On Thursday, Alan Rusbridger, former editor of The Guardian for 20 years, will be presented with a Doctor of Letters for his major contribution to journalism. Alan oversaw the breaking of many international headline-making stories including those on Julian Assange and Wikileaks, the News International phone-hacking scandal, the use by governments of illegal torture and rendition and the Edward Snowdon disclosures on mass surveillance by intelligence agencies.
These stories amongst many others saw the journalism at The Guardian winning many accolades including an Emmy Award and Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Alan has also co-written a screenplay for BBC Television and he writes regularly for the New York Review of Books and New Statesman.
Keynote speaker on Thursday will be graduate Emily Brooke, CEO and founder of Blaze, the urban mobility brand providing technology for cyclists and bike sharing schemes globally. Emily left Oxford University to study Product Design at the 国产探花 where she developed the Laserlight safety light which is being sold in 60 countries.
Sarah Roots, Vice President of Warner Bros’ Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, is the keynote speaker on Friday. Sarah, who graduated from the University with a degree in Hotel and Catering Management, has seen the project from conception through to its grand opening in 2012.
Also on Friday, Miranda Brawn is to be awarded a Doctor of Letters for her major contribution to the promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion in all sectors, in particular in the legal profession. Miranda is a multi-award-winning senior business, legal and diversity executive, barrister, board advisor, patron, philanthropist, social entrepreneur, founder of the Miranda Brawn diversity leadership foundation, media contributor, public speaker and one of the UK's top diversity leaders.
Miranda is a campaigner for an equal and diverse workforce and promotes all forms of diversity, including race, gender, disability and LGBT. She has been named by the Financial Times as one of the most influential global BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) business executives helping to make the world a more equal and diverse place.