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Ceremony schedule for summer 2025

Monday 21 July 2025

Ceremony 1 at 1.30pm

Summer 2025: Ceremony 1

  • Video transcript

    [‘Trumpet Fanfare’ music playing]

    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium,
    walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via
    staircases on the left and right respectively, and take their seats. At the end of the procession are
    two academics/staff with ceremonial torches who on stage bow to each other, the rows of
    academics/staff, and then place the torches on a small, raised table with a cloth at the very front of
    the stage.]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: I declare open this congregation of the University of Sussex. I am delighted, as Chancellor, to
    welcome you formally to this graduation ceremony. A warm welcome to our honoured guests, distinguished faculty members, and to those of the professional services here at Sussex. But the warmest of welcomes are for you, our graduands, your families, and friends who join you here today — and to those who may be watching via live video stream around the world.

    Sussex was founded as one of the first universities created after the Second World War, almost exactly sixty-four years ago. And one of the guiding principles was that it should be a forum for ideas beyond convention, embracing concepts and experiences from different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems, and then combining these with the best of our own — realising that invention and innovation has no colour, gender, age, or creed; recognising that interconnectedness had an important part to play in a fast-evolving society—hence a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and the practical application of concepts; and understanding that the world would become not just more interconnected, but a realisation of just how vital that would be, and is.

    Sussex is proud that graduates from well over 100 countries receive their degrees at these ceremonies, so thank you for continuing to make us a truly global university. And I know that many of you have had to dig deep to get to this day: struggling with balancing your studies with home life; in some cases, whilst raising children, experience loss and sickness; trying to survive on overdrafts, loans, or family help. 

    So today isn’t just a celebration of your academic achievements, but also of your perseverance, your focus, and of those that have helped you along the way. Some of you may be continuing with further academic study, but for many, today may mark the end of your academic journey. And what a journey it has been. A journey that started all those years ago with your first day at nursery or
    kindergarten: the trauma of suddenly being thrust from the familiar environment of home into a place full of new people, new names, new food, new clothes. Being introduced to the fun worlds of playtime, reading time, nits, and chickenpox; being dressed by your mum that in a few years you would look at photos and say, “What were you thinking?!” My mum still remembers the day she
    says that I suddenly turned to her in an outrage and said, “Mum, why are you dressing me in this shirt? It totally doesn’t go with these trousers!” I mean, apart from that, my 30th birthday was pretty good. 

    But then, all the ups and downs of big school: tests and homework, wondering who really was whose best friend, and the sheer pressure of all those exams which led you all to Sussex. New people, new names, new foods, new clothes — but this time, your fashion choices were all on you. Your journey has been epic. So, shortly, a name will be read out — hopefully approximating to yours — and you will take the mere 20 or so steps across this stage, terrified that you’re gonna lose your hat or your mortarboard; wondering whether the heels were such a good idea after all; wondering whether your flies were open; and praying that you don’t trip over your gown and end up in the lap of someone in the front row. If you do, what an array of laps we’ve arranged for you today! Look at that. It's like The Sandman meets Bridgerton.

    I'm beholden to tell you — or to remind you, if you’ve been up here before — that you haven’t actually got your degree yet, and you getting your degree might just depend on how much love you show me when you come up here. No love for the Chancellor — no degree! Sorry! I’m joking, of course. Seriously, feel free to express your joy when you come up here, as long as it's within the bounds of legality, decency, and kindness. We’ve had a lot over the years, you know: hugs, handshakes, dabs... Wow, I'm not sure what bit got the whoop — was it "handshake"? Which is, you know, traditional, and God bless you. But we can fist bump, we can dance... people have in the past done press-ups. I'm just going to tell you right now, if you’re doing press-ups, you’re doing them on your own. I’m in my sixties — I can get down there; I’m not sure I can get back up again. But listen, you can ignore me if you want. Your day. If you do decide to do all of those things, I'll happily go with it. We can't have selfies on the stage, I'm afraid, just because of time, but if you catch me afterwards, I'd be more than happy.

    And family and friends, this is your day, too. So when the time comes, please have your cameras ready and feel free to make as much noise as you can as your superhero crosses the stage. If any of you are here on your own today, then I'll be your family or friend if you’ll have me. So no one's here alone. Have a great ceremony.

    I call upon the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, to address the congregation.

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an
    introductory speech.]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil: Madame Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our
    graduands — Sussex Class of 2025. As Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, it's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to the Brighton Centre for this graduation ceremony. My thanks to our Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, for a fabulous opening speech; he’s an almost impossible act to follow.

    But as Sanjeev has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands. This is a day of celebration for you and of you, and all you have achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. Some of you have had support from our alumni donors who have generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding.

    So, I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you are able, would you please stand up and turn to face the audience behind you — your friends and loved ones — and offer your thanks, a big hearty cheer, and a round of
    applause.

    [Graduands stand and give a big round of applause.]

    Please do be seated again. As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. So we have people here of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex as a university seeks always to uphold and support. We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job as a university to create an
    environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored. It's our job to create the conditions under which our students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, rigorous analysis undertaken, and new theories developed, and where minds can be changed.

    We’re living in deeply troubled times: war and conflict, terror, death and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger and
    inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly giving rise to enormous concern amongst Sussex students. Many Sussex students and their families and loved ones here today hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world. And as we gather here today to celebrate graduation, I'd like to emphasise that the university supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and the diversity that's at the heart of our global community and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community.

    So, Sussex graduands, I'd like to thank you for all that you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, an open, warm, and welcoming place. In the three years that I have been Vice-Chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities that have contributed to your learning and development: as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups; as volunteers supporting other people on and off campus, including helping pupils in local schools to develop their literacy skills or taking part in beach clean-ups and coming up with inventive new ways for our campus to be more environmentally sustainable.

    So many of you today are receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend your commitment to your extracurricular activities. Well done on all you've achieved alongside your studies. Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting many Sussex alumni from across the UK and Europe and from around the world at alumni
    gatherings back on campus and in London, as well as Asia, Africa, and the Americas. And I’ve been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for Sussex, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and by how passionately they talk about how Sussex has fundamentally shaped their lives, their careers, and their character. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, as well as making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them since.

    I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in years to come. Whether you already have a job or are looking for one or taking time to explore the world, you can be confident you're leaving a university with a global reputation, a university that has equipped you with the knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective. You've been tutored and supervised by academics who are internationally recognised for their research and scholarship. Their research, which focuses on many of the most urgent concerns of our time, has directly informed your education.

    And Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for Development Studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings. This is an outstanding achievement by our academics, by researchers at the Institute of Development Studies, and by everyone who supports their work. Development Studies, which seeks understandings of progress towards global equity, social justice, and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about.

    One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities, and Sussex really does punch above our weight in many areas in this respect. This year in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top 10 in the UK for citations, with Anthropology and Environmental Science each ranked first, and Physics and Astronomy ranked second in the UK. We're also ranked in the top fifth of universities globally for sustainability and seventeenth in the UK for employment outcomes. And for the past three years, the University of Sussex Business School has ranked first of all business schools in the UK for research income. This is a huge achievement by our innovative academics who are researching urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demands, climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work, and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing developments in technology, influencing the policies of government, and making a real difference to the protection and regeneration of our natural environment.

    Now, I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your mental health or your physical health; some of you have faced loss and family disruption during your time here. Each of you has had a unique route to Sussex and through your time at Sussex, and all of you’ll have had your ups and downs. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back at the time you've been with us, you feel that your studies were intellectually challenging and rigorous; that you were stretched, stimulated, and supported to achieve your best; and that you're leaving with knowledge, skills, and
    personal resources that will stand you in good stead, and also that you’ve made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and
    creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations, and those with less high-profile but no less significant lives and careers—people whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small, positive ways every day. Across the
    globe, in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. And I know you will do that, too.

    So, graduands, celebrate who you are today. Celebrate the commitment, the hard work, and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who have been on this journey with you. Together, celebrate your wonderful achievements. In short, celebrate.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]

    I call upon the Executive Dean of the School of Media, Arts and Humanities, Professor Cornel
    Sandvoss.

    [Executive Dean of the School of Media, Arts and Humanities, Professor Cornel Sandvoss, stands
    and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands
    walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Cornel Sandvoss: Chancellor, I now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Arts of Digital Media and Culture…
    Sophia BEVIS,
    Lucy CONAGHAN,
    Pak Lam KONG,
    Joe NORFOLK,
    Belly SCOTT-JONES,
    Meinong TAN,
    For Digital Media and Culture (with a Study Abroad Year)…
    Finlay ARMSTRONG,
    Annabel ABDEL-FATAH,
    Also awarded the Film Studies Prize for Exceptional Achievement and Contribution to Student
    Experience…
    Helena BLAIN,
    Lochlann CROFTON,
    Chya DHINSA,
    Farrah GLADMAN,
    Rachel GREEN,
    India GWYN-WILLIAMS,
    Flora KESSELL,
    Isla LAWSON,
    Hugh LEONARD,
    Martha O’NEILL,
    Jessica SAUNDERS,
    Jase SMITH,
    Also awarded the Film Studies Prize for Best Dissertation…
    Anya SNOWBALL
    Jamie STEGGLES,
    Emily STEWART,
    Matthew WATSON,
    For Film Studies…
    Nayana BROWN,
    Martha CAIN,
    Abigail CANTWELL,
    Also awarded the Film Studies Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Student
    Experience…
    Tallulah DENYER,
    Hazel EARTHY,
    Gemma GADSDEN,
    Lucy HUGHES,
    Elisabetta MARTINO,
    Also awarded the Film Studies Prize for Outstanding Achievement…
    Ben PACKER,
    Ben PEAKE,
    Lily PORTER,
    Also awarded the Film Studies Prize for Outstanding Achievement…
    Lucy RAGGETT,
    Elizabeth RUSHALL,
    Hana SAMAD,
    Audrey SWEET,
    Bianca TOOKEY,
    Clair VATNIKA,
    Di WANG,
    Jasmine WOOD,
    Yuxiang XIA,
    For Film Studies (with a Study Year Abroad)..
    Caitlin STEWART
    For Filmmaking…
    Zaylie AHLUWALIA,
    Also awarded the Creative and Critical Practice Prize for the Best Filmmaking Final Creative
    Project…
    Dylan ANDREWS,
    Arlo AUGER,
    Sonny BLACK,
    Cerys BYE,
    Marianne CARNEY,
    Jasmine DALE DUHANEY,
    Rose ECCLES,
    Sarah FITZGERALD,
    Keira GRANT,
    Reuben JOHNSTON,
    Ross JOHNSTON,
    Elisa JOLI-D’SOUZA,
    Also awarded the Creative and Critical Practice Prize for the Best Filmmaking Final Creative
    Project…
    Lewis KERR,
    Matthew KNAPP,
    Ang LEE,
    Also awarded the Creative and Critical Practice Prize for the Best Filmmaking Final Creative
    Project…
    Oliver LEE,
    Tess LEWISOHN,
    Mo LI,
    Philippa MILES,
    Aaron MILLER,
    Imogen ODONNELL WELLS,
    Also awarded the Creative and Critical Practice Prize for the Best Filmmaking Final Creative
    Project…
    Jasper PAGAN,
    Sofia PILETTO,
    Luke SEARLE,
    Hope SIZER,
    King Pui TUNG,
    Millie WYATT,
    For Filmmaking (with a Professional Placement Year)…
    Amani AL ZAWAWI
    For Filmmaking (with a Study Year Abroad)…
    Man Hei HO
    For Journalism…
    Marina CHEBLI FAWAZ,
    Miah CRIDLAND,
    Elise GREGORY,
    Rachel Daniella HENAO-RAMIREZ,
    Rosie MATTHEWS,
    Oliver MCCAULEY,
    Amelia PALEY,
    Francesca SALMON,
    Ella SIMPSON,
    Mia TICKEL,
    Ruby WHEELER
    For Journalism (with a Study Year Abroad)…
    Noor SHEIKH
    Also awarded the Media, Cultural Studies and Journalism Prize for Best Journalism Project…
    Owen WATERS
    For Media and Communications…
    Emma ASH,
    Lilly BARANOWSKI,
    Oliver BEVAN,
    Archie BROOKES-COXON,
    Chi Yau CHAN,
    Yoomin CHO,
    Man Ying CHONG,
    Wing Lam CHOW,
    Beth CLIFTON,
    Also awarded the Media, Cultural Studies and Journalism Prize for the Highest-Ranked Student…
    Emily DEEHAN,
    Darcy DIXON,
    Izaac ELLIS,
    Mariam Mohamed Aly Abdelaziz ELMORALY,
    Zeina Ahmed ELMORSHEDY,
    Yara Ghassan Qasim Mohamed FAKHROO,
    Maisie FELSTEAD,
    Max FERNANDO,
    Louisa FLEMING,
    Alex GORDON,
    Jessica GROOM,
    Jianyang HE,
    Rhianna HURLEY,
    Safiye HUSSEIN,
    Ayra IMRAN,
    Rebecca JONAS,
    Yuet Ching KWOK,
    Ella MATTHEWS,
    Also awarded the Media, Cultural Studies and Journalism Prize for the Best Media Studies
    Dissertation…
    Cornelia MCHUGH,
    Izzie NESBITT,
    Afnaan OSMAN,
    Katie OSMOND,
    Samuel OWEN,
    Isabella PODERICO,
    Barnaby RADFORD-WILSON,
    Lucy RICHARDSON,
    Tabitha SCOTT,
    Ayman SHAH KHAN,
    Georgiana SHATTOCK,
    Ella SIMPKINS,
    Ella SOADY,
    Kali Luna TODOROVIC,
    Harry TURNBULL,
    Yixuan WANG,
    Tsz Yau WONG,
    Evelyn WOOD,
    Wanyi YANG,
    Chancellor, this concludes the first part of the list of graduands from the faculty of Media, Arts and
    Humanities.

    [Applause]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil: I call upon Rachel Thompson, Professor of Child and Youth Studies, to present Simon Peter
    Watney.

    [Professor of Child and Youth Studies, Professor Rachel Thompson, goes to Simon Watney’s seat.
    Professor Thompson bows to Simon Watney. They shake hands, and both move to the centre of the
    platform. Professor Thompson returns to the lectern to deliver her oration.]

    Professor Rachel Thompson: Chancellor, Simon Watney, is as important a figure in social justice and health activism as he is in the field of photography and art history, which he studied first at the University of Sussex and then the Courtauld Institute. At Sussex, Simon was taught by Quentin Bell and befriended the painter Duncan Grant. He became a regular visitor to Charleston, the home Grant shared with Vanessa Bell, both prominent members of the Bloomsbury group. I understand that there is a very beautiful portrait of the young Simon Watney, painted by Duncan Grant somewhere, in an attic perhaps?

    Simon paid his respects, producing books on the paintings of Duncan Grant and the Bloomsbury Group and in 2006 becoming chair of the Charleston Trust. Indeed, I could say that Simon is one of the few art historians who broke out of his field and used the tools of his trade to save lives. In the 1980s, with a strong personal and professional connection in the US, particularly in New York City,
    Simon quickly appreciated the implications and emergence of what was then, unnamed — the HIV epidemic in the gay community. Almost immediately, he began to lose friends. Drawing on his long history with gay liberation, Simon recognised the need for an urgent kind of activism — one that brought communities together through art, performance and aesthetics. Not asking for, but
    demanding attention, affirming that gay lives mattered despite official and public neglect that suggested otherwise.

    Simon was a bridge for this new kind of politics into the UK. He was involved in the establishment of three activist groups: OutRage!, Gay Men Fighting Aids, as well as the National AIDS Manual, and he chaired the education group of the Terrence Higgins Trust and led the Red Hot and AIDS charity, in each endeavour, pioneering collaboration between art, health, and celebrity cultures and promoting critical knowledge and life-affirming values. For me, as a young researcher in the late 1980s and as someone personally affected by HIV, Simon was, and is an intellectual hero. The books such as Policing Desire and Taking Liberties teaching us how to apply cultural studies perspectives into the real world, the urgent business of creating new narratives about intimacy, love, and empowerment. Simon retired from formal academia to dedicate himself to the work of activism; however, he continued to pursue his interest in art history, including a particular focus on church monuments, a field in which he has developed considerable expertise.

    Simon also played a part in campaigning to save the Dungeness home and garden of his friend and collaborator, the artist Derek Jarman, which is now preserved for the nation. I understand that he played a role in securing Damehood for Elizabeth Taylor, which is really cool, to thank her for her own activism and impressive fundraising for HIV. Simon understood the power of celebrity as a
    force for good at a time where the world was yet to become popular currency. He continues to work behind the scenes, collaborating with young historians and social researchers to document the work of gay liberation and AIDS activism for a future generation, whilst also making his own contributions such as to the Hall-Carpenter Archives. He’s focused on telling the long story on British Queer culture and social experiment. I feel that Simon has earned his honorary doctorate five times over: in Art History, in Health Promotion, in Activism, in Social History, and in Community Building. Chancellor, I present to you for the degree of Doctor of the University honoris causa, Simon Watney.

    [Applause]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar stands and shakes hands with Simon Watney]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: By the authority of the senate of the university, it gives me enormous pleasure to confer upon you
    the degree Doctor of the University honoris causa. Many congratulations.

    [Applause]

    [Doctor of the University honoris causa, Simon Watney goes to the lectern to deliver his speech.]

    Doctor of the University, Simon Watney: I mustn’t drop my hat. Well, I never. Partly this is a compensation for me because when I graduated in 1970, I neglected to attend my own graduation ceremony, partly because I didn’t even know such a thing existed. Neither of my parents had been graduates. I’ve grown up in quite humble circumstances on a big council estate in Rowhill. I simply didn’t know there was a graduation ceremony — nobody told me, and in those days the university, as you probably realise, was tiny.
    There were less than 2,000 students altogether in all different schools.

    Chancellor, I should like to begin by thanking those friends and colleagues — several of whom are here today — who so kindly
    recommended me for this honour which provides me with an opportunity, really, to express my gratitude to many other people associated with my time at the University of Sussex, where I arrived in the autumn of 1967 as a first-year student of the very first year’s intake of the art history degree and the history and theory of art. I taught myself at school A-Level art history because there was no such thing as studying it provided at school. I’ve been motivated by my attraction to the museums and galleries of London, which I'd explored as a teenager alongside the clothes shops of Carnaby Street and Old Compton Street, and also because of my growing involvement with the peace pledge movement and also with the various campaigns associated with the Vietnam War after the late sixties.

    Sussex was an immensely intellectually stimulating place, for me at any rate, in the late 1960s, with visits from such luminaries as Claude Lévi-Strauss and Roland Barthes, though my French at the time was sadly inadequate to their lectures. I learned rather more from the talk in English by the great German Marxist historian, economist, and social theorist Herbert Marcuse, which I heard at the London School of Economics — where a few years later, I attended several of the exciting, first meetings of the Gay Liberation Front in this country, together with my boyfriend and fellow student, Mark Rowlands, who I’m glad to say I still know. Gay Liberation moved on from being a student-only sort-of group at The London School of Economics to much bigger meetings in Notting Hill and subsequently in Covent Garden, where I once took the elderly Duncan Grant to a meeting, bridging the gulf of generations between Bloomsbury at the turn of the century and the swinging sixties. Indeed, I can recall, in fact, attending his reception of an honorary degree, just like this, from this august institution back in 1973.

    Not that the 1960s, to be honest, ever swung very much as far as lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men were concerned, which was all the more reason why Mark and I threw ourselves into organising a local cadet branch of GLF in Brighton — which was the first gay group on the campus at Sussex, just as friends and contemporaries of ours were setting up similar groups on university campuses at Colchester, Lancaster, Leeds, and elsewhere.

    My generation — do I need to remind you — had grown up criminals in a brutally sexist and homophobic country and culture which took enormous delight in publicly exposing and humiliating and punishing the vulnerable; that tendency, of course, is still in our society today. Setting up Sussex GLF was an enormous adventure, including the organising of dances in the glamorous ballroom of the Royal Albion Hotel; still, thank god, is there despite the fire and the disaster I saw yesterday for the first time with my own eyes — such a heartbreaking sight. The Gay Liberation dances took part in that ballroom, which were attended by coach loads of people who
    came down from London and all over the country. There were great dances and parties on the beach in 1972/73. It really was an enormous adventure, and for me personally, it's immensely rewarding to know that our radical, community-based enthusiasm has been maintained in Brighton over the years, since the days of the very first seafront gay pride march — with about 20 people on it only. I'm on the left, holding up a banner, and there’s one picture somebody found in the archives of the Evening Argus to my enormous surprise. I was personally denouncing the Evening Argus in about 1973 for showing Patti Smith’s film “Robert having his nipples pierced” at the art school, down at the Old Steine. I didn’t suffer as a result, fortunately. But back in 1967, first-year undergraduates were housed, as you probably already know, in otherwise empty, out-of-season hotels and B&Bs.

    Now, I found myself living on the top floor of the Granville Hotel, looking down over the West Pier, which was the oldest and the loveliest of all great seaside piers in the country, where the film Oh! What a Lovely War was then being filmed, and I could look down from my bedroom window and see the minute figures of Vanessa Redgrave running around, Laurence Olivier, and all sorts of other
    people. And it was there in that very first autumn of ‘67 that I heard Jr. Walker & the All-Stars playing on the West Pier. The loss of the West Pier really is a terrible, awful injury to this great city, as of course is the loss of the theatre on the Palace Pier, where again in 1968, I was the ASM for the Dick Emery show for the summer. That was a summer job and a half.

    The University of Sussex prepared me for life in which skepticism and doubt were as important as confidence and optimism, not least because so many of my tutors were themselves refugees from the horrors of the 30s, including my personal tutor to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude, the late Hans Hess. I should also like to remember the inspiring teaching of Quentin Bell, of the young teacher Francis Ames-Lewis, who taught us about drawing and gave me the encouragement to go in person to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and go and see drawings by the people I admired in the prints and drawings room, and similarly the prints and drawing room at the British Museum and in Cambridge at the Fitzwilliam. It was wonderful to know that I could actually look at drawings by Sickert or by Raphael or whoever; I never dreamt that I'd have that kind of access. I also owe a great debt of
    gratitude to the late Sybil Marshall, who’d been a primary school teacher in East Anglia and moved from an extraordinary career to becoming a professor in education here at Sussex. She was a wonderful and an extraordinarily charismatic woman who I loved very dearly. I'm also very grateful to the great Stephen Medcalf, who came to Sussex from Oxford and never left. He taught medieval
    studies, and he taught me Piers Plowman. Part of his teaching involved dragging us out in his battered old car to late Norman churches on the South Downs at Coombes and up Marden and all sorts of wonderful places. Stephen really was a wonderful, charismatic, and imaginative teacher and a great encourager. He never wrote a book — he edited a book, and he’s included in a couple of anthologies. I think he was one of the greatest scholars I ever knew in my life, and scholarship and publication don’t always go together. I'm also finally mindful of my long-standing debt of friendship to the late Dorothy Scruton, who was born in ‘39 and died in 2021. She was the slide librarian — if we think back to a pre-digital era, we all depended on 35-millimetre slides, and Sussex
    had a very fine slide library. Dorothy was the slide librarian, but she was also more than that — she was the heart and soul of the art history department, and she was, I think, much loved by everybody. I stayed friends with her after her retirement, and I'm very pleased to be able to remember her today.

    How distant the 1930s seemed to us in the late 1960s, but I'm painfully aware today that they were in fact far, far closer to me then than 1970 is to us today in 2025. Out of the energy of gay liberation came the gay press, the lesbian and gay switchboard movement, and of course, the entire inspiring community-based response to HIV and AIDS, in all of which I was closely and actively involved from the very start. As Rachel said in her extraordinary kind and generous introduction, I was in the position of several young people seeing there was a terrible crisis and having to become an activist because sometimes you make reasonable demands and the world doesn’t listen, and you have to find other ways of being heard, of finding resources, of making plans and making them come true.

    I'd just like to conclude by saying today, especially to the students here, but not only to the students: you don’t have to be especially brave or a particular type of person to become an activist, nor does activism need to be a lifelong role. Activism isn’t a career at all. You don’t just put on a baseball cap back to front and become an activist overnight. There are times in all of our lives, in all of our lives, when civil society fails, when it fails in its responsibility in some direction or another, and it becomes necessary for us, as we know, to make reasonable demands in ways that fall outside the general framework of everyday social-political life. I'm proud to have been a committed activist at several points in my life, to have aims that were generally, partially, if not entirely realised. And I'd
    like to conclude simply by saying that being an activist hardly exists who we are as people. Thank you very much.

    [Applause]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil: I call upon the Executive Dean of the faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities, Professor Cornel
    Sandvoss.

    [Executive Dean of the School of Media, Arts and Humanities, Professor Cornel Sandvoss, stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Cornell Sandvoss: Chancellor, I now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication
    with a professional placement year…
    Jayni VAGHELA
    For Media and Communications with a study year abroad…
    Daisy CLARK,
    Honour ROGERSON,
    Charlotte WOOD,
    For media and journalism…
    Hermon BEKUREZION,
    Daniel FIELD,
    Alexander HARVEY,
    Siyam HASAN,
    Aaya Ayman Faraj MATAR,
    Mia PAJIC,
    Ben POPE,
    Isabel SEESARUN,
    Hannah ROWLEY,
    Adham TELEB-IBRAHIM,
    Adri WHITTINGHAM,
    Jiayi XING,
    Yilin YANG
    Matthew YOUNG
    And while I introduce media production, can I ask the upper tier to match the enthusiasm our
    students are showing?
    For media production…
    Samuel ANGEL,
    Fraser ANGUS,
    Ellina BEGEZHANOVA,
    Elizabeth BOSWELL,
    Matilda CAMP,
    Wai Ki CHAN,
    Martin DE MAREZ OYENS,
    Joseph FOUDY,
    Alfie FOX,
    Charlotte GRUNBERG,
    Also awarded the Creative and Critical Practice prize for the highest ranked student..
    Ruth HOLROYD
    William HUMPHRIES,
    Shiori KAWAMURA,
    Jenna KIRBY,
    LEE Yik Sze Leah,
    Tsz LI,
    Milosz MADZIAR,
    Jay MUNOZ GARCIA,
    Kya MYLONAS HEALY,
    Thi Hong Anh NGUYEN,
    Ines PLOMION,
    Jade ROBERTSON,
    Lothika SHANMUGANATHAN,
    Amy SHORT,
    Ellis STEPHENSON,
    Rebekah STEWART,
    Amelia STOREY,
    Alicja TKACZ,
    Mia TOWNROW,
    Wing Tung Alex TSAI,
    Zhenxiang WEI,
    Zhengyue YAO,
    Xiaoyan ZHUANG,
    For media production with a professional placement year…
    Georgia BUCKLES.
    For media production with a study year abroad…
    Cleo HUANG
    For music…
    Sophie AUDIBERT-MOLONEY,
    Joe BARNETT,
    Also awarded the prize for the highest ranked student in music, the David Osmond Smith prize for
    best music dissertation and the McKitterick Prize,
    Freya FARMER,
    Farhad HAJ AHMAD,
    Kalea-Jade HOWARD,
    Pagan JAMES,
    Also awarded the music prize for outstanding achievement…
    Connor JOHNSON,
    Alice-May MONACO,
    Lydia PIKE,
    Also awarded the music prize for outstanding achievement…
    Charlotte SIMPSON,
    Evie TOLCHARD
    For music technology…
    Daniel ARMSTRONG-JEEVES,
    also awarded the prize for the highest rank student in music technology…
    Aimee BEAUMONT,
    Freddie BROWN,
    Lauren BROWN,
    Noah CHAPMAN,
    Noah CORBY,
    Jacob FEBREY,
    Hughie JOHNSTON,
    Kurtis KING,
    Also the recipient of the Gazelle twin scholarship…
    Nina KOHOUTOVÁ,
    Elodie LANGLEY SOPER,
    Luke MALINSKI,
    Louis MYATT,
    Jacob ZEILIG,
    For music technology with a study abroad year…
    Ted GODFREY
    For the degree of Masters of Arts in Cultural and Creative Industry…
    Yueqing LI
    For digital media…
    Roselyn Ndidi OSAKWE,
    Mankomal Preet SINGH
    For filmmaking…
    Akram EL KOUZOUZ,
    Michelle FEW,
    Eunice Yetunde JOHNSON
    For Gender and Media…
    Salamatu BELLO,
    For international journalism…
    Hanshu Hu,
    Tochukwu Chinazom OKEIYI,
    Martina Ngoundu UKO-ESSIEN
    For journalism and documentary practice…
    Tin Wan Ivory FONG,
    For journalism and media studies…
    Wuraola Rukayat ISHOLA,
    Ayoub NEJMI.
    For Media and Culture Studies…
    Dan HONG
    For media ethics and social change…
    Marketa COCKOVA,
    Catherine Mireille FERRARI COONEY,
    Alice GLEDHILL,
    Lynn GRAINGER,
    Sarah Alice LABUDE,
    Robert MOONEY,
    Linda VANUSKA
    For media practice for development and social change…
    Osazee Joel IKPONMWOBA
    Lauren Patricia SARRUF ROMERO
    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy…
    For the thesis; Contributing to a nascent public sphere: Accounts of the Shura Council in Omani
    media after the 2011 Constitutional Amendments Yousuf AL SHAMSI
    For the thesis; Beyond appearance and style: women’s embodied mediation of otherness in factual
    cinematic virtual reality Atlal ALSHATOWY
    For the thesis; Infrastructures of Police Power: Police Media and Urbanism, 1962-1975 Georgie
    CARR
    For the thesis; Managing the disorderly woman: The witch in mainstream American film and
    television Amelia CROWTHER
    For the thesis; Strange World: Memory loss as an alternate way of being Samantha HARROLD
    For the thesis; Transit art and infrastructural visibility beyond monumentality in Boston’s “Arts In
    Transit: The Southwest Corridor” Rebecca HEIMEL
    For the thesis; The impact of theatre-making on selfdevelopment in childhood and adolescence
    Aysenur KARABULUT
    FFor the thesis; Feminist speculative activism: futurity, affect and narrative in The Handmaid’s Tale
    UK fan activism Kam MEAKIN
    For the thesis; Lagos Style: The production of urban culture through Afrobeats/Afropop music
    Tosin OGUNTUASE
    For the thesis; The Political Economy of Feminised Robots. Katie SINCLAIR
    Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduans from the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities.
    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement heads to the lecturn]
    The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement:
    Chancellor I now present to you the list of graduanaes that were unable to be presented to you
    earlier in the ceremony,
    For the degree of bachelor of science in psychology, in the school of psychology;
    Emma DENNIS
    For the degree of bachelor of arts in film making;
    Ki tan CHEN,
    Ma BOR HOW
    In media production,
    Yu FANG TONG
    Chancellor, you have now met all the graduans at this ceremony, and the moment has come for the
    formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex. I therefore ask you to confer degrees on
    those presented to you and to the other graduans who have indicated their wish to graduate in
    absentia, at this ceremony.

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar stands in the middle of the stage]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: If you’re able to, if you wouldn’t mind standing.
    [Graduates and staff stand]
    By the authority of the senate of the University, I formally confer degrees on all those just
    mentioned. Congratulations, graduates.

    [Cheer and applause]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, returns to the lectern to deliver closing speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: Please take a seat. So that happened. Congratulations everyone, including our honoris causa, Simon.
    Thank you for your very wise words. Should give us pause to think. It suddenly struck me as you were speaking, actually, how skepticism can be really healthy and useful and where cynicism isn’t; and it's really useful to kinda carry around the difference between the two. Anyway, as your time at Sussex draws to a close, we hope that you will remain connected to us and each other as
    alumni.

    Now, traditionally the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom, and I know after a long ceremony you want to kinda get on with your day and have fun, so I’ll keep it brief. Um… La la la la la la la la la… that’s it! Hey! I’m not remotely qualified to give anyone advice or wisdom, but here are some thoughts that you're free to use, ignore, or hopefully improve upon. We are surrounded by such troubling times: wars, politics, poverty, identity, inequality, climate change, so-called leaders whose best ideas seem to be obfuscation, deflection, insults, partisanship, and just plain killing people. If these are their best ideas, I don’t see how they can be the best people to lead us.

    But people are complex, history is complex, our heroes are complex, we are complex. Complex problems no doubt require complex solutions. So I think in amongst all of that, our mental health is the thing that gets attacked the most, and so therefore is paramount. When we are overwhelmed by anything — grief, anger, anxiety, love, beauty — we lose perspective, sometimes even just for a moment, and if we have to make decisions in that moment, we may not make the decisions we would make with a calmer mind. We have the right to all of our emotions, so I think it's important to feel them, but it's even more important to get centred again as
    quickly as possible.

