Honorary Graduates

Kess is the CEO of InclusionZ, an ed-tech platform that connects underrepresented young professionals with employment opportunities. Recognised by the likes of Prince Harry and the Prime Minister's Office at 10 Downing Street, Kess has provided opportunities to 40,000 people in 20 countries and helped 5,000 students obtain education opportunities.

Since 2016, Chris has been Joint Managing Director of Wilkin & Sons Ltd, a manufacturer of preserves, marmalades and associated products. . He currently sits on the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Horticulture Board and is an Honorary Fellow of Writtle University College.

A British African-Caribbean conceptual artist and activist, Elsa became the first Black British artist to be acquired into the Beecroft Art Gallery’s collection, her work is also in the Government Art Collection. She was an integral part of the campaign to remove the derogatory definition of an ‘Essex Girl' from the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary after years of campaigning with the Essex Girl Liberation Front. In 2022, she was named one of the 50 Most Influential People in Essex.

William is the founder of Vitae London, Vitae translates to life and each watch sold supports a child’s life by providing key resources for education in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. William has been featured on the likes of Forbes, BBC, CNN & TEDx and their Watches are owned by the likes of Richard Branson, Ava DuVernay and the President of Ghana.

Dr Bahous is the Executive Director of UN-Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Dr Bahous is a champion for women and girls, gender equality and youth empowerment, as well as a keen advocate for quality education, poverty alleviation and inclusive governance.

Houlin Zhao is an Essex graduate and the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Houlin was the first Chinese national at the post of Secretary General of ITU since 1865 when ITU was born. In 2023, Zhao was nominated as the Honorary Chairman of the China Institute of Communications.

Jo is an Essex graduate and the founding CEO of Respect the UK charity stopping perpetrators of domestic abuse. She has been a key player developing practice and influencing government and statutory sector agencies to improve their responses. Practice, policy, research and activism are all vital elements of this work.