Postgraduate students celebrate academic success at graduation

Over 3,000 students will graduate today in three ceremonies at the Royal Albert Hall.

The ceremonies mark the achievements of Imperial’s postgraduate students who completed their courses between March 2021 and March 2022.  

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, friends and family of graduands will be able to attend ceremonies and post-ceremony receptions. The three ceremonies will also be live streamed for those unable to attend. 

You have worked hard for this momentous occasion, and you have earned these celebrations today Professor Ian Walmsley Provost, Imperial College London

Speaking to the graduates, Provost, Professor Ian Walmsley said: “I want to salute our graduates on your success. Congratulations. You have worked hard for this momentous occasion, and you have earned these celebrations today.  

“Any graduation is a big achievement, but you have arrived at this one after navigating some extraordinary circumstances: the past two years have been exceptional, unprecedented and unanticipated.” 

More information about the ceremonies can be found in the College’s Graduation FAQs.

Honorary degrees 

Five honorary degrees will be conferred as part of the graduation day ceremonies.?  

Sir Samuel E. Jonah KBE, OSG  

Sir Samuel E. Jonah is Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital and Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Sir Samuel received a Master’s degree in Mine Management at Imperial in 1979 before re-joining Ashanti Goldfields Corporation. He became CEO of the company in 1986 and is credited with overseeing its growth from a one-mine operation to a multinational concern.   

Dervilla Mitchell CBE 

Dervilla Mitchell is Deputy Chair of Arup. Dervilla is a prominent structural engineer who leads major projects around the world. She was Lead Design Engineer of London’s Heathrow Terminal 5, Europe’s largest construction site at the time, and led the Portcullis House project in Westminster, as well as Arup’s input on the London Olympic Athletes’ Village.   

Professor Sir Peter Knight   

Professor Sir Peter Knight is a Senior Research Investigator in the Department of Physics at Imperial. Sir Peter is renowned for his pioneering research into quantum optics. As Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and then as Deputy Rector (Research), Sir Peter was responsible for determining the College’s research priorities, new programmes and initiatives, including those that led to the creation of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Institute of Shock Physics. 

Professor Sir John Savill

Professor Sir John Savill is Regius Professor of Medical Science at Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh. He is one of the UK’s leading clinical academics, internationally regarded for his research on apoptosis and immunology. He has made many profound contributions to medical research and clinical training, which was recognised in his appointment as Chief Scientist for the Scottish Government Health Directorates in 2008.  

Dame Kate Bingham    

Dame Kate Bingham is Managing Partner at SV Health Investors and Former Chair of the UK COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce. She co-leads SV’s biotech franchise, which builds high value companies that develop transformational new medicines from discovery to market. Dame Kate also serves on the Board of the Francis Crick Institute and has been a member of the advisory board for Imperial’s Business School for several years, in which role she judges the WE Innovate Awards.  

Imperial College Medals 

Eight Imperial College Medals will be awarded at the graduation ceremony. Medals are awarded to members of the Imperial community for meritorious or praiseworthy service to the College.   

Professor Maggie Dallman 

Professor Maggie Dallman OBE is Vice-President (International), Associate-Provost (Academic Partnerships) and Professor of Immunology at Imperial. Professor Dallman is a world leader in research on understanding how inappropriate immunity and inflammation leads to development of chronic inflammatory disease. She leads the Dallman Lab, is a Director and Trustee of the Francis Crick Institute and has served on the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.  

Professor Alison McGregor 

Professor Alison McGregor is Professor of Musculoskeletal Biodynamics in the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial and Director of Undergraduate Science in the Faculty of Medicine. She is a world-leading researcher on the mechanisms, effects, and management of injury. This work has made a great impact on the performance of elite athletes, including her research on rowing performance that contributed to the success of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games.   

Joanna Thompson  

Joanna is Department Manager in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial. She joined the College in 1994 and has worked across several departments in the faculty, taking up her first Department Manager role in Neurosciences in 2009. She went on to become the Divisional Manager for Immunology and Inflammation and in 2019 she joined the newly-formed Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction. In this current role, she oversees the running of all operations and facilities for varied research groups who were previously in other departments.  

Dr Benita Cox  

Dr Benita Cox is Faculty Senior Tutor and Programme Director for the International Health Management Master’s programme in Imperial College Business School. Dr Cox’s research focuses on the role of information systems in healthcare delivery, in particular the impact of information and communicating technologies on healthcare practice. She has published widely in this area and consulted extensively in a number of industries, including pharmaceuticals.  

Jon Hancock  

Jon Hancock was Head of the Central Secretariat at Imperial until his retirement in 2019. He was an exceptional servant of the College for 20 years. In his role Jon had prime responsibility for the College’s governance arrangements. As well as providing a highly professional service for the Council and its committees, he was custodian of the College’s governance documents.  

Nick Moakes 

Nick Moakes is Chief Investment Officer at the Wellcome Trust, where he is responsible for a £38 billion global portfolio which funds the Trust’s mission to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. He has lent his expertise to the Imperial College London Endowment Board for over a decade. In recent years, Nick has guided the Board as Chair, during which time he has modernised the Endowment for a strong future.  

Professor Nelson Phillips  

Prior to his retirement in 2021, Professor Nelson Phillips was Professor of Innovation and Strategy, Co-Director of the Centre for Responsible Leadership, and Associate Dean of External Relations at Imperial College Business School. Professor Phillips is a distinguished academic who has made vital contributions to the growth of the Business School. His research concentrates on understanding how institutions change, entrepreneurship in emerging markets and how technology impacts strategy and innovation. 

Jon Tucker 

Jon Tucker was Faculty Operating Officer for Imperial College Business School for 13 years until he retired in February 2022. Mr Tucker played a significant part in the transformation of both the scale and ambition of the Business School since his appointment in early 2009. Prior to this, he held a range of senior roles at Lloyds Bank and then at the Science Museum London.