Julie Begum, Joanne Hannaford, Peter Heathcote and Padmavati Ramachandran received honorary fellowships and degrees as part of our summer graduation ceremonies.
The honorary degrees recognise the awardees’ invaluable contributions to biochemistry, digital technology, advocacy for our East End communities, and new initiatives to treat psychosis.
President and Principal, Professor Colin Bailey CBE said
"Each year, Queen Mary carefully selects recipients from all walks of life for our honorary degrees, one of higher education's most significant accolades. This year, I am delighted we are honouring Peter, Joanne, Julie, and Padmavati for their outstanding achievements and welcome them to our distinguished group of honourees.
“Their work has made a significant contribution, not only to their respective fields, but to society overall. And, as individuals, they truly reflect our university’s values
“Congratulations to all.”
Julie Begum, a writer, teacher, and activist, has dedicated her life to improving East London's communities, especially the Bengali community. She is the co-founder of the Swadhinata Trust promoting Bengali history and heritage among young people in the UK. She has co-authored several publications, including Tales of Three Generations of Bengalis in Britain, and her play The Altab Ali Story was recently staged to commemorate the anniversary of Ali's murder.
Commenting on the award, Julie said:
"This honorary fellowship is an unexpected experience for a person of my background."
Joanne Hannaford received a Fellowship in Digital Technology for promoting inclusion in the field. She has advanced the STEM agenda and supported apprenticeships. At Goldman Sachs, she started the Digital Apprenticeship Programme with Queen Mary University and founded Oxford University’s ‘GoGirl’ programme, teaching coding to 150 disadvantaged girls. She also serves on public sector boards and has won many awards.
Currently, she is the CIO & CPO Corporate Bank, Deutsche Bank.
Joanne commented:
"It is with profound gratitude and humility that I accept this incredible honour.
"Diversity and equity in the workplace are not just ideals I hold dear; they are the cornerstones of a thriving and innovative industry. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every voice is heard, and every individual has the opportunity to reach their full potential. These values are shared with Queen Mary who has been open minded about creating ground breaking programs with me such as the apprenticeship program.
"Mentoring and nurturing new talent have always been passions of mine. I have found immense fulfilment in guiding the next generation of finance professionals and gender equity in STEM, watching them grow, learn, and eventually become leaders in their own right. There is no greater satisfaction than seeing those you have mentored surpass even their own expectations."
Peter Heathcote was awarded an Honorary Fellowship for his outstanding contributions to the local community, improving local schools, and his dedicated service to the University. He was Chair of the Governors for St Paul’s Way Trust School in Poplar, helping it improve from special measures to an outstanding rating, and he is still the Chair of the University Schools Trust.
His 35 years of distinguished service at Queen Mary included senior roles as Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Head of the School of Biological Sciences, and Director of the Nanchang Joint Degree Programme. He was also a member of the University's governing Council and Audit Committee.
Peter said:
"I am honoured to receive this fellowship for my services. The achievements cited in several roles were only possible due to the support and efforts of my all my academic colleagues, students and importantly professional services staff.
"When I moved to Queen Mary, I immediately discovered a collegiate environment with strong links to its local community. It has also been my privilege to have been nominated by Queen Mary to chair St Pauls Way Trust School and subsequently the University Schools Trust, a multi-academy Trust largely based in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets of which the university is the lead sponsor. I enjoy this role which I see as giving back to the education system that benefitted me and fostering more direct and effective links between schools and Universities."
Dr Padmavati Ramachandran is a trailblazer. She has established a unique theatre initiative for people with psychosis, their families and their carers. As Director of the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), Padmavati has enabled a series of innovate Queen Mary research projects of global significance on developing community-based resources to address serious mental illness.
Padmavati said:
“The Honorary D.Litt degree is a profound acknowledgment of the collaborative efforts that have shaped my journey in psychiatry. Being recognised by an institution renowned for intellectual curiosity and research excellence is both humbling and inspiring.
"Throughout my career, I have strived to embody the values of scholarship, integrity, and curiosity. Whether through research, teaching, or community engagement, my work aims to contribute meaningfully to our understanding of psychoses. This recognition serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of ideas and the importance of collaboration in advancing knowledge."
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