    My Mum, nicest person I have ever met, said to me that all those streams that make up positivity — so love, compassion, humour, creativity, empathy — they haven’t stopped for you to go off and be overwhelmed, to be overwhelmed by grief or anger or any of those things. All those streams are still running, except we don’t feel able to reach out for them, or sometimes we
    don’t feel were allowed to. So I give myself permission to try and reach out for them, or at least the people who embody those traits. Speaking to someone is the quickest way to get perspective back, even better if they are kind. If you’re facing something overwhelming, and you’re able to look at it from a different angle, it can also be funny or silly, ridiculous or profound. The awful thing isn’t then less awful, but that's not now all it is. It's awful and profound, awful and interesting, awful and silly, awful and ridiculous — and that's perspective.

    I try to practice radical empathy; you know, we were hearing earlier about activism. I think I’m kind of a compassion activist, and sometimes that's difficult towards somebody whose views I utterly oppose and abhor, but I make the effort to try to access my empathy, nevertheless. Not because I expect them to change or for some outcome, but more as a reminder to myself of who I am, that I will not get drawn into their agenda, their hateful agenda. I’m not being passive; it's very, very active. Being angry or hateful is really, really easy.

    Being compassionate in trying circumstances, that’s a challenge, until you keep doing it and you keep practicing it until eventually it's just habit and just becomes who you are. I've been very fortunate to have met complete and utter idiots and imbeciles from every political party, every religion, every gender, every age group, every social class, every part of the world. I've also met warm, compassionate, and funny people from all those groups as well. Except Nazis. I have never met a nice Nazi, so they can do one. So simply belonging to a club of whatever kind is no shorthand for having a moral or intellectual high ground to me; it’s your responsibility as an individual to express who you are. You’re the only you that has ever existed, so why not try and be the best you?

    I found the healthiest state to be in is one of gratitude. Feeling grateful makes you feel lucky, and feeling lucky is like a positive, protective forcefield. I feel lucky all the time. I’m feeling lucky right now. Because it's, it's not comparative, it's not because someone else is doing badly, it’s not competitive. I'm not saying I'm luckier than anyone else; I just feel lucky. It's a state. It doesn’t depend on anything that happened today because I know that can change tomorrow. Positivity for me is not thinking that everything is going to turn out great; it's knowing that if it's crap now, it can change. And I've realised that I'm hardwired to find common ground, what unites us rather than what divides us. Disagreeing after agreeing feels very different to agreeing after disagreeing. And I'm about finding solutions. I don’t care who comes up with it, I honestly don't. It's not about me, not about my ego, my priority. My first priority is not to blame or who’s at fault. Knowing how and why, all those things can be useful later, but first, can we please get to the other side of the problem?

    And there’s a better chance if we're working together. Maslow, famous for his hierarchy of needs, said if your only tool is a hammer, then every problem is going to look like a nail. It's also about the power of diversity. If there’s something that needs resolving, fast, the last thing I wanna be is in a room with ten other people exactly like me. I mean, we'll get on, we will be hilarious, it will be
    really, really comfortable, but none of us are going to learn anything, nothing new. So I want to be in a room with ten different people who can bring ten different ideas and experiences to the table.

    And here’s a neat trick: start your thoughts with your blessings. Almost any thought takes practice, but it works. Start with what you have rather than with what you don’t have. Start with what’s great in your life, and then think about the stuff that isn’t. You set a tone and a foundation which is just healthier. Many of you may be thinking or being asked about your plans now. You know, "Have you
    got a plan? What’s your plan?" Planning is great, obviously. It's very useful. It allows you to see and build steps toward your goal. You know, in five years you might say, "You know, I wanna be able to buy a house," or "I wanna be this level of management or this in research or whatever." So what happens is that your conscious and your subconscious start working towards that. That's how it
    works. Rarely do people say that their plan is to be happy or even "...and happy." And surely if you do, your conscious and your subconscious will be working towards that as well, wouldn’t it? But also, planning is linear. It's steps of a ladder. Life is the exact opposite. Life is the disrupter, full of curveballs and the unexpected, weird coincidences, the WTFs — the World Tennis Federation for the kids and the old people. But that's normal.

    Be okay with having a plan and be okay when it's disrupted. Your next decision, anyway, is always who you are. You have no idea, none of us do, of what our future holds, so you may as well fill it with positive steps. It may not change the outcome, but your journey to it will be happier than the person who’s kinda anxious about it until you get there. Seneca said, "He who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary," and I’ve got lived experiences of these. You may be aware that Sussex was my first choice when I applied to university many years ago. I didn’t get in. Apparently, my grades weren’t good enough. Took my business elsewhere, and I waited 25 years until all those who prevented me from getting in had either retired, been deported, were in prison, or were just plain dead — and I got in as Chancellor.

    So, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Yeah, take that, linear planning. Where were you? I wanted to act and write since I was five years old, and I know this because when I was five, some uncle came to the house and said, “Well young man, what do you want to be when you grow up?” And I said, "An actor," and my dad said, “It's pronounced 'doctor'." That is true. That is true. So, a career seemed impossible. It remained a pipe dream and just behind a sea of impossibilities; it was just not possible. So, at the age of 30, I sued the company I was working for for breach of contract, couldn’t get any kind of job for two years while the legal process wrangled on. And at 32, I thought, "I've got nothing to lose, I'll have a go. I've always wanted to do it." I couldn’t have foreseen, no one else could have foreseen, that two years later, I'd be in a TV show and I'd be living the dream ever since.

    So take that again, linear planning. Where were you? And leading up to, a number of people referenced it and thank you very much, becoming friends with Paddington, all right! He should be our leader. At the end of the day, I think what we really need from each other is compassion. We need acknowledgement, we need understanding, we need to be seen, and compassion is the one thing that the more we give, the more we have. It's a well that never never dries up. But do express compassion for yourself as well. Regrets are pointless. You can’t change the past, and the only reason that you’d want to is because you are a wiser person now; you learned a lesson from it.

    So, cut yourself and others some slack, learn and move on. Right, enough of my yacking. I wish you all happiness and good fortune and good mental health. I hope you’re surrounded, tenfold, by the love, compassion, kindness, and humour you give out. Well done. We're super proud. Go and be the best you. I officially declare this graduation closed.

    [Music playing]

    (Senior academics and staff on stage tip their hats as two academics/staff walk across the stage to pick up the ceremonial torches from the small, raised table. They bow to one another before bowing to the rest of the academics/staff. Both lead lines single files of all the professors in separate directions down the staircases on the left and right. The academics and staff walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.)

Download the Ceremony 1 video [MP4 3.4GB]

Ceremony 2 at 4.30pm

Summer 2025: Ceremony 2

  •  Video transcript

    [‘Trumpet Fanfare’ music playing]

    (A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and take their seats. At the end of the procession are two academics/staff with ceremonial torches who on stage bow to each other, the rows of academics/staff, and then place the torches on a small, raised table with a cloth at the very front of the stage.]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: I declare open this congregation of the University of Sussex. I’m delighted as chancellor to welcome you formally to this graduation ceremony. A warm welcome to our honoured guests, our distinguished faculty members and to those of the professional services here at Sussex.

    But the warmest of welcomes are for you, our graduands and your family and friends who joins you here today and to those who may be watching via live video stream around the world. Sussex university was founded as one of the first universities created after the second world war, almost exactly 64 years ago and one of the guiding principles was that it should be a forum of ideas beyond convention, embracing concepts and experiences from different backgrounds, cultures and belief systems and combining these with the best of our own – realising that invention and innovation has no colour, gender, age or creed – recognising that interconntedness had an important part to play in a fast evolving society, hence a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and the practical application of concepts. An understanding that the world would become not just more interconnected but realisation of just how vital that would be and still is. Sussex is proud that graduates from well over 100 counties receive their degrees from these ceremonies.

    So, thank you, for continuing to make us a truly global university – and I know that many of you have had to dig deep to get to this day, struggling to balance your studies with home life, in some cases whilst raising children, experiencing loss and sickness, trying to survive on overdrafts, loans or family help. So today isn’t just a celebration of your academic achievements but also of your perseverance, your focus and of those that have helped you along the way. Some of you may be continuing with further academic study but for many today may mark the end of your academic journey – and what a journey it’s been.

    A journey that started all those years ago with your first day at nursery or kindergarten, the trauma of suddenly being thrust from the familiar environment of home into a place full of new people, new names, new foods, new clothes – being introduced to fun worlds of playtime, reading time, nits and chicken pox – being dressed by your mum that in a few years you would look at photos and say “what were you thinking”. My mum says that she still remembers the day that I suddenly turned round to her in outrage and say “mum you know why are you dressing me up in this shirt it so totally doesn’t go with these trousers” – and apart from that my 30th birthday went really well. Then all the ups and downs of big school, tests and homework, wondering who really was whose best friend and the sheer pressure of those exams, which led you all to Sussex, new people, new names, new foods, new clothes but this time your fashion choices were all on you – your journey has been epic.

    So shortly, a name will be read out, hopefully approximating to yours, and you will take the mere 20 or so steps across this stage, terrified you are going to lose your hat or your mortar board, wondering whether the heels were such a good idea after all, wondering if your fliers are open and praying you don’t trip over your gown and end up the lap of someone in the front row. If you do that, I mean what an array of laps we’ve arranged for you this afternoon, check that out. It’s like the sandman meets Bridgerton. I am beholden to tell you or remind you or if you’ve been up here before that you haven’t actually got your degree yet and you getting your degree might just depend on how much love you show me when you come up here, alright – no love for the chancellor, no degree, sorry.

    I’m kidding of course, seriously feel free to express yourself, your joy when you come up here, in whatever way you want as long as it’s in the bounds of decency and legality. We can hug, we can shake hands, we can high five, fist pump, dance, I’ve gone along with all of them over the years, you can ignore me if you want it’s your day – but just a note if you do decide to do press ups, it has happened before, I’m in my sixties and I can get down there but I’m not sure I can get back up again, so if you are doing press ups you are on your own – and in the interest of time no selfies on stage but if you catch me afterwards I’ll be more than happy – and family and friends this is absolutely your day too so when the time comes please have your cameras ready and feel free to make as much noise as you can, as your superhero crosses the stage. If, I mean do you want to practice, okay family and friends go for it (family and friends cheer in audience). I’m not kidding you I’ve done this for a long time, that is the most impressive response I’ve ever heard, now your challenge is to keep that up during the couple of hours we are up here, that is a high bar parents, friends and supporters. Wow. If any of you are here on your own today, I’ll be your family or friend, if you’ll have me, okay so no one is here in their own. Have a great ceremony.

    I call upon the Vice Chancellor Professor Sasha Roseneil to address the congregation.

    [Applause]

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Vice Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil: Madame Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends and above all our graduands - Sussex class of 2025. As vice chancellor and president of the University of Sussex, it’s my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to the Brighton centre today. My thanks to our chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, for a fabulous opening speech, really is impossible to follow Sanjeev.

    But as Sanjeev has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands. This a day of celebration for you and of you and of all that you’ve achieved during your time at Sussex. It’s also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefitted in countless tangible and less tangible ways, from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends and of course the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. Some of you have had support from our alumni and donors, who’ve generously provided scholarships, bursaries and hardship funding. So, I’m now going to ask for some participation from you, graduands, if you would, would you, if you can, please would you stand and turn face your family and supporters behind you and give them huge round of applause.

    (Graduands stand and give round of applause).

    Vice Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil continues: Please do be seated again. As a University, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful and supportive environment, in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs and identities. You come each year from over a hundred and thirty countries from around the world and so we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities and faiths – with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold and support.

    We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It’s our job to create an environment in which diversity, belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis can be undertaken and new theories developed and where minds can be expanded and changed.

    We are living in deeply troubled times war and conflict, terror, death and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger and inequality, as well as the climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern amongst Sussex students. Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world. And as we gather here today to celebrate graduation, I'd like to emphasise that the university supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university community and that's what binds us together as a global community.

    So Sussex graduands, I'd like to thank you for all that you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion and diversity. A warm, open and welcoming place. In the three years that I’ve been vice-chancellor, I've witnessed that Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities that have contributed to your learning and development. The student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, as volunteers supporting other people on and off campus, including helping pupils in local schools to develop their literacy skills or taking part in beach clean ups and inventing new ways for our campus to be more environmentally sustainable. So, many of you are today receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend your commitment to your extracurricular activities. Well done on all that you've achieved alongside your formal studies.

    Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting hundreds of Sussex alumni and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex and of how it shaped their lives, their careers and their character. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, as well as making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come.

    Whether you already have a job or are looking for one or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped with knowledge and skills to think creatively and critically, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with the power to shape your future. You've been tutored and supervised by academics who are internationally recognised for their research and scholarship. Their research which focuses on many of the urgent concerns of our time has directly informed your education and Sussex has much to proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year we’ve been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only twenty-four universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS world rankings. This is an outstanding achievement by our academics, by the researchers in the institute of development studies and by everyone that supports their work. Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice and sustainability is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about.

    One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities. And Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect. This year in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subjects in the top 10 in the UK for citations with Anthropology and Environmental Science each ranked first and Physics and Astronomy ranked second in the UK. We're also ranked in the top five percent of the universities around the world for sustainability and 17th in the UK for employment outcomes and for the past three years the University of Sussex business school has ranked first in the UK for research income.

    This is a huge achievement by our academics who are researching urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment.

    Now I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your mental and physical health. Some of you have faced loss and family disruption whilst you’ve been a student. Each of you has had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back, you feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated, and supported to achieve your best. That you're leaving with knowledge, skills, and personal resources that will stand you in good stead and that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future. You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of over 200,000 alumni worldwide.

    Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers, journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations, and even those holding the mayor, the mayoral office, in our very own city. And also, many having much less high-profile but no less significant lives and careers. People whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small positive ways every day. Across the globe, in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. And I know you will do that, too.

    So, graduands, celebrate who you are today. Celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those that have been on the journey with you. Celebrate your wonderful achievements. In short, celebrate.

     I now call upon the executive Dean of the faculty of Media Arts and Humanities, Professor Cornell Sandvoss

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]

    [Executive Dean of the faculty of Media Arts and Humanities, Professor Cornell Sandvoss, stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Cornell Sandvoss: Chancellor, I will now present to you the degree of Bachelor of Arts in American studies…

    Anish ALAM,
    Rachel ALDEN,
    Amelia CHAVINS,
    Mervynian DAVIES,
    Also the recipient of the Rupert Wilkinson Scholarship; Oscar DELBOURGO,
    Also the recipient of the Rupert Wilkinson Award; Lucy DOVER,
    Angelica HEDGES,
    Elizabeth HEDGES,
    Emma JELEN,
    Madeleine MCQUILLAN,
    Rebecca TUCKLEY,
    Also awarded the prize for the highest dissertation mark; Maia TURNER,

    For American Studies and English…
    Amaya Lucia CONWAY,
    Skye DURRANCE,

    For American Studies and Film Studies…
    Orna Akiba Ama ABAKA,
    Madeleine BOND,
    Holly DUNCAN,
    Jack HUNTER,
    Also awarded the American Studies Prize for the highest ranking student; Annabel MCMILLAN,
    Adam SARSON,
    Jack TOON,

    For American Studies and History…
    Jack BRIERLEY,
    Also awarded the American Studies prize for highest ranking student; Natasha HAMILTON,
    Chloe MCGHIE,
    Alan AMNER,

    For American Studies and Politics…
    Dominic BLACK,
    Joe CLAPTON,
    Joseph MILBOURN,
    Jack WAGHORN,

    For Art History…
    Also awarded Morris Howard Prize for highest Art History dissertation mark; Anisa BARRETT,
    Also awarded Morris Howard Prize for highest Art History dissertation mark; Eliza BRISTOW,
    Also awarded Morris Howard Prize for highest Art History dissertation mark; Emma COOPER,
    Evie FORCEY,
    Giorgia FUNES,
    Also awarded the Art History prize for the highest-ranking student and Morris Howard Prize for highest Art History dissertation; Ella GREIG,
    Olivia KENNEY,
    Clare TOMLINSON,
    Fleur WADE.

    For Art History (with a study year abroad) …
    Isabella LOWE.

    For Art History and Film Studies…
    Isabel ASH,
    Lily DAY,
    Alexia MENIDIATIS,
    Jay STOREY.

    For Drama and English…
    Max BEARD,
    Joel BRADLEY,
    Charlotte CASWELL,
    Molly FERRIS,
    Also awarded the Department of Drama Community prize; Holly HINCHCLIFFE,
    Eloise JEFFERY,
    Helena LE JEUNE,
    Hannah LENEHAN,
    Ava SUBTIRICA,
    Dalia TUAIMA.

    For Drama and English (with a study abroad)…
    Also awarded the Department of English prize for best contribution to the student experience and outstanding work on the Sussex rights program; Harvey WHEATLY.

    For Drama and Film Studies…
    Maria BALDRICK,
    Tilly COUGHLIN,
    Hayden LEWIS,
    Elize MCDONALD,
    Also awarded a Film Studies prize for outstanding achievement; Jack PARKER,
    Ella TRIGGS.

    For Drama and Film Studies (with a study year abroad)…
    Bradley ROWORTH.

    For Drama, Theatre and Performance…
    Melody ARGENT,
    Quinn CONTENTO,
    Alana FOWLER BURTWELL,
    Also awarded the Department of Drama prize for the best independent research project practical; Jasmine HARRISON,
    Leo HARTLEY,
    Jacob IRONDI,
    Also awarded the Department of Drama Community prize; Alice LANGSTON,
    Charlie LAW,
    Also awarded the Department of Drama prize for the best independent research project practical; Alexia MAGDALIS,
    Grace MORTIMORE,
    Also awarded the Department of Drama prize for the best independent research project practical; Kate NEVILLE,
    Madeline O’HARE,
    Charlie PATRIDGE,
    Elena RUSSO,
    Mia SCOFFIELD-JACKON,
    Amelie SWAISLAND-DYKE,
    Grace TURBERVILL,

    For English…
    Hannah ALLEN,
    Will AMOS,
    Ciaran BARRY,
    Sophie BRAND,
    Harley BURCH,
    Ben CARLYLE-HOGGAN,
    Lena CHAGAS-MCKENZIE,
    Emily CHAMBERLAIN,
    Also awarded the Siobhan Kill Feather prize for the best dissertation and highest ranked student; Silke DALE-BROSIG,
    Beth DAVIES,
    Mia FROST,
    Spencer George SAMUELS,
    Jessica GOUGH-COOPER,
    Cecilia HAGGERTY,
    Angelina HALE,
    Alfie JONES,
    Also awarded the Department of English prize for an outstanding dissertation; Esuh KANG,
    Ravneet KAUR TAMBER,
    Amy KENWARD,
    Amy LODGE,
    Adem MAHIR,
    Alice MACINTYRE ,
    Olivia MILNER,
    Lauren MOSS,
    Elliot O’BYRNE,
    Deborah OREDEKO,
    Joseph PAGET,
    Theo PLESTIS,
    Ghazlan QAMBER,
    Becky ROE-JONES,
    Manaal SALMAN,
    Sophie SKINNER,
    Jess SMITH,
    Marianne STRAUSS,
    Esther SWAN,
    Grace THROWER,
    Poppy TURNER,
    Rowan VINCENT-LAKE,
    Lucy WALSH,
    Nell WESTBROOK,
    Liam WILLIAMS,
    Megan WILLS,

    For English (with a study year aboard)…
    Holly BIRD,
    Lola BORNAT,
    Archie LOVETT.

    For English and Art History…
    Issac CLARK,
    Cicely KIRBY-SMITH,
    Georgie WILSON.

    For English and History…
    Luma ABBAS,
    Sylvie BELLAMACINA,
    Rory CAMPBELL,
    Scarlett CRANE,
    Shelby GORMLEY,
    Edith HOLGARTH,
    Theodore LORD ,
    Kirsty RUSHTON,
    Jessica TAIT,
    Ethan WALSH,
    Zoe WALTON.

    For English and Media studies…
    Rebecca DIXON,
    Katy DOWNS,
    Izem GENC,
    Patrick KEEPER,
    Helena KING,
    Finn NORRIS,
    Rose WASSINK.

    Chancellor, this concludes the first part of the list of gradians from the faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities

    [Applause]

    Vice Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil: I call upon Lucy Robinson, professor of collaborative history to present Suzy Eddie Izzard.

    [Professor of Collaborative History, Lucy Robinson, goes to Suzy Eddie Izzard seat. Professor Robinson bows to Suzy Eddie Izzard. They shake hands, and both move to the centre of the platform and bow. Professor Lucy Robinson returns to the lectern to deliver her oration.]

    Professor Lucy Robinson: Chancellor, in 1995 for my MA in sexual dissident at Sussex on the module called Queering Popular Culture, taught by the brilliant Andy Medhurst. I wrote an essay about how Eddie Izzard’s dress and performance challenged traditional patriarchal power relations. I got a B+. But I think that shows Sussex’s history of taking popular culture and storytelling seriously, with queer an intersexual approaches at its heart. In the spirit of collaboration and story sharing, these words are written with Alexa Neil from the school of law, politics and sociology, who originally nominated Suzy Eddie Izzard for this award.

    Born in 1962 in Yemen, where her father worked for BP, Suzy grew up in Bexhill and went to St Beads prep school in nearby Eastbourne, as well as Eastbourne college. She campaigned for labour in the 2022 general election and a year later sought nomination in my own constituency, Brighton Pavillion, campaigning for carbon neutral policies and promoting eco-friendly transportation. Practical rather than symbolic protest and to fix what’s broken. Committed to a fairer, greener, cleaner planet, she raised awareness of water companies and politicians’ complicity in the pollution of Brighton’s coastline.

    Suzy has been based in girl mode since December 2020. She demonstrates the power of doing things in positive and different ways, from running 32 marathons in 31 days, to performing standup in numerous different languages, she has shown us how doing difficult things is a positive thing. Suzy has explained her approach, reaching out and lifting people up is at the heart of my politics. I believe in making connections. It says something about Suzy’s ability to empathize and connect with others to think about the breadth of roles she has played and stories she has inhabited. From Lenny Bruce to updating Dr Jekyll to retelling Greek mythology in chaos to taking on the big Victorian novel, great expectations.

    More recently, she’s been playing all 23 characters in Hamlet, finding connections with hamlets, ghosts, scholars, tyrants, courtiers, lovers, fools and poets. And there is a Sussex-ness to Suzy that makes this a very fitting honour today. There have been Izzards in Sussex for more than 200 years. Her much-loved toy train set is now housed in Bexhill Museum. The south downs have a special connection, she grew up playing sports on them, camps at Ditchling Beacon and ran five marathons across the downs. Theres a natural connection between Suzy, Brighton and the University of Sussex.

    Brighton is, in Suzy’s words, a city at the forefront of change and the north laines are her zeitgeist. Brighton is openminded and welcoming to all, with a thriving art and cultural scene, imaginative, energetic and full of entrepreneurial spirit. I think we could say the same about both Sussex as an institution and Suzy as an honoured recipient of this degree. She represents trans gender diversity, trans rights are human rights, trade unionism, she’s pro-immigration, pro-European, she raises money for charity and takes on difficult challenges and fights for local justice. At the heart of all this is her consistency as a champion of the simple joy of learning and being curious about the world and that seems something we need more right here, right now. Chancellor, I present to you for the degree of doctor of the University, honoris causa, Suzy Eddie Izzard.

    [Applause]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and shakes hands with Suzy Eddie Izzard]


    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: Suzy Eddie Izzard, by the authority of the Senate of the University, it gives me so much pleasure to confer upon you the degree Doctor of the University, honoris causa, congratulations.

    [Applause]

    Doctor of the University, Suzy Eddie Izzard: Good afternoon, I might have said that before, just a bit ahead of myself. Chancellor, I’d like to thank everyone whose given me this honorary degree. You’re all bonkers but good bonkers, which is better than bad bonkers. As was said the Izzards have lived in Sussex, I think for more than three hundred years. We were agricultural labourers going way back so it was always the plan that one of us would get an honorary degree. My brother actually gained his degree from the University of Sussex, and I dropped out of my degree course up at Sheffield University, so thank you very much for helping me catch up to my brother.

    But now it’s really about you, this is, I find it really exciting watching people coming up and getting the awards that you have fought so hard for, I’ve been given this as an honorary thing but you have all worked for it so hard and that what’s impressive to me and you’re all embarking on a new chapter in life and if you think the world is a very scary place right now I encourage you to do this. Be brave and curious, not fearful and suspicious. Brave and curious is the way forward and do a double positive. This is something that I’ve come up with. If you see something that’s negative, do something positive to reset that in the world, but in fact, do something even more positive, something you’d never even thought of, a double positive, then hopefully other people will see what you are doing and be inspired to do something like it themselves.

    I didn’t agree with Brexit because I believe in making connections, not breaking connections and I thought that was a negative. So, my double positive was I thought that instead of improvising and developing one of my standup shows, because I do standup comedy, I’m dyslexic I don’t write it, I workshop it into a shape and I normally do this obviously in English in a small theatre and that’s the way I did it. But I thought, why not after Brexit? I’ll do it in French. So I went to do it my second European language, in Paris, I was already doing gigs in French but I thought let’s improvise this, let’s work this out, see where I could get to, I didn’t know if I could do it and the first two weeks were hell, but I thought, “Pourquoi the fuck pas?” and the kids in Paris went with it, “Hey, okay, excellante, pourquoi the fuck pas?”.

    So, we can all, we can all do more than we think we can do, as the great Nelson Mandela said, “it always seems impossible until its done”. I was lucky enough to do some performances for him, for his 46664 charity, and I was asked if I wanted to meet Nelson Mandela and when it happened, I was so excited that I didn’t realise that Neil Armstrong was walking out of the room as I was walking into the room, the first man on the Moon. So, I talked to Nelson Mandela, but I never talked to Neil Armstrong, but I worked out what I would have said to Neil Armstrong if I had talked to him and it would have been, I would have shouted at him, “Neil, how’s Nelson? Is he alright? Is he chatty? Is he chatty Cathy? No. Is he wearing the shirts? All right, all right, hey well done in ’69, Neil. Yeah, it was good the landing on the Moon. Excellent. I liked it. You took control. I was in Bishops Stortford. No, don’t worry about the spelling with the Atherton family. They don’t remember it. My brother doesn’t remember it. Anyway. Well done, Neil.”.

    Because Neil Armstrong, if you want a good talisman, Nelson Mandela, Neil Armstrong, can’t do better than that. Great people for the world. So, Nelson Mandela, I saw him age 82, his determination, resilience and belief in connection and reconciliation was an absolute inspiration to me and if you do feel disheartened by world events, try tracking human rights from ancient Egypt until now and you will see that things do get better. There are dips along the way, certain things go backwards, right now we’re during a dip, but gradually we do move forward. We are trying to get there. 21st century the coming of age of humanity.

    I don’t believe in a god, but I do believe in human beings. I believe there is more goodwill than ill will in the world. And I don’t believe there is a meaning in, I don’t believe there is a meaning of life, I do not believe there is a meaning of life, but some of us put meaning into life and some of us take meaning out of life and those people we call, I can’t say it, it wouldn’t be allowed. So, all I’m saying is this, yeah, it was going to be a big old swear word, but I just couldn’t say it. Anyway, what I’m saying to you is take all the skills you have developed in your life and your time at Sussex university and take them and be brave and curious, make connections, don’t break the connections and do the positive things. Do double positive things and that way you will make it a better world. Thank you.

    [Applause]

    Vice Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil: I call upon the executive Dean of the Faculty of Media Arts and Humanities, Professor Cornell Sandvoss.

    [Executive Dean of the faculty of Media Arts and Humanities, Professor Cornell Sandvoss, stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor, Cornell Sandvoss: Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English and Media Studies (with a study abroad year) …
    Lily VENESS.

    For English Language and Linguistics
    Jamie-Leigh ANDERSON,
    Maisey ANDREWS,
    Caitlin BAINBRIDGE CURLEWIS,
    Kate BARNES,
    Molly COURTNEY,
    Lee CROSS,
    Lucie CUNNINGTON,
    Also awarded the English Language and Linguistics Prize for Highest Ranked Student and the English Language and Linguistics Prize for the Best Dissertation; William DOBBY,
    Isabella GREEN,
    Georgia GROOM,
    Leah JOHNSON,
    Luke JONES,
    Olivia LINDSAY,
    Lily MORRIS,
    Evie-Mae NASH,
    Camilla SANDY,
    Also awarded the English Language and Linguistics Prize for Highest Ranked Student; Amy STYLES,
    Harrison WHITE.

    For English Language and Linguistics (with a study year abroad) …
    Denise ROSARIO.

    For English Language and Literature…
    Henrietta BELDHAM,
    Anthony Gregory GUAJARDO,
    Bonnie HULL,
    Lisa RECHETOVA,
    Eve RYAN,
    Hua ZHONG.

    For English Language and Literature (with a study year abroad) …
    Hannah SIMONS,

    For History…
    Jessica BIGNELL,
    Stephanie BLEDOWSKI TAYLOR,
    Cerys BRAMMALL,
    Jasmine BRODIGAN-VINCENT,
    Alfie BROWN,
    Toby BURDER,
    Carmen CARR,
    Finley CATHRALL,
    Tara CHANDER,
    Libby CLEAVES,
    Lucy COLLINS,
    George CRIPPS,
    Holly DALBY,
    Emily DILLAMORE,
    Amba GEDDES,
    Liam GILES,
    Samuel GREEN,
    Daniel GREGORY,
    Lily HARBIDGE,
    Gwendolen HARRIS,
    Michael HODGKINSON,
    Kate HOOPER,
    Zachary INGHAM,
    Alexandros IOANNIDES.
    Also awarded the Rose Prize for the Highest Ranked Student in History and the John Lowerson Prize for the Highest Dissertation Mark; Georgina KESSARIS,
    Elise MARTIN,
    Leo MCCREANOR,
    Clare MCGINN,
    Also awarded the Edward Timms Memorial History Prize; Sammy MCNAMARA,
    Antony MICHAELIDES,
    Louis MOLLOY,
    Jake PALAZZOLO,
    Also awarded the John Lowerson Prize for the Highest Dissertation Mark; Miriam PASHA,
    Jack PEAK,
    Amelia PELLING,
    Also awarded the Maurice Hutt Prize for the student who has made a strong contribution to the History Department and the University; Izabella PORTER,
    Eabha RAY,
    Isaac RIVIERE,
    Aaron SKILBECK,
    Roxanna TILLOTSON,
    Harriet TOMLINSON,
    Emma VAN-SMITH,
    Emily WALKER,
    Grace WARDLEY,
    Jake WILLIAMS,
    James WRIGLESWORTH.

    For History (with a study year abroad) …
    Joshua COLEMAN,
    Chiara HARATBAR,
    Milly KOCH,
    Federick MCGURK,
    Samuel PALLI,
    Max PORTWOOD,
    Sebastian TREVELYAN.

    For History and International Relations…
    Oliver CHENEY,
    Jawad CHOWDHURY,
    Ella DOCKERTY,
    Joseph EDES,
    Anthony EDWARDS,
    Isabel FAGERVIK,
    Jagvir JHAJ,
    Kate MCMONAGLE,
    Federick PEATY,
    Alexander PERSAUD.

    For History and International Relations (with a study year abroad)…
    Antonia BEESLY,
    Katie BRANDWOOD-FIANDER,
    Emily HOWLAND.

    For History and Philosophy…
    Annabel LUCAS,
    Lucy WEST.

    For Liberal Arts…
    Sophia APPLETON,
    Imogen CLARK,
    Also awarded the Liberal Arts Prize for the Highest Ranked Student; Jack COOPER,
    Danielle COURTNEY,
    Rebecca CRAIG,
    Jacqueline FAULKNER,
    Iona HUGHES,
    Vassilios Fivos MAKAVOS,
    Chloe REDMAN,
    Alena SHAH,
    Isabella THOMASON,
    Maya WALLER.

    For Liberal Arts (with a study year abroad) …
    Emily HOWES,
    Emelye KENYON-BROWN,
    Also awarded the Liberal Arts Prize for the Highest Dissertation and Final Project Mark; Gina LLOYD.

    For Philosophy
    Cecilia BARNES,
    Joseph CATTO,
    Flora CUNNINGHAM,
    Melissa DENT,
    Amy GLOVER,
    Graham GODDEN,
    Also awarded the Philosophy Prize for the Best Dissertation; Dominic GREEN,
    Nicole GREEN,
    Jay GUEST,
    Amy HAROLD,
    Ryan JONES,
    Jack LIVINGSTONE,
    Also awarded the Philosophy Achievement Prize; Jay LYNCH,
    AJ MILLER,
    Jessica NEALE,
    Clare NOONE,
    Grace NORTON,
    Andrea RIZZO,
    Jacob SPARKES,
    Liam SPEED,
    Beatrice STUART FISHER,
    Danait Biniam Estifanos TESFU,
    Katherine TROMANS,
    Hishaam USMANI,
    Morgan ZAJAC.

    For Philosophy (with a study year abroad) …
    Lydia CRUSE,
    Janine Lia HORISBERGER.

    For Philosophy and English…
    Amy-Louise ALEXANDER,
    Kitty CLARKE,
    Saffron HUDSON-LAMBE,
    Jemma-Louise MACPHERSON,
    John MCGREGOR,
    Rosie SMITH-EVANS,
    Ffion WISE.

    For Philosophy and Sociology…
    Dess COLEMAN,
    Olivia CONQUEST,
    Oliver EVANS,
    Ava HEPTINSTALL-HEATON,
    Jospeh PEREZ,
    Evie TARTAGLIA,
    Miabella TURNER,

    For Philosophy, Politics and Economics…
    Oluwapademi ADELEKE-ADEMOLA,
    Edward ANDREWS-MARTIN,
    Jack CAMPBELL,
    Myles CHAPPLE,
    Lamina FEIKA,
    Alfred FREEMAN,
    Also awarded the Philosophy Prize for the Highest Ranked Student; Carl Maria Ferdinand FREIHERR VON USLAR-GLEICHEN,
    Jackson KENNEDY,
    Marni MALEK-ZADEH,
    Oscar OLIVER,
    Alfie WALLACE-GRIFFIN,

    For Philosophy, Politics and Economics (with a study year abroad) …
    Aliya MIRZA,

    For degree of Master of Arts in Art History
    Sundip DAS,

    For Art History and Museum Curating
    Jacob CHABERLIN,

    For English: Literature, Culture and Theory
    Emilia GIBSON ,
    Melanie Alexandra HUCKLEBRIDGE,

    For Social and Political thought…
    Caragh BONE,
    Hector BOWERING,

    Chancellor I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy…

    For the thesis;
    “Navigating identity: the experiences of Kuwaiti students in the UK and their impact on language and socio-cultural integration”
    Munirah ALGHARIB.

    For the thesis;
    “The politeness of gifting In the Arabic of Sarat Asir: A socio-pragmatic study of gift-giving and receiving”
    Ashwag ALQAHTANY.

    For the thesis;
    “Vulnerability in the writings of Elizabeth Bowen”
    Nuwayyir Mutlaq M ALSUBAIE.

    For the thesis;
    “Towards a transformative pedagogy for the development of academic voice through peer talk”
    Theresa CLEMENTSON.

    For the thesis;
    “‘The embodiment of a prayer’: queer photography and visual culture as ordinary theology”
    Thomas ELLIOTT.

    For the thesis;
    “The Visionary Style of leadership communication”
    Fatimah Yahya M FAGEHI.

    For the thesis;
    “Not my fatherland: how Poles conscripted into the Wehrmacht during WW2 reclaimed their national identity in post-war Britain”
    Julia GOODWIN.

    For the thesis;
    “Some Vague Utopia”: Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Making of “Modern Conservatism,” 1948-1961”
    Nick GREENWOOD.

    For the thesis;
    “Sound symbolism in character names: a study of the representation of morality in J.R.R. Tolkien's character names in The Lord of the Rings.”
    Zoe Kristina HARCOURT-KELLY.

    For the thesis;
    “Constructing Queenship: Marguerite d’Angouleme and Marguerite de Valois in the Franco-Navarrese political sphere”
    Emily Lynn LALANDE.

    For the thesis;
    “Gillian Rose and the question of dual religious belonging: on the difficulty of being a Buddhist and a Christian”
    Christopher MCDERMOTT.

    For the thesis;
    “Technology and human wellbeing: an approach through 4E predictive processing”
    Benjamin WHITE.

    Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the School of Media, Arts and Humanities.

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students will go to the lectern.]

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students
    Chancellor, I will now present to you graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony.

    For the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Film studies…
    Prosper PETERS

    Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex. I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those on those presented to you today and to other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia at this ceremony

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands in the middle of the stage.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: If you’re able to, if you could stand, graduates. I by the authority of the senate of the University, I formally confer degrees on all those just mentioned. Congratulations graduates.

    [Cheer and applause]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, returns to the lectern to deliver closing speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar continues: Please take a seat. So, that happened. Gosh, you were amazing. I have to say family and friends you were proper rock and roll. You delivered on that early promise that I didn’t think was possible so well done you, some of you were truly embarrassing so respect, fantastic. Congratulations everyone, including of course, our honoris causa, Suzie, who I first met 27 years ago, 28 years ago, something like that, in a tent, we met in a tent. There is a further story to that which involves me falling down twice and smashing a pair of cheap plastic sunglasses, but it was all Suzie’s fault just because – it was in Lewisham, that’s right, the Lewisham people’s day, I’m amazed you remembered any of this.

    But since then I have to say of all the influences on me creatively, Suzie is way up there, you know I’ve seen Suzie in various, on various tours and also there was an improv show that you did in the West End, ones with a group of people I came to see that it was and I’ve constantly been inspired. And Suzie’s autobiography, the audiobook of it is one of the best I have ever heard so absolutely have a listen to that because its kind of interesting, inspiring and of course funny. And also, you know I echo just about everything Suzie was saying in terms of approaching positivity in a difficult world, but I’ll come to that with words that are not as good as hers.

    So, as your time at Sussex draws to a close, we hope that you will remain connected to each other and with us as alumni. Traditionally, the chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom, but I know after a long ceremony you want to really get on with your day, so I’ll keep it brief. La la la la la la la la la, that’s it! I hope that sinks in. So beautifully you picked up on the depth and layers of what I just said. I’m not remotely qualified to give anyone advice or wisdom but here’s some thoughts that I’ve had that you’re free to use or ignore or hopefully even better improve upon.

    As has been mentioned, we seem surrounded by such troubling times, you know, wars, politics, poverty, identity, inequality, climate change, so-called leaders whose best ideas seem to be obfuscation, deflection, insults, division and just plain killing people. If these are their best ideas, I don’t see how they can possibly be our best leaders, but people are complex, history is complex, our heroes are complex, we are complex, complex problems no doubt require complex solutions. But within all of that it’s all a mighty assault on our mental health, so I think our mental health is paramount.

    When we are overwhelmed by anything grief, anger, anxiety, love, beauty we lose perspective and sometimes that’s even momentarily but if we have to make decisions in that moment, it may not be the decisions we would make with a calm and quiet mind. And I think we have the right to all our emotions, so I think we absolutely do need to feel all those things, but I think its just as important, if not more important, to get centred again and calm again and quiet again in our minds as quickly as possible. So, my mum is the nicest person I have ever met, she said to me after she went through something really kind of, very challenging, that all those streams that make up positivity, so love, compassion, humour, empathy, creativity, they don’t stop for you to go off and be overwhelmed, they are still running, its just that we forget that we can reach out for them or we feel unable to reach out for them. Sometimes we feel that we are not allowed, you know, how many times have you heard someone going through something difficult, tragic or something then say you know what I shouldn’t be laughing, and you go why? Why not? It doesn’t make the other thing lesser it just, it’s a human response and reaction.

    So if you are facing something overwhelming, the other thing is, if you are able to look at it from a slightly different angle, this thing that is awful may also be funny or silly or interesting or inspiring and so it doesn’t make the thing not awful anymore but it doesn’t make it just awful and that is the basis of perspective. So, I give myself permission to try and reach out for all those positive streams that are going along, at least people who embody some of those traits because speaking to someone is the quickest way to get perspective back, even better if they are kind. I try to practice sort of radical empathy. I think I’m kind of a compassion activist.

    Sometimes that is difficult towards somebody whose opinions I find quite abhorrent, but I make the effort to empathize, nevertheless. Not because I expect them to change or not because I expect some sort of outcome, it’s more of a reminder to me of who I am, that I will not get drawn into their hateful agenda with all the language and the opinions that come with it. I’m not being passive, being angry or hateful is actually really really easy, that’s a simplistic view. Being compassionate in trying circumstances, that’s tough, but you know if you doing it, keep practicing eventually it just becomes habit and just becomes who you are.

    I’ve been really fortunate, I do feel this, I feel fortunate to have met complete and utter imbeciles from every political party, every religion, every gender, every age group, every socioeconomic background, every corner of the world. But I’ve also met warm, compassionate and funny people from all those groups as well, except Nazis, never met a nice Nazi, so they can go and do one. So, my point is that simply belonging to a club doesn’t give you the right, it’s not a shorthand for any kind of moral or intellectual high ground. You are an individual; it’s your responsibility to express who you are. You are the only you that has ever existed, so why not try to be the best version of you?

    I found the healthiest state to be in is one gratitude. Feeling grateful makes you feel lucky and feeling lucky is like a positive, protective forcefield. I feel lucky all the time. I’m feeling lucky right now. It’s because it’s not comparative, it’s not competitive. I don’t feel lucky because someone else is feeling terrible. I’m not feeling competitively lucky, I’m lucky because someone else is lost. I just feel it. I just feel it as a collective sense of all the experiences Ive had and valuing them and also because my luck doesn’t depend on anything that happened today because I know that can change tomorrow. Positivity for me is not thinking that everything is going to turn out great, it is knowing that when it’s crap that that can change, that that doesn’t last. I’ve realised that I’m hardwired to find common ground, what unites us as opposed to what divides us.

    Disagreeing after you’ve agreed feels very very different to agreeing after you’ve disagreed and I’m about finding solutions. Honestly, I don’t care who comes up with it. It’s not about me or my ego, you know my priority, my first priority is not to blame someone or who’s at fault and knowing how and why can be really useful later but first can we please get to the other side of problem? And also, within that my belief in the part of diversity, if there’s something that needs resolving, the last thing I want is to be a room with ten other people like me. I mean we’ll all get on, we’ll be hilarious, I mean boy will we be funny and we’ll be really really comfortable, but none of us would have learned a new thing at all.

    So, I want to be in a room with 10 people who can bring 10 different ideas and experiences to the table. This is something echoing what Suzie was saying by hitting a negative with two double positives. Start your thoughts with your blessings, with what you’ve got, start with what you’ve got before you move on to what you haven’t got because it gives you a foundation, it’s like the agreeing disagreeing thing with people, that you know you start off with what you have, it goes back to that luck thing and then when you approach the what you don’t have it doesn’t kind of decimate you because there is some kind of perspective to that. So yeah, start with what’s great in your life and then think about what isn’t because your first thought sets a tone.

    Now many of you may be thinking or have been asked your plans, you got a plan? What’s your plan? You haven’t got a plan? Planning is great, obviously very useful. It allows you to see and build the steps towards a goal. You might in five years say, I wanna be in a position where I can buy a house or in some sort of management position or in research or something. And so consciously and subconsciously, you start to work towards that. That’s how goals and planning works. Rarely do I hear people say their plan is to be happy or even and happy because surely if you do that you conscious and your subconscious will be working towards that as well and ‘and’ happy is not mutually exclusive with any of your career plans. But planning is linear right? It has to be its rungs of the ladder.

    Life is the exact opposite; life is the disruptor. It was John Lennon who said, “life is what happens to you when you’re busy making plans”. So, life is full of the curveballs and the unexpected and the weird coincidences, the WTFs - World Tennis Federation for the kids and the very old - so it’s great to be fine with all that because all of that is normal. So be fine with your plan, be fine when its disrupted. You know, who you are is always your next decision. It’s all you have to think about at that point is your next choice. None of us have any idea what our future really holds, so you may as well approach it with positivity. It may not even change the outcome, being positive, but your journey to it will be a lot healthier than the person who’s scares and anxious and everything else.

    Something that Susie said about being brave and overcoming your fears, one really big epiphany for me, was a day when, that I realised that my curiosity, when I could listen to it was bigger than my fears. Do I want to turn the page? Became such a kind of simple thing for me to as opposed to just being scared of stuff. Seneca said, “He who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than necessary”. Now I’ve got lived experiences of these so you may be aware that Sussex was my first choice when I was applying for university all those years ago. I didn’t get in. Apparently, my grades weren’t good enough so took my business elsewhere and I waited 25 years until all those who’d preventing me from getting in had either retired, been deported, were in prison or were just plain dead. And I got back in as chancellor, so my point is he he hey he hey. Yeah, take that linear planning. Where were you? And also, I wanted to act in right since the age of five and I know this because when I was five some uncle came to the house and said to me as a 5-year-old he said, “So young man, what do you want to be when you grow up?” and I said, actor and my dad said “It’s pronounced doctor”. It really happened.

    So, a career seemed impossible to me. It was still a dream, but it was you know behind a sort of wall of kind of it’s not going to happen in impossibilities, a pipe dream. At the age of 30, I sued the company I was working for breach of contract, and I couldn’t get any kind of job for two years while that rattled through the legal process. And at 32, I thought, I’ve got nothing. I’ve got nothing to fear at this point, I may as well have a go. So, I got together with a friend of mine and we became a comedy duo for a little while, which is where we saw Suzie in Lewisham, and I was super inspired and two years later I was in a successful TV show and none of that could have been predicted. So again, I have to say, take that linear planning. Where the hell were you in all of that?

    At the end of the day, I think what we really need from each other is compassion, acknowledgement, understanding, to be seen, to be heard and compassion is the one thing that the more we give, the more we have. It is like a self-replenishing well. And that includes expressing compassion for yourself. Regrets are really pointless. Firstly, you can’t change the past, but secondly, the only reason that you want to change the past is because you are wiser now because of it. So, take the lesson. Take the lesson and that blessing and move on, to cut yourself and others some slack around that.

    I’ll leave you with an ancient Sanskrit proverb, which obviously I’ll translate for you otherwise only two of you will get it and the translation is, “Too many cooks still won’t make enough food for an Asian wedding”. It’s the truth. I wish you all happiness and good fortune and good mental health. I hope you’re surrounded, tenfold by the love, compassion, kindness and creativity that you give out. Well done. We’re super proud. Go and be the best you. I officially declare this graduation closed.

    [Music playing]

    (Senior academics and staff on stage tip their hats as two academics/staff walk across the stage to pick up the ceremonial torches from the small, raised table. They bow to one another before bowing to the rest of the academics/staff. Both lead lines single files of all the professors in separate directions down the staircases on the left and right. The academics and staff walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.) 

Download the Ceremony 2 video [MP4 3.4GB]

Tuesday 22 July 2025

Ceremony 3 at 10am

Summer 2025: Ceremony 3

  •  Video transcript

    [‘Trumpet Fanfare’ music playing]

    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and take their seats. At the end of the procession are two academics/staff with ceremonial torches who on stage bow to each other, the rows of academics/staff, and then place the torches on a small, raised table with a cloth at the very front of the stage.]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
    Good Morning, I declare open this congregation of the University of Sussex. I am delighted, as Chancellor, to welcome you formally to this graduation ceremony. A warm welcome to our honoured guests, distinguished faculty members, and to those of the professional services here at Sussex. But the warmest of welcomes are for you, our graduands and your family and friends who join you here today—and to those who may be watching this via live video stream around the world.

    Sussex University was founded as one of the first universities created after the Second World War, almost exactly sixty-four years ago. And one of the guiding principles was that it should be a forum for ideas beyond convention, embracing concepts and experiences from different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems, and then combining these with the best of our own—realising that invention and innovation has no colour, gender, age, or creed; recognising that interconnectedness had an important part to play in a fast-evolving society—hence a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and the practical application of concepts; and understanding that the world would become not just more interconnected, but a realisation of just how vital that was, and still is.

    Sussex is proud that graduates from over 100 countries receive their degrees at these commemorations, so thank you making us and for continuinley making us a truly global university. And I know that many of you have had to dig deep to get to this day: struggling to balance your studies with home life; in some cases, whilst raising children, experiencing sickness and loss; trying to survive on overdrafts, loans, or family help. So today isn’t just a celebration of your academic achievements, but of your perseverance, your focus, and those who have helped you along the way.

    Some of you may be continuing with further academic study, but for many, today may mark the end of your academic journey. And what a journey its been. A journey that started all those years ago with your first day at nursery or kindergarten: the trauma of suddenly being thrust from the familiar environment of home into a place full of new people, new names, new food, new clothes. Being introduced to the fun worlds of playtime, and reading time, and nits, and chickenpox; being dressed by your mum that in a few years would make you look at photos and say, “What were you thinking?!” My mum says she still remembers the day she says that I suddenly turned to her in outrage and said, “Mum, you know, why are you dressing me in this shirt? These totally don’t go with these trousers!” I mean, apart from that, my 30th birthday went quite well. But then, all the ups and downs of big school: tests and homework and wondering who really was whose best friend, and then the sheer pressure of all those exams which led you all to Sussex. New people, new names, new foods, new clothes—but this time, your fashion choices were all on you. Your journey has been epic.

    So, shortly, a name will be read out—hopefully approximating to yours—and you will take the mere 20 or so steps across this stage, terrified that you’re gonna lose your hat or your mortarboard; wondering whether the heels were such a good idea after all; wondering whether your flies were open; and praying that you don’t trip over your gown and end up in the lap of someone on the front row. If you do decide to do that, what an array of laps we’ve arranged for you this morning! Take a look at that. It's like Bridgerton meets Squid game.

    I'm beholden to tell you—or to remind you, if you’ve been up here before—that you haven’t actually got your degree yet, and you getting your degree may just depend on how much love you show me when you come up here. No love for the Chancellor—no degree! Sorry! I’m kidding, of course. Seriously, feel free to express yourselves, your joy when you come up here, in whatever way you want, as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. We can hug, we can shake hands we can high- five, first bump, dance, there was some dancing yesterday- we’ve had the lot. Listen you an ignore me if you want - its your day. If you do decide to do press-ups though, which has happened in the past, you’re doing them on your own. Okay I’m in my sixties—If I get down there; I’m not sure I can get up again. And in the interest of time, no selfies on the stage, but if you catch me afterwards ill be more than happy.

    And family and friends, this is your time too so when the time comes, do have your cameras ready and feel free to make as much noise as you can as your superhero crosses the stage. If any of you are here on your own, then I'll be your family or friend if you’ll have me. So no one's here by themselves. Have a great ceremony. I call upon the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, to address the congregation.

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:

    Mr Deputy Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our graduands—Sussex Class of 2025. As Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, it's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to the Brighton Centre for this graduation ceremony. My thanks to our Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, for a fabulous opening speech; its terrible following Sanjeev. But as Sanjeev has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands. This is a day of celebration for you and of you, and all you have achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. Some of you have had support from our alumni donors who have generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding.

    So, now I'm going to ask for some participation from you. Would you, if you are able, please stand and turn and face the audience—your friends, supporters and loved ones—and give them big round of applause and a thank you for their support.

    [Graduands stand and give a big round of applause.]

    Wonderful, please do be seated again.

    As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. So we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold.

    We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored. To nurture the conditions under which students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis undertaken, and new theories developed, and where minds can be expanded and changed.

    We’re living in deeply troubled times: war and conflict, terror, death and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly giving rise to enormous concern amongst Sussex students. Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems that the world faces. And as we gather here today to celebrate graduation, I'd like to emphasise that the university supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and the diversity that's at the heart of our university community and that binds us together across the globe.

    So, Sussex graduands, I'd like to thank you for all that you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, a warm, open, and welcoming place. In the three years that I have been Vice-Chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities that have contributed to your learning and development: as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of societies and groups, and as volunteers supporting other people on and off campus, including helping pupils in local schools to develop their literacy skills or taking part in beach clean-ups and inventing new ways for our campus to be more environmentally sustainable. So many of you today are receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend that commitment to your extracurricular activities. Well done on everything that you have achieved alongside your formal studies.

    Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting many hundreds of Sussex alumni And I’ve been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alba martyr, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and of how Sussex has shaped their lives, their careers, and their characters. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, and about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in years to come. Whether you already have a job or are looking for one or taking time to explore the world, you can be confident you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped with knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with the power to shape the future.

    You've been tutored and supervised by academics who are internationally recognised for their research and scholarship. Their research, which focuses on many of the most urgent concerns of our time, has directly informed your education. And Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for Development Studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings. This is an outstanding achievement by our academics, by researchers in the Institute of Development Studies, and by everyone who supports their work.

    Development Studies, seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice, and sustainability, and this is at the heart of what Sussex is about. One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities, and Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect.
    This year in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top 10 in the UK for citations, with Anthropology and Environmental Science each ranked first, and Physics and Astronomy ranked second in the UK. We're also ranked in the top five percent of universities globally for sustainability and seventeenth in the UK for employment outcomes. And for the past three years, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first in the UK for research income. This is a huge achievement by our academics who are researching urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demands, climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work, and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy, and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment.

    Now, I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your mental or your physical health; some of you have faced loss and family disruption during your student days. Each of you has had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back you feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated, and supported to achieve your best, that you're leaving with knowledge, skills, and personal resources that will stand you in good stead, and you’ve made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations, and those with less high-profile but no less significant lives and careers—people whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small, positive ways every day.

    Across the globe, in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. I know you will do that too. So, graduands, celebrate who you are today. Celebrate the commitment, the hard work, and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who have been on this journey with you. Together, celebrate your wonderful achievements. In short, celebrate.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:

    I call upon the Head of the School of Global Studies, Professor Geert De Neve.

    [Head of the School of Global Studies, Professor Geert De Neve, stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Geert De Neve:

    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the certificate of higher education..

    James DENNETT
    For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology Anna BATTEN, Jennifer BIGMORE, Emma BOXSHALL, Ruby BURNETT, Aibhlinn CLOHESSY-ROBINSON, Sofia ELIA, Romany HARBER, Sophie HARRIS, Tamar HONNAH, Matthew LAWLOR, Abby MANSFIELD, Lily PARR, Amelia PROCTOR, Clara RECOUSO-LARKAI, Brian SUSSUM, Ellie WEAVER, (Also awarded the Anthropology Prize for the Best Performance over two years) Molly WELLS, Charlotte WHELAN,
    For Anthropology (with a study abroad year) Eli Blaikie ROSS,
    For Anthropology and History Hector BANERJI, Alexander KRSTIC, Bhakti LOSTAUNAU ANGULO,
    For Anthropology and History (with a study abroad year) Aisha ARIAS EGEA,
    For Anthropology and International Development Fahtima BEGUM, Natalie BROWN, Benjamin BUTTERWORTH, Aiyana HAREWOOD-GUNTER, Ellen HUGHES, Leila ISSACHAROFF, Kerry MEDDELTON, Erin PERERA WALPITA KANKANAMALAGE, Isabel PIPER, Maya REED, Isaac RODERICK, Ophelia SCALZO, Lucy SHILLIDAY, Thomas WILSHER,
    For Anthropology and International Development (with a study abroad year) Phoebe Elona Ute Alketa PURVER,
    For Geography Jack BERRY, William BRAMHALL, Joseph CLIFFORD, Imogen COLLIS, Benjamin COTTERELL, Isabella Jane DOWIE, Thomas DUMAS, Reuben EWER, Callista FONTANIVE BIRD, Anna GRACE, Charlotte GUDGE, Freddie HOBSON, Daniel HOWICK, Anna Faustyna KUKULA, Anika LAL, Victoria LENNARD, Jaydn MATTHEWS, Riley MERRINGTON-GLEN, Alex MORRELL, Simon NUTT, Philippa SCOTT-CLARK, Keziah SEAL, Isabel SIDEBOTTOM, Oliver WOLLASTON, William WOOD, Mariyam Zaha ZAHIR,
    For Geography (with a professional placement year) Kayleigh Antonia SCHLOSS FRASER, Adam SMITH,
    For Geography (with a study abroad year) Isabel COPPER,(Also awarded the prize for Best Overall Performance on a BA undergraduate degree, and the prize for the Best Undergraduate Thesis demonstrating excellence in the field of individual and original empirical research in Human Geography) Charlotte CZERNUSZKA,
    For Geography and Anthropology Lani HOUGUEZ, Miri STONEHAM-BULL,
    For Geography and Anthropology (with a study abroad year) Henry BROWN,
    For Geography and International Development Nell AMSTUTZ, Joshua CAREY, Georgina CHRISTOPHI, Evie CLARKE, Holly CULVER, Digby DOYLE, James FAWCETT, Helen FRANKLIN, Ellen Birgitte FREDRIKSSON, Chloe HALL, Megan HARE, Emma HOLLAND, Ophelia JARVIS, Sharnae JOHNSON, Migle JUREVICIUTE, Tiara OTESANYA-SALVO, Giovanni PISANO, Filip POWELL, Sijal SAPKOTA, Nell SWINHOE, Millie WALKER, Mason WALTERS, Kiki ZEKO,
    For Geography and International Development (with a study abroad year) James JOHNSON, Luis RODRIGUES,
    For Geography and International Relations Isabelle BARNES, Molly DOLAN, Darcey KEAY, Harry SMITH, Lucas WELSHMAN,
    For Geography with German Thomas MORRIS,
    For Geography with Mandarin Chinese (with a study abroad year) Adam WILLIAMS,
    For International Development Moodie Saad Fawzi ALBORESHA, Lauren BANHAM, Mollie BURRAGE, Joseph ERRINGTON, Gabriella FRANCIS, Maggie HEARNE, Joni HOCKEN, Molly HOWARD, Orla HUNT, Robert HURLEY, Alice JONES, Emily JONES, (Also awarded the Pramit Chaudhuri prize for the best performance in International Development) Erin KENNEDY, Phoebe Lynne Pedrola LECHONSITO, Lucas MARTIN, Lola MCKITTRICK CLUCAS, Jiyeon PARK, Carla PERRY BONILLO, Meg SALLOUX, Alicia SCOLLEN, Ascuka SHIOGO, Rin TAKEUCHI, (Also awarded the David Pocock prize for the highest final year dissertation mark) Beth TAYLOR, Evie TRANTER, Thahia UDDIN, Yongji WANG, Callum WHITFIELD,
    For International Development (with a professional placement year) Nethmi ALAHAPPERUMA, Lidia PONS PUIG,
    For International Development (with a study abroad year) Rebecca Lin, Kitty BLAKE, Michael BRONER,
    For International Development with Arabic Amira LAZAR,
    For International Development with French Paloma ELLIS WESTWELL, Theodore HAYWOOD, Sirvan Garod HOROZOGLU, Ellena OLDFIELD-EDWARDS,
    For International Development with French (with a professional placement year) Phoebe HOAEN,
    For International Development with French (with a study abroad year) Maisie KNIGHTS,
    For International Development with Italian Sasha MERCER,
    For International Development with Spanish Sophia BOOSTANI, Mia HASTINGS, Maria JARQUES,
    For For International Development with Spanish (with a study abroad year) Silvia ALLAN,
    For International Relations Milly BARTHOLOMEW, Kody BREAKELL, Benjamin BRYON, Kieran BURT, Hei CHEUNG, Daniel CLOVES, Antonio COMAN, Alexander DABYSING, Poppy DARBY, Drew DEGNAN, Daisy GRALL, Linda HAMITOUCHE, Sam HOQUE, Ellen HUDSON, Edward INGLIS, Federica LOPEZ ALVAREZ, Mehzabeen MAHFUZ, Abla MAHMOUD, Kai Bechir N'DAW, Maria Angeliga PINEM, Durre Amal RAHMAN, Ben ROBERTS, Yuechao SUN, Millie VAN DEN BERG, Jonty WHITE, Yakubu Mahmood YAKUBU,
    For International Relations (with a study abroad year) Charlotte BROOKS, Alexandra WRIGHT,
    For International Relations and Anthropology Oskar JOHN-REAVEY, Mya MONTERO, Abby PARRY,
    For International Relations and Development Syahdhana Hardjo BASWARA, Ava BROWN, Rhea DSOUZA, Iris ELEY, Omar Sadde Omar ELKABER A, Max FAITHFULL, Youssef Ahmed Salaheldin FOUAD, Mio FUKUDA, Oscar GATES, Dogyeong HA, Greta Nadeschda HOLLE, Marcus LEE, Louis LEVINE, Le LIU, Hei Man ,(Also awarded the Andrew Pickup Thesis prize for the best International Development thesis) Zoe LUK, Molly MUNRO, Chinatsu NARAOKA, Nhat Linh NGUYEN, Ryo OGAWA, Savannah SCHWARZ, Hana Ahmed Mohamed Hassan SOLIMAN, Lewis THOMAS, Marjorie VON WALLWITZ NAUM, Siena WESTCOTT-TOI, Curtis WHELAN, Rosie WOOD,
    For International Relations and Development (with a study abroad year) Robert JERE, Emmanuel MOH,
    For International Relations and Sociology Nikola BOJOVIC SCHRAMA, Emilie-Rose Sophia DE CARTERET, Roman FINCH, Eleanor HUNTLEY, Biswaas SHAHI, Isaac WESTHEAD,
    For International Relations with Arabic Angela Annina ARLATI,
    For International Relations with French Max HART, Viktoriia KRYTSKA,
    For International Relations with Italian Maysa TUCILO,
    For International Relations with Spanish Lily CALCOTT, Diana CASEGAS, Cassius LAY,
    For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Geography Lucy BURKE, Gemma CROSSWAITE, (Also awarded the prize for the best undergraduate thesis demonstrating excellence in the field of individual and original empirical research in Physical Geography) Laura DANI, (Also awarded the Geography Prize for best overall performance on a BSc undergraduate degree course) Sarah DAY, Joseph DIXON, Kitty-Anne DORRIAN, Tamar JENKINS, Mae KELSEY, Jodie KING, Isabelle LANGMAID, Mia MULBERRY, Lily-Mae PROSSER, Gemma TURNER, Holly WINFIELD,
    For Geography (with a study abroad year) Alexander D'EUGENIO,
    For the Postgraduate Certificate in International Security Herbert Obialor EKE, For the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Rights Teresa MANNIX,
    For International Relations Anuoluwapo Yomi OLUSIPE,
    For the Degree of Master of Arts in Conflict, Security and Development Cynthia Jepchirchir TANUI,
    For Environment, Development and Policy Ayodeji Babajide ABIDOGUN, Sumaia Sabrina CHOWDHURY,
    For Food and Development Saheed Olawale ADEKUNLE, Akwugo ANYAEGBUNAM, Eleanor GOWER, Fernando SALERNO OCANTO,
    For Gender, Violence and Conflict Siobhan DOYLE, Andisa NDLOVU, Iyala SAADI, Irene TRUJILLO BENITO,
    For Human Rights Aakanksha PANDEY,
    For International Political Economy Lotte JÄGER, Iche Nchelem ORJI,
    For International Relations Utieyin Irene ESIGBONE, Gloria Naomi Pendo FONDO,
    For Social Development Bipsan CHATTERJEE, Sian DEVLIN,
    For Master of Science in Climate Change, Development and Policy, Shuja Ul Hassan KHAN, Thomas Alexander OSBORNE, (also the recipient of the Mandela scholarship) Melissa Sesethu TALENI, Taru VADHIA,
    For Social Research Methods Renee BRECKELL,
    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
    (For the thesis: Reproducing hegemony in the neoliberal heartland: a discourse analysis of the war of position against the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street) Tom COWIN, (For the thesis: Still splendid isolation? - Brexit in the Longue Durée of British foreign policy exceptionalism) Judith KOCH, (Also the recipient of the Peter Carpenter PhD Scholarship for the thesis: From clouds to the soil: A crop’s perspective of the characteristics, drivers & predictability of large-scale impactful agrometeorological dry spells in Zimbabwe) Innocent MASUKWEDZA, (Also awarded the post-graduate certificate for social research methods and For the thesis: Red gold and black labour: Sub-Saharan migrants’ struggles for survival in the rural ghettos of Southern Italy)Emilia MELOSSI, (For the thesis: A Gramscian Analysis of the Sinicization of Islam: The Chinese Communist Party’s approach towards the Hui and Uyghur minorities since 2015) Rand Adel S SABER, (For the thesis: The Implementation and Effects of the International Standards for Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing in Thailand: A Case Study of Banking Institutions), Nathanathon SAWANGNETR.
    Chancellor. This concludes the list of graduates from the school of global studies.
    Professor Sasha Roseneil: I call upon the Director of teaching and learning in the institute of development studies, Dr. Linda Waldman.
    [Director of teaching and learning in the institute of development studies, Dr. Linda Waldman, stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Dr. Linda Waldman:
    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Master of Arts in development studies…

    Maysam Salem Salameh ALHADIDI, Kheda EDILOVA, Soulaimane EL MIMOUNI, Mia Rochell GIFFORD, Prachi PAL, Ankita SAIGAL, Frederick Alexander STURGIS,
    Gender and Development Joy Chioma AUGUSTINE, Latoya Ava CHARLES, Aayushree NEPAL, Cristina SEATON-REID,
    Governance, Development and Public Policy Maureen Ifeyinwa ESSIEN-AKPAN, Mian Sarmad HUSSAIN, Kevin ITOIZ, Joana MANO GONÇALVES PEREIRA, Vitalis NGWAMBI, Khalif Abdi SADIKI, Abhishek SAINI,
    For Poverty and Development Moez BASSALAH,
    For Power, Participation and Social Change Arundhati Sridhar, Anna Veronica PINTER,
    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of doctor of philosophy..

