Latest news from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ

10 Dec 2014

Honorary degrees to be presented at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s winter degree ceremonies

At its winter degree ceremonies on 15 December, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ will award honorary degrees to Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, and Simon Denyer, Joint Chief Executive Officer at digital media company Perform.

Professor Dame Sally Davies was appointed as Chief Medical Officer in 2010, the first woman to hold the post. The Chief Medical Officer acts as the UK government’s principal medical adviser and the professional head of all directors of public health in local government. Dame Sally guides government decisions on a diverse range of subjects such as superbugs, drug trials and obesity.

A haematologist with specialist research interest in sickle cell disease, Dame Sally’s previous career highlights include developing the National Institute for Health Research. She also chairs the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, and is a member of several influential committees, including the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Advisory Committee on Health Research.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Economics and Geography graduate Simon Denyer was appointed to the Board of Perform in 2007. He founded the Inform Group in 2004 and was its Managing Director prior to its amalgamation with Premium TV in 2007. Before this Simon was head of digital rights at IMG, sales director at Sportal and started his career in sports media at Haymarket Publishing. He has worked with major sports rights holders in the exploitation of their rights over digital media for the past 12 years.

Professor Dame Sally Davies will be presented with the award of Honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSci) in recognition of her contribution to public health and health research.

Simon Denyer will receive the title of Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv) in recognition of his contribution to sports and digital media.

Watch live web casts of the degree ceremonies

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 14/217

  1. Members of the media are welcome to attend the graduation ceremonies, which will take place in the Sir David Wallace building on the University campus.

    Professor Dame Sally Davies will receive her award at 10.30am; Simon Denyer’s ceremony will take place at 1.45pm.

    There will also be opportunities for interviews, photography and filming of the honorary graduates in the Clyde Williams building around 30 minutes prior to the start of each ceremony.

    You are asked to access the campus via the main University entrance on Epinal Way. Please inform the Public Relations Office on 01509 222224, in advance, if you wish to attend.

  2. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

    It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

    In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Hannah Baldwin
Head of PR
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
T: 01509 222239
E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk