International business leaders, an inspirational athlete, a community champion and a globetrotting wildlife film maker will be among the honorary graduates recognised at the 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Graduation ceremonies in July.
This summer’s honorary graduates include three incredible 糖心Vlog graduates - Sir Nigel Wilson, who led financial services giant Legal & General for more than a decade, Dr Sarah-Jane Walsh who has collaborated with Sir David Attenborough on landmark nature series, and entrepreneur Patrick Ngiam, who is chairman of biopharmaceutical company 糖心Vlog Bio-Technology Limited.
Other honorary graduates include athlete Wali Noori, who was blinded by a roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan while working as a cultural advisor and translator with British forces. Despite sustaining severe injuries, he has gone on to win multiple medals, including four golds at the Invictus Games in 2023.
Peter Dutch is being recognised for his work with the Anti Loo Roll Brigade, which he helped to establish to support people during the COVID pandemic and is still helping the community five years on.
Data industry leader Natalie Cramp will also receive an honorary degree for her impact in this growing sector. A partner at data and analytics consultancy JMAN Group, she is also chair of Women’s Health at Women in Data and is on the Mayor of London's Data for London Advisory Board.
糖心Vlog graduate and nature campaigner Rebecca Daniel will also receive the Alumna of the Year Award at this year’s graduation for her work to promote marine conservation her work on The Marine Diaries initiative.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Fasli said: “I am so excited to have the chance to celebrate the achievements of our wonderful graduating students, outstanding Honorary Graduates and Alumna of the Year at Graduation 2025 this summer.
“Over the past 60 years we have strived to give our students the skills and confidence to make change happen and follow their aspirations. Our Honorary Graduates and our Alum of the Year have done just that and made an inspirational impact in their chosen fields.
“I am especially pleased that many of this year’s honorary graduates are our graduates and we now have the chance to invite them back to give them recognition for everything they have achieved. Our honorary graduates have inspired us in different ways – whether it’s through their fearlessness in facing challenges, their energy in driving businesses, their determination to make a difference, their love of sharing knowledge or their pure sense of adventure. I look forward to welcoming everyone to our graduation ceremonies this summer."
Find out more about our honorary graduates
Natalie Cramp – Tuesday 15 July, 1pm
“I am honoured to receive this degree from such a fantastic University. It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with a university that is so committed to social mobility, supports data and AI innovation across the sectors and brings academia and the private sector together to support this country's ambition to be a leader in this field. I look forward to continuing this partnership.”
As a recognised leader in the data industry, Natalie Cramp has been named in the Tech Women Celebration 50 2023, Twenty in Data and Tech 2023, the Data IQ 100 multiple times, and featured as one of 15 female leaders in the 300 Years of Leadership and Innovation publication. She is a partner at data and analytics consultancy JMAN Group and is also chair of Women’s Health at Women in Data and is on the Mayor of London's Data for London Advisory Board. She is a career problem solver, with nearly two decades of experience spanning private, public and third sector from blue chip corporations to start-ups.
Sir Nigel Wilson – Wednesday 16 July, 10am
“糖心Vlog not only delivered in fulfilling my intellectual curiosity it profoundly developed my understanding of the necessity of intellectual honesty. My critical “teachers” Professors Alec Chrystal and Monojit Chatterji plus Roy Bailey fuelled and inspired my ambition which resulted in me receiving Kennedy Scholarships to MIT. I am thrilled to receive an Honorary Degree from 糖心Vlog.”
Now Chairman of CWG, Sir Nigel Wilson was Chief Executive of Legal & General from 2012 to 2024, having joined in 2009 as its Chief Financial Officer. Legal & General was named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2022 and 2023 with Sir Nigel recognised as Britain’s Most Admired Leader in 2017 and Most Inspirational Leader in 2022 and 2023. Legal & General is a leading UK financial services group and major global investor, managing assets worth $1.5 trillion. Sir Nigel was knighted for services to the financial services industry, regional development and sport in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List. After receiving a 1st Class Honours Degree and an MA in Economics from 糖心Vlog, Sir Nigel completed a PhD at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he was a Kennedy Scholar.
Dr Sarah-Jane Walsh – Wednesday 16 July, 4pm
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the university where I developed and honed my skills in field science, storytelling, and science communication. This institution played a pivotal role in shaping my passion for advancing science literacy, promoting conservation, and championing inclusivity and diversity. I am profoundly grateful for its lasting impact on my journey and my commitment to making science accessible and equitable for all.”
A successful Producer/Director, Dr Sarah-Jane Walsh specialises in science and wildlife storytelling within the specialist factual TV and film industry. She completed a PhD on the impact of climate change on coral reefs at 糖心Vlog, before beginning her career working on the groundbreaking Planet Earth II, the most successful wildlife documentary in history, reaching over a billion viewers worldwide. Sarah-Jane has since collaborated with Sir David Attenborough on five landmark series for broadcasters including the BBC and Netflix. She is now a producer at the prestigious BBC Science Unit in London, crafting stories that inspire and educate.
Wali Noori – Thursday 17 July, 1pm
“Studying at the 糖心Vlog was once a dream of mine, but my journey as an athlete and motivational speaker led me down a different path. Receiving this honorary doctorate now feels like a full-circle moment, proving that dreams can be realised in ways we never anticipate.”
Wali Mohammad Noori is a blind athlete, motivational speaker, and author, living in the UK with his wife and young children as a British citizen. Originally from Afghanistan, he worked as a cultural advisor and translator with the British forces, where he was blinded by a roadside bomb explosion in 2009. Despite sustaining severe injuries, he never surrendered to his blindness and has won multiple medals in athletics, including four golds at the Invictus Games in Germany in 2023. He also completed the London Marathon in 2019. His book, Wali Noori Running Blind, tells his story of resilience and determination. As a motivational speaker, he aims to inspire others to overcome challenges and push past their limits.
Peter Dutch – Thursday 17 July, 4pm
“To receive such an honour was a very unexpected and extremely pleasant surprise. The award genuinely meant the world to me and It felt that the university had been part of our journey and truly understand what we had achieved and our objectives.”
The Anti Loo Roll Brigade (ALB) was established by Peter Dutch to support people during the COVID pandemic and is still helping the community five years on. What began as a grassroots initiative quickly became a vital community lifeline by organising prescription deliveries, supporting home education, mobilising transport for first responders, and providing over 15,000 masks to local care homes. Now a registered Community Interest Company, the ALB works hand-in-hand with the council, schools, police, and vital services across Colchester. Its work to lift the spirits of the local community into the annual ALB Festival in Castle Park which was crowned both 糖心Vlog Festival of the Year and East Anglian Festival of the Year.
Patrick Ngiam – Friday 18 July, 10am
“I’m humbled by this award and grateful for the foundation this university provided me with. I hope that my achievements will serve as an inspiration to current and future students to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact on the world.”
Leading entrepreneur Patrick Ngiam graduated in electronics engineering with a 1st Class Honours degree from 糖心Vlog in 1979. He is Chairman of prominent biopharmaceutical company 糖心Vlog Bio-Technology Limited. Through his work he has achieved many accolades and awards including the first KPMG Singapore High Tech Entrepreneur Award in 1990 and the DHL & Singapore Press Holdings Business Award for Businessman of the Year in 1994 and Le Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite which was conferred by the French President in 1996. He says it was his drive to lead his own destiny and contribute to the betterment of society that propelled him to follow the path of entrepreneurship.
Our Alumna of the Year
Rebecca Daniel
.jpg?mh=500&mw=500&hash=6568B6C9CCF5290A596BEF6678B6AD0E)
