Honorary degrees and fellowships

Honorary Doctorates

An honorary degree is one of higher education’s most significant accolades. They are awarded on a selective basis to distinguished individuals who merit special recognition for achievement and distinction in a field or activity connected with the mission of the University. Holders of honorary degrees provide inspiration to students, as examples of success in a variety of ways. They also enhance the University’s profile on a national and international stage.

In 2019, the University of Worcester awarded honorary doctorates to:

Andrew Moffat MBE

Andrew is Assistant Head Teacher at the Parkfield Community School in Birmingham, and the author of “No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools”, a resource which aims to prepare children for life in modern Britain through the development of a whole school ethos, where all children are taught they belong and are accepted. 

In 2014, Andrew first developed the No Outsiders ethos to encourage children to be proud of who they are, whilst also learning how to respect diversity and appreciate difference. Since its inception, the No Outsiders programme has enjoyed great success, and it has now been adopted by many schools throughout the country. Andrew has also broadened the scope of the project to include family workshops in public libraries, to support the development of a wider appreciation of diversity and difference in the community. In 2017 Andrew was awarded an MBE for services to diversity and equality in education, and earlier this year, after 23 years in teaching, Andrew was one of only ten teachers worldwide to be shortlisted for the highly prestigious Global Teacher Award. 

As a result of his work to help build more tolerant, open and resilient communities Andrew was invited to lead the march at Birmingham Pride in 2019 - alongside LGBT members of the City’s culturally diverse communities, and in July, he was awarded a pride Award by Attitude magazine. 

Andrew continues to teach and develop resources to support acceptance of all differences and embed inclusive practice in primary schools. 

Professor Dame Athene Donald DBE FRS

Professor Dame Athene Donald is Professor of Experimental Physics and Master of Churchill College at the University of Cambridge. Professor Donald, one of the world’s most distinguished scientists, was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1999, and was appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to Physics in 2010. In the same year, she was also awarded the Faraday Medal by the Institute of Physics.

A committed inter-disciplinarian, Professor Donald’s research traverses the interface between physics and biology. She currently chairs the REF2021 Interdisciplinary Advisory Panel and has been both a trustee of the Science Museum Group and a member of the Science Museum Advisory Board, having previously chaired the Scientific Advisory Council for the Department of Culture, Media and Sports. She was also a member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council from 2013-18.

Professor Donald is a strong advocate of gender equality and a champion of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. From 2006 to 2014, she was the Director of WiSETI (Cambridge University’s Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Initiative) and, from 2010 to 2014, was the University’s first Gender Equality Champion. Professor Donald also chaired the Athena Forum from 2009 to 2013. Her portrait, painted by Tess Barnes, hangs in the world renowned Cavendish Laboratory, the home of physics at Cambridge.

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE

Sir Kenneth is a British businessman, philanthropist and the first black Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London. He is Founder and Chairman of Restoration Partners, the London-based technology-focused merchant bank which supports technology entrepreneurs.

Sir Kenneth began his career in technology with IBM in the 1970s, after being awarded a scholarship whilst an undergraduate at the University of Cambridge, studying Natural Sciences and then Social, Political and Management Sciences at Fitzwilliam College.

Sir Kenneth received his OBE in 2010 for services to homeless people in London and, in the 2018 New Year Honours, the Queen officially bestowed him with a knighthood for services to business and philanthropy in the UK. He is Chairman of the Shaw Trust, which supports the disabled and chronically unemployed to find work, a Freeman of the City of London, a Liveryman, and Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. He is a past Sunday Times Not for Profit Non-Executive Director of the year and was named number one in the 2016 Powerlist’s roster of the UK’s most influential black people.

University Fellowships

A University Fellowship is bestowed upon persons of distinction or those who have rendered significant service to the University or to the community. Fellows join the University’s College of Fellows, which provides opportunities for the individual to support the University in ways that reflect their particular areas of expertise and experience, be that providing work placement opportunities for students, or guest lecturing, among many other ways. They serve as Ambassadors for the University, enhancing the University’s influence in the national and international communities.

In 2019, University Fellowships were bestowed upon:

Janetta Otter Barry

Janetta Otter-Barry is a noted publisher with an international reputation for the quality and originality of the books she has published. Janetta has championed the work of many new authors, artists and illustrators – both in the UK and overseas – as well as working in close collaboration with the School of Arts here at the University of Worcester, to gain a greater insight into the world of publishing.

Janetta started her career in children’s publishing as an editor for Blackie and then Methuen. In 1988 she became Editorial Director for Frances Lincoln Children’s Books. A long-time champion for diversity and inclusion within publishing, in 2008 she was instrumental in establishing the Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Award with Seven Stories – The National Centre for Children’s Books, which led in turn to the 2014 Diverse Voices List of the 50 best culturally diverse children’s books.

In 2015 Janetta founded Otter-Barry Books, which specialises in culturally diverse and inclusive titles. The company sponsors the Otter-Barry Books Narrative Illustration Award at the University of Worcester, and in 2019 published Migrations: Open Hearts, Open Borders, edited by the University’s International Centre for the Picture Book in Society.

Casey Bailey

Casey Bailey is a poet, spoken word performer, rapper, and the Assistant Head Teacher at Great Wyrley Academy in Walsall. His work across these many spheres is unified by his deep commitment to reducing inequality, and his drive to ensure young people from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to discover their own rich potential.

Born and raised in Nechells in Birmingham, Casey was determined to avoid the troubles that had befallen many of his peers. Embracing the emancipatory power of education, he studied for his A-Levels, before moving on to a degree and Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Worcester, and finally a Masters in Educational Leadership at Birmingham City University.

As a poet and performer, Casey’s work has been featured on BBC television and radio, as well as on stages across the country. His first short poetry collection, Waiting At Bloomsbury Park, was published by Big White Shed in 2017, and his debut full collection, Adjusted, was published last year by Verve Poetry Press.

Casey has worked tirelessly to tackle disadvantage with a number of charities and community groups in and around Birmingham, including Continental Star FC, a community football club in Perry Barr.

Casey’s contribution as a dedicated member of his local community was recognised last year, when he was named in Birmingham’s 30 Under 30 list of the most influential young people in the city.

Mark Stansfeld

Mark Stansfeld is a distinguished business leader and entrepreneur. In recent years he has been an exceptional advocate for Worcestershire and for the University, as the Chair of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP). A large part of Mark’s role as Chair is around the Worcestershire 5G Testbed, which provides a platform for UK industry to develop and test next-generation technology that will revolutionise the way businesses operate in the future. Alongside his work for the county, Mark also chairs Airband, a rural broadband provider, and works with Three Mobile.

Starting his career in the food industry at Cadbury Schweppes and Kraft Foods, Mark soon moved into technology with positions at BT, T-Mobile and as Commercial Director for O2, where he was part of the board team that brought the brand to market leadership.

Mark has achieved many accomplishments during his business career, including the successful negotiation to bring the ‘iPhone’ to Britain. Mark was also instrumental in starting giffgaff, the fastest growing mobile network in the UK and chaired this until recently.