Honorary Awards at the November 2018 Graduation Ceremonies

Four recipients will receive the award of Honorary Doctorate of the University

AN EMINENT professor who has devoted his life to representing the interests of vulnerable, disadvantaged and disabled people across the world will be among the list of distinguished people from the worlds of music, business and medical science who will receive honorary doctorates from the University of Huddersfield at the November 2018 Awards Ceremonies.

Professor David Croisdale-Appleby OBE

Professor David Croisdale-Appleby OBE has postgraduate degrees in five academic disciplines and six professorships ranging across the arts, sciences and social science and is to receive an Honorary Doctorate of the University for services to social work.  His Independent Review, entitled Re-visioning social work education, forms the basis of the current wholescale reforms in social work education and practise and was published by the Government.

Joining him in receiving Honorary Awards will be (in alphabetical order) contemporary composer Rebecca Saunders, leadership coach Dr Peter Alan Shaw and plastic and reconstructive surgeon Professor Fiona Wood.

Rebecca Saunders

Berlin-based British composer Rebecca Saunders is a leading international representative of her generation and has been conferred an honorary award for services to contemporary music. 

Born in London, she studied composition with Nigel Osborne in Edinburgh and Wolfgang Rihm in Karlsruhe.  Rebecca’s music has been performed and premiered by many prestigious ensembles, soloists and orchestras, and her compositions have been recognised with numerous international prestigious awards.

Dr Peter Alan Shaw

Receiving an Honorary Doctorate of the University for services to leadership and management will be leadership coach and motivational speaker Dr Peter Alan Shaw.

Formerly a Director General in the UK Government, Peter has worked in five different government departments holding a range of posts covering finance, policy, personnel, communications and delivery and is a Visiting Professor of Leadership Development at a number of universities.

Professor Fiona Wood

A plastic surgeon who received the honour of being named Australian of the Year in 2005 concludes this year’s list of November honoraries and receives her award for services to medical science.

Professor Fiona Wood is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon specialising in the field of burn care, trauma and scar reconstruction.  As Director of the WA Burns Service of Western Australia, she is consultant at Perth Children’s Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital and has been the recipient of the 2003 Australian Medical Association’s contribution to Medicine’ Award and an Order of Australia Medal for work with Bali bombing victims.

The November Awards Ceremonies

Over 1,500 students will become Huddersfield graduates and celebrate with families and friends on campus as they take part in the November Awards Ceremonies. 

The November Graduations, starting on Monday 12 November, is the second round of awards presented this year and will comprise of 17 ceremonies over the four-day period. The University’s Nursing and Midwifery students conclude the occasion and receive their awards at the final ceremony on Thursday 15 November.