SUMMER 2012 HONORARY GRADUATES

A series of audio podcast interviews

Here is the full selection of podcasts that we recorded with our honorary graduates at last week's summer graduation ceremonies. The awards reflect the wide scope of Warwick's network and its broad spectrum of expertise, with graduates ranging from celebrated actor David Bradley to the new Head of the Civil Service, Sir Bob Kerslake.

Dr Nemat Shafik (Hon LLD)

Dr Nemat Shafik (pictured right) became Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund in 2011, having served as Permanent Secretary of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). Her expertise is in globalisation, emerging markets and private investment, international development, the Middle East and Africa, and the environment.

Professor Sir Keith Peters (Hon DSc)

Professor Sir Keith Peters is Emeritus Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge, where he was Head of the School of Clinical Medicine and Honorary Consultant Physician at Addenbrooke's NHS Trust (1987-2005). Prior to this he was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School at London’s Hammersmith Hospital.

Prof. Jean M J Fréchet (Hon DSc)

Professor Jean Fréchet is Vice President for Research, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.

Ambassador Barry Desker (Hon LLD)

Singaporean Ambassador Barry Desker (pictured right) is the founding Dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and concurrently Director, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS).

Professor Saskia Sassen (Hon LLD)

Saskia Sassen is a Dutch sociologist noted for her analyses of globalization and international human migration. She is currently Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University, Co-Chair Committee on Global Thought and Centennial visiting Professor at the London School of Economics.

Sir Bob Kerslake (Hon LLD)

Warwick graduate Sir Bob Kerslake has recently taken up the post of Head of the Civil Service, alongside his role as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government. He graduated from Warwick with a first class degree in Mathematics in 1976. During his time here, he was also General Secretary (President) of the Students’ Union and held the sabbatical post on graduating (1977-8).

Professor Oliver Hart (Hon LLD)

Warwick graduate Oliver Hart is an economist and the Andrew E. Furer Professor of Economics at Harvard University. Born in Britain, he gained a BA in Mathematics at King's College, Cambridge in 1969, an MA in Economics at Warwick in 1972, and a PhD in Economics at Princeton University in 1974. He is an Honorary Professor in Warwick’s Department of Economics.

Mr Steve Heighway (Hon MA)

Warwick graduate Steve Heighway (pictured right) is a former footballer who played for the hugely successful Liverpool team in the 1970s. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Heighway began his football career in non-league football while completing his degree in economics.

Mr David Bradley (Hon DLitt)

David Bradley is a celebrated character actor of stage and screen. He began his acting career in 1971, at Sir Laurence Olivier's National Theatre, and has featured in a wide range of stage, TV and film productions. He is well-known for playing the caretaker of Hogwarts, Argus Filch, in the Harry Potter series of films.

Professor Sir David King FRS (Hon DSc)

Professor Sir David King FRS is Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford, Director of Research in Physical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, Director of the Collegio Carlo Alberto, Chancellor of the University of Liverpool and a senior scientific adviser to UBS banking and financial services group.

Professor David Edgar (Hon DLitt)

English playwright David Edgar was born in Birmingham into a family with longstanding links to the theatre. He was educated at Oundle School and read Drama at Manchester University. After a brief career as a journalist, he began writing dramatic works in 1971. He is best known for his overtly-political plays, many of which have premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).