Northumbria awards honorary degrees at University’s summer congregations

In July the congregation ceremonies returned to the University’s City Campus to mark the success of its latest graduates and honorary graduates with ceremonies taking place on Thursday 7 - Wednesday 13 July 2022.

Northumbria University awards honorary degrees to individuals who have obtained the very highest standards of scholarship, outstanding achievement, or distinction worthy of national or international recognition in their academic or professional field. They are also awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the University in support of its mission. For example, through long and meritorious service, distinction far beyond the usual remit of their role, or through philanthropy in support of the University’s strategic objectives.

One of the most important climate change influencers in the world has been awarded an honorary degree by Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Professor Saleemul Huq was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science in recognition of his global leadership in fighting the impact of climate change on our society, and for his work to help developing countries and vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The UK government’s Chief Medical Advisor, Professor Chris Whitty, has received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Northumbria University in recognition of his clinical and academic contributions and his outstanding leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic.

An alumnus of Northumbria University, Professor Whitty is a globally recognised physician and epidemiologist and has become one of the UK’s most trusted figures on the Covid-19 pandemic following his numerous Downing Street briefings. He studied for the LLM in Medical Law at Northumbria University, graduating in 2005. Alongside his role as Chief Medical Officer for England and head of the public health profession, Professor Whitty is a practicing NHS Consultant Physician at University College London Hospitals and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and Gresham Professor of Physic at Gresham College.

Newcastle City Council’s former Chief Executive Pat Ritchie CBE has received an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from Northumbria University in recognition of her remarkable achievements for the city and the wider region.

Pat joined Newcastle City Council in 2013 becoming their first female Chief Executive. During her eight and a half years in this role she oversaw a period of growth and renewal in the city, playing a key role in securing the multimillion-pound investment deal to bring Legal and General to Newcastle’s flagship Helix city quarter. She was also pivotal in the creation of the North of Tyne Combined Authority, where she was the first Head of Paid Service.

Deputy High Court Judge and Professor of Criminal Justice, Professor David Ormerod, has received an honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law from Northumbria University, Newcastle, in recognition of his distinguished career as both an academic and a practitioner, his role as a Criminal Justice Law Commissioner and his editorships of critical legal texts.

Having been described as having an “encyclopaedic knowledge of criminal law, intellectual rigour and practitioner focus", Professor David Ormerod’s unique ability to examine the law through both an academic and a practitioner lens has earned him the respect of many in his profession.

One of the world’s most influential designers, Tim Brown CBE, has received the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law from Northumbria University, Newcastle.

Tim is the executive chairman of global design company, IDEO, which advises leading brands such as Ford Motor Company, Sony and H&M. He is also an alumnus having graduated over 30 years ago with a BA in Design for Industry from the University’s forerunner, Newcastle Polytechnic, and remains a Northumbria ambassador through his work as an external examiner and Visiting Professor.

With a career in radio and television spanning five decades, Moira made radio history in 1978 as BBC Radio 4’s first black announcer and newsreader. Then in 1981, she became the first black woman to read the national news on British television. She has continued to shift barriers to achieve personal success, while opening doors and paving the way for others.

Moira started at the BBC in the 1970s as a production assistant in BBC Radio's Talks and Documentaries department, before becoming a BBC Radio 4 announcer, newsreader and programme presenter. She went on to present almost every type of BBC News bulletin during a period of 40 years. She has been awarded many accolades in recognition of her success, including a CBE for services to media in the 2021 New Year Honour’s list, having previously received an OBE for services to broadcasting in 2001.

Northumbria University has awarded a Doctor of Letters to author Bernard Cornwell OBE for his contribution to journalism and literature.

The renowned writer is best-known for creating two historical anthologies set in turbulent times: The Last Kingdom and Sharpe. Both series of novels have been successfully adapted for television which continue to delight viewers across the globe. This stellar career, has seen Bernard write over 60 books selling well over 30 million copies worldwide. Prior to becoming an author, Bernard read history at London University, spending time as a teacher before joining BBC television working on the Nationwide programme. He went on to be Head of Current Affairs Television for the BBC in Northern Ireland, where the young reporters of the day included Gavin Esler and Jeremy Paxman.

Chair of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor David Croisdale-Appleby OBE, has received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science from Northumbria University, Newcastle, in recognition of his distinguished career in health and social policy and his commitment to representing the interests of oppressed, vulnerable and disadvantaged people across the world.

Professor David Croisdale-Appleby is a leading expert on health and social care, an academic and career polymath. He has postgraduate degrees in no fewer than five academic disciplines and holds professorships in seven distinct academic departments, spanning medicine, science, social science, and the humanities. Professor Croisdale-Appleby has led many public sector organisations in medicine, health and social care, social work, forensic science, and criminal and civil justice. His independent review of social work education, commissioned by the Government, has shaped the development of the profession, and forms the basis of the current major reform programme in social work.

Northumbria University has awarded a Doctor of Civil Law to its former Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Andrew Wathey CBE, for his achievements in transforming the University into a research-intensive modern university which is making demonstratable global impact.

Professor Wathey joined Northumbria University in 2008 as its Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive. Over his 14-year tenure, Professor Wathey transformed the University, repositioning it as a new kind of excellent university. Under Professor Wathey’s leadership – the University’s research power ranking recently rose to 23rd in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, making Northumbria the sector’s largest riser in research power for the second time. Northumbria is the first post-92 university to have crossed the clear blue water that has traditionally separated them from the establishment while improving access for students from less advantages backgrounds.

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