    (For the thesis: Exploring the framing, frame mobilisation, and power relations involved in menstrual health priorities, policies, and programmes: The case of Kenya) Sophie COLLINS, (For the thesis: Pathways and Bottlenecks to ‘Kayan’: An Analysis of Perception, Mediation, and Power in a Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme in Egypt) Maha GAAD, (For the thesis: Operationalising transdisciplinarity in Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Response in Sub-Saharan Africa: Social Science Contributions 2012-2023) Catherine GRANT, (For the thesis: Homecoming or last resort? Exploring children’s wellbeing in situations of displacement and return. The experiences of Syrian Armenian children and their families in the context of family support services in Armenia) Rosalind WILLI.
    This concludes the list of graduates from the Institute of Development Studies

    Professor Geert De Neve:
    Chancellor. I now present to you those graduates who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony

    For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and international development..
    Niko Koni SOUREI,

    For international relations and development..
    Nuaradin faras sabiir NASSER.

    For international relations and sociology…
    Brendan Shaman.

    Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony, and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex. I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the graduans who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia, in this ceremony.

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar stands in the middle of the stage]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:

    Graduands, if you could stand if you are able to

    [Graduates and staff stand]

    By the authority of the senate of the University, I formally confer degrees on all those just mentioned. Congratulations graduates.
     
    [Cheer and applause]
     
    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, returns to the lectern to deliver closing speech.]
     
    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar continues:

    Take a seat. Well, so that happened. Congratulations everyone again. Now as your time at Sussex draws to a close, we hope that you will keep us in your hearts and thoughts and remain connected to us and each other as Alumni.

    Traditionally the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom, but I know after a long ceremony you want to get on with your day, so I’ll keep it really brief. Um… La la la la la la la la la… that’s it, okay, all the wisdom I’ve got. I’m not remotely qualified to give anyone advice or wisdom, but here are some thoughts that I’ve had that you're free to use, ignore, or even better improve upon. We are surrounded by such troubling times: wars, politics, poverty, identity, inequality, climate change, so-called leaders whose best ideas seem to be obfuscation, deflection, insults, partisanship, and just plain killing people. I mean If these are their best ideas, I don’t see how they are possibly the best people. But people are complex, history is complex, our heroes are complex, we are complex. Complex problems no doubt require complex solutions. But I think the biggest attack in all of this is on our mental health as individuals and so looking to mental health is paramount.

    When we are overwhelmed by anything—grief, anger, anxiety, beauty, love—we lose perspective, sometimes just momentarily, but if we have to make decisions in that moment, they may not be the decisions we would make with a calmer mind. We have the right to all of our emotions, so I think it's important to feel what we feel and don’t deny any of it, but it's even more important to get centred again and grounded as swiftly as possible.

    My Mum, nicest person I have ever met, she said to me that all those streams that make up positivity—so empathy, compassion, humour, creativity—they haven’t stopped for you to go off to be overwhelmed by grief or anger or any of those things. They are still running, except we forget that we can reach out for them, or sometimes we don’t even give ourselves permission to reach out for them. Sometimes in the bleakest moments, somebody will say something and someone will say “I know I shouldn’t be laughing”, and I think why not?, you know it hasn’t changed the thing that was awful.

    And if you’re facing something overwhelming, if you are able, if this thing you know is kinda like awful and terrible and horrific and you can look at it from a different angle from over here, and also see that it is silly, ridiculous or funny or interesting or profound. It doesn’t mean that its just not horrible anymore, but its not just that- at that to me is the essence of perspective.

    I personally try to practice radical empathy; you know, I sometimes think of myself as trying to be a compassion activist, and sometimes that's difficult towards somebody whose views I utterly oppose, but I still make the effort to find the empathy anyway. Not because I think i’m going to change them but more that it’s reminder to me of who I am, that I won’t be dragged into their hateful agenda which comes across in their actions and their words and their attitude . Being angry or hateful is not difficult- at all- its actually really easy. Being compassionate in trying circumstances, is far more of a challenge, until you keep doing it and then it just becomes a habit and becomes who you are.

    I've been really fortunate, I feel, to have met complete and utter idiots from every political party, every religion, every age, every gender, every socio-economic background, every part of the world. But I've also met warm, compassionate, and funny people from all of those groups as well. Except Nazis. I have never met a nice Nazi, so they can do one. So my point in all this is simply belonging to a club does not give you a shorthand for having moral or intellectual high ground; it’s your responsibility as an individual to express who you are, yeah being part of a group might be part of who you are, but its not all of who you are.

    You’re the only you that has ever existed, so doesn’t it make sense to try and be the best you? I found the healthiest state to be in is one of gratitude. Feeling grateful makes you feel lucky, and feeling lucky, oh boy is like a positive, protective forcefield. I feel lucky all the time. It's not comparative, I'm not lucky because someone else is unlucky, Im not lucky today because I was unlucky yesterday, and I'm not competitive, you know im not luckier than you; I just feel it. It's a state that I'm constantly in. It doesn’t depend on anything that happens today because I know tomorrow’s coming.

    Positivity for me isn’t thinking that everything is going to turn out great; it's knowing that when things are crap, that that won’t last, that that can change. I’ve also realised that I'm sort of hardwired to find common ground, what unites us rather than what divides us. Disagreeing after you’ve agreed feels very, very different to agreeing after you’ve disagreed. And I'm about finding solutions. I honestly don’t care who comes up with the solution. It's not about me, not about my ego, my priority. My first priority is not who to blame or who’s at fault. Knowing who’s responsible or why or how something happened, is really really useful- but in its time, my first priority is to get to the other side of the problem? And there’s a better chance if we're working together.

    Maslow, famous for his hierarchy of needs, said if your only tool is a hammer, then every problem is going to look like a nail. It's also for me about the power of diversity. If there’s something that needs resolving, the last thing I wanna be is in a room with ten other people like me. Because, I mean, we'll all really get on, we will be hilarious, we’ll have the best conversations about films and The Beatles, but none of us would have learned anything, at all. So I there’s a solution to a problem I want ten people in the room who’ve got ten different experiences, backgrounds and approaches than I have.

    Here’s a neat trick: start your thoughts, every thought you have, with your blessings. With what you have rather than with what you don’t have. Start with what’s good or what’s great in your life, not that day- up until that point, and then think about the difficulties or the challenges you have to deal with. Your first thought sets a tone- it may as well be a positive one.

    Many of you may be thinking or have been asked about your plans. Have you got a plan? What's your plan? What's your plan now? Planning is really useful, right? It allows you to see and build steps towards a goal. You might be saying, well, in five years' time, I'd like to be in a position to own a house, or I'd like to be in this management position or in research or anything.

    And so what happens is your conscious and your subconscious start working towards that. That's how planning works, right? Rarely do I hear people say that their plan is to be happy. Forget that. I don't even hear ..and happy. Your career goal ..and happy. Because surely, if you say that, then your conscious and your subconscious will be working towards that as well.

    But planning is linear, right? It has to be. It's like one step, you know, on a ladder after another. Life is the exact opposite. You know, life is the disruptor. Life comes along full of its curveballs and the unexpected and the weird coincidences and the WTFs, World Tennis Federation, for the kids and the really, really old people. So all of that is normal. To have a plan is normal. To have it disrupted is normal. So don't fret about that.

    Your decision, in terms of who you are, who you are is always your next decision. That's all you have to worry about in those points when the plan goes awry. None of us really know what our future holds. We just don't. So you may as well fill it to whatever outcome with positivity. You may not change the outcome, but your journey to it will be far happier than the person who's anxious from the outset.

    Seneca said, he who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary. I've got lived experiences of these. So you may be aware that Sussex was my first choice when I was applying to universities many, many years ago.I didn't get in. Apparently, my grades weren't good enough. So I took my business elsewhere. And I waited 25 years until all those who were responsible for me not getting in had either retired, been deported, were in prison, or were just playing dead. And I got back in as Chancellor. So my point is, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. Take that linear planning. The unexpected happened.

    I wanted to act and write since I was five years old. And I know this because when I was five, some uncle came to the house and said to me, that's a five-year-old, which sounds weird now, but he said to me, so young man, what do you want to be when you grow up? And I said, actor. And my dad said, it's pronounced doctor. It's true. It actually happened. So a career seemed impossible. So I pushed it behind a kind of wall of impossibilities and unlikelihoods.

    At the age of 30, I sued the company I was working for for breach of contract. And that legal process rattled on for about two years, during which time I couldn't get any kind of job. And I thought, I've got nothing to lose. Let me get together with a friend of mine, and I'll write and perform. And I, or no one else, at any point up until then, could have foreseen that within two years, I'd be in a successful TV show and the start of a career. And again, where were you, linear planning, in all of that?

    At the end of the day, I think what we need, if there's things that we need from each other, it is compassion. It's acknowledgement. It's understanding. It's not necessarily agreement, but it's to be seen, genuinely to be seen and to be heard. And compassion is the one thing that the more we give, the more we have. It's like a self-replenishing well. You never run out of it.

    And that includes expressing compassion for yourself as well. Regrets are pointless. Firstly, you can't go back and change anything in the past. And secondly, the only reason you'd want to is because you've learned something. So take that learning and move on and move forward. I'm going to leave you with one ancient Sanskrit proverb, which was as powerfully true thousands of years ago as it is today. And that is, too many cooks still won't make enough food for an Asian wedding. It's a deep-seated truth. I wish you all happiness and good fortune, good mental health, and hope that you're surrounded tenfold by the love, kindness and humour that you give out.

    Well done. We're super proud. Go and be the best you. 

    I declare this congregation closed.

    [Music playing]

    (Senior academics and staff on stage tip their hats as two academics/staff walk across the stage to pick up the ceremonial torches from the small, raised table. They bow to one another before bowing to the rest of the academics/staff. Both lead lines single files of all the professors in separate directions down the staircases on the left and right. The academics and staff walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.)

Download the Ceremony 3 video [MP4 3.4GB]

Ceremony 4 at 1.30pm

Summer 2025: Ceremony 4

  •  Video transcript

    [‘Trumpet Fanfare’ music playing]

    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and take their seats. At the end of the procession are two academics/staff with ceremonial torches who on stage bow to each other, the rows of academics/staff, and then place the torches on a small, raised table with a cloth at the very front of the stage.]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:

    I declare open this congregation of the University of Sussex. I'm delighted as Chancellor to welcome you formally to this graduation ceremony. A warm welcome to our honoured guests, our distinguished faculty members, and to those of the professional services here at Sussex.

    But the warmest of welcomes are for you, our graduands, and your family and friends who join you here today. And to those who may be watching this via live video stream around the world. Sussex University was founded as one of the first universities created after the Second World War, almost exactly 64 years ago. And one of the guiding principles was that it should be a forum for ideas beyond convention. Embracing concepts and experiences from different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems, and then combining these with the best of our own. Realising that invention and innovation has no colour, gender, age, or creed.

    Recognising that interconnectedness had an important part to play in a fast-evolving society. Hence, a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and the practical application of concepts. And understanding that the world would become not just more interconnected, but a realisation of just how vital that would be, and indeed is.

    Sussex is proud that graduates from well over 100 countries receive their degrees at these commemorations. So thank you for continuing to make us a truly global university. I know that many of you have had to dig deep to get to this day, struggling to balance your studies with home life, in some cases whilst raising children, experiencing loss and sickness, trying to survive on overdrafts, loans, or family help.

    So today isn't just a celebration of your academic achievements, but of your perseverance, your focus, and of those who helped you along the way. Some of you may be continuing with your academic study, but for many, today marks the end of your academic journey, and what a journey that's been. A journey that started all those years ago with your first day at nursery or kindergarten.

    A trauma of suddenly being thrust from the familiar environment of home into a place full of new people, new names, new foods, and new clothes. Being introduced to the fun worlds of playtime, and reading time, and nits, and chicken pox. Being dressed by your mum, that in a few years you would look at photos and say, what were you thinking? My mum still remembers the day that I turned to her in some outrage and said, Mum, why are you dressing me in this shirt? They totally don't go with these trousers.

    I mean, apart from that, my 30th birthday went really well. Then all the ups and downs of big school, tests and homework, wondering who really was whose best friend, and the sheer pressure of all those years of exams, which led you to Sussex. New people, new names, new foods, new clothes, but this time the fashion choices were all on you.

    Your journey has been epic. So shortly, a name will be read out, hopefully approximating to yours, and you will cross the 20 or so steps across this stage, worried whether you're going to lose your hat or your mortarboard, wondering whether the heels were such a good idea after all, wondering whether your flies are open, and praying that you don't trip over your gown and land in the lap of someone on the front row. If you decide to do that this afternoon, what an array of laps we've arranged for you.

    Look at that. It's like Bridgerton meets Squid Game. I'm beholden to tell you, or remind you if you've been up here before, that you haven't actually got your degrees yet, and you getting your degree might just depend on how much love you show me when you come up here.

    No love for the Chancellor, no degree. I'm kidding, of course, seriously, feel free to express your joy when you come up here in whatever way you want, as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. We can hug, we can shake hands, we can high-five, we can fist-bump, we can dance, we've had dancing already so far this year.

    You can ignore me if you want, it's your day. If you do decide to do press-ups though, which has happened in the past, you're doing them on your own. I'm in my 60s, if I get down there, I'm not sure I can get back up again, and in the interest of time, no selfies on the stage, but if you catch me afterwards, I'll be more than happy.

    Family and friends, this is your day too, so when the time comes, please have your cameras ready and feel to make as much noise as you can as your superhero crosses the stage. In fact, this is just family and friends now, I just want to gauge a level of what we're going to be dealing with, so I want you to just react now as if your loved one has crossed the stage. Let's hear it.

    [Guests applaud loudly]
    You know, I wasn't expecting that. That's really impressive. That's the level you've now set for the rest of this ceremony.

    That was amazing. If any of you graduands are by yourself today, then I'll be your family or friend if you'll have me, so no one's here by themselves.
    Have a great ceremony.

    I call upon the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneal, to address the congregation.

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]
    Professor Sasha Roseneil:

    Distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends and above all our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025. As Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, it's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to the Brighton Centre today. My thanks to our Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, for a fabulous opening speech, it is really almost impossible to follow him.

    But as Sanjeev has reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands. This is a day of celebration for you and of you and of all that you've achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways, from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends and of course from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff.

    Some of you have also had support from our alumni and donors who have generously provided scholarships and bursaries and hardship funding. So, I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you're able, would you please stand and turn face your family and friends behind you and give them a huge round of applause to say thank you.

    [Graduands stand and give a big round of applause.]
    Wonderful, please be seated again. As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs and identities.

    You come each year from over 130 countries, so we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold and support. We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom.

    It's our job to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions in which students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested and rigorous analysis undertaken, and new theories developed, where minds can be changed. We're living in deeply troubled times, war and conflict, terror, death and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern amongst Sussex students. Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world.

    And as we gather here today to celebrate graduation, I would like to emphasise that the university supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university community and that binds us together as a global community. So Sussex graduands, I would like to thank you for all you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion and diversity, an open, warm and welcoming place.

    In the three years that I've been Vice-Chancellor, I've been able to see how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities that have contributed to your learning and development, as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, as volunteers helping people on and off campus, including helping pupils in local schools develop their literary skills, taking part in beach clean-ups and inventing new ways for our campus to be more environmentally sustainable. And so many of you are today receiving a Spirit of Sussex award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend your commitment to your extracurricular activities, well done on all that you've achieved alongside your formal studies.

    Over the past three years, I've had the great pleasure of meeting hundreds of Sussex alumni and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex and of how Sussex shaped their lives, their careers and their characters. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, as well as making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, our graduands today, will feel the same in the years to come.

    Whether you already have a job or are looking for one or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped with knowledge and skills to think critically and creatively, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with the power to shape the future. You've been tutored and supervised by academics who are internationally recognised for their research and scholarship. Their research, which focuses on many of the most urgent concerns of our time, has directly informed your education and Sussex has much to be proud of as a research intensive university.

    For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings. This is an outstanding achievement by our academics, by researchers in the Institute of Development Studies and by everyone who supports their work. Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about.

    One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities and Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect. This year in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top 10 in the UK for citations, with anthropology and environmental science each ranked first, physics and astronomy second in the UK. We're also ranked 17th in the UK for employment outcomes and in the top five percent of universities globally for sustainability.

    And for the past three years, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first in the UK for research income. This is a huge achievement by our academics who are researching urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the future of digital work and much more. All this means that Sussex is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology and influencing policy, as well as making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment.

    Now I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your physical or mental health, some of you have faced loss and family disruption during your student days. Each of you has had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here, but whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back you feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated and supported to achieve your best, that you're leaving with knowledge, skills and personal resources that will stand you in good stead and that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations, and those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers, people whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small, positive ways every day.
    Across the globe in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place and I know that you will do that too.

    So graduands, celebrate who you are today, celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here, celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who've been on the journey with you. Together, celebrate your wonderful achievements. In short, celebrate.

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:
    I call upon the head of the School of Education and Social Work, Professor Simon Thompson.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]
    [Head of the School of Education and Social Work, Professor Simon Thompson stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]
    Professor Simon Thompson:

    Chancellor I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Childhood and Youth: Theory and Practice Honey CAHN-BROWN, Roishin CALLEBOUT, Kitty COX, Leona CREMNITZ, Alysia GOACHER, Maria GRAHAM, Cheuk Ting HO, Poppy JONES, Amy KIRKMAN, Cosima LONGE, Mary LUCKETT, Shay RAWLINGS, Becka ROUGHEAD, Vianney-Justine RUBIT, Georgina SANVILLE, Precious Tien TENAWE, Freya UNDERWOOD
    For Education Studies – Primary and Early Years Emily BALDWIN, Rebecca HAIME, Ameerah Mu'Izzah NA'AIM, Victoria SPARKES
    For Primary and Early Years Education (with Qualified Teacher Status) Faye AL ROWIAIE, Orla BRESLIN, Kelsey BRYCE, Madeline CAESARI, Ella CAIN, Asha CALEY-JAMES, Hannah CHIVERTON, Leah CLARKE, Rebecca CORBETT, Deirbhile CORCORAN, Eloise CROCKER, Charlie DUFFY, Amber FORD, Kelisse FRASER, Phoebe GILBERT, Laurel HIGGINBOTHAM, Millie HODGE, Christina IOAKEIM, Alexander KNOCK, Ben LAING, Aimee LAVENDER, Hannah LOMAX, Olivia LUCAS, Isobel MARTIN, Katie MCGONIGLE, Priyal NAYEE, Also awarded the prize for Outstanding Achievement in the Primary and Early Years Dissertation Charlotte O'LUANAIGH, Phoebe OSBORNE, Leanne PAGE, Lola PUSHMAN, Casey ROSER, Megan ROWLES, Isaac SAGE, Alice SHEPHERD, Momo SLOSS, Lauren SMITH, Maya SMITH, Amy TALBOT, Eamon TAMIMI, Jing An TENG, Bethany TUFF, Leanne WHITLEY, Zena WITHERDEN
    For Social Work Katie SIMPSON
    For the Postgraduate Certificate in Pedagogy and Practice Claire HASKEW
    For the Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Business Studies Dapo ADARAMEWA
    For Social Work Isabella CAMILLERI, Sudev SREEKUMAR
    For Social Work (Step Up to Social Work) Natalie ASHBOLT, Nicholas AUSTIN, Bryony BISSET, Panashe Nicole MATARE, Also awarded the Step Up to Social Work Outstanding Performance award Caroline ORSOLA, Charlotte STEER
    For the degree of Master of Arts in Childhood and Youth Studies Adebola Abosede ADEKUNLE, Nwamaka Sandra IKEGBULA, Frances Onyeka NWADIOGBU, Stephanie WARD
    For Early Years Education Sadiat Aina AKINYOSADE, Esther EJOVI IJIH, Kreepa GURUNG, Grace Temilorun ODEKEYE
    For Early Years Education (with Early Years Teacher Status) Johnson BOAKYE, Shamiso Winfilda MARUZIVA
    For Education Maria ADELEKE, Chinwe Juliet AMAESHI, Coredy CHEPTOO, Grace Unwana EKPOIKONG, Peace Onyedikachi IWUAMADI, RASHMI, Deborah Oluwatoyin OKEREKE, Abiola Esther OSASUMWEN
    For International Education and Development Similoluwa Mary ADEFIOYE, Saidat Abiola ADEYEMI, Sylvia ENWELIKWU HENRY, Imisiayo Prisca OLOYEDE, Esther Titilope ONABODE
    Chancellor I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; “Free things are not quality”: Exploring quality in Ghana’s free Senior High School programme. Pearl BOATENG, For the thesis; Exploring the literacy learning journeys of deaf professional adults in Mexico Tania Nayely CAMPOS VIDAL, For the thesis; Policy reforms for Initial Teacher Education courses in Colombia 2014-2018. A Critical Realist Impact Evaluation Rene FARIETA-BARRERA, For the thesis; Exploring children and young people’s critical thinking: the case of YouTube Evelyn POLACEK KERY, For the thesis; Growing up Green? Disrupting neoliberalist and anthropocentric constructions of nature in primary and early educational spaces Anna RIDGEWELL
    Professor Simon Thompson continues:
    Chancellor, I would like to take this moment to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our education and social work graduates. As future teachers, early years practitioners, youth leaders, researchers and social workers, they carry with them the skills and values needed to make a lasting difference to the lives of individuals and their community. The promise of their impact, gives us hope for tomorrow. On behalf of my school I wish them all good fortune and our heartfelt congratulations.
    Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the School of Education and Social Work.
    [Professor Sasha Roseneil stands]
    Professor Sasha Roseneil:
    I call upon Professor Aleks Szczerbiak, Head of the Department of Politics, to present Sir Ben Bradshaw.
    [Professor Aleks Szczerbiak stands and walks to the lectern, on the way he stops and bows his head to Sir Ben Bradshaw]
    Professor Aleks Szczerbiak:
    Chancellor, Sir Ben Bradshaw is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Sussex, whose remarkable career in journalism and frontline politics has shaped public understanding of global events, championed LGBTQ plus rights and driven forward landmark policies to protect wildlife and the environment. He graduated from Sussex in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts in German and soon after began his career in journalism. He trained on regional newspapers including the Express and Echo in Exeter and worked at BBC Radio Devon before being appointed BBC Radio Berlin's correspondent in 1989.

    There he reported on one of the most defining moments of the 20th century, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. Returning to the UK in 1991, Sir Ben became a reporter and presenter for BBC Radio 4's flagship news programs, The World at One and The World This Weekend. His outstanding work earned him the prestigious Sony News Reporter Award in 1993.

    In 1997 Sir Ben made a bold transition into politics, winning the traditionally conservative seat of Exeter as a Labour MP. He was only the second MP to be openly gay at the time of his election and in 2006 he made history again by becoming the first sitting MP to hold a same-sex civil partnership ceremony. Over his 27 years in parliament Sir Ben held a series of influential roles.

    During the Blair and Brown governments these included Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, Minister of State for Local Government, Marine and Animal Welfare and Minister of State at the Department of Health and Regional Affairs for the South West. In 2009 he was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, serving in the cabinet until the 2010 general election. Sir Ben's political legacy is particularly distinguished in the areas of environmental protection and animal welfare.

    He successfully guided the Pesticides Act through parliament in 1998, improving public access to information about pesticide use in food production and strengthening enforcement. As Animal Welfare Minister he led the passage of the landmark Animal Welfare Act, an internationally pioneering law that introduced a legal duty of care to prevent cruelty and neglect. He was also behind the UK's campaign against commercial whaling within the International Whaling Commission, famously stating how we treat our fellow creatures is a measure of our humanity.

    Sir Ben stepped down from parliament ahead of the 2024 general election. In recognition of his outstanding political and public service he was knighted in the 2023 birthday honours list. In his characteristically humble acceptance he thanked his constituents calling Exeter the nicest constituency in the country.
    Chancellor I present to you for the degree of Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa Sir Ben Bradshaw.
    [Graduands, senior academics and guests applaud.]
    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
    By the authority vested in me by the senate of the university it gives me enormous pleasure to confer upon you the degree Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa. Many congratulations.

    Sir Ben Bradshaw:
    Thank you. Chancellor thank you very much for conferring on me this honour and for inviting me to join your celebration today. I knew nothing about Sussex University before I came, it was originally my fourth choice but after visiting for an interview and a tour of your beautiful campus by a beaming first year student from Ghana it shot straight to the top and that's decision I've been grateful for for the rest of my life.

    I'd grown up in rural Norfolk, mono-ethnic, heteronormative, I'd never met a person of colour and the age of consent for gay men was still 21 and like most of my generation I had suppressed and hidden my sexual orientation. So arriving at a university where the gay sock was the biggest sock on campus was both thrilling and a little terrifying. In the second term my neighbour in York House Jan who's here today dragged me to the gay sock disco.

    It's hard for your generation to imagine how it felt back then to find a place that was so tolerant, so affirming and so safe. This was the golden age of disco and those Monday nights in the crypt gave me a love of dancing I have to this day as well as my first boyfriend and Sussex gave me the confidence to come back to my family and come out and to my friends back home and later on to be out in my working life. I'm afraid I didn't do politics at university, I was too busy on self-discovery and the constant sit-ins, demos and tea parties on the vice-chancellor's lawn, uninvited I have to say, didn't seem the most effective way to build a credible alternative to what was to become 18 years of conservative government.

    But Sussex certainly informed my politics, the critical thinking, the challenge of orthodoxy, the fabulous offbeat courses and my closest friends are still my Sussex friends. When we're together it feels like an exclusive club of instinctive mutual understanding. Without my Sussex grounding I doubt I would have had the confidence to run for parliament in what I knew would be a bruising contest against an outspoken homophobe who described being gay as a sterile disease-ridden occupation and described me, Ben Bradshaw, as a homosexual who speaks German, rides a bicycle and works for the BBC. He is everything about our country that is wrong.

    The 1980s were the high point of the reaction against gay liberation that culminated in the notorious anti-gay law section 28 and it feels like we're going through a similar reaction today, particularly affecting trans and non-binary people. I'm so proud that Sussex continues to be a bastion of resistance against this and a safe place for everyone.

    It may feel daunting leaving Sussex in 2025, a tough graduates market and progressive Sussex values under challenge here and abroad, but it felt much like this when I graduated in 1982 and I couldn't have imagined then that I'd be able to live my life as a gay man free from discrimination and with the right to marry or that the Berlin Wall would come down or that we'd be generating half our energy from renewables today. So however things may feel now please don't stop believing in the possibility of transformative change. Take that Sussex spirit with you but before you go indulge in that other Sussex spirit, partying.

    Have a fabulous celebration with your friends and family today. Thank you.

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:

    I call upon the Head of the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, Professor Jo Moran-Ellis.

    [Head of the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, Professor Jo Moran-Ellis stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Jo Moran-Ellis:

    Chancellor, i will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Criminology Persia ABDULKHANI, Nancy ADAMS, Cameron ASHDOWN, Paulo BARBOSA, Rachelle BLUNDEN, Lucy CHADWICK, Jawad CHOUDHURY, Isabella COLUZZI, Louis DALZIEL, Francesca DE FELICE, Cathryn DELBRIDGE, Phoebe DUKE, Tabitha DUNCAN-WEEKS, Eve FOSTER, Lydia GILMORE, Felix GRIGSBY, Nahide GUL, Charlotte HARMSWORTH, Katherine HARRIS, Olivia HOOK, Edie HUCKEL, Miriam INGLIS, Jenna JETHWA, Eva JUDD, Libby KINGSHOTT, Erin KINGSLEY-HOLMES, Stylianos LAGOGIANNIS, Katya MACKENZIE, Tam MACMILLAN, Mary MCNAIR, Elyssia MILLIS, Eleanor MUSGROVE, Annalina NYE, Lois PENHALLOW, Benn PERKINS, Jessica PERRY, Alivia PRETTY, Isabella PRITCHARD, Ella PUGH, Josie SKEATES-TUBB, Amelia SULLIVAN, Mia TANTAWI, Amy TECK-YONG, Ella THOMAS, Dylan TREVILLION, Rhyanna VENABLES, Matilda WILLIAMS
    For Criminology (with a study abroad year) Martha PAWSON
    For Criminology and Sociology Kumba ABU, Eva ALEXANDRE, Sadie CABLE, Ruby COFFEY, Millie COLEMAN, Luke DALY, Molly FEATHER, Ashani FERNANDO, Isobel GUNDERSEN, Charlotte HISCOCKS, Hannah JOWELL-MCHUGH, Elizabeth LANE, Eloise LOBBENBERG, Amelia MAUGHAN, Emma PEREZ, Alex PHIPPS, Albany PUGH, Georgia SHADE, Paige SMITH, Ella SUTTON.

