Inspirational men and women to be honoured with degrees from the University of Leicester

The University of Leicester is to celebrate the achievements of three individuals who have excelled in their fields at its winter graduation ceremonies this week.

This year’s recipients are Susan Whelan, Chief Executive Officer of Leicester City Football Club; Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the President of Malta and David Olusoga OBE, Historian, Producer and Presenter.

Susan Whelan is a senior executive of two market-leading companies, in entirely different fields, based on opposite sides of the world. As CEO of the 2016 English Premier League champions, Leicester City Football Club, and as Senior Executive Vice President of the Club’s parent company, the Thai duty-free operator, King Power International, Susan has played a key part in delivering success to two businesses owned by the Srivaddhanaprabha family.

Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, is the ninth President of the Republic of Malta. She has dedicated her life to the social wellbeing of the most vulnerable in society, and has greatly influenced changes in the social policies of Malta. Coleiro Preca is the youngest President of the country, and is the second woman to occupy the office of Head of State after 32 years.

David Olusoga is a British-Nigerian Historian, broadcaster and BAFTA award-winning presenter and filmmaker. David is one of the UK’s foremost historians whose books and television programmes explore the themes of empire, military-history, race, slavery, and contemporary culture in the UK and USA. He was made an OBE in the recent New Year’s Honours List.

Honorary degrees are traditionally conferred during the summer and winter graduations to recognise people who are an inspiration to graduates, due to outstanding achievements in their field and because of their contributions to learning.

The University will confer the honorary degrees alongside thousands of graduating students from the Colleges of Life Sciences, Science and Engineering and Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities.

Professor Paul Boyle CBE, President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “Once again, we are delighted that people of such distinction will be accepting Honorary Degrees from the University of Leicester at our winter graduations.

“Our honorary graduates have delivered exceptional achievements in the sport, business, arts, and politics worlds. They join the ranks of illustrious figures honoured by the University who continue to inspire our graduates in their own endeavours.”