Tuesday, 05 August 2025
Trailblazers from the fields of charity and science have been awarded Honorary Degrees by the University of Nottingham.
David Woolger, Jill Carter MBE, Dr Simon Hirst and Ian Kenyon joined more than 7,000 students at their graduation ceremonies at the University which ran from 23 July to 1 August.
Honorary degrees are granted in recognition of someone’s outstanding contribution, success and distinction within their profession or a campaign close to their hearts, with previous graduates including Vicky McClure, Marie Ashby, and Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam.
David Woolger, CEO of Cerca, and University of Nottingham President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane Norman
David Woolger, the CEO of University Spin-out company Cerca was awarded a Doctor of Letters. David is CEO of Cerca Magnetics Ltd. which he formed in 2020 with a vision to take a prototype brain scanner, pioneered by Nottingham physicists, from concept to commercialisation. Cerca has now evolved into a multi-million-pound business with global reach, and scanners are providing clinicians worldwide with an unprecedented window on brain health.
David is also Managing Director of technology company, MSL, whose turnover has increased five-fold in 12 years under Davids leadership. Before this, he was a Management Consultant at Deloitte. He is a key figure in our national quantum technology programme and regularly advises government on technology development.
David is pictured above with Matt Brookes, Chairman of Cerca and Professor of Physics at the University of Nottingham (left) and Dr Elena Boto, Chief Technology Officer at Cerca and senior research fellow at the University of Nottingham (right).
Championing inclusion and driving innovation
Jill Carter, MBE is the co-founder, with her daughter Jessie, of Pulp Friction, a charity that supports learning disabled and autistic people to develop social, independence and work-readiness skills. She received a Doctor of Laws.
Pulp Friction has transformed lives, reshaped perceptions, and strengthened communities by championing inclusion and creating meaningful opportunities for its members. The work extends beyond direct support—Jill has cultivated a movement of visibility, empowerment, and social change.
University alumni and scientist Dr Simon Hirst will receive a Doctor of Science. Simon is the CEO and founder of Sygnature Discovery, a world-leading integrated drug discovery solutions provider. He graduated from the University of Nottingham with a BSc (Hons.) in Chemistry and a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry in 1988 and went on to undertake post-doctoral research at the University of Pittsburgh.
The medicinal chemist and entrepreneur has 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including AstraZeneca and OSI Pharmaceuticals. In 2004 he founded Sygnature, which has grown to rapidly become a leading provider of drug discovery services and delivers a unique style of innovation and scientific rigour, a reflection of Simon’s own personal approach to drug discovery
Ian Kenyon has spent the latter part of his career in the not-for-profit sector, becoming CFO of Cancer Research UK in 2013.
He joined the Higher Education sector as the first CFO and Deputy CEO of UK Research & Innovation, before moving to be a Finance Director at the Ministry of Defence.
Ian was appointed Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee for the University in January 2020. He has maintained his relationship with the university throughout his career and is currently sponsoring engineering scholarships which supports the University’s widening participation programme. He has received a Doctor of Laws.
Huge congratulations to our Honorary Graduates, their endeavours and achievements are leading the way in medical innovation and social change. Their vision and determination is an inspiration for our graduates as they embark on their own career journeys.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…