Inspiring words from our Honorary Graduates

Civil liberties champion Baroness Helena Kennedy QC praised the University of Essex's commitment to human rights as she received her Honorary Degree at Graduation 2017.

During the ceremony at the University’s Colchester Campus, Baroness Kennedy described Essex as “a great university of legal innovation”.

“Receiving this degree has a special poignancy for me as Essex was the first university in the UK to have a centre for human rights,” she said. ”This University, this great place, was a beacon to the world and its influence has been felt throughout the world.”

The University of Essex presented honorary degrees to 10 distinguished Honorary Graduands as more than 3,300 graduates celebrated their achievements in front of over 10,000 guests.

This year's honorary graduates included World Cup rugby star Jason Leonard, Director of Tate Modern Frances Morris, fashion entrepreneur Anya Hindmarch CBE, Chief Executive of the British Academy Alun Evans, former Chancellor Lord Phillips of Sudbury OBE, legal expert Philip Tolhurst, Chair of Haven Gateway Partnership George Kieffer and public policy innovator Annemarie Naylor MBE and environmental activist Afsheen Rashid MBE.