Ms Hutchinson specialises in all aspects of domestic and international family law. She was presented with the inaugural Unicef Child Rights Lawyer Award in 1999, and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001 for her services to international child abduction and adoption. Ms Hutchinson is Chair of Trustees for Reunite International, a leading UK charity focused on the safe passage of children across international borders.
Mr Peter Morgan, Doctor of Letters
Mr Morgan is a graduate of the University of Leeds and one of the country’s leading contemporary screen dramatists, famed for his films concerning high profile figures from the Queen to Richard Nixon. He is known for shining a light on key moments in history and in 2006 received a Golden Globe for The Queen and in 2007, a BAFTA for the screenplay for The Last King of Scotland. Mr Morgan went on to receive an Oscar nomination in 2009 for his first play, Frost/Nixon. His other film credits include The Damned United, depicting Brian Clough’s 44 day reign as the coach of Leeds United. Along with film, Mr Morgan is also an acclaimed playwright and has enjoyed success in both West End and Broadway prodcutions.
Professor Steve Jackson, Doctor of Science
Professor Jackson is a Leeds graduate and is the Fredrick James Quick Professor of Biology at the University of Cambridge. In 1997 he founded KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, acquired by AstraZeneca in 2005, to translate knowledge of DNA damage response pathways into new treatments for cancer. Professor Jackson established a second company in 2011, Mission Therapeutics, which focused on the ubiquitin pathway to treat cancers and other life threatening diseases. Professor Jackson is an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation, the Academy of Medical Sciences and is a Fellow the Royal Society.
Professor Vivien Jones, Doctor of Letters
As Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Education at the University of Leeds for the past decade, Professor Jones has been responsible for the academic and co-curricular experience of all students. She has championed the interests of students and her enlightened approach to education has guaranteed that the University remains at the forefront of developments in teaching and learning. Along with serving as Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jones holds a chair in Eighteenth Century Gender and Culture within the School of English, and she has published widely on the period. She is a Fellow of the English Association and has served on the executive committees of the British Association for Romantic Studies and University English.
Professor Wayne McGregor CBE, Doctor of Letters
A Leeds graduate, Professor McGregor has won multiple awards for choreography and directing, and is Professor of Choreography at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. In 2006, he was the first contemporary choreographer to be appointed as Resident Choreographer with the Royal Ballet. His innovative work, often based on collaborations with artists in other media, across dance, film, music, visual art, technology and science has been performed worldwide by companies including Paris Opera and the New York City and Bolshoi Ballets, while his ensemble of dancers, Company Wayne McGregor, is resident at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London. In addition his work has featured in popular culture including Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and at the Brit Awards and in installations at the Saatchi Gallery, the Hayward Galleryand the Centre Pompidou in Paris. In 2011 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to dance.
Further information
Contact the University of Leeds Press Office on pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk or call 0113 343 4031.