Professor Stuart Croft is the Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Warwick and has been instrumental in leading the university's development since 2016, with a strategic focus on creating a better world together.

In addition to his role at the University of Warwick, Stuart serves as Chair of Universities West Midlands and has held several other leadership positions in academia. He has a background in International Security and has made significant contributions to publications and journals in the field.

In 2021, Stuart was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands.

More information…[https://warwick.ac.uk/services/vco/vc/]

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Dr Benjamin Hamilton (BSc Mathematics, 2009; MSc Systems Biology, 2010; PhD Systems Biology, 2014)

Conductor and Music Educator

Benjamin is a conductor, translator, and artistic leader most at home when using his experience to introduce high-quality musical experiences to all. As a conductor, Ben trained with Paul McGrath at The University of Warwick. Ben cut his teeth conducting and translating operas, mentored by Kit Hesketh-Harvey (Kit and the Widow) for Warwick Arts Centre.

Professor Stuart Croft is the Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Warwick and has been instrumental in leading the university's development since 2016, with a strategic focus on creating a better world together.

In addition to his role at the University of Warwick, Stuart serves as Chair of Universities West Midlands and has held several other leadership positions in academia. He has a background in International Security and has made significant contributions to publications and journals in the field.

In 2021, Stuart was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands.

More information…[https://warwick.ac.uk/services/vco/vc/]

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Anne Fine OBE (BA History 1968; Hon DLitt, 2005)

Author

Anne Fine is a distinguished writer for both adults and children. Her novel Goggle-Eyes won the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize as well as Britain’s most coveted award for children’s literature, the Carnegie Medal. She won the Carnegie Medal again for Flour Babies, which also won the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year Award. Among her many other prizes are the Smarties Prize for Bill’s New Frock, a second Whitbread Award for The Tulip Touch, a silver Nestle prize for Ivan the Terrible, and many other regional and foreign awards. In 1990 and again in 1993 she was voted Publishing News’ Children’s Author of the Year.

Professor Stuart Croft is the Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Warwick and has been instrumental in leading the university's development since 2016, with a strategic focus on creating a better world together.

In addition to his role at the University of Warwick, Stuart serves as Chair of Universities West Midlands and has held several other leadership positions in academia. He has a background in International Security and has made significant contributions to publications and journals in the field.

In 2021, Stuart was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands.

More information…[https://warwick.ac.uk/services/vco/vc/]

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Jessica Rasmussen (BSc Management Sciences, 1989)

Co-Founder & CEO, Two Magnolias Venture Capital

Jessica founded Two Magnolias in 2019 with her business partner Marie Korde and serves as its Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founding Partner. Jessica has led Two Magnolias from its early inception as an Angel investment vehicle in December 2019, through to its launch as an Early-Stage Venture Capital fund, achieving its April 2024, with the sole purpose of filling the clear opportunity gaps that are present in the UK Venture Capital ecosystem. This Fund was built on the founding principles of investing in entrepreneurs focused on Sustainability and Human Health solutions, based solely in the UK.

As CEO, Jessica is passionate about bringing a clear vision and lens to investment opportunities that exist within the Nations and Regions of the UK, that provide a clear and impactful outcome to local communities. Jessica’s involvement in strategically positioning the Fund to ensure that both female and ethnically diverse founders receive an equal voice has been identified as a critically important part of the drive for Equality within the UK’s Venture and Private Equity Industry.

Prior to building Two Magnolias, Jessica spent 30 years working in Investment Banking as a Global Markets expert, advising the world’s largest macro fund managers across fixed Income products. She spent her last 10 years at Bank of America, London as a Managing Director, and part of the EMEA leadership team holding significant revenue responsibility.

Jessica has been an investor in her own right with a personal portfolio that spans FinTech, EdTech, Sports Nutrition and Entertainment. She has strong international roots and was an early investor into funds focused on the advancement of Quantum Computing and Nature Based Advisory solutions. Jessica is an Advisor and NED to companies that span the universe of climate change disruption to social impact. She currently sits as a NED of Balance Eco Ltd and Sing King Ltd. She also sits as a Trustee for the UK wide charity RNID and has recently been appointed as Co-Chair of The University of Warwick Sustainability Professional Network. Jessica holds a BSc in Management Science from The University of Warwick and is certified in Climate Change and Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health.

