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The Chairman of the British Paralympic Association and the founding Chief Executive of Victim Support are being honoured by The University of Nottingham.
Tim Reddish OBE and Dame Helen Reeves (retired Chief Executive of Victim Support), are two of 11 distinguished guests who will receive an honorary degree during this year’s summer graduation ceremonies.
They will join thousands of successful students celebrating the triumphant culmination of their studies, when they will formally receive their degrees and become graduates of the University during ceremonies from 8-18 July.
Tim Reddish OBE During his 13 year international career as an athlete, Tim Reddish competed in three Paralympic Games, three World and five European Championships, amassing a total of 43 medals. He was awarded an MBE in 2001, Freeman of the City of Nottingham in 2005 and an OBE in 2009. In 2008 he was appointed as Chairman of the British Paralympic Association and board member of LOCOG (the organisers for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games).
Tim Reddish OBE is to be awarded the Degree of Doctor of Laws at the 3pm ceremony on Friday 11 July.
Dame Helen Reeves Following 12 years in the Probation Service, Dame Helen Reeves became the founding Chief Executive of Victim Support and later, the Witness Service in the UK, leading to the development of services and policies for victims for more than 26 years. She was also a founding member and Chair of Victim Support Europe. In 1999 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her pioneering work for victims and witnesses of crime.
Dame Helen Reeves is to be awarded the Degree of Doctor of Laws, at the 11am ceremony on Friday 11 July.
Professor John Coyne — Vice Chancellor of the University of Derby
Professor John Coyne has been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby since 2004. During this time, John has led the University to double its size and increased its profile nationally and regionally.
John is a Commissioner to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, a director of Cfe Research and Consultancy Ltd. and serves on many local, national and regional bodies.
Mark Ovenden — Managing Director Ford Britain
Mark Ovenden was appointed Managing Director of Ford Britain in 2011 and took on the responsibilities of Chairman in May 2013.
Prior to his current role, Ovenden was President and Managing Director of Ford of Russia and served as part of the team that established the Ford Sollers joint venture. He also served as Vice President, of the Automotive Section of the Association of European Business in Russia.
Dr Peter Barrett CBE — Former Chairman of Nottingham University Hospitals Dr Barrett was a GP in Nottingham for 31 years, leaving in 2006 to chair the newly merged Nottingham University Hospitals until stepping down in July 2013.
He chaired the Independent Reconfiguration Panel from 2001 to 2012, an independent organisation providing advice to the Secretary of State for Health on contested NHS reconfigurations in England and chaired other NHS bodies including The Nottingham Health Authority, Trent Region NHS Executive and the Nottinghamshire LMC.
He was awarded a CBE in 2006 for services to the NHS and a Deputy Lieutenant of the County in 2009.
Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh Sok Ping CBE — Managing Director of YTL Corporation Berhad, Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh Sok Ping is Managing Director of the YTL Group of Companies.
Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh Sok Ping is an Independent Non-Executive Director of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. He is ranked as one of ‘Asia’s 25 Most Powerful and Influential Business Personalities’ by Fortune and Business Week.
Tan Sri Francis was awarded the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006. He holds an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Kingston (UK).
Peter Hansford — Government Chief Construction Adviser Peter has over 35 years’ experience in the development and delivery of major infrastructure projects, for government, public and private clients, consultants and contractors in the UK and overseas.
Peter is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the Association for Project Management. He served as the 146th President of the Institution of Civil Engineers from November 2010 to November 2011.
Since December 2012, Peter has been Chief Construction Adviser to the UK Government.
Professor Edmund de Waal OBE — Ceramic Artist Professor Edmund de Waal was born in Nottingham in 1964 and is one of the world’s leading artists working in ceramics. He is best known for his large scale installations, which have been exhibited in many museums around the world.
Colin Smith — Director of Engineering and technology at Rolls-Royce plc
Colin Smith joined Rolls-Royce as an undergraduate apprentice in 1974 and after graduating in Mechanical Engineering at Southampton University, he worked on a number of helicopter projects at the Leavesden engine factory.
Colin was appointed as Director — Engineering & Technology in 2005, when he also became a member of the Board of Rolls-Royce.
Professor Steve Russell — Former Chief Executive of Boots plc Professor Steve Russell was made Managing Director of Boots the Chemists in 1995 and then Chief Executive of the Group from 2000-2003.
After leaving Boots he worked in non-executive director roles at Barclays Bank and Network Rail. He has also served as a trustee at Tommy’s the Baby Charity and Independent Trustee at St John Ambulance.
Keith Whitesides MBE — Retired Director of Investor relations at Boots plc, Non-Executive Director of Nottingham Building Society Keith Whitesides studied Law at Nottingham in 1965. After graduating as LL.B. and M. Phil and becoming a barrister, he lectured in university business and law schools.
In 1974 he joined the Boots Group as a legal advisor, later becoming divisional director in personnel, international operations, and strategic planning roles, retiring in 2001 as Director of Investor Relations.
Keith was awarded an MBE for services to the community in 1996 having been a magistrate, counsellor and Commissioner for Racial Equality, also Vice Chairman of the Arts Council’s regional board and Chairman of Sinfonia Viva, the region’s professional orchestra.
John Timpson CBE — Chairman of Timpson John Timpson was educated at Oundle and The University of Nottingham.
The Timpson family business was taken over in 1973, but 10 years later John led a £42m management buyout. In 1987 he sold the shoe shops and concentrated on building the shoe repairing and key cutting business.
Timpson now has over 1,000 branches nationwide with a turnover of £150m. It is a private business wholly owned by John Timpson and his family. Timpson is the UK’s most active employer of people from prison.
In 2004 he was awarded the CBE for Services to the Retail Sector.
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Notes to editors: The University of Nottinghamhas 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also the most popular university among graduate employers, the world’s greenest university, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the World's Top 75 universities by the QS World University Rankings.
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