The honorary graduates who will share the stage with nearly 5,000 graduates at the ceremonies taking place at Brighton Dome (22-26 July) will be:
- Neil Bartlett OBE – Doctor of Arts, Monday am
- Professor Tim Jackson – Doctor of Science, Monday pm
- Professor Ian Stewart – Doctor of Science, Tuesday am
- Elizabeth Mills OBE – Doctor of Science, Tuesday pm
- Nigel Walker – Doctor of Science, Wednesday am
- Chris Thomson – Master of Letters, Wednesday pm
- Karen Middleton CBE – Doctor of Science, Thursday pm
- Dick Knight – Master of Arts, Friday am
- Hasan Bakhshi – Doctor of Letters, Friday pm
Neil Bartlett OBE – Doctor of Arts, Monday 22 July
Neil Bartlett is a Brighton-based actor, director, author and translator. His first book, a groundbreaking study of Oscar Wilde's place in British gay culture and sub-culture, was published in 1988. His twenty-seventh book will be a new novel, to be published in 2014. From 1994 to 2005 he was the Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith transforming the previously run-down venue into one of the most respected theatres in London. Other theatre work has taken him to the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court and the National Theatre, and he is a regular contributor to the Brighton Festival.
Professor Tim Jackson – Doctor of Science, Monday 22 July
Professor Tim Jackson is currently economics commissioner on the Government’s Sustainable Development Commission. Professor Jackson is also director of RESOLVE, the research group on lifestyles, values and environment. He has led research and policy initiatives on sustainable consumption and production, and the team that developed the model used to estimate the UK’s carbon footprint for The Carbon Trust.
Professor Ian Stewart – Doctor of Science, Tuesday 23 July
Professor Ian Stewart is an Emeritus Professor in mathematics at the University of Warwick, and has written over 80 books, three of which were on the science of Discworld with Terry Pratchett. He has appeared on numerous radio programmes and was until recently the mathematics consultant for the New Scientist. He has made a number of programmes for the TV science series Equinox and presented Channel Five’s How Will It All End? as well as delivering a Royal Institution Christmas Lecture for the BBC.
Elizabeth Mills OBE – Doctor of Science, Tuesday 23 July
As an independent consultant, Elizabeth’s work focuses on charities that are working with older people. She has participated in several government consultations, and has chaired a public sector advisory body. Elizabeth was Director of Research into Ageing (the UK national medical research charity) and stayed until 2001 when she led the charity into a full merger with Help the Aged (now AgeUK).
Nigel Walker – Doctor of Science, Wednesday 24 July
Nigel Walker is the National Director of the English Institute of Sport (EIS). He is a former international athlete and rugby player who represented Great Britain as a high hurdler at world championships and Olympic games. Nigel’s work with the EIS had an enormous impact on the success of the London 2012 Olympics and on the medal-winning performances where 86 per cent of Team GB medallists were supported by the EIS. Nigel is now being asked to share his and the EIS achievements with other countries’ Olympic associations across the world.
Chris Thomson – Master of Letters, Wednesday 24 July
Chris Thomson is the Principal of Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College (BHASVIC) and former Deputy Chairman of the university’s Board of Governors. Under his leadership BHASVIC has achieved three “outstanding” ratings from the Office for Standards in Education.
Karen Middleton CBE – Doctor of Science, Thursday 25 July
Karen Middleton is Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for England and provides clinical and professional advice to the government and across the healthcare system regarding the 12 allied health professions. She was Health Professions Advisor at the Department for Health, from 2003, with the specific lead for children and primary care.
Dick Knight – Master of Arts, Friday 26 July
Dick Knight was chairman of the Albion in the Community charity from 2005 until June this year and was a key driver in turning it into one of the leading community schemes in English football. He is credited with saving Brighton and Hove Albion football club after its home at the Goldstone Ground closed. When he took over the club he decided it should give something back to the community who had helped save it. Dick believes the football club is much more than what happens on the playing side - it is about the power of sport to interest people, engage with them and then improve their lives.
Hasan Bakhshi – Doctor of Letters, Friday 26 July
Hasan Bakhshi is Director of Creative Industries at NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts), an independent charity with a mission to help people and organisations bring great ideas to life. In 2009, he designed and launched the Creative Credits programme, a business-to-business innovation vouchers scheme that brought together small enterprises with innovative creative service businesses. He previously worked at Lehman Brothers, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Bank of England.