Graduation Ceremonies 2008

This December over 4,000 students graduated from London Metropolitan University in a series of nine ceremonies held at the Barbican Centre, London.

More than 8,500 guests, family and friends attended the graduation ceremonies to celebrate the culmination of the students’ hard work and show their support. Festive mulled wine and mince pies were served after the ceremonies to add to the occasion.

Brian Roper, Vice-Chancellor commended students for their dedication to learning. He wished them well on their exciting journey from higher education to their future careers.

Graduating alongside the students were a wide range of public figures from the world of business, sport, the arts, politics and public administration who all received honorary degrees this year for their outstanding sucesses. These included Lord Bilimoria CBE, founder of Cobra Beer; Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of Kids Company; comedian Vic Reeves and renowned artists, Gilbert and George. (A full list of the 2008 honorary graduates follows.)

The ceremonies were a great success and all those invited had a memorable and enjoyable day.



2008 Honorary Graduates

Ken Friar OBE:
Doctor of Business Administration:
Kenneth Friar OBE is a director of Arsenal Football Club and is currently the club's acting Managing Director. He was born in Islington and went to school in Highbury. He began part-time work at Arsenal as a messenger aged just 12 and has been with the club ever since. In 2000 he was awarded an OBE in recognition of his contribution to football.






Robert Veenstra:
Doctor of Philosphy:
Robert Veenstra is President of the Executive Board of Stenden University in the Netherlands. He is credited with developing a strategy and steering staff and students through a dramatic and crucial change process that has transformed the university. In 2008 he was recognised as one of the Top 10 most influential people in Higher Education in the Netherlands.






Lord Bilimoria CBE DL:
Doctor of Business Administration:
Karan Bilimoria qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young, completing a diploma in accountancy at what is now London Metropolitan University. He graduated in Law from Cambridge University. Karan went on to develop Cobra Beer, a new premium lager. Eighteen years later, Cobra Beer is one of the fastest growing beer brands in the UK. Among many public and private appointments, Karan is; a member of the Government’s National Employment Panel; the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hounslow and Champion of the Make Your Mark campaign for enterprise.






Christopher Frayling:
Doctor of Letters:
Sir Christopher Frayling is Rector of the Royal College of Art and has been Professor of Cultural History there since 1979. He is Chairman of Arts Council England, the largest funding body for the arts in the UK, he is the longest-serving Trustee of the V&A, and Chairman of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, which selects the designs for new coins. He has in the recent past been Chairman of the Design Council, Chairman of the Crafts Study Centre and a Governor of the British Film Institute. Christopher is well-known as an historian, critic and award-winning broadcaster.






David Michael:
Masters of Arts:
David Michael retired in December 2002 after 30 years of police duty in London during which time he was promoted to Detective Chief Inspector. David is founder and past Chair of the First Black Police Association in the UK and is now an Independent Consultant in Policing, Criminal Justice and Community Cohesion.






Major Christopher Robinson:
Doctor of Science:
In 1973, following a distinguished career serving in the 16th/5th The Queen’s Royal Lancers, Christopher joined the Spastics Society, now Scope. In 1974 with the help of his wife, he opened a day centre for young people with disabilities. In 1990 he became founder of The Little Foundation, which aims to reduce the incidence at birth of neurodevelopment disorders. He is also Chairman of the Mother and Child Foundation.






Camila Batmanghelidjh:
Doctor of Philosophy:
Camila has a first class degree in the arts, a Masters in psychotherapy and clinical training supported by 18 years as a psychoanalyst. She has worked for Women's Aid and founded Place to Be, a national programme that offers therapy to children in schools. Camila is best known for founding the Kids Company, a registered charity which offers psycho-social interventions to 11,925 children a year.






Marianna Vardinoyiannis:
Doctor of Philosophy:
Marianna has built up an extensive record of social and humanitarian work which focuses on: peace building, human rights, protection of children, health, social solidarity, education, poverty, climate change, human trafficking, drugs prevention and the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. She is founder and President of ELPIDA: Friends Association for Children with Cancer. She is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. She has been awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur of the French Republic, the Gold Cross of the Order of the Benefaction by the President of the Hellenic Republic and was the Greek ‘Woman of Europe’ in 1996.








Lord Walker Gestingthorpe:
Doctor of Laws:
Robert Walker was appointed one of the twelve law lords in 2002. In 2009 he will become one of the first Justices of the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. In 2003 he became President of the London Metropolitan University Mansfield Law Society. He has served as a barrister and as a High Court Judge in the Court of Appeal.






Victor Thompson:
Doctor of Business Administration:
Victor is Founder of Knowledge Fountain business magazine, the only such business title dedicated and targeted at African and Caribbean entrepreneurs in the UK. The magazine is a platform for successful entrepreneurs and brands seeking to communicate with Black business leaders.






Alexander Amosu:
Amosu Doctor of Business Administration:
Alexander studied Sound Recording Technology at the University of North London and in 2000. Discovering a niche in what was then a fledging industry, he launched R&B Ring Tones, a provider of urban music ring tones. It soon became the UK's No.1 provider of ring tones and graphics. Alexander was recently a ‘dragon’ on the Nigerian version of Dragon's Den. He has been ranked number 98 in the UK’s most powerful British business people in Technology & Telecoms.






Eva Jiricna:
Doctor of Philosophy:
Eva formed her own architectural practice in 1985 and has since achieved international reputation for a broad scope of work. Eva was honoured as a Royal Designer for Industry in 1991, awarded a CBE in 1994 for services to design, and as a Royal Academician in 1997. In 2006 she was elected an Honorary Fellow to the American Institute of Architects.







Gilbert and George:
Doctor of Philosophy:
Internationally acclaimed artists Gilbert and George began creating art together at St Martins School of Art. They believe that everything is a potential subject matter for their art and they have always addressed social issues, taboos and artistic conventions. They have had exhibitions at The Venice Biennale (2005) Turner Prize (1984) and Carnegie International (1985, to name a few.






James Moir:
Doctor of Philosophy:
English comedian James Moir is better known by his stage name Vic Reeves. An alumnus of the Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design his drawings and paintings, which have been exhibited at Whitechapel Art Gallery, have been used in television shows and also form a major part of his 1999 book Sun Boiled Onions. James has created innovative, influential and popular work for television, radio and live performance for more than 20 years.






Rt. Hon. Baroness Uddin:
Doctor of Philosophy:
Baroness Uddin has dedicated her life to public services, social reforms and equals rights. She is a formidable champion for women and local government. She was invited to the House of Lords in 1998 for the advancement of women and disability rights. She serves on the Select Committee on European Affairs and chairs several government Task Forces. She is a board member of Autism Speak UK and is a patron of Orbis International, Student Partnership Worldwide, Bethnal Green and Victoria Park Housing Association, Women’s Housing Forum, Women’s Aid, Brit-Bangla and the Dame Vera Lynn Trust.






Raj Joshi:
Doctor of Laws:
An alumnus of North London Polytechnic, a precursor institution of London Met, Raj is now the Director of Legal Practice and Quality Assurance for the London Crown Prosecution Service. Named by a national publication as one of the country’s top 10 most influential Asian lawyers and listed in the Asian Power 100, he has been presented with the prestigious Lloyds TSB Jewel Award for Public Service Excellence. He is Deputy Chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers and regularly appears in the media to talk about human rights. He was the youngest-ever Principle Crown Prosecutor and Borough Crown Prosecutor. He is currently the highest-ranking senior civil servant in the PCs from a black and ethnic minority background.



December 2008