Professor Stuart Croft is the Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of Warwick and has been instrumental in leading the university's development since 2016, with a strategic focus on creating a better world together.

In addition to his role at the University of Warwick, Stuart serves as Chair of Universities West Midlands and has held several other leadership positions in academia. He has a background in International Security and has made significant contributions to publications and journals in the field.

In 2021, Stuart was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands.

More information…[https://warwick.ac.uk/services/vco/vc/]

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Dr Liam Messin BSc Biochemistry, 2012; MSc Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, 2013; PhD Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, 2017

Deputy Editor, Nature Medicine

Liam received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from The University of Warwick. He then completed his Masters and PhD in interdisciplinary biomedical research at Warwick Medical School. Before starting his editorial career Liam worked for the Naked Scientists radio show, based at the University of Cambridge. He then worked as Senior Editor for eBioMedicine and The Lancet Infectious Diseases before being made Deputy Editor for The Lancet Global Health in 2022. He joined Nature Medicine as Deputy Editor in 2024 where he his interests are global health, public health, and non-communicable diseases.

Professor Emma Flynn is Provost at the University of Warwick where she supports the Vice-Chancellor in the academic leadership of the University.

A key aspect of her role is leading the development and delivery of the University’s academic strategy, ensuring that Warwick remains competitive and relevant within Higher Education and beyond. She is responsible for the efficient and effective use of academic resources, including departmental resources, capital planning and space management, and information resources.

Emma joined Warwick in August 2023 leaving Queen’s University Belfast, where she was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise.

More information…[https://warwick.ac.uk/services/vco/execteam/provost/]

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Kate Davidson MBE (MBA, 2020)

CEO, Dignity Plc

With over 15 years’ experience in the bereavement and end-of-life sector, I began my career in funerals and crematoria within Local Government, later joining Dignity plc in nationwide management and strategic roles spanning eight years. I completed an Executive MBA with the wonderful cohort 5 at the Shard in early 2020.

I joined Westerleigh Group as Commercial and Operations Director in early 2020, and following an 18 month period was asked to return to Dignity: firstly as Chief Operating Officer before being promoted into the Chief Executive role in 2022.

I have an undergraduate Law degree, the industry specific Cemetery & Crematorium Management diploma and my Executive MBA from WBS (completed with a focus on strategic leadership, and a final dissertation on how organisations can better support the bereaved.) Outside of my primary role, I am a Member of the National Executive Committee of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities, and the Burial, Cremation & Exhumation Law tutor for the Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management.

Recently, I was humbled, honoured and absolutely delighted to be awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Years Honours for services to bereaved people during Covid-19.

https://www.wbs.ac.uk/news/kate-davidson-praises-frontline-staff-after-award-of-mbeLink opens in a new window

Professor Emma Flynn is Provost at the University of Warwick where she supports the Vice-Chancellor in the academic leadership of the University.

A key aspect of her role is leading the development and delivery of the University’s academic strategy, ensuring that Warwick remains competitive and relevant within Higher Education and beyond. She is responsible for the efficient and effective use of academic resources, including departmental resources, capital planning and space management, and information resources.

Emma joined Warwick in August 2023 leaving Queen’s University Belfast, where she was the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise.

More information…[https://warwick.ac.uk/services/vco/execteam/provost/]

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Fred Betley (BASc Sociology and Global Sustainable Development, 2019)

Managing Director, FutureTracker

A committed and creative sustainability practitioner, Fred has dedicated his professional career to solving the problem of organisational sustainability. He graduated from the first cohort of Global Sustainable Development from The University of Warwick and is the director of FutureTracker - a passionate organisation dedicated to sustainability solutions.

Chancellor Baroness Catherine Ashton was installed as Chancellor of the University of Warwick in January 2017 [and will end her term as Chancellor at the end of 2024]. The Chancellor holds a ceremonial role and official duties include conferring degrees on behalf of the University.

