Honorary Fellowships 2019

A stand-up comedian, a Hollywood actor, a leading voice in medicine and a charity skydiver are among those being made Honorary Fellows of Cardiff University.

Eddie Izzard will join Michael Sheen, chair of the Bevan Commission and Wales’s Life Science Hub Sir Mansel Aylward and the world’s oldest female parachutist Dilys Price to receive the honours, which are awarded to individuals who have achieved outstanding recognition in their fields.

Leading figures, including former Cardiff University graduates, will collect the awards in specialisms including science, journalism, business, technology, charity, policing and sustainability. These include scientist and broadcaster Alice Roberts, President of ABC News James Goldston, Chief Executive of homeless charity Llamau Frances Beecher and technology entrepreneur Steve Garnett.

More than 7,000 students will graduate in this year's ceremonies (July 15-19), becoming part of a 160,000-strong alumni network in over 180 countries and gaining access to a whole host of alumni benefits.

Approximately 20,000 friends and family will be welcomed to Cardiff for the celebrations. The event, which is one of the biggest in the University's calendar, will be streamed live on its website.

The full list of Honorary Fellows for 2019 is:

Professor Stephen Tomlinson CBE has a long and distinguished career of medical research in endocrinology and diabetes. He was formerly the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales College of Medicine and is currently Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Cardiff University and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Frances Beecher is a cognitive behavioural psychotherapist, the founder of the End Youth Homelessness Cymru coalition and Chief Executive of Llamau:  a charity which provides homeless teenagers and women with a safe place to stay.

Alice Roberts (BSc 1994, MBBCh 1997) is a biological anthropologist, clinical anatomist, author and broadcaster. She has written and presented many science-related TV and radio programmes and written eight popular science books.

Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB is a leading voice in public health. His distinguished career includes the positions of Chair of Public Health Wales and Chief Medical Officer at the Department for Work and Pensions. He currently chairs the Bevan Commission and Wales’s Life Sciences Hub.

Eddie Izzard is a stand-up comedian, actor, writer and marathon runner. He recently received critical acclaim for his performance in the film, Victoria and Abdul, and his hugely popular Force Majeure comedy tour has played in over 30 countries.

James Goldston (PgDip 1991), a former postgraduate student of the School of Journalism, Media and Culture, he began his career in television as a producer for several BBC News programmes, including BBC Newsnight, and Panorama. He was named President of ABC News in April 2014 and oversees all aspects of the news division.

Strive Masiyiwa (BEng 1985) is a London-based Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist, is the founder and executive chairman of Econet Wireless and a member of the Africa Progress Panel.

Jonathan and Karen Hodge are trustees of the Hodge Foundation, which owns 79% of the Hodge group of businesses.  The Hodge Foundation is a grant making charity whose mission is to make life better for people experiencing deprivation, mental or physical illness, social exclusion or other disadvantage.

Michael Sheen OBE is a Welsh screen and stage actor who has starred in three films nominated for Best Picture Academy Award and won multiple awards for his stage performances. Widely recognised as an equally effective activist through roles such as UNICEF Ambassador, Michael is now branching out to start his own social movements.

Dr Ivor Davies is a leading Welsh artist and art historian with around 50 solo and 100 joint exhibitions. Central to the Destruction in Art movement, and more recently the Welsh Beca group, he gives the annual Ivor Davies Eisteddfod prize.

Dilys Price OBE (BEd alumna) is the world’s oldest female solo skydiver and a retired lecturer in Modern Educational Dance.  In 1998 she founded the Touch Trust: a charity which provides unique creative movement programmes for individuals with autism, dementia and profound disabilities.

Matt Jukes is Chief Constable of South Wales Police. His focus on local policing and back-office reform has supported one of the smallest front-line reductions in the UK.

Dr Steve Garnett (BSc 1980) has been a member of the executive management team of three software start-ups that have each turned into some of the most successful software companies in history. He now manages his own portfolio of investments in a variety of high growth companies.

Honorary Fellowships ceremony details:

Stephen Tomlinson: Monday 15 July, 10am
Frances Beecher: Monday 15 July, 1.15pm
Alice Roberts: Monday 15 July 4.30pm
Sir Mansel Aylward: Tuesday 16 July, 2.45pm
Eddie Izzard: Tuesday 16 July, 5.30pm
James Goldston: Wednesday 17 July, 10am
Strive Masiyiwa: Wednesday 17 July, 1.15pm
Jonathan and Karen Hodge: Thursday 18 July, 9.15am
Michael Sheen: Thursday 18 July, 2.45pm
Ivor Davies: Thursday 18 July, 5.30pm
Dilys Price: Friday 19 July, 10am
Matt Jukes: Friday 19 July, 1.15pm
Steve Garnett: Friday 19 July, 4.30pm