Find information on former Honorary graduates from previous years.
Honorary Award recipients
Since 1966 the University of Bradford has awarded Honorary Degrees and Outstanding Contribution Awards to:
- outstanding individuals in recognition of their academic work and endeavour,
- their contribution to their chosen profession or field of activity,
- their contribution to the University, City or wider region,
- their ability to act as a role model reflecting the University’s values.
Nominations for honorary degrees and fellowships can be submitted at any time and are considered by the University Honorary Awards Committee on three occassions through-out the year.
Read our blog about how we have worked and collaborated with Honorary Award Recipients.
Our most recent Honorary Award recipients
Yvonne Stocks DL
Yvonne received an Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of he significant impact she has made to the health, wellbeing and safety of vulnerable people in the Bradford district and beyond.
Born in Bradford in May 1961, Yvonne holds a First-Class BSc (Hons) in Midwifery Studies and has dedicated her career to supporting vulnerable individuals. Through her work, she witnessed persistent disadvantage among women and committed to addressing these inequalities.
In March 2007, she co-founded Palm Cove Society (PCS), providing safe, supportive accommodation while tackling issues such as inequality, limited access to education, community bias, and health needs. Recognising similar vulnerabilities among men, she expanded PCS services in 2008 to support them as well. Since 2009, PCS has worked in partnership with the University of Bradford.
In 2015, acknowledged as a specialist in trauma-informed, wraparound accommodation, Yvonne was seconded by the Home Office as Special Advisor to the first Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, raising national awareness of modern slavery and its impact. In 2016, she was invited by the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York to contribute to a global conference on ending modern slavery. Her work has earned significant recognition, including a High Sheriff’s Award (2017) and a Metropolitan Police commendation (2018).
Appointed Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire in 2023, Yvonne continues to champion those facing disadvantage, driven by her belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Listen to Yvonne's oration and speech from the Graduation Ceremony.
Daniel Bates MBE
Daniel received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition his transformative leadership and enduring commitment to cultural regeneration and civic pride.
Daniel Bates MBE is a cultural leader with a distinguished career spanning more than three decades in the UK’s arts, theatre and public sectors. He currently co-leads Bradford Culture Company, the organisation delivering Bradford UK City of Culture 2025, where he has overseen its rapid development from a start-up into a major cultural institution. In this role, he has secured significant investment and built key partnerships with national organisations including the BBC, DCMS and Arts Council England.
Daniel has extensive experience leading complex organisations, having served as Chief Executive of Sheffield Theatres for over a decade. There, he led a £15.5 million organisation, driving commercial sustainability, audience growth and artistic excellence, and securing multiple UK Regional Theatre of the Year awards.
Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at York Theatre Royal and Leeds Playhouse, where he combined strategic vision with a strong commitment to inclusion, education, diversity and youth engagement, embedding these values across organisational culture and practice. He has worked closely with government, sector bodies and international partners, and played a key role in supporting the safe reopening of theatres following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel was awarded an MBE for services to culture in Bradford and is recognised as one of the most influential leaders in UK theatre and cultural life.
Listen to Daniel's oration and speech from the Graduation Ceremony.
Shanaz Gulzar MBE
Shanaz received an Honorary Degree of Letters in recognition of her visionary leadership and outstanding contributions to arts and culture in our district.
Shanaz Gulzar MBE is a leading figure in the UK cultural sector, known for a creative vision bridging artistic innovation, place and community. Her work spans both screen and live: she presented the BBC documentary Hidden Histories: The Lost Portraits of Bradford, bringing untold stories to a national audience, and brought a contemporary artist's perspective to the landscape in Yorkshire Walks.
Her producing credits at Manchester International Festival include, double oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's HOME1947, Adam Thirlwell's Studio Creole and Tanya Bruguera's School of Integration. As an artist, commissions include the National Trust, Southbank Centre, National Theatre Wales, and the British Council, with international projects across Europe and South Asia.
As Creative Director of Bradford 2025, UK City of Culture, Shanaz lead a transformative cultural programme, celebrating artistic innovation, diversity and community engagement. Her practice is underpinned by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of cultural expression — nationally and internationally — and to the role the arts play in driving social change.
Shanaz is an experienced public speaker and panel contributor, regularly invited to speak on culture, creativity, place, identity and the role of the arts in social change, and was the recipient of the prestigious Judges’ Special Recognition Award at the Museums + Heritage Awards in 2026.
Listen to Shanaz's oration and speech from the Graduation Ceremony.
The Late Sasha Bhat
Sasha received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Health in recognition of her outstanding contribution to improving mental health and wellbeing in Bradford.
For more than two decades, Sasha Bhat has been a driving force behind the transformation of mental health and community wellbeing across Bradford district.
Through her leadership of landmark initiatives including Better Mental Wellbeing and Better Lives, Brighter Futures, Sasha has helped reshape mental health services, championing prevention, early intervention and community-led approaches that have improved outcomes for thousands of people. Her work has been instrumental in developing innovative services such as Bradford's Crisis House, culturally responsive mental health support and the Healthy Minds programme, now recognised nationally as an example of best practice.
A passionate advocate for reducing health inequalities, Sasha has worked tirelessly to ensure that diverse communities have a voice in shaping services. She has built strong partnerships across health, local government, voluntary organisations and academia, helping establish Bradford as a national leader in inclusive and preventative mental health care.
