This year, the University will honour some of its alumni, notable individuals from the South West area and key figures who have made a significant contribution within their field and to society, nationally and internationally. Read our news story Exeter Chiefs Head Coach among this year’s honorary graduates from University of Exeter.
Honorary graduates 2017
Dr Mireille Gillings
Dr Mireille Gillings, founder and CEO HUYA Bioscience International, is a global leader in accelerating development of biopharma innovation from China. She pioneered collaborating with Chinese academic and commercial organizations to improve public health and create global value for China-sourced biopharma compounds.
Dr Jonathan Adams
Jonathan Adams is Chief Scientist at Digital Science & Research Solutions Ltd, a Holtzbrinck Group company and sister-company to Nature Publishing Group. He is a Visiting Professor at the Policy Institute, King's College London.
Jonathan graduated from the Universities of Leicester (BSc Biological Sciences, 1975) and Liverpool (PhD Zoology, 1979), and was a researcher at King's College London and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Lieutenant Colonel Lucy Giles
Lieutenant Colonel Lucy Giles is the first female College Commander in The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst's 200 year history. As New College Commander, Lucy oversees the leadership development of officer cadets on the Regular Commissioning Course through a programme of academic study, military exercises and physical training.
Lucy joined the Army in 1992 after studying Biology at Exeter and enjoying University Officer Training Corps.
Jeremy 'Jez' Butterworth
Jez Butterworth was born in London in 1969 and began writing at Cambridge University. His screenwriting credits include Mojo (1997), The Last Legion (2007), Birthday Girl (2002), Fair Game (Winner of the Paul Selvin Award, 2010), Get on Up (2014), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), and Black Mass (2015).
Alex Farquharson
Alex Farquharson is the Director of Tate Britain. He joined Tate in late 2015. Previously he was Director of Nottingham Contemporary, one of Britain's leading centres for contemporary art, which launched in 2009. His time at Nottingham has been widely praised, with the gallery attracting more than a million visitors during the first five years.
A curator of contemporary art by background, Alex was Exhibitions Director at Spacex in Exeter from 1994 to 1999 and then Head of Exhibitions at the Centre for Visual Arts in Cardiff.
Lindsey Hilsum
Lindsey Hilsum is the International Editor of Channel 4 News and the author of Sandstorm; Libya in the Time of Revolution. She has reported from six continents, most recently from the US on the election of Donald Trump and from Europe on the refugee crisis as well as terror attacks in France and conflicts in Syria, Ukraine and Mali.
During her career, Lindsey has covered the major wars and refugee movements of the past three decades, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Sir Donald McCullin CBE Hon FRPS
Sir Don McCullin is an award-winning photojournalist whose work is exhibited worldwide to constant acclaim. He grew up in London. After the death of his father, he left school at 14 and at 18 was called up for national service in the RAF as an assistant for aerial photography. His first reportage, on the "Guvnors" – a youth gang in his childhood neighbourhood – was published in The Observer in February 1959.
Lady Studholme
Lucy, Lady Studholme is Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Exeter Northcott Theatre. She is an alumna of the University of Exeter and has contributed to the life of the University for over 25 years.
Lucy studied English with American and Commonwealth Arts at Exeter as a mature student, following working as a general and paediatric nurse at The Westminster Hospital in London.
Philip Collins
Philip Collins is a columnist and former Chief Leader Writer on The Times. He is also Associate Editor of Prospect magazine, the Chair of Trustees of the think-tank Demos and Chief Executive of a speechwriting consultancy, High Windows.
Philip was educated at the Universities of Birmingham, Birkbeck College, London and St John's College, Cambridge. He has previously held Visiting Fellowships at the London School of Economics and University College, Oxford.
Dr Tony Sewell CBE
Tony is an educational consultant and CEO of the groundbreaking charity 'Generating Genius', which seeks to give great opportunities for students to study Science and Technology at top universities, including Exeter. He has been a member of the Youth Justice Board since 2015.
