The University is well-represented once again on this year’s Debrett’s 500, recognising the most influential and inspiring people living and working in Britain today.
The list, also published in The Sunday Times, features photonics and internet innovator Professors Sir David Payne and web science pioneer Dame Wendy Hall who are both recognised once again in the Engineering and Technology category. They are joined by Visiting Professor Liam Maxwell, the Government’s Chief Technology Officer and Crossrail Chief Executive, Andrew Wolstenholme OBE, a 1981 Southampton graduate and recipient of an honorary degree in 2014.
World Wide Web inventor Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee features in the list’s Digital & Social Media category as does Baroness Lane-Fox, the Government’s Digital Champion and an honorary graduate of the University in 2015.
Jason Cowley, a 1989 graduate, editor of the New Statesman is there for Journalism and Rosemary Squire OBE, a 1979 graduate and 2009 honorary graduate, joins her husband Sir Howard Panter amongst the luminaries from Stage and Screen to be included. Together, Rosemary and Sir Howard are joint chief executives of the Ambassador Theatre Group and amongst the most powerful people in British theatre.
Other Honorary Graduates in the list include former science minister Lord Sainsbury of Turville (2009) amongst Philanthropists and Activists; for Science and Medicine, world-renowned astrophysicist Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell who previously worked at the University of Southampton (1968-73) and received her honorary degree in 2008; and for Law, Shami Chakrabati CBE, the human-rights campaigner and outgoing director of Liberty, who received an honorary degree in 2010 .
You can see a full list of all those included in the 2016 Debrett’s 500 here.