Alongside her professional achievements, Sasha has supported the next generation through mentoring, apprenticeships and employment opportunities, while contributing to the city's wider cultural life through initiatives including Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
Her vision, compassion and unwavering commitment to improving lives have left a lasting legacy across Bradford, nationally and internationally.
Listen to the speech delivered on behalf of Sasha's family from the Graduation Ceremony.
Chris Kamara
Chris received an Honorary Degree of Doctor Health in recognition of his exceptional dedication to raising awareness of speech apraxia and men's mental health, and his successful career as a footballer and sports personality.
Known as Kammy, Chris enjoyed a career as a footballer, manager, pundit and commentator. Born in Middlesbrough, at the age of 16 Chris enjoyed a brief spell in the Royal Navy, before beginning his football career at Portsmouth FC in 1975, staying with the club for two years. He spent the following years at Swindon Town (this was followed by a brief return to Portsmouth), Brentford, Swindon Town once again and then Stoke City.
In 1990 Chris signed for Leeds United where he was part of the side that won the Championship in 1992 under Howard Wilkinson's management. He has also played for Luton Town, Sheffield United and Bradford City. He played more than seven hundred games before hanging up his boots and retiring from professional football.
Chris spent short spells as manager for both Stoke City and Bradford City. During his short time as manager at Bradford City, he was instrumental in seeing them promoted to the First Division in 1996, after beating Notts County in the play-off final. This was undoubtedly one of the greatest moments for the club, being the first visit to Wembley in the club's history, and as a result he is held in high regard in Bradford.
Chris began his career as a commentator in 1996 and became a well-known football pundit on both television and radio.
Listen to Kammy's oration and speech from the Graduation Ceremony.
Rumiko Seya
Rumiko received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of her significant contributions to global peacebuilding, and as a successful graduate of the University.
Rumiko Seya is a leading practitioner in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, with over 25 years of field experience across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. She holds an MA in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford.
Beginning her career with a Non-Governmental Organisation in Rwanda, she subsequently worked with UN peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire, and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan, establishing expertise in Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration through negotiating with warlord commanders and facilitating the disarmament of over 50,000 former combatants. She also developed conflict early warning and early response frameworks and has specialised in the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). She provides capacity-building training for military, police, and civilian personnel of the United Nations and regional organisations worldwide.
Since 2013, she has served as President of Reach Alternatives (REALs), leading operations across conflict-affected regions including Syria, Gaza, South Sudan, Somalia, and Afghanistan. Under her leadership, REALs trains approximately 400 local peacebuilders annually, delivers humanitarian assistance to over 40,000 people each year, and led the evacuation and survival support of over 1,900 Afghans at risk during the 2021 crisis. She has served on the Evaluation Committee for Japan's National Action Plan on WPS since 2017.
Her honours include the UN21 Award (United Nations, 2003), Nikkei Woman of the Year (2012), The New York Times "Ten Women Leaving Their Marks on the World" (2022), and the Yomiuri International Cooperation Prize (2025).
Listen to Rumiko's oration and speech from the Graduation Ceremony.
Rosie Jones
Rosie received an Honorary Degree of Doctor Health in recognition of her significant contribution to LGBTQ+ and disability rights.
Rosie Jones is a household name in British comedy, and she’s striving for national treasure status. Alongside her award-winning stand-up, Rosie is a familiar face on UK television – she’s fronted her own Comedy Central series Out of Order, starred in Channel 4’s hard-hitting documentary Am I A R*tard, and led two travel series, Mission: Accessible and the BAFTA-nominated Trip Hazard.
She is the creator and star of Channel 4 comedy-drama Pushers, a six-part series nominated for a BAFTA in 2026. Her acting credits span primetime dramas such as Silent Witness, Casualty and Call the Midwife, and she has also appeared as herself on Taskmaster, Live at the Apollo, QI, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Last Leg and many more.
Rosie is also co-founder and chair of the Rosie Jones Foundation; a charity whose mission is to empower lives and change minds and make sure no person with cerebral palsy feels alone or unheard.
Listen to Rosie's oration and speech from the Graduation Ceremony.
John Hinchcliffe
John received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of his unstinting commitment to the University and the district, and as a successful alumnus of our institution.
John built his career in Retail and Financial Services. He was the Chief Executive of Bradford home shopping firm Freemans Grattan Holdings (and its subsidiaries Grattan plc and Freemans plc) from 2012 to 2020 (having previously served on the board as Marketing Director between 2000 and 2003). He was Marketing Director of FTSE 250 company N Brown Group plc between 2003 and 2012.
His roles with Freemans Grattan Holdings and N Brown Group involved managing change of mature businesses. He recognised that success could only be achieved by finding and promoting competitive advantage, embracing digitalisation and by developing high levels of staff and customer engagement.
Following his retirement from corporate life he served on the Governing body of the University of Bradford from 2021 to 2025, including periods as Interim Chair of Council, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Finance Committee. He is a Trustee of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society, where he the Finance Director.
He earned a Social Science degree and an MBA from the University of Bradford. He once wrote a book about the electoral prospects of the Labour Party.
Listen to John's oration and speech from the Graduation Ceremony.