University of Westminster awards Honorary Degrees and Fellowships at 2024 summer graduation ceremonies

Levi Roots, Jason Arday, Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson, Jack Rooke, Professor Geoffrey Guy and Sotiris Kyriacou have been conferred with Honorary Doctorates for their proactive and dedicated work, focusing on diversity, inclusion and wellbeing across the country.

The new Honorary Fellows are Matthew Smith, Simon Wylie, Helen Owen, David Stanton and Philomine Wales.

Levi Roots has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. The businessman, chef, author and musician shot to fame after winning over the Dragon Den investors with his Reggae Reggae Sauce. By building an enterprise from nothing, Roots thrives off sharing his knowledge with fellow entrepreneurs. He is often a guest at the University of Westminster, giving lectures and taking part in events to inspire Westminster students to dream big and to help make those dreams a reality.

Professor Jason Arday, a scholar of race, inequality and education, and the youngest person of colour ever appointed to a professorship at the University of Cambridge, has also been made an Honorary Doctor of Letters at the University of Westminster. 

Professor Arday’s road to academia has been a challenging and remarkable one. When he was three he was diagnosed with a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder which caused him to be unable to speak until he was 11 and unable to read or write until he was 18.  He worked tirelessly to make it to college then university, subsequently training as a teacher. From here his academic career began and he continued to thrive, smashing milestone after milestone.

Throughout his childhood and career Professor Arday witnessed the systemic inequalities Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students face in education. These injustices fuelled his desire to help open doors for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and to make higher education available for all.

BAFTA winning writer, CALM ambassador and Journalism BA Honours alumnus Jack Rooke also was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts for services to equality. He is the writer and narrator of the BAFTA winning Channel 4 comedy-drama series Big Boys which tells the story of two misfit guys becoming best friends at university and was inspired by his time at Westminster. The show explores grief, depression, identity, sexuality and friendship, and aims to raise awareness of the mental health struggles of young people face.

Rooke has also campaigned against planned government cuts to the widowed parents’ allowance and is an ambassador for CALM, a male suicide prevention charity.

Jack Rooke - photo credit Tempest Photography

Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science for her services to sport and disability awareness and activism. She is known as one of Britain’s greatest Paralympic athletes and has participated in five Paralympic Games and won 11 gold, four silver and one bronze medal. She currently is a Board Member of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and has previously been on the Board of the London Marathon, the Sportsaid Foundation and Join In. 

In 2010 she became an Independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords and since then she has used her position to speak on issues such as disability rights, welfare reform and sport. Her commitment to sport was recognised in 2005 when she was given a Damehood.

Sotiris Kyriacou has worked for the NHS for 33 years, 16 of which were as a chartered accountant in a range of finance roles. He has led on professional development for the finance function in London and recently expanded the service to cover procurement, informatics and estates and facilities management. He has also spent time supporting the London Leadership Academy with Talent Management, embedding a coaching culture across London as the Head of Coaching.

As a Westminster alumnus he has worked with the University since 2004, recruiting undergraduate Finance and Accountancy students for one year work placements and permanent positions. He has also given lectures, run employability challenges and been an alumnus mentor where he has engaged with students and supported them throughout their university life and onto their careers.

Professor Geoffrey Guy is a British pharmacologist, physician, businessman and academic. He has over 30 years of experience in medical research and global drug development and has been the physician in charge of over 350 clinical studies, an author of over 70 scientific publications, co-founder of GW Pharmaceuticals and has contributed to six books.

With his wife, Professor Guy established the Guy Foundation in 2018. The foundation was created with a lifelong commitment to improving health and aims to facilitate exploration into quantum effects in biology and the role it could play in advancing medicine. The Guy Foundation is a testament to Professor Guy’s dedication to medical research and his passion for exploring new frontiers in medicine.

Throughout the week the University also awarded Honorary Fellowships to Philomine Wales, Helen Owen, David Stanton, Matthew Smith and Simon Wylie.

Philomine Wales is a retired architect and was also awarded for her services to university governance. She was an Independent Governor from 2017 to 2023 and served as a member of the Finance and Property Committee and Resources Committee. She has also been a member of the Estate Advisory Group since its inception in 2018.

Helen Owen is the Director of Transformation at GambleAware and was awarded for her services to university governance. She worked as an Independent Governor at Westminster from 2017 to 2022 and served as a member of the HR Committee, Finance and Property Committee and Audit Committee. She was also awarded the civic honour of Southwark Woman of the Year for services to youth and sport.

David Stanton is the Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer at Westminster Abbey and was awarded the Fellowship for his services to university governance and continued support through creating effective links and collaborations. He held the position of Independent Governor between 2017-2023 and served as a member of the Audit Committee, Finance and Property Committee, HR Committee and Resources Committee. He was also Vice-Chair to the Court between 2021-2023.

From left to right: Professor Peter Bonfield, Philomine Wales, David Stanton, Helen Owen and Lynne Berry - photo credit Tempest Photography

Matthew Smith was also awarded a Fellowship for his services to university governance and his support for the relationship with the Quintin Hogg Trust. Smith is a Barrister at Maitland Chambers and was an Independent Governor at the University from 2013 to 2022. He served as a member of the Audit Committee and HR Committee and was the Audit Committee Chair between 2018-2022. 

The final Fellow is Simon Bryant Wylie, a consultant at the Business Model Co, who was also awarded for his services to university governance and his work with the Regent Street Cinema. He was an Independent Governor between 2018-2022 and served as a member of the Resources Committee. He took on the role of Deputy Chair of Resources Committee from 2020 to 2022 and acted as Member and Chair of the Regent Street Cinema Board from 2019 to 2022. 

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

Photo credit: Tempest Photography