Summer Graduations 2026 have come to a close and we are delighted to congratulate all of our new graduates and honorary doctorate recipients. We look back at some of the moments from this year’s ceremonies and introduce our honorary graduates.
It was a joy to witness so many of our students celebrating their amazing achievements with friends and family, making memories that will last a lifetime.
Visit our Facebook page to see photos from this year’s graduation.
We were also proud to see six honorary degrees awarded to individuals for their outstanding achievements and commitment across a range of sectors. This year also saw the presentation of a Distinguished Fellowship Award and a Centenary Historic Achievement Award.
Read on to find out more about our award recipients.
AISHA MALIK
Aisha Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Reading Community Learning Centre, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in a ceremony on Wednesday 29 July.
Aisha has spent more than a decade championing migrant and refugee women through her compassionate and determined leadership of Reading Community Learning Centre. Over the course of this time, the charity has grown to support almost 600 women from 41 countries each year, delivering more than 140 courses and over 2,000 information, advice and guidance sessions annually.
Learn more about Aisha’s story
DOMINIQUE UNSWORTH
Dominque Unsworth, founder of the social enterprise Resource Productions CIC, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in a ceremony on Tuesday 28 July.
Dominique, who works in the film and television industry, founded the Slough-based organisation in 1999 with a goal to create social change through art and film. Since then, Resource Productions has supported thousands of under-represented artists and filmmakers across Berkshire access training, work experience and peer networks.
Learn more about Dominique’s story
FIONA MARSTON
Fiona Marston, Chair and CEO of biotech company ErebaGen, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in a ceremony on Monday 27 July.
Fiona’s career in biotechnology spans four decades where she has made valuable contributions to a range of organisations. She was particularly celebrated for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she used her expertise in the translational space between academia, industry, clinicians, regulators and commercial partners to help ideas become usable solutions at speed.
In 2021, Fiona was awarded an OBE for services connected to biotechnology and innovation, in relation to her contribution to the pandemic response. Fiona was also awarded two Entrepreneur in Residence grants, supporting commercial translation, first, at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and, later, at the University of Reading where she continues to work.
Learn more about Fiona’s story
PROFESSOR VADYM TKACHUK
Professor Vadym Tkachuk, Rector of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP), received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in a ceremony on Friday 24 July.
Professor Vadym has worked at NUBiP for over 35 years. As the past Vice Rector and current Rector, he has been instrumental in encouraging international co-operation and transnational education at NUBiP. During the early 2000s, he helped establish work-integrated training programmes allowing Ukrainian students to gain practical experience abroad, later devising dual-degree programmes and building partnerships with European universities.
Under his leadership, the first Digital Laboratory in Ukraine was open to train students to work with people with disabilities and vulnerable groups and created training opportunities for war veterans, including support for those with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Learn more about Professor Vadym’s story
ALEX GREEN
Alex Green, Head of “Let’s Go Zero” at climate charity, Ashden, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science in a ceremony on Thursday 23 July.
Alex has worked tirelessly as a climate campaigner, helping schools in the UK work towards net zero through the “Let’s Go Zero” campaign. This initiative encourages schools to pledge to be net zero by 2030 and supports them on their journey. Nearly 10,000 schools have signed up to “Let’s Go Zero”, making it the largest schools climate campaign in the UK to date.
Following the success of this campaign, Alex launched the Climate Action Advisors Programme to help nurseries, schools and colleges across England to create and deliver climate action plans.
PADDY LADD
Paddy Ladd, a former director of postgraduate programmes at the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of Bristol, was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in a ceremony on Wednesday 22 July.
Paddy has spent over 50 years campaigning and raising awareness of deaf culture and recognition of British Sign Language. Paddy, who was born deaf, founded the National Union of the Deaf in 1976. In 1982, he helped launch the BBC’s first Deaf-led programme, See Hear, where he worked as a presenter, researcher and Director.
He later went on to establish the Federation of Deaf People, which campaigned for formal recognition of British Sign Language, achieved in part in 2003 before gaining full recognition in 2024.
Learn more about Paddy’s story
EDWARD FULLER
Edward Fuller, who won the gold medal for Great Britain in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, was awarded a Distinguished Fellowship in recognition of this extraordinary achievement in rowing.
Ed, who has haemophilia, came in first alongside his teammates ahead of the USA and France. Funded by the University of Reading Sporting Excellence Scholarship, Ed was able to study for his degree in part-time whilst training regularly at the Reading University Boat Club and taking part in the Paralympic Games.
HUGH MALTBY
Hugh Maltby, completed his in in 1986, but due to his participation and historic victory for the University at the Henley Royal Regatta, he was unable to take part in his graduation ceremony which coincided with the race.
On that day, as his fellow classmates were donning gowns and caps and preparing to enter the Great Hall, Hugh was taking to the Thames to compete alongside his teammates in the Men’s Coxless Fours, winning the Visitors’ Challenge Cup. This achievement marks the last win at Henley Regatta until this year, exactly 40 years on, when students representing the University of Reading rowed to victory at Henley once more.
Find out more about Reading’s recent Royal Regatta
In the context of this success and in the University’s centenary year, this made the presentation of the Centenary Historic Award to Hugh in relation to his achievements in rowing all the more fitting, allowing him the opportunity to finally be a part of the graduation celebrations at Reading.
Hugh shared: “I am deeply grateful to receive this award and to have been welcomed back to Reading to attend a graduation service some 40 years later after I left — it means a great deal to me.”