Tony was born in London from Jamaican immigrants. He first attended the University of Essex, where he studied English and then went on to train as a teacher at Sussex University.
Rob Baxter
Rob Baxter is the Head Coach of Aviva Premiership rugby team Exeter Chiefs. He previously played with the team for 14 years, serving 10 of them as the club's captain. During his playing career he amassed over 300 appearances at the club's old County Ground home.
Originally from Tavistock, Rob has lived in Exeter for over 40 years.
Professor Bertil Andersson
Professor Bertil Andersson is President of the Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore). A worldrenowned Swedish plant biochemist, Bertil is a pioneer of photosynthesis research who has authored more than 300 papers with over 14,000 citations.
Since becoming President of NTU Singapore in 2011, he has led the University to global distinction. NTU is the world's fastestrising young university and is ranked first among the world's young universities.
Peter Lacey BSc BArch(Bath) RIBA
Following an undistinguished education at Ilminster Grammar School, Peter was admitted to the School of Architecture of Bristol College of Advanced Technology, almost immediately to become the University of Bath, where he gained the University's first 1st class honours degree in architecture.
After qualifying in 1969 he joined MWT Architects in Plymouth where he was given responsibility for their more prestigious projects.
Hilary Evans
Hilary Evans is Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Research UK. Alzheimer's Research UK is a leading charity with a mission to defeat dementia by funding and delivering pioneering research, campaigning and collaborating with governments, funders, industry and people affected by dementia to find effective treatments.
Professor Ian L Boyd, BSc PhD DSc FSB FSRE
Professor Ian Boyd is the Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government on Food and Environment and Professor in Biology at the University of St Andrews. He was previously Director of the Scottish Oceans Institute at the University of St Andrews and the Sea Mammal Research Unit. He created the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland, has been a member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council and chairman of a scientific advisory board on decommissioning, for Oil and Gas UK.
Augustin Hadelich
Grammy award-winning Augustin Hadelich has established himself as one of the leading violinists of today. He has performed with every major orchestra in the United States, as well as many in the UK, Europe and Far East.
This coming season he will return to the Boston Symphony, playing the Ligeti Concerto with Thomas Adès on the podium. For this performance, Augustin will play the U.S. premiere of Adès's new cadenza for the concerto.
Helen Brand OBE
Helen Brand is Chief Executive of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global body for professional accountants; a post she has held since 2008. Helen has built her career within professional bodies and has considerable experience and knowledge of the 180 markets in which ACCA currently operates.
Helen has built her career within professional bodies and has considerable experience and knowledge of the 180 markets in which ACCA currently operates.
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury
Lord (David) Neuberger read chemistry at Oxford and began his career as an investment banker. Three years later, in 1975, he was called to the Bar and practised largely in property law, taking silk in 1987. David was appointed a High Court Judge, sitting in the Chancery Division, in 1996, and was Supervisory Chancery Judge for Midland, Wales and Chester and Western Circuits from 2001. Three years later he was made a Lord Justice of Appeal, and appointed Judge in charge of IT and modernisation.
» Lt Colonel Lucy Giles
Lt Colonel Lucy Giles, College Commander - New College, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, was honoured in recognition of her outstanding achievements in military service.
» Sir Donald McCullin CBE, Hon FRPS
Sir Donald McCullin CBE, Hon FRPS, was honoured for his outstanding achievements in the field of photojournalism.
» Dr Tony Sewell CBE
Dr Tony Sewell CBE, CEO and co-founder, Generating Genius, was honoured for his outstanding achievements in the field of education.
» Lindsey Hilsum
Lindsey Hilsum was honoured for her outstanding achievements as a broadcaster and journalist.
» Mr Rob Baxter
Mr Rob Baxter, Head Coach, Exeter Chiefs, was honoured for his outstanding achievements in the field of professional rugby union.
