Honorary graduates
Honorary Graduates from Teesside University
Each year we confer honorary awards upon individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievement in their field, their contribution to the region or society or service to the University.
Recipients come from the worlds of science, art, academia, industry, politics, medicine, entertainment and include former staff and students. Honorary graduates include Steve McClaren, Richard Griffiths, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Ray Harryhausen.
The honorary awards are conferred at the final awards ceremony of Academic Awards week, in November each year.
2011 Honorary Graduates
Jane Atkinson, Doctor of Business Administration
Jane is Vice-President (Utilities) of Sembcorp. In 2004, she became the first woman in the world to manage a blast furnace – the Corus cast house at Redcar – and she was also only the second woman in the world to have ever managed a coke oven. Jane has been named the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) "First Woman" and she is currently a member of the University’s science and engineering advisory board.
Howard Burch, Doctor of Arts
Howard Burch is a renowned television producer, who is behind many television shows and films. He has been a Drama Executive at Channel 4 and is presently Executive Producer at Kudos. His television credits include Spooks, Hustle, Ashes to Ashes, Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach and film credits include Pure starring Kiera Knightley. Howard is a great supporter and contributor to the University’s School of Arts & Media.
Sir Peter Carr, Doctor of Laws
Sir Peter started his working life as a carpenter and went on to Chair the North East Strategic Health Authority until October 2011, when it was re-shaped under government reforms. He has held the Chairmanship of NHS organisations in the region since 1990. Sir Peter has now been appointed to the Chairmanship of a new national NHS organisation. From 1984 to 1990 he was head of the Government City Action team in the North East. Prior to that he held a senior position in the diplomatic service. Sir Peter was a founding director of the conciliation service ACAS and has served in various government bodies, including as Director of the Commission on Industrial Relations, and as a special adviser to the pay body NBPI.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomson DBE, Doctor of Laws
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is Britain’s best-known paralympic athlete having performed at world-class level for the last 13 years. By the end of her paralympic career in 2007 she had achieved 16 medals, 11 gold, four silver and a bronze. In 1993 she received an MBE for services to sport, in 2000 the OBE, again for services to sport and in 2005 made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 2010 she was created a life peer. She first received an honorary Master of Science award from the University in 2001. Tanni continues to play an active role within sports administration; she is a non-executive member of the board of UK Athletics, and the board of the London Marathon and is Honorary President of Sports Leaders UK.
Max Howard, Doctor of Arts
Max Howard is head of Exodus Film Group. He has enjoyed an illustrious career in animation and was senior vice president of Disney feature animation. He has worked on some of Disney’s most memorable films including Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Max is a long-standing supporter of the University’s annual international Animex festival of animation and computer games
Dr Nicholas Patrick, Doctor of Science
Dr Nicholas J. M. Patrick was born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, and is a NASA Astronaut and engineer. He was selected by NASA in 1998, and has flown on two shuttle missions: STS-116 and STS-130, both construction missions to the International Space Station (ISS). He has logged 638 hours in space, including over 18 hours outside the ISS during three spacewalks on his second mission. He is the fourth Briton to have flown in space.
Keith Skeoch, Doctor of Business Administration
Keith Skeoch is the Chief Executive of Standard Life Investments. He has made a huge contribution to the financial services industry, most notably in the wake of the global financial crisis during which he worked with government and trade bodies to establish best practice in stewardship and governance. Keith received his degree in a special event to mark the 450 anniversary of the University’s partner college Prior Pursglove.,Keith Skeoch is the Chief Executive of Standard Life Investments. He has made a huge contribution to the financial services industry, most notably in the wake of the global financial crisis during which he worked with government and trade bodies to establish best practice in stewardship and governance. Keith received his degree in a special event to mark the 450 anniversary of the University’s partner college Prior Pursglove.
Keith Williams, Doctor of Business Administration
Teesside born Keith Williams is Chief Executive of British Airways (BA). Keith joined BA in 1998 from Reckitt and Colman where he was head of tax. He became BA group treasurer and head of tax in 2000 and in 2006 he became Chief Financial Officer of BA. He was appointed as Chief Executive in 2011, following him playing a leading role in steering BA through the recession and through the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