Catherine Ashton served as the European Union's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy between 2009 and 2014. On behalf of the UN Security Council, she coordinated negotiations that resulted in the nuclear programme agreement with Iran. Previously she was EU Commissioner for Trade, served as a Minister in the Departments of Education and Justice, and was Leader of the House of Lords and President of HM Queen's Privy Council. Catherine Ashton is Distinguished Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington D.C and senior advisor to the Geneva based organisation, Humanitarian Dialogue.

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin is an economist with more than 30 years of experience in international finance and development. Dr. Mohieldin is the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt. He currently serves as the Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund representing the Arab States and The Maldives. He has been the United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda since February 2020.

Previously, Dr. Mohieldin was the Minister of Investment of Egypt from 2004-2010, and more recently, served as the World Bank Group Senior Vice President for the 2030 Development Agenda, United Nations Relations and Partnerships.

Dr. Mohieldin also served on several Boards of Directors in the Central Bank of Egypt and the corporate sector. He was a member of the Commission on Growth and Development and was selected a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum in 2005.

He is a Professor of Economics and Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University and as a Visiting Professor at several renowned Universities in Egypt, Korea, the UAE, the UK and the USA. He is a member of the International Advisory Board of Durham University Business School.

Dr. Mohieldin holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom; an M.Sc. in Economics and Social Policy Analysis from the University of York, United Kingdom; a Diploma of Development Economics from the University of Warwick; and a B.Sc. in Economics from Cairo University.

The American University in Cairo bestowed Dr. Mohieldin degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, in recognition of his status as a leading public servant at both the national and international levels focusing on economic reform, development, and inclusion. He has authored numerous publications and articles in leading journals in the fields of economics, finance, and development

Martin Li (BSc Economics, 2017)

Shareholder Relations, ICG Enterprise Trust

Part of the Shareholder Relations team at ICG, with responsibilities focused on the day-to-day shareholder relations activities of ICG Enterprise Trust, an £800m market capitalisation FTSE 250 investment company, including communications with shareholders, sell-side analysts and related stakeholders.

Previously in a similar role for HarbourVest Global Private Equity, a FTSE 250-listed investment company designed to provide access to HarbourVest funds for a wide range of public market investors. Prior to that, spent nearly five years with Goldman Sachs, most recently serving as an Associate in the Equities Management & Strategy group of the Global Markets Division.

Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) Charterholder as of 2023.

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/alumni/videosLink opens in a new window

Chancellor Baroness Catherine Ashton was installed as Chancellor of the University of Warwick in January 2017 [and will end her term as Chancellor at the end of 2024]. The Chancellor holds a ceremonial role and official duties include conferring degrees on behalf of the University.

Catherine Ashton served as the European Union's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy between 2009 and 2014. On behalf of the UN Security Council, she coordinated negotiations that resulted in the nuclear programme agreement with Iran. Previously she was EU Commissioner for Trade, served as a Minister in the Departments of Education and Justice, and was Leader of the House of Lords and President of HM Queen's Privy Council. Catherine Ashton is Distinguished Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington D.C and senior advisor to the Geneva based organisation, Humanitarian Dialogue.

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Chancellor Baroness Catherine Ashton was installed as Chancellor of the University of Warwick in January 2017 [and will end her term as Chancellor at the end of 2024]. The Chancellor holds a ceremonial role and official duties include conferring degrees on behalf of the University.

Catherine Ashton served as the European Union's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy between 2009 and 2014. On behalf of the UN Security Council, she coordinated negotiations that resulted in the nuclear programme agreement with Iran. Previously she was EU Commissioner for Trade, served as a Minister in the Departments of Education and Justice, and was Leader of the House of Lords and President of HM Queen's Privy Council. Catherine Ashton is Distinguished Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington D.C and senior advisor to the Geneva based organisation, Humanitarian Dialogue.

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Tim Lang, Professor Emeritus of Food Policy at the Centre for Food Policy, School of Health & Psychological Sciences, City, University of London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK email:  

Tim Lang is Professor Emeritus of Food Policy at City University of London’s Centre for Food Policy which he founded in 1994 and directed until 2016. Hill farming in Lancashire UK in the 1970s formed his interest in the relationship between food, health, environment, culture and political economy. He is co-author of many articles, reports and books such as Sustainable Diets (2017), Food Wars (2015), Unmanageable Consumer (2015), Ecological Public Health (2012) and Food Policy (2009).