    Professor Sasha Roseneil continues:

    Chancellor, this year for the first time we have instituted a prize in memory of our dear friend and colleague, Catherine Will, Catherine was an outstanding scholar with the highest commitment to both theoretical and empirical work, world renowned for her research and unstinting in her support of students and colleagues alike. We are very pleased to award this prize jointly this year for outstanding dissertation. Firstly to Nirusha VENDERKOON. Esther WEBB
    For Criminology and Sociology (with a study abroad year) Navlina CHOHAN, Kate HEWETSON, Daisy PORT
    For History and Politics Sesi AGBENU, Emily BEADLE, Molly CATON, Jasmine CHAPMAN, Alara CLEUR, Frederic GALANTE, Georgina HARRISON, Ysella MCGRATH, Jade MONTANA, Kiera ROBERTS, Conor SULLIVAN, Abigail SUMMERS, Ben TOGHILL, Emilia WORMWELL
    For History and Sociology Hannah CRAINE, Benjamim DUARTE FERREIRA, Henry EDMONDS, Georgia KENWARD, Sana Asif KHAN, Lilia KING, Shauna WOLVERSON
    For Politics James Dylan ALLSWANG, Oliver BARNETSON, Also awarded the Sabina Avdagic prize for Best Dissertation mark in the Politics Department and the Annual Politics Departmental prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement Lucy COLEMAN, Edward CORNEW, Nathan DEVONISH, Matthew EVANSON, Paul GALLALLY, Joseph GRIMES, Max GRINDON, Zoe HIDALGO ABAD, Ethan KIRKWOOD, Teigan LUCAS, Nathan LYNCH, Zebedee MACKINTOSH, Shane MITCHELL, Bradley O'NEILL, Joseph PLANT, George PRIOR, Lewis RAWLINSON, Isabella ROFFEY, Bethany ROGERS, Isobel SHAKESPEARE-SMYTH, Dylan SIMMONS, Jasper WHITE
    For Politics (with a professional placement year) Alex DE-LA-HAYE
    For Politics (with a study abroad year) William MULLINS, Sam NEEDELL
    For Politics and International Relations Matias ANDRADE MARTINEZ, Ethan BELL, Emily BURKE, Daniel CHARLES, Oliver COLE, Flo COOKE, Charlotte CRITCHLOW, Zak EVERARD, Layla HAMMOND, Warren HARGREAVES, Saffron HARRIS, Tayla HILL, Kareem HONISH, Gabriella HOWARD-HARWOOD, Lauren KEMPSON, Leonidas KOUNOUPIAS, Anindya Anand KULKARNI, Christopher MILBURN, Sean MURTAGH, Savarna PARKER, Libby PERKINS, Kitty PERROTT-PITCHER, Bethany POWELL, Ellis PRESTON, Eleanor RADFORD, Luke RICHARDSON, Hugh RICKARD, Frederick ROAST, Jack ROBERTS, Kelsey-Jade RORISON, Fatoumatta SAIDYKHAN, Amber SCOTT, Sakinah SIDDIQUI, Georgie SPOTSWOOD, Gracie STEPHENSON, George SUMNER, Fred TOWNSEND-ELLIOTT, Viktoriia TRETIAK, Also awarded the Moletsane Monyake prize for the Best Dissertation in the module: Political Corruption James WATTS, Nell WILKINS, Thomas WISE
    For Politics and International Relations (with a professional placement year) Owen HICKMAN
    For Politics and International Relations (with a study abroad year) Also awarded the Moletsane Monyake prize for the Best Dissertation in the module: Political Corruption Erin GREEN, Katie SHEPPARD
    For Politics and Philosophy Ella GOODCHILD, Imogen GREENE, Amélie HOEB, Zak HUGHES, James LEIGH, Morgan PARRY, Gina PHILLIPS, Stacey RUCI, Rebecca TREGASKIS - DANIELS
    For Politics and Sociology Emilia CRAWLEY, Mia DAVE, May LADBROOKE, Rebecca Hazel NICOL, Grace WILKINSON
    For Sociology Gabrielle ADJAYE, Awuraa-Adwoa AGYEPONG, Phoebe ALLEN, Jessica AMOND, Lucy ANDERSON, Grace BARFOOT, Jade BEECHING, Sophia BELLACHE, Kara BOOTH, Jadie BURNETT, Isabel CATTERMOLE, Benjamin CAWSE, Daniel CHILD, Madeline CONNELL, Emma COWAN, Samuel DEAN, Elfreda DOSWELL TAYLOR, Victoria Grace DREGAN, Isobel DUCKWORTH, Imogen EISENMANN, Janna GALLOWAY-HALE, Lydia GAUNT, Nataya LAWRENCE, Yin Long Rion LI,
    And our join awardee of the Catherine Will prize for an outstanding dissertation Victoria LOW, Hani MAY, Nathaniel MCLAUGHLIN, Jack PARNELL, Bethany PETERS, Phyo Min Htin, Sophie POLL HULSHOFF, Giulia PREZIOSI, Molly ROBBINS, Cameron ROBERTS, Martha ROBINSON, Connie SALVAGNAC, Anoushka SHERGILL, Finley SIMPSON, Hayley STERRICK, Robyn STONE, Gavin TESTER, Gemma TIBBETTS, Fynn TOLHURST, Harriet WATSON, Jack WILKES, Amy WILSON, Charlotte WRIGHT
    For Sociology (with a professional placement year) Annabel SALE
    For Sociology (with a study abroad year) Isabelle KELSEY
    For Sociology and International Development Rhianna BOWMAN, Alia Chiara Eileen DAVIES, Patrycja GRZADZIEL, Charlotte HARKER, Maiya HEXT, Ella INGLE, Darragh O'MEARA-HEAD, Leah RUTHERFORD
    For Sociology with Cultural Studies Natalia BELNIAK, Also awarded the Outstanding Academic Achievement award Huw EVANS, Yat Fan HO, Jamie KING, Elizabeth STEVENS
    For Sociology with French (with a study abroad year) Lily MEYRICK
    For Sociology with Media Studies Caitlin PENNY, Ella PHILLIPS KNIGHT, Francesca ROCCHICCIOLI, Isabel SADLER, Raphael WAKEMAN, Rebecca WOLF
    For the degree of Bachelor of Laws in Law Kyan HODGSON
    For the degree of Master of Arts in Corruption and Governance Jose Andres ARDON ARGUETA, Ashelea Kae ARZADON, Leah GOODMAN, Kavina KRISHNAN, Vhuthuhawe Oscar MULOVHEDZI
    For Criminology and Criminal Justice Tawheed Adedotun ADEBAYO-ONISILE, Emmanuel Obukohwo AGBOGI

    Chancellor I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; The means to grieve: The role of spatial-emotional work in the endeavour for authentic expression Georgie AKEHURST, For the thesis; Safety and fear in public spaces: A qualitative analysis of women's experiences of street harassment in New Delhi, India Naina BAWRI, For the thesis; Overcoming barriers: the experiences of female survivors of domestic violence in Nigeria and the mechanisms which aided in leaving abusive relationships Ngozi Veronica FITCHETT, For the thesis; Euroscepticism in times of crisis: the nature and variations of party-based Euroscepticism in the European Parliament during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Ukraine War JEONG Gilsun

    Professor Sasha Roseneil continues:

    Chancellor, this concludes the list of our wonderful graduands from the School of Law, Politics and Sociology.

    The Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor Education and Innovation:

    Chancellor, I now present to you those graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony

    Postgraduate Diploma in Education Elizabeth Ulawahi meson ADENJI

    Master of Arts in Childhood and Youth Studies Aliexokami adibe OSOU

    Early Years Education Felix Otagetta IJI

    Education Olawessen ADIKAN, Ale MOHAMMED

    International education and development Jamiyu Matthew olarand UBEH

    Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Sociology Lola EDWARDS

    Master of Arts in Corruption and Governance Melissa Karmoud BLACKWELL

    Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony, and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex. I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia, at this ceremony.

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar stands in the middle of the stage]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:

    If you’re able to, graduands, could you stand please

    [Graduates and staff stand]

    By the authority vested in me by the senate of the University, I hereby formally confer degrees on all those just mentioned. Congratulations graduates.
     
    [Cheer and applause]
     
    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, returns to the lectern to deliver closing speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar continues:

    Thanks, take a seat. So, that happened. That was amazing. That is the warmest ceremony so far, I have to say. So, well done for that and well done on the noise levels, family and friends. Some of you were truly embarrassing. Respect.

    So, congratulations again everybody and to Ben as well for your kind of wise words and we should hold on to those. It's that thing, isn't it, about at these times people are afraid to hope and that's the one thing you shouldn't be afraid of. Expectations, those will knock you out but hope is a really powerful thing to hold on to.

    Traditionally, the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom but I know after a long ceremony you'll, you know, want to get on with your day so I'll keep it brief, okay lalalalalalala. That's it. Hey, that's the extent of my wisdom. I'm not remotely qualified to give anyone advice or wisdom but here's some thoughts that I've had and feel free to use them or ignore them or even better improve upon them. We are surrounded by such troubling times. Wars, politics, poverty, identity, inequality, climate change, so-called leaders whose best ideas seem to be obfuscation, deflection, insults, partisanship and just plain killing people.
    If these are their best ideas, I don't see how they can be the best people but people are complex, history is complex, our heroes are complex, we are complex as human beings. Complex problems no doubt require complex solutions and the thing that I think gets attacked in terms of us on a day-to-day basis is our mental health. So, I do think mental health is paramount.

    When we're overwhelmed by anything, grief, anger, anxiety, love, beauty, we lose perspective even momentarily and if we have to make decisions in that state, they may not be the decisions we would make with a calmer mind. We have the right to all of our emotions so I think it's really important to feel all of those emotions when they come but I think it's even more important to then get centred again as swiftly as possible.

    My mum, nicest person I've ever met, she said to me that all those streams that make up positivity, love, compassion, humour, creativity, empathy, they haven't stopped for you to go off and be overwhelmed. They're still running, it's just that at times we don't feel that we can reach out for them or we don't think we're allowed somehow. You hear people sometimes say when they're going through something terrible and they make a joke and they say I shouldn't be laughing and I think why? It hasn't made the other thing disappear or less terrible. So I give myself permission to try and reach out for them or at least the people who embody those traits.
    Speaking to someone is the quickest way of getting perspective back, even better if they're kind or a sense of humour actually. If you're facing something that's awful and you're able to look at it from a slightly different angle and see that it's also silly or ridiculous or profound or inspiring or poetic then it isn't not terrible anymore but it's not just that. It's awful and silly and ridiculous and profound and that for me is perspective and that's what humour does.

    I do try to practise radical empathy. I'm sort of like a compassion activist and sometimes that's difficult towards people whose views I just utterly oppose but I make the effort to be empathetic at least at first nevertheless. Not because I expect some sort of outcome or for them to change but more as a reminder to me of who I am and my values and that I will not be drawn into their agenda which generally is dismissive and hateful.

    People think that you know sometimes being empathetic is sort of a weak state. It's not passive at all. In fact you know being angry and being hateful is really easy, really, really simple. Being compassionate in trying circumstances that I think is a virtue. I think that's tough and it is really hard at the beginning until you keep doing it and then at some point it just becomes habit and it just becomes who you are.

    See I've been really fortunate I feel to have met complete and utter idiots from every political party, every religion, every gender, every age group, every socio-economic background, every corner of the world. I've also met warm, compassionate, funny people from all of those as well so except Nazis. Never met a nice Nazi, never met a funny Nazi, never met an empathetic Nazi so they can collectively do one. My point being that simply belonging to a club of whatever kind is no shorthand for having the moral or intellectual high ground.

    You're an individual first and it is your responsibility to express who you are and I mean let's face it you're the only one of you that's ever existed so why not try and be the best version of you and you could do that every day. I also find the healthiest state to be in is one of gratitude. Feeling grateful makes you feel lucky and feeling lucky is like this powerful protective force field.

    Going back to Ben's point about hope, it allows you to hope when you feel grateful and you feel lucky and my luck, my feeling of luck, I'm feeling lucky right now by the way, it's not comparative. I'm not lucky because someone else is unlucky. It's not competitive. I'm not luckier than you. I'm just lucky. I just feel it. It's a feeling that you carry around with you and it doesn't depend on anything that happens today because I know there's a tomorrow and equally I think that this is what it is. Positivity for me is not thinking everything's going to turn out great. It's knowing that when things are crap that that won't last, that that can change. That to me is positivity.

    I've also realised I'm hardwired to find common ground on first meeting. What unites us rather than divides us but disagreeing after agreeing feels very different to agreeing after you've disagreed so I try to find something we can agree on first and I'm about finding solutions.

    I honestly don't care who comes up with it. It's not about me and my ego. My priority is not to apportion blame and knowing how and why you got to that situation can be really useful but first can we get to the other side of the problem and for me it's also, this is the other thing, we've got a better chance if we're working together.

    So Maslow, famous for his hierarchy of said if your only tool is a hammer then every problem is going to look like a nail and that leads me on to diversity. If there's something that needs resolving the last thing I want to be is in a room with 10 other people like me because granted we'll all really get on. We'll be hilarious. We will talk endlessly about films and the Beatles. It will be really really comfortable but none of us would have learned anything. So I want to be in a room with 10 people who have different experiences and bring different things to the table to best resolve a solution, to find a solution.

    Here's the thing that I do and see if this works with you. If you accept that your first step, first thought is going to set a tone then start your thoughts with your blessings. Start with what you have as opposed to what you don't have. Not what you've got that day, what life has brought you up to that point, whatever that may be and then think about the challenges you have to face because you've set a tone which is more positive than starting with I've got nothing because at that point when someone says you've got great friends and you go and… you know and so it's useful to start with positive steps.

    Now many of you may be thinking or have been asked about a plan. You've got a plan? You've got any plans? What's your plan? You haven't got a plan? Planning is really useful obviously because it allows you to see and build steps towards your goal and you might in five years time say you know I want to be in a position where I own a house or I want to be in a management level or a research level or something and at that point consciously and subconsciously you start building towards that.

    That's kind of obvious isn't it? Isn't that how it works? I very rarely hear people say in terms of their plan it's to be happy and not even ..and happy. So career plan and happy because surely if you say that to yourself then your conscious and your subconscious will work towards that too. But planning is linear. That's the other thing right It's steps of a ladder. So one step two step and that's how you get to the end. Life is the exact opposite. Life is a disrupter. It's full of curveballs, the unexpected, weird coincidences, the WTFs, World Tennis Federation for the children and the very very old. So that's normal.So be happy with your plan and be fine when it gets disrupted. Who you are is always your next decision. So at that point all you have to do is think about your next choice. None of us have any idea of what our future holds. So we may as well fill it with positive steps. It may not change the outcome but your route to it will be a lot happier one than the person who is anxious every step of the way.

    Seneca said he who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than necessary. I've got lived experiences of these. You may be aware that Sussex was my first choice when I was applying to university many years ago. I didn't want to go anywhere else. I didn't get in. Apparently my grades weren't good enough. So I took my business elsewhere and I waited 25 years until all those people who'd been responsible for me not getting in had either retired, had been deported, were in prison, or were just plain dead and I got back in as Chancellor. So my point is nah nah nah nah nah. Take that linear planning. Where was the plan then?

    I wanted to act and write since I was five years old and I know this because when I was five an uncle came to the house and said to me well young man what do you want to be when you grow up and I said actor and my dad said it's pronounced doctor and that is true. So a career seemed impossible so you know the the dream was still there but it was hiding behind a you know wall of impossibility. At the age of 30 I sued the company I was working for at the time for breach of contract and that rattled through the courts for about two years during which time I couldn't really get a job and then I thought yeah what have I got to lose. I've always wanted to do this so I contacted a friend of mine and we teamed up and we did some stuff and no one could have foreseen that within two years of that that I'd be in a successful tv show and it would be the start of an ongoing career and I've been living the dream ever since so I have to say again take that linear planning where were you in that?

    At the end of the day I think what we really need from each other is compassion, acknowledgement, understanding, to be seen, to be heard and compassion is the one thing that the more we give the more we have. It really is like a self-replenishing well and you are constantly then telling the universe who you are and that means expressing compassion for yourself as well don't leave yourself out of it.

    Regrets are pointless. A you can't change the past but B the only reason you'd want to change that is because you've learned something from it so take the learning and move on with it. Cut yourself and cut others some slack.

    I'm going to leave you with an ancient sanskrit proverb as true 5,000 years ago as it was today which is too many cooks still will not make enough food for an asian wedding. Deep-seated truth. I wish you all happiness and good fortune, good mental health and hope that you are surrounded tenfold by the love kindness and humour you give out.

    Well done. We're super proud. Go and be the best you.

    I declare this congregation closed. Thank you for watching!

    [Music playing]

    (Senior academics and staff on stage tip their hats as two academics/staff walk across the stage to pick up the ceremonial torches from the small, raised table. They bow to one another before bowing to the rest of the academics/staff. Both lead lines single files of all the professors in separate directions down the staircases on the left and right. The academics and staff walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.)

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Ceremony 5 at 4.30pm

Summer 2024: Ceremony 5

  •  Video transcript

    [‘Trumpet Fanfare’ music playing]

    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and take their seats. At the end of the procession are two academics/staff with ceremonial torches who on stage bow to each other, the rows of academics/staff, and then place the torches on a small, raised table with a cloth at the very front of the stage.]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]
    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:

    I declare open this congregation of the University of Sussex. I'm delighted as Chancellor to welcome you formally to this graduation ceremony. A warm welcome to our honored guests, our distinguished faculty members, and to those of the professional services here at Sussex.

    But the warmest of welcomes are for you, our graduands, and your family and friends who join you here today. And to those who may be watching this via live video stream around the world.

    Sussex University was founded as one of the first universities created after the Second World War, almost exactly 64 years ago. And one of the guiding principles was that it should be a forum for ideas beyond convention, embracing concepts and experiences from different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems, and then combining these with the best of our own. Realizing that invention and innovation has no color, gender, age, or creed. Recognizing that interconnectedness had an important part to play in a fast-evolving society. Hence, a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and the practical application of concepts. An understanding that the world would become not just more interconnected, but a realization of just how vital that would be, and still is.

    Sussex is proud that graduates from well over 100 countries receive their degrees at these ceremonies. So thank you for continuing to make us a truly global university. And I know that many of you have had to dig deep to get to this day, struggling to balance your studies with home life in some cases, and in some cases, whilst raising children, or experiencing loss and sickness, trying to survive on overdrafts, loans, or family help. So today isn't just a celebration of your academic achievements, but also of your perseverance and your focus, and of those who've helped you along the way.

    Some of you may be continuing with further academic study, but for many today may mark the end of the academic journey. And what a journey that's been. A journey that started all those years ago in nursery or kindergarten. The trauma of suddenly being thrust from the familiar environment of home into a place of new people, new names, new foods, and new clothes. Being introduced to the fun worlds of playtime, and reading time, and nits, and chicken pox. Being dressed by your mum that in a few years you would look at the photos and say, Mum, what were you thinking? My mum says that she still remembers the day I turned to her in some outrage and said, Mum, why are you dressing me in this shirt? It totally doesn't go with these trousers.
    Apart from that, my 30th birthday went really well. And then all the ups and downs of big school, tests and homework, and wondering who really was whose best friend. And the sheer pressure of all those exams, which led you all to Sussex.

    New people, new names, new food, new clothes, but this time the fashion choices were on you. Your journey has been epic.

    So shortly a name will be read out from up here, hopefully approximating to yours, and you will take the mere 20 or so steps across this stage, terrified you're going to lose your hat or your mortarboard, wondering whether the heels were such a good idea after all, wondering whether your flies are open, and praying that you don't trip over your gown and end up in the lap of someone on the front row. If you do decide to do that, by the way, what an array of laps we've arranged for you this afternoon. Take a look at that. It's like Bridgerton meets Squid Game.

    I'm beholden to tell you, or remind you if you've been up here before, that you haven't actually got your degrees yet, and you getting it may just depend on how much love you show me when you come up here. No love for the Chancellor, no degree. Seriously, feel free to express your joy when you cross this stage. I know it can be nerve-wracking, and it's only walking, but listen, feel free. And you can do that in whatever way you want, and I'll go with it, as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. But really, seriously, hugs, shake hands, fist bumps, high fives, dabs, dancing, we've had dancing already this week. I'll happily go along with all of it.

    If you do decide to do press-ups, because this happened in years past, you're doing them on your own. I'm in my 60s. If I get down there, I don't think I can get back up again. And in the interest of time, no selfies on the stage, but if you catch me afterwards, I'd be more than happy.

    Family and friends, this is your day, too. So when the time comes, please have your cameras ready and feel free to make as much noise as you can when your superhero crosses the stage. If any of you are by yourself, by the way, today, then I'll be your family or friend, if you'll have me. So no one's on their own, Okay.

    Have a great ceremony. I call upon the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, to address the congregation.

    [applause]

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:

    Distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025. As Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, it's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to the Brighton Centre. As our Chancellor, Sanjeev, has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands. This is a day of celebration for you and of you and of all that you've achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless ways from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. Some of you have also had support from our alumni and donors who've generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding.

    So I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. If you're able, graduands, would you stand up and turn and face your family and friends behind you and give them a big round of applause to say thank you.

    [Graduands stand and give a big round of applause.]

    Wonderful.

    Please be seated again. As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. And so we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold and support.

    We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis can be undertaken and new theories developed, and where minds can be expanded and changed.

    We're living in deeply troubled times, war and conflict, terror, death, and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger, and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern amongst Sussex students. Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world. And Sussex supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university community, and that binds us together as a global community. So, Sussex Graduands, I would like to thank you for all you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, a warm, open, and welcoming place.

    In the three years that I've been Vice-Chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities, as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, and volunteering on and off campus. So many of you today are receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend your commitment to your extracurricular activities. Well done on all that you've achieved alongside your formal studies.

    Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting hundreds of Sussex alumni, and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and how it shaped their lives, their careers, and their character. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come. Whether you already have a job, or are looking for one, or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think critically and creatively, to adapt and change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world, with the power to shape your future.

    You've been taught by academics who are internationally recognised for their research, which has directly informed your education, and Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University rankings. Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about.

    One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities, and Sussex really punches above our weight in this respect. This year, in the QS World rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top ten in the UK for citations, with anthropology and environmental science each ranked first, and physics and astronomy each ranked second in the UK. We're also 17th in the UK for employment outcomes and in the top 5% of universities globally for sustainability.

    And for the past three years, the business school at Sussex has been ranked first in the UK for research income, as our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work, and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment.

    Now I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health, some of you have faced loss and family disruption. Each of you had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back you feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated and supported to achieve your best, that you're leaving with knowledge, skills and personal resources that will stand you in good stead and that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers, journalists, academics, scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations and those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers, people whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small positive ways every day. Across the globe, in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world progressively a better place.I know that you will do that too.

    So Graduands, celebrate who you are today, celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who've been on this journey with you. Together, celebrate your wonderful achievements. In short, celebrate.

    I now call upon the head of the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, Professor Jo Moran-Ellis.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]

    [head of the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, Professor Jo Moran-Ellis stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Jo Moran-Ellis:

    Chancellor I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Politics Ilana MUNK-UPTON

    For the degree of Bachelor of Laws in Law Also awarded the prize for the best final stage mean in the Law Department Halah ABDELRAHMAN, Dagash Ibrahim ABDU, Mohamed ABOU-SHANAB, Sophie ALCOCK, Noura Jenna ALHAJE, Samiha ANSARY, Bibi Aarifa AUMEER, Muskan AZIZ, Beatrix BADDELEY-CHAPPELL, Chloe BALL, Maria BARNES-MORENO, Michael BARRETT, Lily Grace BARTH, Dina BARZEGAR, Kalie BATKIN, Caden Donald BAX-CAMPBELL, Helena BEADLE, Hafsah BEGUM, Catherine BELL, Harrison BELL, Abbie BELLINGER, Anna-Britt BELOT, Keokai BENJAMIN, Aicha BENMOHAMMED, Amy BLACKMUR, Louis BLACKWOOD, James Douglas BLANCO, Adwoa BOATENG, Also awarded the prize for Special Contribution to the Life of the Law School Award Kelci Morgan BOOKBINDER, Erika Elyse Holsmer BRAND, Kai BROADBENT, Naveera BUTT, Isabella Regan CAIN, Tracey CAKONI, Also awarded the Clinical Legal Education Award for best overall performance on the module Emily Caitlyn CAMPBELL, Daniel CANSANCIO, Also awarded the prize for the best final stage mean in the Law Department Kane CAPPER-SANDON, Charlie CARTER, Yasmin CARTWRIGHT, Catherine CLEAVER, Laura Catherine CLOUTHIER, Ben COOPER, Killian CORDAN, Marsha COSHAM, Pier COSTANDY, George COUTSOUDIS, Tyler CRATHERN, Lois CROSBY, Emma Leah CUBITT, Lily D'ARCY-MASTERS, Sarah Marie DAHMS, Lily DAVIS, William DAWSON, Diana DE JESUS DELGADO, Dohara DE SILVA, Hithanadura Nethuni Hirudini DE SILVA, Grace DE-ATH, Thomas Joseph DESCHENES, Parsa DOROODIANRAD, Niranjan DOROSSINSKI, Mehr Navin DULANI, Lara DUZGUN, Isabella EAST, Nelly Elgammal Mohamed Sayed ELGAMMAL, Thara ELIAS, Also a recipient of the First-Generation Scholar Award Joy ERIAKU, Amber FARLEY, William FARROW, Olivia FINLAYSON, Also awarded the Mason Hayes prize for the Best Commercial Law Essay Felicia Angelina Maria FONTANA, Alix FRANKENBERGER, Oscar GARVEY, Alexi GEORGIOU, Cinzia GHOBRIAL, Lacey GIBSON-BLAKE, Poppy GLADWELL, Benjamin GODDARD, Joseph GODFREY, Errol Matthew GRACEY, Isla GRAHAM, Also awarded the prize for the Highest Grand Mean across the Law Department Amanda Jan GRAY, Kai GREEN, Joseph GREGORIAN, Kritika GURUNG, Emily HAMILL, Ella HANCOCK, Jesifer HARALD NIXON, Rayyan HARMANN, Max HEDGES, Madison-Mae HESSION, Rebekah HIRST, Evie HUTTON, Amelia IONS, Emily Rose IOZZO, Ivana IRESON, Leire IZAGUIRRE, Holly JADIDI, Alesha JAGOTA, Hannah JAMIL, Azezah JANKEER, Also awarded the Special Contribution to the Life of the Law School Award Elli Maher JESSO, Abhinav JOSHI, Chrystelle JUMU, Haider KAMRAN, Alex KARANJA, Nassim KARKACH, Hala KHALIL, Nida KHAN, Yahya Muhammad Ali KHAN, Jordyn Alexandra KLINGENBERG, Marianne LAWSON, Faith LEE, Ji Yoon LEE, Jacob LONGMAN, Joanne MACAULAY, Harper Jane MACKAY, Alexander MANN, Kara Ann MARCY, Konstantinos Dean MAROUDAS, Max William MAZO, Nancy MCALISTER, Rowan MCCOWEN-BROWN, Natalie Blyth MCLEAN, Olivia MCMULLEN, Ellie-Ann MEHMET, Lola MERRYLEES-MCGIRR, Holly MESSER, Raihan MIAH, Bela MISTRY, Nivedna MOHAN, Danielle MOORE, Tamsin MORGAN, Fuad MOUSHASHA, Shah MUMTAZ, Elia NEALE, Jessica NEWMAN, Archie NICHOLSON, Also awarded the prize for the Best Overall Mark in Environmental Law sponsored by Francis Taylor Building Leah Esther NIEUWSTRATEN, Cian O'DWYER, Mj OMAMOGHO, Peter OMOREGBE, Cinderella ORFALI, Libby OSBORNE, Lyndsey OSBORNE, Joseph PARTNER, Nina PATEL, Also awarded the Clinical Legal Education Award for Best Overall Performance on the module Kara Marlene PATERSON, Isabelle PENGELLY LOCKWOOD, Amelia PENSTONE, Tristan Radinka Garcia PERMANA, Holly PETHYBRIDGE, Gia Linh PHAM, George PLANSON, Julia POLONSKA, Casey POWELL, Sereana PRASATH, Sajini RAJARATNAM, Nirveer RAMA, Alisha RANA, Ruby RILEY, Also awarded the prize for the Special Contribution to the Life of the Law School Award Morgan Alexander RITCHIE, Also a recipient of the First-Generation Scholar Award Ella ROBERTS, Matt ROBERTS, Tori Kerry Nothando ROBINSON, Victoria ROOTS, Also awarded the Prize for the Best Student in Company Law, Courtesy of Sweet and Maxwell Max ROVERS, Aleena ROY, Louis RUSSELL, Ravdeep Kaur SAHOTA, Annie SALISBURY, Lauren SALTER, Nicholas Vance SHAW, Bishoy Shenoda Bastawros SHENODA, Emma SHENODA, Isobel SHERING, Olivia SILVER, Eszter Zita SIMINSZKY, Olivia Ann Lenore SINCLAIR, Maclain Tyberious SINTON, Stacy SMITH, Shemmy Olamide SOLAJA-SHOLAJA, Charly SOPOWSKI, Sabrine SOUISSI, Freya STADDLE, Lydia STANTON, Alex STEPHENS, Meagan Alexandra SUKHU, Liliana SULLIVAN, Sasha TERRY, Tamas TOTH, Paige Elyse TOUTANT, Louis TWELVETREE, Dilara USTA, Jeslin UTHAYAPALAN, Jiayan WANG, Charlotte WEATHERLEY, Seth Mccallum WEBB, Also a recipient of the First-Generation Scholar Award Phoebe WHEATCROFT, Millie WHITEWAY, Rhys WILKES, Olabisi Oludolapo WILLIAMS, Jonielia WILSON, Emily WITHERINGTON, Brianna Madeline WOLF, Corinna WROBEL, Melissa YALCIN, Anna YOMI-FADEYI, Hannah YOUNG, Leo YUSSUF, Setayesh ZARKESH

    For Law (Graduate Entry) Maria ARCURI, Madeleine BOYD, Xiaolong CHEN, Ashley EDGAR,, Lisa HUYNH, Kevin Willis JOHNSON, Stephanie LARMET, Jaanuishae PATHMARAJAH, Ashley Lauren WARD, Katelyn Rebecca WEBSTER

    Professor Jo Moran-Ellis continues:
    Chancellor, this concludes the first half of the list of graduands from the School of Law, Politics and Sociology.

    [Graduands, senior academics and guests applaud.]

    [Professor Sasha Roseneil stands]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil continues:
    I call upon Professor Amir Paz-Fuchs, Head of the Department of Law, to present Marcus Hayes

    [Professor Amir Paz-Fuchs, Head of the Department of Law stands and walks to the lectern, as he passes by, he bows his head at Marcus Hayes as a sign of respect]

    Professor Amir Paz-Fuchs:
    Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Graduands, family, friends, colleagues. I first met Marcus Hayes in my early days at Sussex when I was the law school's employability lead.

    My initial impression was of a man who was extremely bright, passionate, irreverent, and slightly scary. Over the years, however, I've met him on numerous occasions and have grown to know him much better, so now I find him extremely bright, passionate, irreverent, and slightly scary. What I've always found most fascinating about Marcus is his complexity. He manages to showcase the unique combination of compassion and commitment to support and assist those who face significant challenges, on the one hand, and the expectation of excellence, a can-do attitude, and a rejection of laziness on the other.

    As an exercise in couch psychology, one may wonder if his biography has at least helped the formation of his approach to life. Marcus was the first in his family to go to university, and to his credit, he very early on made the right choice, the law school at the University of Sussex, 1984 to 1987. Through grind and talent, and extremely high expectations for himself, he rose to the top of the legal profession, heading an award-winning law firm, Mason Hayes, which was shortlisted for the Law Society Excellence Award at the National Law Society Excellence Awards, a finalist at the Manchester Legal Awards for Law Firm of the Year, and winner of the award for Best Niche Commercial Law Firm at the SME Awards.

    Marcus himself was shortlisted three times out of over 130,000 practicing solicitors in England and Wales for the category of Private Practice Solicitor of the Year at the National Law Society Excellence Awards. In 2015, he finished runner-up in that category.

    Chancellor, this is just a taste of the formal awards and recognition that Marcus has received for his professional excellence, but he wouldn't be standing here today if it wasn't for his dedication, commitment, and work on a very different front. For over 15 years, Marcus has positioned himself as a crusader for the cause of equality, inclusion, and diversity in the legal profession, particularly but not exclusively with respect to disability. He has campaigned on behalf of people on the artistic spectrum within the legal profession, the political realm, and wider society.

    Supporting first-generation scholars not solely as a matter of principle, but as a personal commitment, he established a charitable trust towards that end, has developed and has been running a flagship work experience program, offered university prizes, and developed skills and employability master classes. He drives down from Manchester a number of times a year, sleeps in a bunk bed in a youth hostel, now that may be an exaggeration, to join us on our modules and explain to students how commercial law operates in practice. His commitment and achievements have been recognized in the Queen's Birthday Honours List when he was awarded an MBE for his services to law and to education.

    In his professional excellence, his passion, his heart, his commitment to social justice, and his work on behalf of those who can benefit from his support, Marcus embodies the Sussex ethos and spirit, so it is only fitting that Chancellor, I present to you for the Degree of Laws, Honoris Causa, Marcus David Hayes.

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar stands]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
    By the authority vested in me by the senate of the university it gives me enormous pleasure to confer upon you the degree Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa. Many congratulations.

    [Applause]

    [Marcus David Hayes stands and approaches the lectern]

    Marcus David Hayes:
    Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, distinguished guests, members of the Faculty of Law, parents, families and friends, most importantly of all of course, all of you, Graduands. It is simply wonderful to have this opportunity to share this occasion with all of you today who are graduating and to see the pride and happiness on every one of your faces and those of your families and friends in the audience. I would also like to thank of course the University for the presentation of this honorary degree to me.

    This recognition is truly, truly humbling and to be thought to hold the same values and to be guided by the same ambitions and aspirations as this University is without question one of the highlights of my own life, albeit it's very hard today to find the right words to express my appreciation and gratitude for the honour that Sussex has bestowed upon me. I would also like to thank you in particular, Amir. Thank you very, very much indeed for your very kind and flattering words about me today and as you've all heard my own journey began here several decades ago.

    I was right here in this room at the Brighton Centre at a graduation ceremony much like this in the summertime, watched by my two incredibly, albeit then, silent parents to receive my own law degree but looking back at the young person I was when I graduated though is as you can probably now imagine a slightly uncomfortable experience for the 60 year old man that that young person has now become but I've asked myself what I wished I would have known when I graduated and the important lessons I've learnt in the years that have expired from that day to this and in the few minutes I have in which to speak to you I've essentially come up with one, one main answer, the absolute crucial importance of failure.

    Now that might seem like a very strange and indeed contradictory choice today especially when your own successes and achievements are quite rightly being celebrated, honoured and recognised but just bear with me for a moment because what I feared most at your age was failure itself but by the age of 37 it's fair to say that by any conventional measure I had failed on an epic scale. I had failed to realise my then lifetime ambition of being elected to parliament and at the same time I decided to leave my job in a large national law firm and establish my own legal business which by anyone's admission at the time wasn't going particularly well either legally or financially.

