Honorary Fellows 2018
Steve Burrows CBE
In recognition of outstanding achievement in engineering
A graduate from the Liverpool Polytechnic in 1982 where he studied for his first degree in Civil Engineering. Steve Burrows is now based in San Francisco and has over 30 years’ experience in engineering buildings around the world.
A committed ambassador for his profession, Steve also regularly presents engineering programmes on the Science and National Geographic TV channels and most recent in the IMAX movie Dream Big - Engineering our World.
Read the full oration for Steve Burrows.
Jane Cordell
In recognition of outstanding contribution to disabled rights and promotion
Jane is a Director of Result CIC (a Community Interest Company), the 2015 National Diversity Award Winner - which specialises in providing training and coaching for people with disabilities or impairments.
Jane is listed on the Power 100 list of the UK's most influential people with a disability or impairment. Jane received four awards for her work as the first senior deaf diplomat in Poland, for supporting its disability rights legislative reform. Jane graduated with a degree in English from Cambridge University and became deaf in her mid-twenties. She then took an MEd at the Open University. Her career encompasses professional music, teaching and lecturing, editorial work, diplomacy, charity governance, including Chairing DaDaFest (Deaf and Disability arts), coaching, equality campaigning and social entrepreneurship. She was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2016.
Read the full oration for Jane Cordell.
Dr Steve Garnett
In recognition of outstanding achievement in the use of technology in social change
Liverpool-born Steve Garnett has had one of the most distinguished careers of any European executive in the software industry and has been a member of the executive management team of three software start-ups that have each turned into some of the most successful software companies in history.
Read the full oration for Dr Steve Garnett.
Jane Garvey
For outstanding achievement in media and the spoken word
Jane Garvey is an influential, award-winning and much admired figure in the world of British broadcasting. In 2017 she came in at number 7 on the Radio Times list of the 50 Best British Radio Broadcasters of all time.
Read the full oration for Jane Garvey.
Neena Gill CBE
For outstanding contribution to public service
Neena Gill CBE MEP is currently in her third term as Labour MEP for the West Midlands, having previously served in 1999 - 2009 terms. She was the first British-Asian female to be elected in the UK and in the European Union in 1999. Prior to becoming an MEP, she was the youngest CEO of two pioneering housing organisations for a period expanding 13 years. This was due to recognition of her work as a prominent campaigner in the 1980s on homelessness, housing and social equality issues. Neena was the catalyst behind National Housing Federation addressing inequality within housing organisations that culminated in good practice guides on Race, Women and Homelessness.
Read the full oration for Neena Gill CBE.
Natalie Gross
In recognition of outstanding achievement in the digital industry
A graduate from Liverpool John Moores University, Natalie is recognised as one of the top three influential digital professionals in the UK (eConsultancy Top 100, 2016).
She is Managing Partner of TH_NK, one of the UK’s most respected independent digital agencies. Joining in April 2017, she is responsible for driving a new vision and growth strategy for the business.
Read the full oration for Natalie Gross.
Lady Edwina Grosvenor
For outstanding contribution to public life and campaigning
Lady Edwina Grosvenor is a philanthropist and criminal justice campaigner. She has worked in and around the prison service since she was 18. Edwina studied Criminology and Sociology at Northumbria University and Criminal Behaviour at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia
Read the full oration for Lady Edwina Grosvenor.
Daniel Libeskind
For outstanding contribution to international architecture
A Polish-American Architect, with a global reputation for cultural architecture including the Imperial War Museum North, The Jewish Museum Berlin and Ground Zero. Daniel visited LJMU in 2016, to address an event in support of children’s charities in Syria and Israel.
Read the full oration for Daniel Libeskind.
Paul Lewis CBE
In recognition of outstanding achievement in music
Paul Lewis is recognised as the leading English classical pianist. Paul's father worked at the Liverpool Docks and his mother was a local council worker; there were no musicians in his family background. He began by playing the cello, the only instrument for which his school could offer him tuition. At the age of 14 he was accepted by Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, where his piano studies blossomed. He then studied with Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London before going on to study privately with Alfred Brendel.
Read the full oration for Paul Lewis CBE.
Angela Samata
For outstanding contribution to public campaigning and understanding of mental health issues
Angela Samata, Merseyside Woman of the Year 2015, arts professional and presenter of BBC1’s BAFTA Nominated Life After Suicide.
Angela Samata is an inspirational public figure who has made an outstanding contribution on a local, national and international level to progressing understanding and de-stigmatisation of mental health and suicide prevention.
Co-author of the NHS70 Parliamentary Award-winning See Say Signpost training, Angela was Chair of the Survivors of the Bereaved by Suicide, a nationwide charity offering a unique and distinct free service with online, face to face and telephone support to bereaved adults across the UK. Under her Chairmanship and together with a 10-strong Board and 150 volunteers, the number of support groups more than doubled, with over 65 free support groups currently throughout the UK, offering support to over 7,000 people bereaved by suicide each year. Angela led the Liverpool support group for seven years and currently sits on the All Party Parliamentary Group looking at Suicide Prevention in England and Wales.
Read the full oration for Angela Samata.
Sir John Sorrell CBE and Lady Frances Sorrell
For outstanding contribution to social empowerment and education campaigning
The Sorrell Foundation was set up in 1999 by Frances and John Sorrell with the aim of inspiring creativity in young people. It believes that creativity can change people’s lives and make the world a better place.
The Sorrell Foundation develops pioneering educational models, which bring together schools, teachers, schoolchildren, universities, colleges, tutors, students and professionals. The common aim is to help young people unlock their creativity, gain new skills and explore their potential for further and higher education and future careers. Young people are given a creative voice – the Foundation asks them what they think and values their response.
Read the orations for Frances and John Sorrell.
Tate Liverpool
In recognition of their 30th anniversary
The Tate Liverpool received a Corporate Award in recognition of their 30th anniversary. Director, Helen Legg, accepted the award on its behalf. The Tate Liverpool first opened in 1988 as part of the considerable regeneration of the Albert Dock and a highly visible catalyst for change in the city. It has welcomed 18 million visitors in that time.
Read the oration for Tate Liverpool.