HONORARY GRADUATES 2022

Dr Stefan Cross KC (Hons) – Stefan Cross is one of the UK’s leading employment lawyers – his pioneering equal pay litigation has changed the legal landscape. Stefan a working-class boy on free school meals, graduated with an LLB Law degree from Southampton in 1982. From 2003-2013 his own firm, Stefan Cross Solicitors, conducted more than 30,000 successful equal pay claims, recovering more than £2bn for low paid women and men.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond DL FRSE FBA FAcSS – Professor Sir Ian Diamond is the UK’s National Statistician, Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA), Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Head of the Government Statistical Service. Sir Ian is a passionate teacher and researcher, who has worked on the analysis of large and complex data sets, most notably in population, and on census design and analysis. He spent almost 23 years at Southampton as Lecturer, Professor, Head of Social Statistics, Dean of Social Sciences and Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Admiral Dr Sir Tony Radakin KCB ADC – Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has been the Chief of Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces, since November 2021. Previously, he was the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff. Sir Tony’s operational service has involved: the Iran/Iraq Tanker War; security duties in the Falklands; NATO embargo operations in the Adriatic; countering smuggling in Hong Kong and the Caribbean; and three command tours in Iraq. Sir Tony graduated from Southampton with an LLB Law degree in 1989.

Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE FIEY – Dr Hayaatun Sillem is the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Academy of Engineering and of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Foundation. She has extensive leadership experience in UK and international engineering innovation, and diversity and inclusion activities.

Professor Derrick Swartz – Professor Derrick Swartz is a science advisor, higher education leader and democratic activist in South Africa. He is currently serving as Special Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, working on ‘grand challenges’ in climate change, renewable energy, health, food sovereignty and sustainable economic development.

“Receiving the honorary degree meant the world to me: it’s like a proud parent patting you on the back. It’s a recognition of the work I’ve done from an institution I’m very proud of. The University has such a power to change lives. It changed mine, and it means so much more to be recognised in this way by an institution I hold in such high esteem.”

Dr Stefan Cross Honorary Graduate and alumnus