    Understandably my wife, my family, my friends, my business associates and yes even my bank manager wondered what the hell I was doing. I was stressed, frustrated and I was actually embarrassed by my own lack of success but I'm here today to tell you I did turn things around. My legal business became award-winning and has represented clients in places as diverse as Macedonia, South Africa and the Dutch Antilles.

    My bank manager is now actually speaking to me again and whilst I didn't get elected to parliament I have worked with government nevertheless over the years on a range of legal and commercial law reforms as well as with government, Sussex, the Law Society and other institutions on a variety of charitable initiatives when I found my own campaigning voice helped by Marina and Andrea and Barbara and others at Sussex on issues relating to disability, health, social mobility, diversity and inclusion. But my simple lesson to you all today is that it doesn't matter how far you might rise at some point you are bound to stumble because it's impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously you might as well not have lived at all in which case you've simply failed by default. So given the time machine I'd tell myself at my own graduation that life and success in it isn't just about hard work but being able to survive the hardships and difficulties when they come and never ever giving up.

    As the first person in my own family to go to university I certainly didn't come from privilege or indeed have access to networks that would help open doors for me or at the very least tell me what doors I should walk through. I didn't have connections in high places or a clear route map into the legal profession I now call my home and yet and yet here I am today not because my path was easy but because I refused to accept other people's narratives about who I could be or how far I could go and I never ever ever gave up. So always remember that the enemy of your Sussex education is the phrase I give up it's never ever I give up.

    Make up your mind find out what you want to do establish your place in the world and engage with the very very issues that now confront our society such as the legal and ethical dilemmas of AI that only a few years ago were purely science fiction. When you confront these very issues challenges and choices always take inspiration from those that have taught you at Sussex such as Jeanette Ashton and Joe Wilson from your parents families and friends and from this very university itself to ensure that you go out into the world and make a real and positive difference and contribution. The truth of course about your Sussex education is that it's all about ensuring each one of you gets the chance to fulfill your promise and potential in order to become the best versions of yourselves that you all can be.

    That is what this university does that is what Sussex tries to manufacture and achieve the solid foundations upon which I've been able to build my own life have essentially come from this very very place. Sussex helped me develop the idea that one's role in life was to try and do something and give something back. That idea fundamentally came from Sussex and I instantly realised when I came to Brighton from the small Worcestershire town of Stourport-on-Seven that this university was going to be a pivotal place that would help me become who I wanted to be.

    But of course for all of you in the sea of faces looking up at me today young eager and clever it's yet another closing chapter in your young lives with the conclusion of this ceremony. Your next chapter now awaits you a clean sheet a clean page to inscribe your dreams and desires upon and yet another peak to challenge yourselves again and to dream and to dare. The degree that you've all earned today from this quite remarkable institution will stand you in great stead wherever your personal journeys take you.

    Be proud of who you are and what you have achieved and let the things you are passionate about be what defines you. The lessons of course you've all gained from Sussex both academically and in life will continue to be far more precious and far more useful in your forthcoming journeys than you all yet realise. This place this university has already shaped you in ways that you will only fully appreciate as your own journeys begin to unfold and in that respect I also hope that each one of you gets as much future enjoyment as I have had from everything you have absorbed from this university and from what I know will be the enduring friendships you have made.

    But also remember, remember too on your future journeys as you depart from Sussex to learn about the imposter syndrome and when you have resist it with all of your hearts because on your future journeys you will encounter plenty of people plenty of people who want to diminish you so don't do it for them and even if you won't remember this speech in a few seconds time of barely a few minutes from a rather old middle-aged incredibly bald man then at least take away with you today the words the wisdom and the advice of the Roman philosopher Seneca who said as is a tale so is life not how long it is but how good it is that matters.

    Your future is therefore whatever you make of it because it hasn't been written yet continue to dream big take the inevitable failures in your stride and never ever ever give up because positive intention without positive action only leads quite simply to positively nothing. And if I may I want to finish with a few brief of thanks because nobody of course achieves anything in life alone so to my wife Catherine sat in the audience today who has been a constant source of instincting support and inspiration over many many many years often to the detriment of her own aspirations and ambitions I owe absolutely everything everything to you my darling darling girl.

    [guests applaud]

    You don't know how tricky that was, and of course to my own parents there are many proud parents here today in the audience and I expect many like my own parents will have done a great deal to help you get to this wonderful moment this afternoon so once again congratulations to you all thank you for allowing me to share in your graduation ceremony and in return I wish each and every one of you happy peaceful successful but most importantly of all bloody bloody good lives thank you very much.

    [Cheer and applause]

    [Professor Sasha Roseneil stands]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:
    I call upon the Head of the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, Professor Jo Moran-Ellis.

    [Head of the School of Law, Politics and Sociology, Professor Jo Moran-Ellis stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Jo Moran-Ellis:
    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Laws in Law (with a professional placement year) Grace BRUNWIN-JONES, Amora FERNANDES, Adefunke OYEDIRAN

    For Law (with a study abroad year) Gintare ANTANAVICIUTE, Liezel BARNARD, Amber Lian Lozendo HAYLOCK, Also a recipient of the First-Generation Scholar Award Annie MCENTEE, Also a recipient of the First-Generation Scholar Award Laiba SALIM

    For Law with American Studies Lucas ADAMS, Also a recipient of the First-Generation Scholar Award Aizah ATIF, Holly ATKINSON, Nina BENJAMIN, Yasmin BILIMORIA, Tina CHI, Amy COOK, Abigail FISHER, Rebecca GARROULD, Also awarded the prize for the Best Final Stage Mean in the Law Department and the Special Contribution to the Life of the Law School Award Kiera HAMMOND, Lara HARTLEY, Gemma HUNT, Kadija JOHNSON-BAH, Elizabeth LAWRENCE, Aimee MACNAUGHTON, Era MEMETI, Dominic NELSON, Shauna O'DONNELL, Kiara OSEI-TUTU, Olivia PAYNE, Natalia POLLEY, Isabella POPLE, Hilary SALDANHA, Megan SMITH, Amanda SPERRING

    For Law with Business and Management, Fatema Talal ALTEHOW, Alejandro BEIGVEDER GARCIA, Sarika BELI, Mal BIVOLAKU, Ingrid BRATSVE, Sophie DUQUEMIN, Sinead FINNEGAN, Mohammad GHANEM, Samara GHARIAL, Max HUGHES, Ropafadzo KANONGOVERE, Olivia LLOYD, Molly Cam Phieu NGUYEN, Cassandra OBURU NCHAMA, Keira PATEL, Tameem PAWANEY, Lauren PLATT, Habil RASOOL, Anushka SHARMA, Muzikababa SIBANDA, Jordan SIMPSON, Dalia TABAZ, Ismail UDDIN, Abigail WARD, Iqraa ZULFIQAR
    For Law with Business and Management (with a study abroad year) Sophia HEGARTY SCHOLFIELD

    For Law with Criminology Samuel ADEKEYE, Zoe ANDERSON CAMILLERI, Natalia ARBOLEDA PAZOS, Melike Iclal AYKAC, Rofyda BAMUZAHIM, Enid BONSU, Helen BUCK, Jasmine CAMPBELL-SAUNDH, Finlay DICKINSON, Mia DIONISI, Yaasin DJOUADA, Also awarded the Clarkson and Keating Criminal Law prize courtesy of Sweet and Maxwell Dominika DOMEL, Florrie ELMAHDY, Ella FORWARD, Mia GARNER, Maya HAMILL, Riya Naresh HIRANI, Shannon HUGHES, Chloe MADUREIRA-WARD, Ella MANLEY, Luka MONK, Sky MORRIS, Anabel NEARY, Coco OSBORNE, Maria REAL, Jamie RICE-JONES, Layla SARRAF, Daisy SEYMOUR, Chloe SWIFT, Vanessa DE GOUVEIA, George TUNNICLIFFE

    For Law with Criminology (with a study abroad year) Eleanor ROBERTS

    For Law with International Relations Terri BEECHER, Gillian CABRERA, Lauren DEVINE, Asma HALIMI, Cordilia HARWOOD, Gabrielle Therese JIMENEZ, Flake KRASNIQI, Mari KURTANIDZE,
    Eneha MIAH, Ruth NWOSU, Temiloluwa OLAYINKA, Also awarded the Special Contribution to the Life of the Law School Award Accalia PLUMMER, Miriam REZGUI, Hamad Mohamed Yousif Ahmed SULAIMAN, Holly TAKYI-BOATENG, Carlos TAVARES DO ROSARIO, Regina VILLARREAL, Andre WRIGHT

    For Law with Mandarin Chinese (with a study abroad year) Elizabeth BARAVI

    For Law with Politics Joseph MURPHY, Andrei NEGESCU, Neeka SETAYESH, Yousif Mohamed Yousif Ahmed SULAIMAN, Rachel TALABI, Ralfs TIMERMANIS, Amna ZAFFAR

    For Law with Politics (with a professional placement year) Erica Faith DANQUAH

    For Law with Spanish Mohamad AL ZAIYADI

    For the degree of Master of Arts in Law Rebecca PENHEY

    For the degree of Master of Laws in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law Daniel
    ADARAMOLA, Winifred Ochuko AMINONE, Chukwuka Friday ELEKWA, Sinmiloluwa Victor MAKINDE, Amarachukwu Blessing NEDOLISA, Chinwendu Glory NWOKOCHA, Precious Chimdiya OHANUKA, Olamide David SHABA, Rosemary Chikodi UDEMADU

    For International Commercial Law Leen Aiman Omar AL-ZOUBI, Sesime Racheal DASI, Ikponmwosa Walter EZEIGBEBE, Mahla REZAEI, Ozge TERZI, Ada Mary UCHE

    For International Financial Law Chiamaka Nnenna ANYANWU, Oyinda Shakirat OLAOSEBIKAN

    For International Human Rights Law Damilola Maria AKINKUNMI, Meredith ARMSTRONG, Shivani PATEL

    For Law Lana Ziad Saleh AL KADI, Khalid Munif A ALMUTAIRI, Charles Oluwatobi OKEDIYA, Simon ROMER-ORMISTON,Summer PITT ROCHE, Hannan TAJ

    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; A study of the role of intersectional identities in influencing Black women’s perception of sexual harassment experienced in the workplace and their pursuit of access to justice in England and Wales Neemah AHAMED, For the thesis; The Compensatory principles and provisions in relation to medical harm in Saudi Arabia Gadah Sameer M ALOTAIBI, For the thesis; Perceptions of social class and ‘misrecognition’ in the Magistrates’ Court Vanessa LONG, For the thesis; Reforming the legal framework for protecting the rights of internally displaced persons in Nigeria: a case for the constitutionalisation of IDP rights Emmanuel Chukwunyere NJOKU, For the thesis; Corporate criminal liability in Malaysia: lessons from the UK & the US Tengku Chik Abu Bakar TENGKU IBRAHIM

    Professor Jo Moran-Ellis continues:
    Chancellor, this concludes the list of our amazing Graduands from the school of law, politics and sociology.

    [applause]

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor stands and approaches the lectern]

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor:
    Chancellor, I now present to you those graduands that were unable to be presented to you earlier in the ceremony

    For the degree of Bachelor of Laws in Law Yahya Muhammad Ali KHAN
    For Law with Business and Management Olivia JOHNSON
    For the degree of Master of Laws in International Commercial Law Kanyinsola Jeminat ODEKILEKUN

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor continues:

    Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex. I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in abstentia at this ceremony.

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
    Graduates, if you are able to stand, if you wouldn't mind standing. By the authority vested in me by the Senate of the University, I hereby formally confer degrees on all the aforementioned. Congratulations, Sussex graduates.

    [Cheer and applause]
     
    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, returns to the lectern to deliver closing speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar continues:

    [Graduands, senior academics and guests applaud.]

    That's great, take a seat. So, that happened. Congratulations, everyone, including our honours causa as well. Thank you for your wise words, Marcus, because they certainly resonate with me and they just make good sense. Some of those I think I'll echo in what I'm saying as well, which is cool, I just won't say it as well, but that's fine.

    So, as your time here at Sussex draws to a close, we hope that you will keep us in your hearts and thoughts and remain connected to us as alumni. Traditionally, the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom, but I know after a long ceremony, you'd really want to get on with your day, so I'll keep it really brief, OK? Here it goes, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la, OK? I'm not remotely qualified to give anyone advice or wisdom, but here are a few thoughts that I've had, and so feel free to use it, ignore it, or even better, improve upon it.

    We seem to be surrounded by such troubling times, and one of those things that it impacts the most, I think, is our mental health. Just dealing with all the various, you know, the wars, the politics, the poverty, the identity, inequality, climate change, it can be really overwhelming.

    And when we are overwhelmed, we generally lose perspective, and sometimes that can be momentary or it can last longer. And I think it's really important, it's important to feel everything, because you have a right to all of your emotions. But it's important to try to get perspective back, because if you don't have to make decisions when you're overwhelmed, they may not be the decisions you would make with a quieter and a calmer mind.

    So, you know, how to get perspective back quickly. The quickest way is to talk to someone. Always has been, still is. Because even if they repeat the same thing that you're thinking, just to hear it back outside of your own head is really useful. Because when you are overwhelmed and you're trying to calm your own mind down, it's the same mind that's overwhelmed that's trying to do it, and it's really, really hard. So talking to someone is really, really useful.

    If there isn't anyone around, a sense of humor really does work, because irony forces you to look at something in a different way. So if there's something that's really overwhelming and it's awful, and you're able to look at it from a slightly different angle, and it is silly or funny or ridiculous or profound or poetic or anything, it's now not not horrible, but it's not just that. It's that and something else. And that gives you a little bit of perspective in that little space.

    The other thing I've tried to do, actually, in terms of perspective, is I do try to practice radical empathy. And sometimes that's difficult towards people whose views you utterly oppose.

    But I make the effort, nevertheless. Not so much because I expect some sort of outcome or I'm gonna change their minds. It's not my job to change their minds. It's theirs. But it's more of a reminder to myself of who I am that I will not get drawn into their agenda. And particularly if their agenda is hateful and violent and divisive, I don't really wanna get drawn into that. So I won't. So I'll express empathy and compassion. They can do whatever they want. That’s up to them. But that's me reminding myself who I am. Because to be honest, being angry, being hateful, it's not difficult. It's really, really easy. Being compassionate, under stress and under strain, now that's tough. That takes some character. It's not passive. People think it's kind of like, you know, it's sitting on the fence or whatever. It's not passive at all.

    It's really, really active. And it is difficult to be compassionate and compassionate in trying circumstances. But the more you do it, the easier it gets until it just becomes habit.

    And it's just who you are. See, I've been really fortunate. I feel very fortunate in that I've met complete and utter idiots and imbeciles from every political party, every religion, every gender, every age group, every socioeconomic background, every corner of the world. But I've also met extraordinary, warm, empathetic, humorous people from all of those groups as well. So there isn't a group, actually, there is one, Nazis. Never met a nice Nazi.

    Never met a funny Nazi. Never met a compassionate Nazi. So they can all collectively do one.

    But my point being that simply belonging to a club is no shorthand for having a moral or a political or intellectual high ground. It's your responsibility as an individual to express who you are to yourself and to other people. Listen, you're the only you that has ever existed. It makes sense for me to try and be the best you. Why not? Why be an average you or a below average you?

    The healthiest state I've found to be in is one of gratitude. Feeling gratitude makes you feel lucky. And if you feel lucky, oh boy, that is like a protective, positive force field around you. I feel lucky all the time. I'm feeling lucky right now. My back's hurting from three ceremonies today. I feel really lucky because it's not comparative. I don't feel lucky because someone else is having a hard time.
    I don't feel, my luck isn't competitive. I'm not saying I'm luckier than you. I'm just saying I'm lucky.

    It's a state, it's an emotional state that I find myself. And it doesn't depend on anything that happened to me today because there's tomorrow. There's also this evening. I mean, things can change. It's kind of, and something that Marcus was saying just about the spread of time and how things can change over time. Sometimes what you think is a terrible moment or a failure or something, you have no idea how it's gonna play out.

    So don't prejudge it or prejudge yourself. Positivity for me isn't thinking everything's gonna be great. It's knowing that when it's crap, that it won't last, that it can change. And within that becomes, within that gratitude and within that feeling lucky, it allows you to hope, hope without being attacked for it.

    My priority is our solutions. I don't really care who comes up with it. It's not about me and my ego. You know, why or how or who's to blame or whatever can be really useful things to think about later on. But first, I wanna get to the other side of the problem.

    And there is a much better chance if we're working together. Maslow, famous for his hierarchy of needs, said, if your only tool is a hammer, then every problem is gonna look like a nail. And to that, the power of diversity.

    If there's something that needs resolving, really the last thing I need is to be in a room with 10 people like me. Granted, we'll all get on. We will be hilarious. We are gonna have the best conversations about movies and about the Beatles, but we're not gonna learn a thing. None of us. So what I want is, when I wanna find a solution, I want 10 people who have got different ideas and different experiences and life experiences and ways of thinking of things to be in that room with me.I think we've got a much better chance of finding a solution then.

    The other thing I've done which really helps me is realizing that your first step in anything and your first thought sets a tone. So I've kind of trained myself. It's taken time, still a work in progress, to start with what I have rather than what I haven't got. I'm starting with my blessings, not about what I got today, my life up until this point. That is a ton of great stuff. Then I think about the stuff that I need to do or I haven't got or that I've lost or whatever. I really noticed this when my dad passed away about 18 months ago, and I remember with my dad, and this was something I reflected on, my first thoughts after he died were not the grief. They were there. I acknowledged that. They were that I was glad that I had him for as long as I had. I was glad that we had a terrible relationship when I was in my teens and 20s. I was really glad that, you know, grateful that that had turned around. I was really grateful that he saw me successful and happy. I was really grateful that he saw grandchildren.

    Then I thought about the grief, and it just contextualized it a bit, and I try to do that with everything, is immediately go to what's good in my life and what has been good and what's great before I go to what's not so good.

    Many of you may be thinking about plans right now. Planning, of course, very useful. See steps towards your goal. But it's generally when you're asked about your plan, and I think the people asking as well generally, it's usually about career. Where do you see yourself in five years' time? That kind of thing, and that's fine because you kind of say whatever it is your answer is, and consciously and subconsciously, you start working towards that. That's kind of how it works. I very rarely hear people say in their plan is to be happy, and the practical version of that I hear even less, which is my career plan and to be happy, and I would suggest that's a really great thing to add because surely if you do that, you're conscious and you're subconscious will be working towards that as well. It's not mutually exclusive to your career. It doesn't have to be, but planning is linear, okay? I mean, it is, right? It's rungs of a ladder. Life is the exact opposite. Life is a disruptor. It's full of curve balls, and the unexpected, and weird coincidences, and the WTFs, World Tennis Federation for the children and the very old.

    All of that is fine. It's normal. That's how it's supposed to be, so be okay with your plan, and okay when it's disrupted. Who you are is always your next decision, so at that point, just focus on your next decision, and that's it. Don't get hung up about berating yourself, so effectively, get perspective, make a choice, and don't beat yourself up about it.

    Seneca, second Seneca, saying in the same, that doesn't happen very often, does it? In the same ceremony. Seneca said, he who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary. Just keep that in mind. I've got lived experiences of these, okay? You may be aware that Sussex was my first choice when I was applying to university many, many years ago. I didn't want to go anywhere else. I didn't get in. Yeah, tell me about it. I mean, apparently, my grades weren't good enough, so I took my business elsewhere, and I waited 25 years until all those people who were responsible for me not getting in had either retired, were in prison, or deported, or were just plain dead, and I got back in as chancellor, so my point is, nahhhhh! Take that, linear planning.

    Things sometimes work out in the long term, right? I wanted to act and write since I was five years old, and I know this because when I was five, some uncle came to the house and said to me, well, young man, what do you want to be when you grow up? And I said, actor, and my dad said, it's pronounced doctor. It's true, it happened. So, you know, a career just seemed like a pipe dream. I mean, it just seemed, well, it's impossible, and so the dream was pushed back. It was still there, but it was kind of pushed back behind this kind of sea of impossibilities.

    At the age of 30, I sued the company I was working for for breach of contract. That took two years to rattle through legal processes. They settled out of court in the end, but for two years, I couldn't get a job, and I thought, what have I got to lose? I always wanted to try this writing, performing thing, so I contacted a friend of mine. We formed a kind of double act and got spotted by some producers, and that was at 32, and no one could have foreseen, even at that stage, that two years later, I'd be in a successful TV show, and that would be the start of a still-going career and living the dream, and again, I have to say, where were you, linear planning and all of that? So in both those instances, you know, anything that I had assumed was a failure at any point before that was just not part of the long-term plan. You know, what I realized was I wasn't a failure. I was just success in waiting. I just didn't know it. So it's changed my belief in what may play out in the long term.

    At the end of the day, I think, you know, what we really need from each other is acknowledgement, understanding, an attempt at understanding, to be seen, to be heard, and ultimately, some compassion, and the one thing about compassion is that the more we give, the more we have. It's like a self-replenishing well, and that means also expressing compassion for yourself. It means being kind to yourself.

    Regrets are really pointless. You can't change the past, and also the only reason you would want to change that past is because you've learned something from it. So take the learning and move on. Give yourself and other people some slack on that.

    I'm gonna end with an ancient Sanskrit proverb which was as true thousands of years ago as it is today, and that is, too many cooks still won't make enough food for an Asian wedding. It's a perennial truth.

    Listen, well done. We're super proud. Go and be the best you.

    I declare this graduation closed. Thank you.

    [Music playing]

    (Senior academics and staff on stage tip their hats as two academics/staff walk across the stage to pick up the ceremonial torches from the small, raised table. They bow to one another before bowing to the rest of the academics/staff. Both lead lines single files of all the professors in separate directions down the staircases on the left and right. The academics and staff walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.)

Download the Ceremony 5 video [MP4 3.7GB]

Wednesday 23 July 2025

Ceremony 6 at 10am

Summer 2025: Ceremony 6

  •  Video transcript

    [‘Trumpet Fanfare’ music playing]

    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and take their seats. At the end of the procession are two academics/staff with ceremonial torches who on stage bow to each other, the rows of academics/staff, and then place the torches on a small, raised table with a cloth at the very front of the stage.]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:

    Good morning, I declare open this congregation of the University of Sussex. I'm delighted to welcome you formally as Chancellor to this graduation ceremony. A warm welcome to our honored guests, our distinguished faculty members, and to those of the professional services here at Sussex.

    But the warmest of welcomes are for you, our graduands, and your family and friends who join you here today, and to those who may be watching this via live video stream around the world. Sussex University was founded as one of the first universities created after the Second World War, almost 64 years ago. And one of the guiding principles was that it should be a forum for ideas beyond convention.

    Embracing concepts and experiences from different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems, and then combining these with the best of our own. Realizing that invention and innovation has no color, gender, age, or creed. Recognizing that interconnectedness had an important part to play in a fast-evolving society.

    Hence, a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and the practical application of concepts. An understanding that the world would become not just more interconnected, but a realization of just how vital that would be, and indeed is. Sussex is proud that graduates from well over 100 countries receive their degrees at these ceremonies.

    So thank you for continuing to make us a truly global university. I know that many of you have had to dig deep to get to this day, struggling to balance your studies with home life, in some cases whilst raising children, experiencing loss and sickness, trying to survive on overdrafts, loans, or family help. So today isn't just a celebration of your academic achievements, but also of your perseverance and your focus, but also those that have helped you along the way.

    Now some of you may be continuing with further academic study, but for many today may mark the end of your academic journey. And what a journey it's been. A journey that started all those years ago with your first day at nursery or kindergarten.

    The trauma of suddenly being thrust from a familiar home environment into a place full of new people, new names, new foods, new clothes. Being introduced to the fun worlds of playtime, and reading time, and nits, and chicken pox. Being dressed by your mum that in a few years you'd look back at the photos and say, Mum, what were you thinking? My mum still remembers the day that I turned around to her and said, Mum, why are you dressing me in this shirt? It so totally doesn't go with these trousers.

    I mean, apart from that, my 30th birthday went really well. But then all the ups and downs of big school, tests and homework, wondering who really was whose best friend, and the sheer pressure of all those exams, which led you to Sussex. New people, new names, new foods, new clothes.

    But this time the fashion choices were all on you. Your journey has been epic. So shortly, a name will be read out, hopefully approximating to yours. And you will take the 20 or so steps to cross this stage, terrified that you're going to lose your hat or your mortarboard, wondering whether the heels were such a good idea after all, worried that your flies are open, and praying that you don't trip over your gown and land in the lap of someone in the front row. I mean, if you do decide to do that this morning, what an array of laps we've arranged for you. Take a look at that.

    It's like Bridgerton meets Squid Game. I'm beholden to tell you, or remind you if you've been up here before, that you haven't actually got your degree yet. And you getting your degree may just depend on how much love you show me when you come up here.

    No love for the Chancellor, no degree. Sorry. Seriously, feel free to express your joy when you come up here in whatever way you want, as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality.

    But seriously, we can hug, we can shake hands, we can fist bump, we can high five. There's been a lot of dancing this week. We can dance.

    Listen, you can ignore me if you want. It's your day. One note I'm going to say is if you choose to do press-ups, which have happened in the past, you're doing them on your own.

    I'm in my 60s. If I get down there now, I'm not sure I can get back up again. And in the interest of time, no selfies on the stage, but if you catch me afterwards, I'll be more than happy.

    Family and friends, this is your day too. So when the time comes, have your cameras ready and feel free to make as much noise as you can as your superhero crosses the stage. In fact, this is just for family and friends now, just so I can gauge where we're going to be at this.

    I want you to react now, all of you, as if your loved one is crossing the stage getting their degree. Okay, off you go. They're crossing the stage.

    [Guests applaud and cheer loudly]

    Wow. I didn't expect that. That's very impressive.

    Okay, so you now know what level you're kind of aiming at. Fantastic. Also, to any of the graduands, if you're here by yourself, then I'll be your family or friend if you'll have me. So no one's here on their own.

    Have a great ceremony. I call upon the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, to address the congregation.

    [Guests applaud loudly]

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:
    Mr. Deputy Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025. As Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, it's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to this graduation ceremony. As Sanjeev has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands.

    This is a day of celebration for you and of you, and of all that you've achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. And some of you have had support from our alumni and donors who've generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding.

    So I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you're able, would you please stand up and turn and face your friends and loved ones behind you and offer your thanks, a big hearty round of applause to everyone who is with us here today.

    [Graduands stand and give a big round of applause.]

    That's great. Please be seated again.

    As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities.

    You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. So we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold and support.

    We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job as a university to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis can be undertaken, new theories developed, and where minds can be expanded and changed. We're living in deeply troubled times, war and conflict, terror, death, and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger, and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern amongst Sussex students.

    Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems the world faces. And Sussex supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university community and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community. So, Sussex graduates, I would like to thank you all for all that you've contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, a warm, open, and welcoming place.

    In the three years that I've been Vice-Chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities, as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, volunteering on and off campus. And so many of you are today receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend your commitment to your extracurricular and sporting activities. Well done on all that you've achieved alongside your formal studies.

    Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting many hundreds of Sussex alumni, and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and how passionately they say it shaped their lives, their careers, and their character.

    Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex, about making lasting friendships, and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come. Whether you already have a job, or are looking for one, or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think critically and creatively, to adapt and change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world, with the power to shape your future.

    You've been taught by academics who are internationally recognised for their research, which has directly informed your education, and Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings. Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice, and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about.

    One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities, and Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect. This year, in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top ten in the UK for citations, with anthropology and environmental science each ranked first, and physics and astronomy each ranked second in the UK. We were also ranked 17th in the UK for employment outcomes, and in the top 5% of universities globally for sustainability.

    And for the past three years running, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first of all business schools in the UK for research income. As our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI, and the digital future of work, and much more, Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world. It's advancing technology, influencing policy, and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment.

    Now I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health. Some of you have faced loss and family disruption.

    Each of you has had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope when you look back, you will feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated, and supported to achieve your best, that you're leaving with knowledge, skills, and personal resources that will stand you in good stead, and that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. The Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organizations, and those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers, people whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small, positive ways every day.

    Across the globe, in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. And I know you will do that too. So, graduands, celebrate who you are today. Celebrate the commitment, the hard work, and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who've been on the journey with you. Together, celebrate your wonderful achievements.

    In short, celebrate.

    I now call upon the Head of Department of Strategy and Marketing in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Vasiliki Bamiatzi.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]

    [Head of Department of Strategy and Marketing in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Vasiliki Bamiatzi stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Vasiliki Bamiatzi:
    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Science in International Business Abdullah Kanaan I ABOMOHSEN, Layla A H Gh H M ALQATAN, Mert ALTUN, Afnan ASIM, Also awarded the prize for the Best Research Project in Strategy and Marketing with the Highest dissertation mark Philippa CARSON, Cherry CHAW SU, Nicole CIPAKOVA, Jemma CREAGH, Prachi DEWAN, Jana Mohamed Mohamed Reda ELBATRAWY, Adham ELGENDY, Amr Mohamed Abdelmoneim Zaki ELKAYAR, Cain GREENWOOD, Sebastien HADDON, Elspeth HARGREAVES, Ziyu HUANG, Nazibul HUDA, Artem IGNATOV, Alicia KAMARA, Nathan KRANAT, Le LI, Hangjia MA, James MARTINS, Matthew MCCARTAN, Valentina MEALIN, Yaqing MIAO, Nkululeko Chris MSIZA, Michail NOUSIAS, Stephanie OROZCO, Johannes Hendricus PADMOS, Kaylen PATEL, Mohammad Luqman QASSIM, Zyad Ali Hassan Eldeeb Ali RAMADAN, Megha RANA, Kristofer ROELLEKE-SMYTH, Omar Rae'D SAHAWNEH, Reem SANNOUR, Fazeel SHEIKH, Adam STURTON, Zhihao SUN, Romi SUTTON, Ella TREGONNING-DUFF, Finlay TRIGGLE, Muhammad USMAN, Haoyu WANG, Liwen WANG, Izak WESLEY, Alexander WHEELER, Zachary WHENLOCK-ALLEN, Ann Lie WONG, Zikuan YANG

    For International Business (with a professional placement year) Callum BROOKS, Isabel CHAPMAN, Oluwatamilore Nofiu DUROSINMI-ETTI, Ting Hei Natalie HO, Also awarded the prize for the Best Research Project in Strategy and Marketing with the Highest dissertation mark James MADDEN, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the highest grand mean in BSc International Business Patrick PARLE

    For International Business (with a study abroad year) Jonathan LAHAI-TAYLOR, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the highest grand mean in BSc International Business (YAB) Shoei YAMAMOTO

    For Marketing and Management Abdullah ALSHARYAN, AMEEN, Joy ANANG, Helena ARNOLD, Ali AWAD, Tad AWALOM, Reyhan AZIM, Frank BACON, Seoha BAE, Nikodem BAJERA, William BECKINGSALE, Mariami BUKIA, Jacob BUSS, Adam BUTTERWORTH, Aowei CHEN, Hoi Ting CHEUNG, Khant Nay CHI, Shu Nam CHONG, Georgia CHRISTOU, Kitty CLEARY-MURSELL, Jacob DANIELS, Harry DOLAN, Laila Tarek Abdulghani Fayyad ELKHYYAT, Farah ELNAHHAS, Omar Mohamed Nabil ELSHIKH, Ewan ENGLAND, Jaydene FOREMAN, Anna-Rose FORSDICK, Mohamed Maisara Mohamed GABER, Ella GANSKI, Thea GARRANA, Britzit GKOTSLARI, Charles GLADWYN, Amos Wing Cheng GO, Amelia GRAVETT, Tomasz GUSS, Mohamed Ahmed Elsayed Ahmed HANOURA, Holly HARRIS, Asma HEZAM, Frances HILL, Oscar HOBBS, Cara HOLMES-HENDERSON, Joshua HOWARD, Mustafa IDRIS, Yulu JIANG, Agha Hassaan Ahmed KHAN, Yat Fung KWONG, Linsheng LI, Jianlin LIAO, Dipson LIMBU, Sichen LIN, Zekai LIN, Zhenzhen LIN, Chuxuan LIU, James MACALLAN, Tala MAHMOUD, Ali Mohamed Hussain Hassan MANSOUR, James MARSH-MOSSADEGHI, Soraya MAYO MERINERO, Shannon MCAULEY, Edward MCBARRON, Bruno MCLEES, Abdul MEHTA, Mariem Amr Samy Atta MOHAMED, Noah MOORE, Cleo NEESON, Olivia NELSON, Conor O'SHEA, William OSBORNE, Selina PAINTER, Tia PATEL, Radu-Andre POPA, Jasmina PUN, Muhammad RAFFAY, Shaheen RAHMAN, Archibald RALPH-HARDING, Menatalla Karim Said Abdalla RAWHEY, Grace RETKOCERI, Tevin RUNGRUANGSAP, Archie SANDERSON, Alia SARHAN, Ali Mohamed SAWAN, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Marketing and Management Taylan SCARRATT, Gypsy SCOTT, Heidi SEEAR, Will SHARPE, Cavan SOPP, Freya SYMONS, Kota TATEISHI, Bana TESFALDET, Wai Yin Vanessa TSE, Maria Angelica Teresa VASQUEZ RIOS, Renata VERSCHOOR, Yu-En WU, Gabriela ZEVALLOS, Qi ZHANG, Shuo ZHANG, Mohamed ZOGHEIB

    Professor Vasiliki Bamiatzi continues:

    Chancellor, this concludes the first part of the list of graduands from theUniversity of Sussex Business School.