He was policy lead on the influential EAT-Lancet Commission modelling the planetary diet to show it is possible to feed the world ahead without destroying ecosystems (The Lancet, 16 Jan, 2019). His Feeding Britain (Pelican, March 2020) explored the UK as a case study of fault-lines in a rich country’s food system. He has spent his working life analysing the affluent world’s food system dynamics and building arguments about how to improve them. He has been advisor to many bodies at global (WHO, FAO, UNEP), European (EC, EESC), UK (Scottish & Wales Govts, SDC, 4 select committees, Council of Food Policy Advisors) and local levels (London Food Board).

He’s currently a member of the London Food Board advising the Mayor. He has recently led research on how to improve civil food resilience in and after shocks to the food system for the National Preparedness Commission.

Dr Helen Barker (BSc Microbiology and Microbial Technology, 1993)

VP Head Regulatory Affairs, Blue Earth Diagnostics

As the VP Head of Regulatory Affairs at Blue Earth Diagnostics, I lead the global regulatory strategy and operations for the development and commercialization of innovative radiopharmaceutical products for cancer diagnosis and treatment. I have over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with a focus on neuroscience and oncology.

I am passionate about advancing the field of radiopharmaceuticals and delivering solutions that improve patient outcomes and quality of life. I have successfully filed and obtained approvals for multiple products in various markets, and established strong relationships with regulatory agencies and key stakeholders. I also chair the NMEU RA&QA Working Group at Nuclear Medicine Europe, where I collaborate with industry peers and experts to address the regulatory and quality challenges and opportunities in the nuclear medicine sector. I am skilled in leading and empowering teams, managing complex projects, and navigating regulatory landscapes.

Chancellor Baroness Catherine Ashton was installed as Chancellor of the University of Warwick in January 2017 [and will end her term as Chancellor at the end of 2024]. The Chancellor holds a ceremonial role and official duties include conferring degrees on behalf of the University.

Catherine Ashton served as the European Union's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy between 2009 and 2014. On behalf of the UN Security Council, she coordinated negotiations that resulted in the nuclear programme agreement with Iran. Previously she was EU Commissioner for Trade, served as a Minister in the Departments of Education and Justice, and was Leader of the House of Lords and President of HM Queen's Privy Council. Catherine Ashton is Distinguished Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington D.C and senior advisor to the Geneva based organisation, Humanitarian Dialogue.

Piers Gibbon is the host and Master of Ceremonies for our graduation ceremonies. He has the responsibility for reading out every name and ensuring that everyone has a memorable day. Piers is a speech writer, a television presenter (Headshrinkers of the Amazon, A Taste of History, The Witch Doctor Will See You Now) and the author of Tribes: Endangered Peoples Of The World.

Joe Wee (BSc Computer Science, 1996)

CEO & Director, Nombors, Tyga Cloud, and SPLACE.WORLD Ltd

I've gained some success in the gaming industry - selling Chillingo to EA for our publishing business with games such as Angry Birds, Cut The Rope (we had 12 number 1 hits in total) and our social gaming network called Crystal with over 100MM gamers. I have invested and advised in a number of tech companies in the past 10 years concentrating on location based social media, video-based education, collaborative learning and even 3D printing. Nombors is my latest venture where I have returned to my B2B routes. 25 years ago, I was the co-founder of an Application Service Provider offering convergent billing services to the telco industry after spending the first few years of my career building BSS and OSS systems (starting as a programmer and progressing to the role of Chief Internet Technologist at ntl - now Virgin Media). Fast forward 25 years, the tech stacks have improved, the data centres are now called 'the cloud', but one thing remains the same - the need of the SMEs is constantly increasing as their customers can now potentially span the world. Nombors will solve the fragmentation and cost issues faced by the SME by bundling all core services under 1 roof - bringing down the cost of Saas to something affordable so that SMEs can access the services they need in this day and age to compete effectively with the 'big boys'. The same way my old company Chillingo held the torch for the Indie Developers to help them sell games to the world, Nombors will hold the torch for the SMEs to help them compete by providing them with all the tools they need at an affordable price.