Dr Mohamed Ibrahim
Doctor of Science (honoris causa)
Mohamed (‘Mo’) Ibrahim is an internationally-respected philanthropist and entrepreneur, widely seen as ‘transforming’ the African continent.
He created the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Index of African Governance, and Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, all with one clear objective; to place governance at the heart of African development.
The Guardian profile of him states that, “The Forbes Rich List puts his wealth at $2.5bn, he appears regularly at the top of lists of influential black Britons, and Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan speak admiringly of his vision.“
Achieving BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in electrical engineering and mobile communications, Dr Ibrahim made his fortune from developing Celtel, and pioneering mobile phone use through much of Africa.
He sold Celtel, with 24 million customers in 14 countries, in 2005 for £3.4bn.
His influence on African development, leadership and participation has been recognised by numerous international awards, including the Eisenhower Medal for Distinguished Leadership and the Foreign Policy Association Medal.
Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)
Dame Fiona is Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and was formerly Director-General of The National Trust.
Under her leadership between 2001 and 2012, Trust membership grew to 4 million and she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the New Year’s Honours 2008 for "services to heritage and conservation".
She was previously Director of the Women’s Unit in the Cabinet Office, Director of the Council for the Protection of Rural England and Secretary to the Council for National Parks. She was awarded the CBE for services to the environment and conservation in 1998.
In 2013, she became Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge and in addition to her role on the BBC Executive Board, Fiona is a non-executive director of Wessex Water, Chair of the Green Alliance and Chair of the Cambridge University Botanic Garden syndicate.
Tessa Ross CBE
Doctor of Letters (honoris causa)
Tessa Ross was Controller of Film and Drama at Channel 4 and previously Head of Drama for the BBC’s Independent Commissioning Group.
She was appointed CBE in 2010 and was awarded a BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Film in 2013.
Under Tessa’s leadership, Film4 became synonymous with innovative and exciting film making. Her tenure saw a host of award winning films, including Four Lions, In Bruges, Slumdog Millionaire and 12 Years a Slave.
Her most recent commissions include the multi-BAFTA and Academy Award nominated features Carol, Room, The Lobster, 45 Years and Ex Machina.
Tessa was the National Theatre’s first CEO for a brief time, and left recently to launch her new Film and TV production company with Juliette Howell.
Professor Bernard Silverman
Doctor of Science (honoris causa)
Professor Bernard Silverman FRS is one of the world’s leading statisticians.
His path-breaking research in computational statistics has developed approaches to statistical problems of fundamental importance to society.
In his current role as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Home Office, Professor Silverman leads the department’s scientific research community and provides independent scientific advice to the Home Secretary and other ministers.
His research has been recognised by numerous awards. He is a Past President of the Royal Statistical Society and of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics and is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) and of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS).
His work for government included membership of the GM Science Review Panel, a non-executive directorship of the Defence Analytical Services Agency, and chairmanship of a review panel for the project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow.
He has a substantial and broad record of providing statistical consultancy advice in many areas of industry and commerce as well as in financial and legal contexts.