    [Professor Sasha Roseneil stands]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:

    I call upon the Dean of the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Ingrid Woolard, to present Jonathan MacQuitty.
    [Professor Ingrid Woolard goes to Jonathan MacQuitty’s seat, bows to him, shakes his hand, and they move to the centre of the platform to bow to the Chancellor. She then approaches the lectern.]

    Professor Ingrid Woolard:

    Chancellor, Dr Jonathan MacQuitty is a remarkable individual whose career bridges the worlds of science, innovation and philanthropy. His academic journey began with an MA from Oxford, followed by a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sussex and then an MBA from Stanford.

    At the heart of all of this study is analysis, which has been central to his highly successful career as a venture capitalist in the fields of biotech and life sciences. Jonathan says that it is his responsibility to identify and support science innovations that will deliver significant health benefits to people. He has spoken passionately about the importance of data-driven decisions, the promise of AI and accelerating drug discovery, and the challenge of distinguishing true innovation from hype.

    In 1988, Jonathan co-founded Genpharm International, a venture-backed Bay Area biotech company developing a human sequence antibody platform. After 10 years, he moved into his first venture capital role as partner and head of the West Coast Office of Abingworth, a transatlantic life science venture capital firm. In 2015, after retiring as partner at Abingworth, he became CEO of 47 Inc., a cancer immunotherapy spin-out company from Stanford University, partly funded by Lightspeed Venture Partners.

    He is also chairman of Personalis, a genome-guided medicine company, which is also funded by Lightspeed. He has said of his role as sector head for life sciences at Lightspeed, as an investor, I meet incredible founders and visionaries and get very excited about their ideas. I will walk the extra mile to help them make these ideas a reality, particularly for patients' lives.

    I have to focus on the ones that I truly believe have the best chance of making a tangible difference to the lives of thousands of patients. Those are the tough decisions that must be made daily. Jonathan is also an engaged and generous donor to the university.
    His philanthropy includes the annual 10,000 pound MacQuitty prizes given to the top performing students across the sciences and the humanities. He's also a former member of the Board of the Friends of the University of Sussex in the USA. The MacQuitty prize was first awarded to a Sussex student in 2008, thanks to a legacy from Jonathan's great uncle that had been passed down through the generations.

    That great uncle, William MacQuitty, had received a generous prize in 1884 that allowed him to continue his studies and become a successful doctor. Jonathan is committed to making the same difference in the lives of others. Jonathan has said, I'm conscious that Sussex students today are under increasing financial pressure. 

    The prize is to provide the winner with sufficient financial freedom to consider more easily doing graduate work, starting a business, or simply traveling. It's really great to see students benefiting from an academic prize early in their lives, in the same way that my great uncle, speaking for Jonathan, did in Belfast almost 150 years ago.

    Chancellor, I present for the degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, Dr. Jonathan MacQuitty.

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:

    By the authority of the Senate of the University, it gives me great pleasure to confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa. Many congratulations, Jonathan.

    [Graduands, senior academics and guests applaud.]

    [Dr. Jonathan MacQuitty approaches the lectern]

    Dr. Jonathan MacQuitty:
    Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, distinguished guests, graduates, it's a real privilege to be here.

    It's a great honor, it's an unexpected honor, and so I must start by thanking the University for awarding me this degree, and the Dean for her kind introduction. It's very unexpected, and one that I will appreciate both now and in the future. I must also thank my supervisor, the late Professor Mike Lapid, who is a fellow of the Royal Society, who persuaded me to come to Sussex to do my PhD in chemistry.

    I must also thank my lab mates, who persisted in comradeship in spite of my very unimpressive skills at the bench. And I must also thank my wife of 40 years, Laurie Hunter, who is out there in the audience some way, who has not been put off my continued attempts to reduce natural beauty to its underlying chemical processes. I must also congratulate all those students getting their Sussex degrees, all the people who did the real work out there, who studied, did their homework, took exams, the real heroes today.
    Sussex was an incredible experience for me. Doing a PhD means you don't have weekly lectures, don't have weekly homework. It's a largely unstructured process, forcing you to work out what's needed. On top of that, Mike had a very large group of PhD students, post-doctoral students, visiting scientists, even undergraduate or two. I was responsible for one. The result was that I was frequently left to work things out by myself, and this experience of having to think and plan for myself in an unstructured environment was immensely helpful, not just in my first job, but later in life.

    So my first piece of advice for today's graduates, you have parents and friends who are on your side, but who over time may understandably want you to be safely ensconced with lots of structure around you, situations where you won't have to do much fending for yourself. As you go out in the world, I suggest you think about that carefully. Are you learning from what you're doing? Are you being challenged by it? Are you doing things that help build your skills? Is this what you should be doing with your life? Think about that.

    One thought experiment is to imagine looking back five years hence. If you had been fairly conventional in your thinking, how would you feel in five years' time about not having taken a more risky path? And instead, if you did decide today to do something more risky and failed miserably, how would you think about that? Would you be happy that you at least tried, or would you be sad that things have got screwed up? You will have options and choices all your life, and over time probably more options than you imagine. From time to time, you should sit down and think about what you want to do with your life.

    I have to be careful though in giving advice. My first full-time job was way back in 1970, 55 years ago. I was working in a lab that was developing novel drug candidates for rheumatoid arthritis in a way not dissimilar conceptually from today's labs, but it was obviously a very different world back then.

    Since then, I've spent most of my professional life managing or investing in the development of new drugs or medical treatments. This takes an exquisite combination of biological science, chemical science, medical science, engineering, and above all, finance. It's a long, expensive, and risky business, and that leads me to my second piece of advice. There's an impression one can get from TV or movies that great things can be achieved suddenly. My experience is the exact opposite. Great things have a habit of taking a lot of hard work over a long period of time.

    Many of you know this. You've had to work hard to get here today, so when you go out in the world, try to find things that you like to spend time on so you can work long and hard at them and get better at them. Try to go the extra mile. This is true whether it's a hobby or your career, but particularly your career. During part of my PhD, I was trying to find a chemical intermediate using a fancy new instrument. I kept seeing the intermediate, but only very briefly.

    One day after several months, I realized one day that the signal correlated rather well with the lift going up and down next to my lab. So to my third piece of advice, as you move along, I guarantee from time to time there will be setbacks and catastrophes. Maybe you've had some already. The trick is to get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up. Sometimes people assume that I planned my career decades ago. Not true. I've rarely known my path forward more than a year or two. I've come to forks in the road, have thought about them, and taken one of them, largely without regret.

    But I've come to realize that it's the journey that really counts. The people you meet along the way, the adventures that you will get into. So my last piece of advice, as you venture along in the world and choose your own path, I hope you can learn to enjoy the journey and the people that you meet. That's the real secret to happiness.

    Congratulations and good luck to all of you.

    [Guests applaud loudly]

    [Professor Sasha Roseneil stands]

    Professor Sasha Roseneil:
    I call upon the Head of Department for Strategy and Marketing, in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Vasiliki Bamiatzi.

    [Head of Department for Strategy and Marketing, in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Vasiliki Bamiatzi stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Vasiliki Bamiatzi:
    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management (with a professional placement year) Nicolas BERGER, Matheus BROCARDO, Connor DONOGHUE, Kirsten DRISCOLL, Also awarded the prize for the Best Research Project in Strategy and Marketing with the Highest dissertation mark Amy DYKES, Joseph EL MAJDOUBI, Emily FREE, Franco Matias HIROMOTO UEHARA, Omotomike OMOTAYO, Oscar PAYNE, Alice Bear Charlotte SADLER, Bissy WHITE
    For Marketing and Management (with a study abroad year) Dorottya SZUCS
    For Marketing and Management (with a venture creation year) Leo ABERY
    For Marketing and Management with Psychology Farah Ehab Hassan ABDELKARIM, Emaan Zebun AHSANUDDIN, Jessica ALEXANDER, Emma AMOEV, Aarya Abhay AMRITE, Ariunbolor AYUR, Harry BEALE, Ella BIGNALL, Lily BOWN, Milly CATCHPOLE, Ellie COLLINGWOOD, Fin DENMAN, Keran EKEUH, Emily FAIRCHILD, Cian FURLONG, Lydia GARDINER, Yasmin HAILE, Rita HAIZEL, Zoe HARTLEY, Ilona-Georgiana HENTEA, Amy HIGGINS, Hannah IQBAL, Washmah JAVAID, Asya KORTAS, Jessica LAD, Anna Isabelle LAHOUD, Hetvi LALAJI, Dylan LEISINGER, Nyellah LYTTLE, Anya MARECKI, Lane MCKAY, Sofia MCLEAN, Salma Tarek Mahmoud METWALLY, Nino MILETIC, Adriana MORAN VERA, Angus MURRAY-NOBBS, Katie NEWMAN, Ben NICHOLS, Mya NIX, Hannah NYAYWA, Lynsey O'GRADY, Max OMNOU, Aleksandra OSTROWSKA, Nico PANUNZI, Luke PEMBERTON, Scarlett PERRY, Nonpavich PHANRATANAMONGKOL, Daniel PICKUP, Mya PORTER, Joy Saha RAHUL, Kitty ROBERTSON, Sachin ROY, Takayoshi SASAKI, Hana SMALLWOOD, Scarlett SMITH, Laila Ahmed Mohamed TAALAB, Beatrix TAYLOR, William TAYLOR-PREVETT, Chiho TOKUNAGA, Povilas VILKAS, Zara WILLIAMS
    For Marketing and Management with Psychology (with a professional placement year) Also awarded the Best Student prize for the highest grand mean in BSc Marketing and Management with Psychology Ella CUSCHIERI, Melissa FOX, Molly GILHAM, Millie HALL, Grace Moyo MARINHO, Anastasia SAMAD, Juliana Akoth YONGA
    For Marketing and Management with Psychology (with a study abroad year) Andrew FREEMAN
    For the Postgraduate Certificate in International Marketing Mariam MOLA
    For the degree of Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Damilola AJIBOYE, Stella Olajumoke OLAJIDE, Olufemi Solomon ONI
    For International Business and Development Ayodeji Abiodun ADEDIRAN, Tina Ngozi OBI
    For International Management Michael Korede IJADIMIBOYO, Mutiat Morenikeji LAWAL, Kasarachi Rosemary ONYEKA, Oluwakemi Patricia OYEDEJI, Oyedamola Oluwatobiloba OYEWOLA, Grishma RAJBHANDARI, Fatimah Omobukonla SERIKI, Jatin SONI
    For International Marketing Cheren BALMORES, Nicole CASSAR PACE, Sarah GAUCI, Aneliya GOSPODINOVA, Tamara JAMOUS, Harley MARSHALL, Rebecca PREECE, Katharina RODE
    For Marketing and Consumer Psychology Abisola Esther AGBOLA, Sadhika SAHA, Yasmin SAUMTALLY LOPEZ
    For Strategic Marketing Juliana BOYANOVA, Yang LIU, Siti MEIDALING, Osagioduwa OIWO, Lingyun YOU
    Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the University of Sussex Business School.

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students stands]

    The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students:

    Chancellor, I now present to you those graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony...

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in International Business:
    Zhihao SUN, Ann Lie WONG

    For Marketing and Management Seoha BAE, Muhammad Zayed AMEEN, Ammar IRFAN, Yuxuan TANG

    For Marketing and Management with Psychology
    Washmah JAVAID

    For the degree of Master of Science in International Management Enver GUNGOR , Manpreet Kaur, Vikas TANWAR

    For Strategic Marketing Kelvin BOAKYE ANSAH, Nkeiruka Vivian EZEKWE, Syed Aarish GILANI,

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management Ammar IRFAN, Nikita Jayant PENDSE

    Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony, and the moment has come for the formal conferment of degrees of the University of Sussex. I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia, at this ceremony.

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar stands in the middle of the stage]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
    Graduates, if you wouldn't mind standing if you can.

    [Graduates and staff stand]

    By the authority vested in me by the Senate of the University, I hereby formally confer degrees on all the aforementioned. Congratulations, Sussex graduates.
     
    [Cheer and applause]
     
    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, returns to the lectern to deliver closing speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar continues:

    Thanks, take a seat. So that happened. That was pretty cool.

    Congratulations everyone, including our honoris causa. Thank you for your wise counsel, some of which may overlap with what I have to say. Graduates, as your time at Sussex draws to a close, we hope that you will remain connected to us, keep us in your hearts and thoughts as alumni. Traditionally the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom, but I know after a long ceremony you'll want to get on with your day, so I'll keep it really brief lalalalalala. That's it. That's the extent of my wisdom right there.

    I'm not remotely qualified to give anyone any advice or wisdom, but here are some thoughts that I've had and feel free to use them or ignore them or even better, improve upon them. We do seem to be surrounded by such troubling times, you know, war, politics, poverty, identity, inequality, climate change, but people are complex, our heroes are complex, we're complex, complex problems sometimes require complex solutions, but I think the main assault that happens in all of that is on our mental health, because a lot of it can be so overwhelming, and when we're overwhelmed by anything, grief, anger, sadness, anxiety, love, beauty, we lose perspective, maybe even momentarily, and if in that moment there are decisions you have to make, they may not be the decisions you would make with a clearer mind. So I think it's important, and we have a right to all of our emotions, so it's important to feel those things, and a lot of those things are justified in making us feel that way, so feel it, but I think it's also then perhaps even more important to get centred again as swiftly as possible.

    The quickest way when you're overwhelmed to get perspective back is to talk to someone. Always has been and remains the case, even better if they're kind, but, you know, because just talking it out loud, even them repeating your own view, let alone challenging it, you know, you hear it differently, and that's perspective, and if you haven't got somebody around, then actually a sense of humour, irony, is really useful, because irony just looks at something from a comical angle, and so if this thing which is awful and terrible that's overwhelming you, if you're able to look at it from a slightly different angle and see that it could also be silly or ridiculous or funny or profound or poetic, and suddenly it's not not terrible, but it's not just terrible. It's terrible and, and that to me is a fundamental definition of perspective.

    I mean, the other thing I try to do actually to counter being overwhelmed is practice kind of radical empathy. Sometimes that's difficult towards somebody whose views, you know, I utterly oppose, but I make the effort anyway. You know, people have arrived at an opinion, even if it's abhorrent, from somewhere, and I'm kind of curious to know how they got there.

    And partly, actually mainly, the reason that I practice that empathy, I try for it every time, is not because I'm going to change them or I'm going to change an outcome. It's more to remind me of who I am and not get dragged into someone else's agenda which is hateful or mean-spirited or lacking compassion. And people sometimes think that that is a weak position to take. It's a sign of weakness that someone's trying to be nice. Actually, being angry or hateful is really easy. It's really simple.

    And there's a lot of people who decide to live in that, which I think is extraordinary. But it is easy. What's difficult is trying to be compassionate when it's challenging. Try that. That, to me, is far more a virtue and an element of a strong personality than someone who's permanently angry. And also, it is difficult at the beginning, you know, when you're trying to be compassionate and you're trying to remember it. But to be quite honest, after a while, it gets easier and it just then becomes habit. It just becomes who you are. And the thing is, I take that position because I've been fortunate enough to have met complete and utter idiots from every political party, every religion, every gender, every part of the world, every socioeconomic class, every age group.

    But I've also met warm, compassionate, and funny people from all of those groups as well. Actually, the only group I haven't met who's nice, I've never met a nice Nazi. I've never met a funny Nazi or a caring one. So they can collectively do one. But my point being that simply belonging to a club doesn't give you a shorthand for a moral or intellectual high ground. You're an individual. You're a you. It's your responsibility to express who you are. Listen, you're the only you that's ever existed. So doesn't it make sense to try to be like the best you? And the great thing about that is you can try that every day. Every day. I found the healthiest state to be in, with regards to everything I mentioned, is one of gratitude.

    Because feeling grateful makes you feel lucky. And feeling lucky, oh boy, it's like a positive, protective force field. I feel lucky all the time. I feel lucky now. My back's aching from all the handshaking and the hugs, which were lovely, but I feel really lucky. I wouldn't change any of those moments. And also because my luck is not comparative. I'm not lucky because someone else is having a hard time. I'm not lucky compared to someone who's going through challenges. And it's not competitive. I'm not luckier than you. I hope you feel lucky. Mine's just a state. It's a kind of emotional, mental state that I try to sit in for as long as possible. Because also it doesn't depend on what's happened to me today.

    Because I know that there's a tomorrow, and there's a day after that. And so the trick, actually, is if you could make your first thoughts, your blessings, about what you have, rather than what you don't have. If you start with that, you set a tone for yourself. So the reason I feel lucky is that I don't feel lucky, as I said, because of something that happened today or yesterday. It's everything that's happened to me in my life. I can put all those great moments together. They've been terrible moments. I'm aware of that. But I'm choosing to look at the great moments, and I'm going to start with that. And then I'll move on to whatever problem it is that I have to deal with today. It just sets a tone. And also, because I'm kind of focused on finding a solution, I really honestly don't care who comes up with it. It's not about me. It's not about my ego. Finding out who's to blame or whatever is not my priority.

    My absolute first priority is to get to the other side of the problem, and then think about how or why we got into that situation, and use that as analysis. And there's a better chance if we're working together. Maslow, famous for his hierarchy of needs, said, if your only tool is a hammer, then every problem is going to look like a nail. You want an array of tools to be able to solve things. For me, it's also the power of diversity. If there's something that needs resolving, the last thing I want or last thing I need is to be in a room with 10 people like me. Now, granted, 10 people like me in a room, we are going to get on so well. We will be hilarious. We're going to have the best conversations about movies and The Beatles ever. But none of us will have learned anything. We're all me. So I want to be in a room with 10 people who are unlike me, who bring different ideas and experiences and approaches to the table.

    We've got a much better chance of solving something. Now, many of you may be thinking about or have been asked about your plans. Got a plan? What's your plan? You haven't got a plan? Planning obviously is great, really useful. It allows you to see and build steps towards a goal. And many people will say, we'll think about, in five years, I'd like to be, or in a couple of years, I'd like to be in a position, you know, maybe because I'd like to be in a position by a house or I'd like to be in a management position or in a research thing or whatever. And so then your conscious and your subconscious starts to work towards that.

    I mean, that's how it works. Rarely do I hear people, when they're asked about their plan, is to say happy. And even more rare and more achievable, and happy. So this is my kind of goal in terms of career and to be happy. Because surely, if you say that, then your conscious and subconscious will be working towards that as well, right? So it's not mutually exclusive. There's nobody that, you know, nobody suggests that, but it's absolutely true.

    You can have a career plan and try to be happy at the same time. You'd start that from the beginning, as opposed to suddenly finding yourself, you know, overworked and then trying to find a life-work balance. Also, planning is linear, right? It has to be. It is rungs of a ladder. Life is the exact opposite. Life is a disruptor. It's full of curveballs and the unexpected, weird coincidences, the WTFs, the World Tennis Federation for the little kids and the very old people. So all of that is normal. It's normal to have a plan and it's absolutely normal for it to get disrupted, to be okay with your plan.

    And so the only position you have to take is when that plan gets disrupted, is to make a choice. That's all it is. You don't want to spend time at that moment trying to analyze what went wrong with your plan. Again, do that later. Get to the other side of the problem first because you have no idea. None of us do have any idea of what our future holds.

    So you may as well fill those steps with positivity. It may not change the outcome, but boy, your journey to it will be a lot happier than the person who's anxious about it from the very beginning. Seneca said, he who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary. I've got lived experiences of these that I'll share with you, two of them. You may be aware that Sussex was my first choice when I was applying for universities years ago. I didn't want to go anywhere else. And I didn't get in. Apparently, my grades weren't good enough. So I took my business elsewhere.

    And interestingly enough, I did a business and marketing degree. So, hey, I'm with you guys. And I waited. I waited for 25 years till all those people who were responsible for me not getting in had either retired, were in prison, been deported, or were just plain dead. And I just came back in as chancellor. So, NUUUH, take that linear planning!

    Not in any plan, but it happened. I wanted to act and write since I was five years old. And I know this because when I was five years old, an uncle came to the house and said to me, as a five-year-old, which is a bit weird, but he said, so, young man, what do you want to be when you grow up? And I said, actor. And my dad said, it's pronounced doctor. It genuinely happened. So, you know, the dream was still there because it was kind of, you know, passion, but it was pushed behind a kind of, you know, a wall of impossibilities and improbabilities.

    And at the age of 30, I sued the last company I was working for for breach of contract. And that took two years for it to resolve through the legal system. And I couldn't get a job. And I remember at that point thinking, and this is a point, I think, that was made earlier on as well, that I thought, do you know what? I've got the chance to try this now. I don't want to be 80. And looking back and regretting that I didn't try.

    So, I'm going to have a go. And so, I rang a friend of mine and we got together and started writing stuff and performing stuff. And I, nobody, would have foreseen that within two years of that, I'd be in a successful TV show. And that would be the start of a career that's, you know, I'm grateful for, it's still going. And I'm living the dream. And again, I have to go, where were you, linear planning, in all of that.

    So, the one thing that has taught me is that, you know, it is a long game. Whether you're playing it or not, it is a long game. And if you feel that something today hasn't worked, you have no idea really how that's going to pan out. You know, and so, that's what I mean. There's a tomorrow and there's a day after that. At the end of the day, I think what we really need from each other is acknowledgement, someone trying to understand you, someone trying to see you, hear you. That's what we need to give out as well, compassion, really. And compassion is the one thing that the more we give, the more we have. It's a self-replenishing well. It never runs out. And that includes compassion for yourself as well. As I said, you know, regrets are pointless. You can't change the past. And the only reason that you'd want to change the past is because you've learned something. So, take the learning and move on with that as opposed to holding on to the regret, which you can't change. So, cut yourself and cut others some slack around that.
    I'm going to leave you with an ancient Sanskrit proverb, which is as true today as it was thousands of years ago. And that is, too many cooks still will not make enough food for an Asian wedding. It's true. Listen, I wish you all happiness and good fortune, good mental health. I hope that you're surrounded tenfold by the love, kindness and humour that you give out.

    Well done. We're super proud. Go and be the best you.

    I declare this graduation closed.

    [Music playing]

    (Senior academics and staff on stage tip their hats as two academics/staff walk across the stage to pick up the ceremonial torches from the small, raised table. They bow to one another before bowing to the rest of the academics/staff. Both lead lines single files of all the professors in separate directions down the staircases on the left and right. The academics and staff walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.)

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Summer 2025: Ceremony 7

  •  Video transcript

    [‘Trumpet Fanfare’ music playing]

    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and take their seats. At the end of the procession are two academics/staff with ceremonial torches who on stage bow to each other, the rows of academics/staff, and then place the torches on a small, raised table with a cloth at the very front of the stage.]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
    Good afternoon, I declare open this congregation of the University of Sussex. I'm delighted as Chancellor to welcome you formally to this graduation ceremony. A warm welcome to our honoured guests, our distinguished faculty members, and to those of the professional services here at Sussex.

    But the warmest welcomes are for you, our graduands and your family and friends who join you here today, and to those who may be watching this via live video stream around the world. Sussex University was founded as one of the first universities created after the Second World War, almost exactly 64 years ago. One of the guiding principles was that it should be a forum for ideas beyond convention.

    Embracing concepts and experiences from different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems, and then combining these with the best of our own. Realising that invention and innovation has no colour, gender, age, or creed. Recognising that interconnectedness had an important part to play in a fast-evolving society.

    Hence, a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and the practical application of concepts. And understanding that the world would become not just more interconnected, but a realisation of just how vital that would be and indeed still is. Sussex is proud that graduates from well over 100 countries receive their degrees at these ceremonies.

    So thank you for continuing to make us a truly global university. And I know that many of you have had to dig deep to get to this day, struggling to balance your studies with home life. In some cases, whilst raising children, experiencing loss and sickness, trying to survive on overdrafts, loans, or family help.

    So today isn't just a celebration of your academic achievement, but also of your perseverance, your focus, and of those that have helped you along the way. Some of you may be continuing with further academic study, but for many today may mark the end of your academic journey. And what a journey that's been.

    A journey that started all those years ago with your first day at nursery or kindergarten. The trauma of suddenly being thrust from the familiar environment of home into a place full of new people, new names, new food, new clothes. Being introduced to the fun worlds of playtime and reading time and nits and chickenpox.

    Being dressed by your mum that in a few years you would look at the photos and say, what were you thinking? My mum still remembers the day that I turned around to her in some outrage and said, mum, why are you dressing me in this shirt? They totally don't go with these trousers. I mean, apart from that, my 30th birthday went really well.

    Then all the ups and downs of big school, tests and homework and wondering who really was whose best friend. And the sheer pressure then of all those exams, which led you all to Sussex. New people, new names, new food, new clothes.

    But this time your fashion choices were all on you. Your journey has already been epic. So shortly a name will be read out, hopefully approximating to yours, and you will take the mere 20 or so steps across this stage, terrified you're going to lose your hat or your mortarboard, wondering whether the heels were such a good idea after all, wondering whether your flies are open, and praying that you don't trip over your gown and land in the lap of someone on the front row.

    If you do decide to do that this afternoon, what an array of laps we've arranged for you. Check that out. Look at that. It's like Bridgerton.

    Meets Squid Game. I'm beholden to tell you, or remind you, if you've been up here before, that you haven't actually got your degree yet. And you getting it might just depend on how much love you show me when you come up here.

    No love for the Chancellor, no degree. Seriously, feel free to express yourself, your joy when you cross this stage. I know it can be nerve-wracking.

    But we can hug, we can shake hands, we can fist-bump, we can high-five, we can dance, we've had some dancing. We've had a lot over the years. Listen, you can ignore me if you want.

    It's your day. The only thing I will say is about press-ups. They have happened in the past.

    If you want to do press-ups today, you're doing them on your own. I'm in my 60s, if I get down there, I don't know if I can get back up again. And in the interest of time, no selfies on the stage, but if you catch me afterwards, I'll be more than happy.

    Family and friends, this is your day, too. So when the time comes, have your cameras ready and feel free to make as much noise as you can when your superstar crosses the stage. In fact, let me just gauge, actually, a level of volume.

    So I want all of you, actually, family, friends, graduands, to react as if your loved one is crossing the stage. Try that now.

    [Guests, graduands applaud loudly]

    So you know what? For a shy group, that's pretty impressive. Excellent. So you've set a level for yourselves now. If any of you graduands are here by yourself today, I'll be your family or friend, if you'll have me. So no one's here alone. Have a great ceremony.

    I call upon the Deputy Chancellor, Professor Michael Luck, to address the congregation.

    [Guests applaud loudly]

    [Provost, Professor Michael Luck, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Provost, Professor Michael Luck:
    Madam Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost of the University of Sussex, it's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to this graduation ceremony. As Sanjeev has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands. This is a day of celebration for you and of you, and of all that you have achieved during your time at Sussex.

    It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways, from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. And some of you have had support from our alumni and donors who have generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding. So, I'm now going to ask for some participation from you.

    Graduands, if you're able, would you please stand up and turn to face your friends and loved ones, and please offer your thanks with a big hearty cheer and a round of applause.

    [Graduands stand up and applaud]

    Please be seated again. Thank you.

    As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. You come each year from over 130 countries around the world.

    So, we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold and support. We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom.

    It's our job as a university to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis can be undertaken, new theories developed, and where minds can be expanded and changed. We are living in deeply troubled times. War and conflict, terror, death and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger, and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern among Sussex students.

    Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world. And Sussex supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that is at the heart of our university community, and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community. So, Sussex graduands, I'd like to thank you for all that you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity.

    A warm, open, and welcoming place. In the two years that I have been Deputy Vice-Chancellor, I have witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities.

    As student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, and volunteering on and off campus. And so many of you today are receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend you for your commitment to your extracurricular and sporting activities.

    Well done on all you have achieved alongside your formal studies. Now, over the past two years, I have had the great privilege of meeting many Sussex alumni, and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and how it shaped their lives, their careers, and their character. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since.

    I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come. Whether you already have a job or are looking for one, or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you are leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think critically and creatively, to adapt and to change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with the power to shape your future. You have been taught by academics who are internationally recognised for their research, which has directly informed your education.

    And Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we have been ranked first in the world for Development Studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings. Development Studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice, and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about.

    One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities. And Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect. This year, in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top ten in the UK for citations.

    With Anthropology and Environmental Science each ranked first, and Physics and Astronomy ranked second in the UK. We were also ranked 17th in the UK for Employment Outcomes and in the top 5% of universities globally for Sustainability. And for the past three years, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first of all business schools in the UK for research income.

    As our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work, and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy, and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment. Now I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far.

    Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health. Some of you have faced loss and family disruption. Each of you has had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here.

    But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back, you feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated and supported to achieve your best. That you are leaving with knowledge, skills and personal resources that will stand you in good stead. And that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You will now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations, and those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers. People whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small positive ways every day.

    Across the globe in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. And I know that you will do that too. So graduands, celebrate who you are today.

    Celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who have been on the journey with you. Together, celebrate your wonderful achievements.

    In short, celebrate.

