Outstanding figures being recognised at Graduation 2026

Award-winning actor and director Clint Dyer and Tournament Director for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Beth Barrett-Wild will be among the outstanding individuals receiving honorary degrees from the University of Essex this summer.

They lead a powerhouse line‑up of trailblazers from business, charity, science, sport and theatre being celebrated at graduation ceremonies in July.

Inspirational Essex alumni also being recognised as honorary graduates at Graduation 2026 include Libyan equality activist Rida al‑Tubuly; Andrew Botham, co‑founder of MedTech company Testcard; Natia Loladze, Vice President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; Hong Kong‑based entrepreneur Patrick Lam; and Dr Lesley Thompson, Vice‑President for Funders (Global) at Elsevier and former Research Director at EPSRC.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Frances Bowen said: “We are proud to welcome such a rich mix of outstanding individuals to Graduation 2026.

“They have all had an extraordinary impact in their chosen fields and it’s wonderful that so many are Essex graduates who are coming back to celebrate their amazing achievements with us.”

Clint Dyer, who trained at East 15 Acting School - part of the University of Essex, will be returning to celebrate with graduating East 15 students during an incredible year of high-profile shows including One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the Old Vic, the London premiere of The Story at the National Theatre and a major West End revival of American Buffalo.

He said: “I am deeply flattered and humbled by this wonderful gesture. In a career that has sometimes felt full of peril and insecurity, to be recognised like this has allowed me to reflect in a way I had perhaps not allowed myself to, and so I thank the University of Essex wholeheartedly. It is an honour that I will hold close to my heart forever.”

Meanwhile, Beth Barrett-Wild, is also Director of the Women’s Professional Game at England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), will arrive at Graduation 2026 in the wake of overseeing the biggest-ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June and July. She said: “Essex has always been home to me. I was born here, went to school here, and it was through the Essex cricket and hockey pathways that I found my love for sport. Today, living back in the county, it feels incredibly special to be recognised by the University of Essex in this way.

“I am immensely proud and humbled to receive this Honorary Degree. While it reflects my own journey, it also represents the dedication and belief of so many people who have worked tirelessly to grow and transform women’s sport and women’s cricket over a number of years. This award celebrates the progress made and the exciting future ahead for the women’s game.

“My heartfelt thanks to everyone at the University of Essex for this wonderful recognition. I am truly honoured to be part of such a fantastic community.”

More words from our honorary graduands

Rida Altubuly – “I am truly honored to receive this honorary degree from the University of Essex. I accept it with deep gratitude and a continued commitment to promoting human rights, equality, and making meaningful change.”

Andrew Botham – “This honorary doctorate is especially meaningful to me because it comes from the university where my own journey began. I was the first in my family to attend university, and my time here opened the door to opportunities I could not yet see. My career since has been anything but linear, but the curiosity, confidence, and foundations I gained here shaped everything that followed. To return and be recognised by this institution is a deeply humbling honour.”

Patrick Lam – “It is my profound honor and privilege to receive the Honorary Degree from my alma mater. The University of Essex has helped me become a more all rounded individual, it has shaped my worldview and laid solid grounds for my professional foundations. I am deeply humbled by the recognition and look forward to strengthening our ties through alumni activities.”

Natia Loladze – “Receiving this Honorary Degree is deeply meaningful to me. My work in global humanitarian leadership has demonstrated that sustainable development and economic resilience are inseparable. I am especially honoured to share this moment with graduates of the Department of Economics, whose leadership will define systems that expand opportunity, strengthen stability, and advance dignity worldwide.”

Lesley Thompson – “This unexpected honour means a lot to me, and so does this University which shaped much of who I am. I’ve built my career on curiosity, bold experimentation, inclusion and collaboration - values that Essex exemplifies in research and higher education. This award brings me full circle.”