Graham Shapiro appointed as Visiting Professor at University of Westminster

As a Visiting Professor, Graham will be supporting students and graduates by working across a range of activities including providing guest lectures and workshops; participating in the proposed development of Westminster’s new enterprise and employability hub at 29 Marylebone Road; supporting Westminster Enterprise Network’s (WeNetwork) student enterprise activities; and enhancing Westminster’s global engagement with India.

Speaking about his appointment as Visiting Professor, Graham said: "I am honoured to be appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Westminster. I feel that this opportunity is a great platform for me to support students and empower entrepreneurs essentially to become who they want to be. It’s a privilege to make a worthwhile contribution when invited and this work continues with my full commitment and total enthusiasm. At the same time, I have shown that experience, gained by entrepreneurial endeavour, has helped establish some highly innovative initiatives and this is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding, in so many ways.

“I was very impressed with the forward-thinking projects ahead at the University of Westminster, particularly the proposed 29 Marylebone Road, with a view to encouraging and developing entrepreneurial students.

“Joining the University of Westminster as Visiting Professor, enables me to examine the prospect of making an even greater contribution on several grounds but primarily because of its rich cultural diversity, one that more accurately reflects my own journey and background. I am therefore delighted to be invited to be part of such a dynamic academic institution.”

For over 25 years, Graham’s company Graham Shapiro Design (GSD) has created online and offline visual communication for some of the world’s most respected companies.

He is a distinguished Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing; Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers; Entrepreneur in Residence and on the advisory board for the Business Research Institute at the University of Chester; and an Ambassador of Innovation for the University of Cambridge.

Graham also founded The Graham Shapiro Foundation, a charity which aims to establish meaningful ways to support mental health, wellbeing and to inspire innovation and young entrepreneurialism in the UK.

Speaking about Graham’s appointment, Paul Dwyer, Head of Student Enterprise at the University, said: "This is an exciting appointment. Graham combines a wealth of knowledge as a creative, entrepreneur and innovator with a passion to support the next generation. I'm looking forward to working with him and Westminster colleagues to scale up our support for student innovation and enterprise across the University."

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