University of Westminster awards Honorary Degrees and Fellowships at 2023 summer graduation ceremony

Amma Asante, Sir Kenneth Olisa and Sandi Rhys Jones have been conferred with Honorary Doctorates for their proactive and dedicated work, focusing on diversity and inclusion across the country.

The new Honorary Fellows are David Cheeseman, Dame Karen Dunnell, Gary Morley and Philip Murphy, who have been recognised for their contributions to the governance of the University.

Amma Asante, MBE, has been awarded Honorary Doctor of Arts for her inspirational work as a film maker. The multi-award-winning director and writer became the first Black director to win a BAFTA Film Award for writing and directing her 2004 film A Way of Life.

Along with her prolific career in film, she has also made huge strides in the world of TV, directing episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Through her work she has become a role model for budding Black female film directors around the globe.

Professor Janet Jones, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries, said: “As a Black female director, Amma Asante has broken down barriers and opened doors for other diverse filmmakers. Her success and recognition in the industry have paved the way for new underrepresented voices to be heard and acknowledged.”

Sandi Rhys Jones, OBE FCIOB, has been awarded Honorary Doctor of Letters for her impact on equality, diversity and inclusion in the construction industry. 

Sandi began her career in construction, property and engineering as a journalist, working for a variety of technical organisations before forming her management and marketing business.

In 2022, when the University of Westminster hosted and organised a meeting in London for a delegation of more than 50 tradeswomen from North America and Europe, Sandi hosted them at a major reception in the Houses of Parliament in her role as Senior Vice-President of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

Dr Katalin Illes, Associate Head of Westminster Business School, said: “Over the past 30 years Sandi has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of improving diversity and equal opportunities in the construction industry and has probably done more to bring women into the industry than anybody else.”

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE CStJ FRSA FBCS has been awarded Honorary Doctor of Letters for his service in support of social mobility and inclusion.

Born in Nottingham to a Nigerian father and a British mother, the British businessman and philanthropist has been a diversity pioneer and enthusiastic mentor. He has advised and invested in some of the UK’s most interesting computer technology entrepreneurs and regularly appears in the Powerlist most influential Black people in the UK.

Professor Andrew Linn, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said: “Sir Kenneth Olisa’s motto is ‘Do well, do good’. The boy from Nottingham, who - in his words - grew up in ‘a world of outside toilets and bomb sites as playgrounds’ to become the first British-born Black FTSE100 Director and Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and now His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, has certainly done well and done good.”

The awardees are David Cheeseman, Dame Karen Dunnell, Gary Morley and Philip Murphy, who all served as independent members of the Court of Governors at the University.

David Cheeseman has contributed an enormous amount of time to the University, acting as the Deputy Chair of the Court of Governors. He is a service sector professional with a proven track-record of leading teams to produce outstanding financial and qualitative results. 

As the Executive Director of Momentum Services and Director of Chef Express UK Ltd, he is experienced at building and sustaining relationships with clients, statutory bodies and other stakeholders.

Dame Karen Dunnell DCB, FAcSS has been awarded for her dedication to the University and for her career in the world of statistics. She was the Deputy Chair of the Remuneration Committee as well as a member of the Audit Committee at the University. Dame Karen is a social researcher and statistician who spent most of her career in Government, the last four years as National Statistician and Chief Executive of the Office for National Statistics.

Gary Morley is a chartered accountant specialising in Corporate Finance who has used his knowledge to support both charities and businesses. During his career he turned around a loss-making charity, taking the reins and achieving a surplus of £800,000 within two years. He was Master of a City Livery Company, chairman of a national educational charity and vice-chairman of an international charity. He served as a Governor of the University for ten years and was Chair of the Finance and Property Committee.

Philip Murphy served as a Governor for 10 years, during which time he was Chair of the University’s Resources Committee and a member of the Remuneration and the Finance and Property and Audit Committees. He continues to be a member of the University’s Physical and Digital Environment Group. In his professional life he was a Partner of PRP Architects. Projects over his career included the early years of Milton Keynes, Butlers Wharf and the Globe Theatre.

Professor Lynne Berry, Chair of the Court of Governors, who nominated the four Fellows, said: “They have served with great distinction as Members of the Court of Governors at the University of Westminster. The role of an Independent Governor is extremely important; the Court of Governors is the most senior governance body in the University and, together with the Vice-Chancellor, Governors share a responsibility for the work of the University, its quality, its culture, its vision and strategy.”

She added: “Making them Honorary Fellows will, I hope, not only be a fitting recognition of their contribution but also a means of cementing our relationship with them for the future. We hope they will continue to be engaged with the University and support us to achieve our priorities of wellbeing, inclusion and sustainable development.”

Learn more about Honorary Degrees and Honorary Fellowships at the University of Westminster.

Photo credit: Tempest Photography