    I call upon the Head of Department of Accounting and Finance in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Gonul Kolak.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]

    [Head of Department of Accounting and Finance in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Gonul Kolak stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reaches the lectern, he bows to the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Gonul Kolak:
    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance Ahmed Hassan Sadiq ABDAWANI, Zara ADJAIDOO, Hariss AHMED-THABIT, Rukayat AKOMOLAFE, Abdullah Ahmed Jasem Ali AL SHAMSI, Abdul Rahman AL-FARSI, Malak ALDEEHANI, Saad ALI, Rory ANDERSON, Hannah APPLETON, Luiza AUYEZKHANOVA, Tashqeena Putry Antasya Binti AWANG SALEH, Kim BUTTON, Lameck CHOMETE, Sadiqa CHOUDHURY, Shani DAUNTER, Robert DAVIS, Razaq FOLARIN, Jacob FOOTE, Resan FOSTER, Callum FULLER, Yuxin GE, Lois GIBBON, William GOWLAND, Kritika GURUNG, Dea HALILI, Simon HAMPTON, Kai HE, Yat Lam HUNG, Zane HUSSAIN, Chengbo JIANG, Maria-Paola JURKOVIC, Hubert KALOTA, Prabpreet KOUR, Jahed LAIS, Isabella LANE, Carlson LAW, Zeke LEESON, Scott LIVINGSTONE, Ilyas MAAZOUZ , Lucy MARTIN, Samantha MASIYAMHURU, Charlie MCLEAN, Khail MCQUEEN, Tommy MORGAN, Sanaa NAZ, Daniel NORTHROP, Matthew O'DONNELL, Max PECCARINO PALMER, Lenny PIPER, Maurice POWELL, Noah PRINCE, Ryan QUILL, Hamza RAZA, Sameh REHMAN, Sana RIAZ, Taylor ROGERSON, Tyler ROWSON, Aidan RUNAI, Hussein SALIM, Sylvia SANCHEZ-MARTIN, Karishan SHANTHAN, Chenlin SHE, Penny SOFRONIOU, Bisesh SUNUWAR, Yu TAM, Yasseen Ahmed TAWAKOL, Emil TIVENAN PEDERSEN, Christopher TOMSETT, Kucgaan UDAYAKUMAR, Philip URE, Jad Elia Jad WAKILEH, Yixuan WANG, Tommy WARNFORD, Charlie WELSH, Cheuk Yin WONG, Fangzhi XIE, Timur YILMAZ, James YUEN

    For Accounting and Finance (with a professional placement year) Sophia AINSWORTH, Torrin BAILEY, Antoine BERTHILLOT, Kieran D'SOUZA, Curtis ETUK, Frederick HORNEY, Aminata KEITA, Kunzhi LI

    For Accounting and Finance (with a study abroad year) Yasemin FUAT, James NICOLA

    For Banking and Digital Finance Saleh ALSUDAIS, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Banking and Digital Finance Angel BARRERA CASTILLO, Luke BRAND, Liam CARSON, William CROOK, Zac DYSON, Matthew FULLER, Callum GALLOWAY, Ethan HORTON, Kent HTOO, Kaung Myat HTUT, Ithushon ITHAYAKUMAR, Nourhan Alaaeldin Yehia Atwa KHALAF, Blake LASTELLA, Jasper LOAKE, Roman MINSHULL, Hao NONG, Henry O'NEILL, Van Nhan PHAN, Jeeda ROUSAN, David SABOU, Harsh SANCHETI, Mandev Singh SOHANPAL, Rajan SONDH, Also awarded the prize for the Best Research Project in Accounting and Finance with the Highest dissertation mark Roza TOMASZEWSKA, Franklyn TURNER, Yi WANG, Ze WANG, Mostafa YAQOBI, Yiwen YE, Alina ZUBAIR

    For Finance (with a professional placement year) Aleksandr KARAVAEV, Amara Michole Veronia POWELL

    For Finance and Business Dwayne ACQUAH, Saud Salim Saud AL-SALMI, Abdulla Mohammad Adnan ALMADI, Fesal ALRUBAIAN, Kaellen BALASINGHAM, Anvi CHAUHAN, Mingze DENG, Tadiwa John DHLIWAYO, Mohamed Walid Mohamed ELATTAR, Layal Ramy Hassan Elbanna FAHMY, James FAUBERT, Harry HARMER, Benjamin HART, Mohamed Rezk Hassan Rezk HASSAN, Dan iella KASIRYE, Youssef Emad Gamal KHALAF, Yousef Nader Saber KHOURY, Theodore LAPORTE, Jihyeon LEE, Jiaxin LIN, Yiu Chung LING, Bofei LIU, Zhongjun MA, Tarek MAHMALGY, Omar Karim MAMDOUH IBRAHIM YOUSSEF, Rafael MCKENZIE, Craig MILLIGAN, Brooklyn MITRICA, Thaw Khant NAING, Ibrahim OMER, Tan PHAN, Thomas PICKERSGILL, Muhammad Raihan RACHMAN, Stephanie ROCKALL, Riza SAKRAK, Youssef SEOUDI, Eikansh SHARMA, Ben SHIELDS, Theint Mon SHIN, Joshua SIMKINS, Charlie SMITH, Dylan SPENCER, Zenghan SUN, Riccardo TOSINI, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Finance and Business Mohammed Mahir UDDIN, Mattia WARE, Sheng YANG, Dingxian YI, Declan YOU, Adam ZAOUCHE, Ronalds ZESERIS

    For Finance and Business (with a professional placement year) Anish BALASUBRAMANIAN, Tariq BROWN, Courteney FRIEDRICH, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Finance and Business Bethany TASSELL, Kyi Sin THANT

    For Finance and Technology Mansour Sultan Alsaman ALNUAIMI, Zhimin BAO, Ammar BUCHEERI, Kahraman BUDAK, Evan BURGESS, Mario CONEJO CERVANTES, James CRONIN, Marko DOBROSAVLJEVIC, Also awarded the prize for the Best Research Project in Accounting and Finance with the Highest dissertation mark Francesca FIOCCHI, Bethany GJENANI, Noureldin Mohamed Afify HASSAN, Jing LIM, Fan LIN, Dhruv MANDAVKAR, Tareq MANSOUR, Toby NEUMEGEN, Haobin QIU, Dhruvjeet SINGH, Weiyi SUN, Long Wai Brian TSANG, John VARNEY, Sugam YAKHA

    For Finance and Technology (with a professional placement year) Zachary GARAT, Sebastian VELASCO

    For Finance and Technology (with a study abroad year) Frederick SYMONS

    For the degree of Master of Science in Accounting and Finance Sandra AKPABLA, Samuel BOAKYE, Dorcas Diepreye GUOSI, Hannah Konadu NYANOR, Samuel OWUSU

    For Banking and Finance Grace Faustina ITESI, Aaradhya SHARMA, Daniela VARGASTORRES

    For Energy Policy Rachid ENNASSIRI

    For Fintech, Risk and Investment Analysis Abdikani Farah DAUD, Gaurav LAKHWANI

    For International Business and Development Makinde Ekundayo Folorunso

    For Management and Finance Abigail Onyenaturchi ONYEBUCHI, Ramoni Akanfe RASAKI

    For Sustainable Finance and Accounting Richards IJEBOR

    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; Investor sentiment in the stock market Louis BURGESS

    Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the University of Sussex Business School.

    [The Chancellor bows his head to the Head of Department in acknowledgement and sits down.]
    [The Head of Department, Professor Gonul Kolak, returns to his seat and sits down.]

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation stands and approaches the lectern.]

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation:
    Chancellor, I now present to you the graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony.

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance Yanchen LIU, Arjan MANN

    For Finance and Business Lucian DRAGANCEA

    For the degree of Master of Science in Accounting and Finance Olakunle Victor GIDEON

    For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; ESG, risk-taking and innovation Yuanyuan WU

    Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex.

    I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia at this ceremony.

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar stands in the middle of the stage.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
    If you're able to, if you wouldn't mind standing. By the authority given to me by the Senate of the University, I hereby formally confer degrees on all those aforementioned. Congratulations, Sussex graduates.

    I mean usually people are worried about that falling off on the stage, is it yours? Do you want to get it? You don't want to get it?

    Look someone's got it for you. Look, how nice is that? Hey, let's applaud somebody who's being really kind and generous there for getting it.

    [Applause and cheering]

    And a master's as well, gosh.

    Congratulations everyone, that was fantastic, and well done family and friends, some of you were truly embarrassing. That was respect, impressive.

    So graduates, as your time here at Sussex draws to a close, we do hope that you will keep us in your hearts and thoughts and remain connected to us as alumni. Traditionally the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom, but I know after, you know, ceremony you want to get on with your day, so I'll keep it really brief, okay, so here it goes lalalalalalalala. Okay, that's all my wisdom, thank you very much.

    I hope that means something to you. I'm not remotely qualified to give anybody advice or wisdom, but here's some thoughts I've had, and feel free to use them or ignore them, or even better, improve upon them. You know, we are surrounded by such troubling times, wars, politics, poverty, identity, inequality, climate change, but people are complex.

    History is complex, heroes are complex, we are complex really, and so no doubt complex problems require complex solutions, but the culmination of all of that is to feel really quite overwhelmed sometimes, and the problem with feeling overwhelmed, whether it's by grief or anger or fear or even beauty or love, is that in that moment we lose perspective, sometimes even momentarily, and if we have to make a decision in that state when we're overwhelmed, it may not be the same decision that we would make with a quieter and a calmer mind, but I, you know, we do have the right to all of our emotions, so each of us should feel what we feel.

    If it makes you grieve or makes you angry or it makes you anxious or whatever, then, you know, we have a right to feel that, but I think it's then even more important to get centred as quickly as possible, and the quickest way to get perspective back is to talk to somebody, even if they're repeating your opinion or something or your fear of something, sometimes just hearing it said outside of your own head can be really useful, and at best it's somebody that may have a different view that you can then sort of analyse and perhaps improve on your own thoughts. If you haven't got someone to talk to, then irony or humour is really important, you know, the basis of humour is to look at something that we all recognise and then find a funny side to it, so if there is something that is awful, that's overwhelming, if you're able to look at it from a different angle and see that it can also be kind of ridiculous or silly or funny or poetic or profound or curious, it's now not not awful, but it's not just that, it's that and, and that little bit of space can very usefully can give you perspective.

    Also, in order to centre myself, I do try to practise now what I kind of think of as sort of radical empathy. I feel like I'm a compassion activist, and sometimes that's difficult towards somebody whose views you absolutely utterly oppose, but I make the effort to find it nevertheless, to try to understand how they've come to their opinion, and it's not because of an outcome or because I'm going to change their minds, it's not my job or my position to change their minds, but it's more of a reminder to me of who I am, and so that I don't get drawn into their agenda, and a lot of the times, you know, we find ourselves, you know, suddenly getting angry or anxious or whatever because of something someone else has repeatedly said, without really analysing why they've said it or why they've said it to you, and so suddenly you're drawn into someone else's agenda, so for me it's to guard against that, and to go, well, you might be being hateful or anxious or worried about something, and I can certainly think about that, but who am I first?

    I'm an empathetic and compassionate person, or at least I try to be, and a lot of people think that being nice is a bit weak, you know, that actually it's tough and a bit, you know, strong to be tough and to not change your mind and all that sort of stuff. I think somebody who is stubborn is pretty weak, actually, because that means they can't listen. They've lost the inability to listen, and I kind of go, okay, and also getting angry or being hateful is really easy, you know, and there are people who live in that space all the time, sometimes with justification.

    I'm not judging anybody, but it's not a place that I want to live in, and actually being compassionate when it's really difficult, now that is tough, that is challenging, that's a mark of a virtue in my opinion, and at the beginning is really difficult, you know, but, you know, then you keep doing it, and somehow it becomes easier, and in the end it just becomes habit, it just becomes who you are. The thing is, also, I feel fortunate that I have met complete and utter idiots from every political party, every religion, every gender, every part of the world, every social group, every age, but I've also met warm, compassionate, and humorous people from all those groups as well.

    So there isn't a group... actually, no, there is... yeah, Nazis. I've never met a nice Nazi, or a funny Nazi, or, you know, a compassionate Nazi, so they as a group can all do one, but my point is that simply belonging to a group or a club is no shorthand for a moral or intellectual superiority. You're an individual, you're a you, you're the only you who has ever existed, and so it is up to you to express to the universe, to other people, and to yourself who you are.

    So if there is only going to be one you, then it makes sense for me that you try to be the best you, and the great thing about that is you can do that every day. You can improve every day. I found the healthiest state to be in is one of gratitude, and feeling grateful makes you feel lucky, and feeling lucky, wow, I mean it's like a positive, protective force field.

    I feel lucky all the time. I'm feeling lucky right now. My shoulder's aching from all the lovely handshakes.

    I feel lucky. I wouldn't change a moment of that. Because my luck is not... it's not comparative.

    I'm not lucky because someone else is unlucky. I'm not... it's not competitive. I'm not luckier than any of you.

    I'm not interested. It's just a feeling I carry around, and that comes from gratitude. You know, I don't feel lucky because something happened today, or I don't feel unlucky because something happened today, because I know there's tomorrow, and there's a day after that.

    So what I've done is compounded all the great fortune I've had in all the years I've been around. There have been difficult times. I'm not ignoring those.

    I'm just choosing to focus on the really great ones, and that makes me feel lucky. Positivity for me is not thinking everything is going to turn out great. It's knowing that when things are crap, that it will change, and so I have faith in that.

    I'm also about finding solutions. I don't really care who comes up with it. You know, it's not about me.

    It's not about my ego. My priority is to get to the other side of a problem. It's not who to blame.

    I mean, you know, how something happened, or why something happened, or who was responsible can all be useful things, but the first thing is get to the other side of the problem, surely, and there's a better chance if we're working together. You know, Maslow, famous for his hierarchy of needs, said if your only tool is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail. It also, for me, is the power of diversity.

    If, you know, I want to find a solution to a problem, the last thing I need is to be in a room with ten people like me, right? That room, I mean, we'd all get on. We'd be hilarious. We would have the best conversations about movies and The Beatles ever, but none of us will have learned anything, and so what I want is in a room which has diversity of experience and approaches and attitudes, and that comes from what diversity means.

    It comes from all those things that make people different to me, and I want them to be in the room to find the solution at its quickest. Many of you may be thinking about, or may have been asked about now, I guess, about having a plan. Have you got a plan? You haven't got a plan? What's wrong?

    You know, and planning obviously is great. It's really useful. It allows you to see and build steps towards a future, and, you know, for instance, you might say in five years time, I want to be, I don't know, I want to be in a management position, or I want to be in a position to buy a house, or I want to be in research at this level.

    It's generally about, you know, some career thing, and when, once you say that, once you say this is my goal, then both consciously and subconsciously, you start working towards it, right? That's the way it works, right? Very rarely do I hear people say when they're asked about their plan is to be happy, and even more rare, and to me even more strange, are the words and happy.

    It's not mutually exclusive to your career plans to say I want to do this in my career, and be happy, because surely if you do that, then your conscious and your subconscious will start to work towards that as well, and I don't think you can do that early enough, but planning is linear, right? It's like rungs of a ladder. You go one step, two step, three step, and then you get to the top of the ladder.

    Life is the exact opposite. Life is the disruptor. It's, that's, you know, life is full of curve balls, and the unexpected, and weird coincidences, and the WTFs, World Tennis Federation, for the very little children and the very old.

    All of that is fine. It's normal. That's how it's supposed to be, so be okay with your plan, and be absolutely fine if it gets disrupted. That is absolutely normal.

    Who you are is always going to be your next choice, so that's all you have to do at that point where the plan, that plan has stopped, is look at what your choices are from there, and make a choice, and move on from there. None of us really have any idea of what our future holds, and so you may as well fill it with positive steps, because if it doesn't change the outcome, then your journey at least will be far healthier than the person who starts off anxious working towards that same outcome.

    Seneca said, he who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary. I've got lived experiences of these. I'll give you two examples.

    You may be aware that Sussex was my first choice when I applied for universities many years ago. Didn't want to go anywhere else. I didn't get in.

    Apparently my grades weren't good enough, so I took my business elsewhere, and I did business and marketing as a degree, and I waited for 25 years until all those people who'd been responsible for me not getting in had either retired, were in prison, had been deported, or were just dead, and I came back in as Chancellor.

    So nuhhhhh! Take that linear planning! I wanted to act and write since I was five years old, and I know this because when I was five, an uncle came to the house and said to me, as a five-year-old, he said, so young man, what do you want to be when you grow up?

    And I said, actor, and my dad said, it's pronounced doctor. It's true. It happened.

    So, you know, the idea of it being, you know, a career or a job or whatever was just impossible, so the dream was still there, but pushed behind this kind of wall of impossibilities and improbabilities, and then at the age of 30, I sued the last company I was working for for breach of contract, and the legal process rattled on for about two years, and I couldn't get a job during that time, and I thought, well, do you know what?

    I always wanted to try that acting-writing thing, so I don't want to be 80 years old and looking back and regretting that I didn't try, so let me find out, and all I'm going to look for is progress. You know, success is defined by other people. I just want to see progress.

    I just want to know that next year I've done better than I was this year, so I couldn't have foreseen, neither could have anyone else, at that point even, that two years later I'd be in a successful TV show, and that would be the start of a career that is still going, and I'm sort of living the dream, and again, I have to say, where were you linear planning?

    So when we don't know what the future holds, a lot of us kind of fill it with fear, you know, things are going to be worse, and oh my goodness, but actually, it's just being open to possibilities is, I find, a much healthier way of facing that future. At the end of the day, I think what we really need from each other is not that complex, actually. We kind of need acknowledgement, someone trying to understand us, to be seen, to be heard, not to be prejudged, for people to be compassionate towards us, and so those are things I think, you know, is useful for us to give to other people.

    The interesting thing about compassion, to me, is that it's the one thing that the more you give, the more you have. It's like a self-replenishing well. You never run out of it, but that also means expressing compassion for yourself.

    You know, for instance, regrets, right? Regrets are pointless because you can't go back and change something, and the reason you would want to go back and change something is because you've learned something from it. So take the learning and move on with that, rather than staying with the regret that you can't change.

    So cut yourself and cut others some slack around that. I'm going to leave you with one ancient Sanskrit proverb which is as true today as it was thousands of years ago. I'll give you the translation, obviously, and that is, too many cooks still won't make enough food for an Asian wedding. Deeply true.

    I wish you all happiness and good fortune, good mental health, and hope that you're surrounded tenfold by the love, kindness, and humour that you give out. Well done. We're super proud.

    Go out and be the best you.

    I declare this graduation closed.

    [Music playing]

    [The Mace-bearer returns on stage, collects the mace, and bows to the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar. The Chancellor stands and follows the Mace-bearer off stage. Senior academics and staff on stage tip their hats as two academics/staff walk across the stage to pick up the ceremonial torches from the small, raised table. They bow to one another before bowing to the rest of the academics/staff. Both lead lines single files of all the professors in separate directions down the staircases on the left and right. The academics and staff walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.]

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Summer 2025: Ceremony 8

  •  Video transcript

    [‘Trumpet Fanfare’ music playing]

    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and take their seats. At the end of the procession are two academics/staff with ceremonial torches who on stage bow to each other, the rows of academics/staff, and then place the torches on a small, raised table with a cloth at the very front of the stage.]

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: Good afternoon. I declare open this congregation of the University of Sussex. I'm delighted as Chancellor to welcome you formally to this graduation ceremony.

    A warm welcome to our honoured guests, our distinguished faculty members, and to those of the professional services here at Sussex. But the warmest of welcomes are for you, our graduands, and your family and friends who join you here today, and to those who may be watching this via live video stream around the world. Sussex University was founded as one of the first universities in this country created after the Second World War almost exactly 64 years ago.

    And one of the guiding principles was that it should be a forum of ideas beyond convention, embracing concepts and experiences from different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems, and then combining these with the best of our own, realizing that invention and innovation has no color, gender, age, or creed, recognizing that interconnectedness had an important part to play in a fast-evolving society, hence a focus on interdisciplinary teaching and the practical application of concepts, and understanding that the world would become not just more interconnected, but a realization of just how vital that would be, and indeed still is. Sussex is proud that graduates from well over 100 countries receive their degrees at these ceremonies. So thank you for continuing to make us a truly global university.

    I know that many of you have had to dig deep to get to this day, struggling to balance your studies with home life, in some cases whilst raising children, experiencing loss and sickness, trying to survive on overdrafts, loans, or family help. So today isn't just a celebration of your academic achievements, but also of your perseverance, your focus, and of those that have helped you along the way. Now, some of you may be continuing with further academic study, but for many today may mark the end of their academic journey.

    And what a journey it's been, a journey that started all those years ago with your first day at nursery or kindergarten, the trauma of suddenly being thrust from the familiar environment of home into a place full of new people, new names, new foods, new clothes, being introduced to the fun worlds of playtime and reading time and nits and chicken pox, being dressed by your mom that in a few years later you would just look at the pictures and go, mom, what were you thinking? My mom says that she still remembers the day that I turned around to her in some outrage and said, mom, why are you dressing me in this shirt? It doesn't totally go with these trousers. Apart from that, my 30th birthday went really well.

    Then all the ups and downs of big school tests and homework, wondering who really was who's best friend. And then the sheer pressure of all those exams, which led you all to Sussex, new people, new names, new foods, new clothes, but this time your fashion choices were on you. Your journey has already been epic.

    So shortly a name will be read out, hopefully approximating to yours and you will take the 20 or so steps across this stage, no doubt terrified of losing your hat or your mortarboard, wondering if the heels were such a good idea after all, whether you're wearing too much jewellery, is that clanging or blinding anyone? Wondering whether your flies are open and praying that you don't trip over your gown and land in the lap of someone in the front row. I mean, if you do decide to do that this afternoon, what an array of laps we have for you here. Look at that, check those out. It's like Bridgerton meets the Sandman.

    I am beholden to tell you or remind you if you've been up here before, that you haven't actually got your degree yet. And you getting your degree may just depend on how much love you show me when you come up here. No love for the Chancellor, no degree.
    Seriously, feel free to express your joy as you cross this stage. I know it can be nerve wracking, even though it's just walking, but see if you can get around that and express yourself. In whatever way you want, I'll go with it.

    As long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. We can hug, we can shake hands, we can high five, we can dab, we did a chest bump today. A dance, we've had a bit of dancing.

    If you wanna do that, I'll dance with you. Listen, you can ignore me if you want. It's your day.

    One word about press-ups, which have been done in the past. If you're gonna do press-ups today, you're doing them on your own, okay? I'm in my 60s, if I go down, I'm not sure I can get back up again, okay?

    And in the interest of time, no selfies on the stage, but if you catch me afterwards, I'll be more than happy. Family and friends, this is your day too. It really is.

    So when the time comes, please be ready with your camera and be prepared to make as much noise as you can as your superstar crosses the stage. In fact, let me just get a gauge from family and friends and graduands actually. I want you to react now as if your loved one is crossing the stage. Let's hear it.

    [Loud Applause]

    I have to say for a shy group, that's really impressive. Okay, so you've set your own tone, which is great. If any of you graduands are here by yourself today, then I'll be your family or friend if you'll have me. So no one's here on their own, okay? Have a great ceremony.

    I call upon the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Luck, to address the congregation.

    [Guests applaud loudly]

    [Provost, Professor Michael Luck, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Provost, Professor Michael Luck: Distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025. As Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost of the University of Sussex, it's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to this graduation ceremony. As Sanjeev has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands.

    And this is a day of celebration for you and of you, and of all that you have achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. And some of you have had support from our alumni and donors who have generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding.

    So I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you're able, would you please stand up and turn to face your friends and loved ones? And please offer your thanks with a big hearty cheer and a round of applause.

    [Graduands applaude loudly]

    Thank you. Please be seated again.

    As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish.

    Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. So we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun.

    And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex always seeks to uphold and support. We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job as a university to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis can be undertaken, new theories developed, and where minds can be expanded and changed.

    We are living in deeply troubled times. War and conflict, terror, death, and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger, and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation. All quite rightly give rise to enormous concern among Sussex students.

    Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world. And Sussex supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that is at the heart of our university community, and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community.

    So, Sussex graduands, I'd like to thank you for all that you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, a warm, open, and welcoming place.

    In the two years that I've been Deputy Vice-Chancellor, I have witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, and volunteering on and off campus. And so, many of you today are receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to our community.

    I commend your commitment to your extracurricular and sporting activities. Well done on all you've achieved alongside your formal studies. Over the past two years, I have had the great privilege of meeting many Sussex alumni, and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and how it shaped their lives, their careers, and their character.

    Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come, whether you already have a job or are looking for one, or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you are leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think critically and creatively, to adapt and change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with a power to shape your future. You have been taught by academics who are internationally recognised for their research, which has directly informed your education.

    And Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we have been ranked first in the world for Development Studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings. Development Studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice, and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about.

    One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities. And Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect. This year, in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top 10 in the UK for citations.

    With Anthropology and Environmental Science each ranked first, and Physics and Astronomy ranked second in the UK. We were also ranked 17th in the UK for Employment Outcomes and in the top 5% of universities globally for Sustainability. And for the past three years, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first of all business schools in the UK for Research Income.
    As our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work, and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy, and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment. Now, I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far.

    Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health. Some of you have faced loss and family disruption. Each of you has had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here.

    But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back, you feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated, and supported to achieve your best, that you're leaving with knowledge, skills, and personal resources that will stand you in good stead, and that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future. You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. And Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organizations, and those with less high profile, but no less significant lives and careers, people whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small, positive ways every day.

    Across the globe, in more than 160 countries, and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. And I know that you'll do that too. So, graduands, celebrate who you are today.
    Celebrate the commitment, the hard work, and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment, and those who have been on the journey with you. Together, celebrate your wonderful achievements.

    In short, celebrate.

    I call upon the Head of the Department for Economics in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Sambit Bhattacharyya.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]

    [Head of Department for Economics in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Sambit Bhattacharyya stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reaches the lectern, he bows to the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar.]

    Professor Sambit Bhattacharyya: Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Economics Samuel ALEXANDER, Jack BLICK, Charlie CALLAN, Tallulah CAMPBELL, Taylor COOPER, Mitchell DAY, Theo FOLEY, Samuel DEAN, Samuel GRAY, Morgan HACKETT, Charlie HUBBARD, Thomas HUTTON, Nasif IBTAHAZ, Tymothy IMURNI, Ivanae JENNINGS, Jack KENNARD, Erin LE-MA, Zara MAKELE, Mahmoud Ahmed Taher Abdelhalim MASHHOUR, Joshua MATHER, Theodor MITEV, Georgia NICHOLSON, Dylan PARRY, Jack PEARCE, Will PENNOCK, Mairead RICHARDSON, Riana SARMA, Kavi Pathak SHARMA, James WATTERSON, Samuel WILSON, Jake WOODS, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BA Economics Luke YERBY
    For Economics (with a professional placement year) Aderemi BROWN, Yamin CHOUDHURY
    For Economics (with a study abroad year) David O'DONOGHUE, Max PITTOM, Alexander ROE
    For Economics and International Development Dino AHMOVIC, William ANDREWS, Sharar Mubarrat CHOWDHURY, Angus GUILAR, Jacob JAMES, Zoe JAMIESON, Maya Frances KERN, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Economics and International Development Lojain MOHARAM, Gil NOTT, William STEER, Shaina VAGHELA
    For Economics and International Development (with a professional placement year) Jemeila RICKETTS, Adam WOOD
    For Economics and International Development (with a venture creation year) Harry BREEZE-LAMB
    For Economics and International Relations Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BA Economics and International Relations Sabih ABDUL, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BA Economics and International Relations Jassim Mohammed A A ALSHEBANI, Camilla ANYEKO KADIM, Beau EVERSON, Lewis HOLDEN, Isabel MASE, Nandika SACHAN, Leo WHEELER, Charles WOLSTENHULME, Kalsang YANGCHEN
    For Economics and International Relations (with a study abroad year) Julianne GAGER
    For Economics and Politics Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Economics and Politics Sol CANNON, Landi DEMUKAJ, Kemal MUSTAFA, Petros Panagiotis PAGOULATOS, Jeon RAHMAN, Temidireoluwa TOOGUN, Mathew Matu UGAK
    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Economics Syed Shu’ayb AHMED, Rashid Saeed AL-KUWARI, Monty CHANDLER, Adam CLARKE, Thomas COLLINS, Romain COLOMBO, Harry DAKIN, Zayn DANAHAR, Ailwyn ELLIS, Noah ELSNER, Soreya HAPPI DJEUMO, Oliver HILL, Also a recipient of the Mrs Emily O Akinluyi Scholarship Ambrin IQBAL, Marion JACKSON, Freddie JOYCE, Alfie KEELING-MORGAN, Guadalupe KRAPOVICKAS LAPORTA, Benjamin LAIDLAW, Sonya LALLI, Benjamin LOWHING, Madeleine MCBAREK, Vishal MENON, Elia MICHAEL, Taiki MINAKUCHI, Harrison MOORE, Theo MORRIS, Pierce MUIR, Aidan O'CONNOR, John Paul Odinaka Chukwu ONYEAMA, Kwadjo OTU, Thomas PERRY, Toby PLATER, Theyazan SABAL, Sanchalli SAHU, Arun SCHOFIELD, Aspan SHARMA, Molly SHARRAD, Joshua SMITH, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Economics Muhammad Fathir Bin SUHAIMI, Navneeth SURESH, Harry SWEETMAN, Anthony TU, Also awarded the Gladstone Memorial prize for Best Applied Economics Dissertation mark Kena TUITOEK, Elliot WALLACE, Junjie ZHOU
    For Economics (with a professional placement year) Spyridon KOKAS, Samuel PICKESS, Matthew SAVILL
    For Economics (with a study abroad year) Zachary LUNOE, Orfeas NEOCHORITIS VARVARRIGOS, Joseph THRUPP
    For Economics and Finance Ahmad Uzair Mirza Bin AHMAD ZAHRI, Panayiotis ANTONIOU, Muhammad AZIZI, Hossam Khaled Mohamed Hossamel BADRAWI, Luis BIBA, Tristan BIRD, Karim Eduardo BOUABDELLAH, Alan CABRERA MORENO, Felix CARMICHAEL, Kamil COOTE, Robert DEWHURST, Youssef Mohamed Abdallah FATHALLAH, Omid FAZELI, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Economics and Finance Ishita GARG, Megan GARRIDO, Leo HARALAMBOUS, Manal KARIM, Shalang KOLAS, Welch LIM CHEE CHENG, Safin MAROOF, Callum MCGOVERN, Abeer NARAMDEO, Zornata NDEGWE, Matthew NICHOLAS, Shanil NONIS, Michael OCHIENG, Paul-Daniel OFOEGBU, Nawal OIRDIGHI, Saleh OMAR, Thomas PARTRIDGE, Ivan RAMIREZ RODRIGUEZ, Ben ROBERTS, Sam RUBINSTEIN, Nikhil SANDHU, Louis SANDISON, Siddhi Sandip SATAV, Jamie SLADE, Wendi SUN, Oliver TAGG, Nevan THIND, Christopher TRAN, Saiem ULLAH, Daniel WERNER, Dylan ZUHTU
    For Economics and Finance (with a professional placement year) Aasiyo ABDIRAHMAN, Oliver CHEUNG
    For Economics and Management Studies Wen CHUNG, George CONSTANTI, Tavishi DHAR, Ilham ELMI, Jayden FREMPONG, Josh GREEN, Elliott HAMPTON, Rhys IFAN, Gabriel ISAACS, Oliwia KARBOWNICZYN, Ka LAI, Omar Khalil, Minahil NAVEED, Joseph NEILAN, Luca ROSAM-ELLIS, Kian SHAYEGAN, Song Thawalrat SONGWUTWICHAI, Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand mean in BSc Economics and Management Studies Award Zak WILTON-DAVIES, Megan WROE, Joseph ZIMMERMANN
    For Economics and Management Studies (with a professional placement year) Boran AKBAL, Jack INGRAM, Matthew SARGENT
    For the Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development Diarmuid COFFEY
    For the degree of Master of Science in Development Economics Emaan ABID, Paulinus Eteng OBLA, Yusuf Miguel STAFFORD
    For the degree of Master of Science in Energy Policy Jeremy BULLOCK, Kelvin CHILESHE, Sean Richard Anthony DEVENISH, Erhan ERDOGAN, Anthony MBURU
    For the degree of Master of Science in Energy and Climate Policy Chioma Barbara ACHINIKE
    For the degree of Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management Yousuf AHMAD Y A AL-KUWARI, Arturo BRAMBILA ROSSELL, Abdulla HASSAN AL-TAMIMMI, Thi Khanh Hoa LA, Joseph Samuel STEVENSON, Fumihiko UEGAKI
    For the degree of Master of Science in International Business Economics Ayotomiwa Olayinka ANFELA, Oluwadare Samuel OYESILE
    For the degree of Master of Science in International Finance and Economics Samuel ASIEDU
    For the degree of Master of Science in Project Management Oluwatoyin Nafisat ADEBAYO, Kotoko ASANTE KROBEA, Chinaza Confidence GBARUKO, Ranti Stella NWOSU, Ikenna Andrew OGBENNA, Idideoluwa Olusola ONITA, Adeyinka Tosin OYASOLA
    For the degree of Master of Science in Strategic Innovation Management Aizhan AKHMETOVA
    For the degree of Master of Science in Sustainable Development Brillid Hilary ABRIL MORA, Amna ABUGRGAA, Iyaloo-Tuhafeni AKUUNDA, Amna Nasser AL ARAIMI, Leanne ALEXANDER, Shruti ANANDAN, Laura BELLETTINI-WORK, Josie Kay BURNS, Thomas DAVENPORT, Jeneil DAVIS, Luke FARRUGIA, Hiu Yan FUNG, Ingrid GATIN, Joyce Wanjiku GITHINJI, Magdolna GONCZ, Erika HAYAKAWA, Hanna HEIDERICH, Lisa HISCOCK, Juliana Olayinka IBUKUN, Gabriel ILABACA PARRA, Janet JOSEPH, Brenda Moraa KAMAU, Tobias KINDER, Emma KIND-HYNES, Sneha LALA, Sheung Yee LAW, Wun Ying Valerie LEUNG, Annie MALE, Nedha MAQSOOD, Oriane MINGER, Wan Nor Hidayah MOKHTAR, Jorge MUNGUIA MATUTE, Miho NAKAJIMA, Jessica NEGELE, Oluwatoni OGUNTULA, Christelle PARRIS-MCKAY, Pg Mas Dino PG RADIN HANAFI, Sarah PATELLA, Samuel PORTEOUS, Carmen RAMIREZ FARIAS, Grace ROBINSON, Nadine Haitham SHAW-NABASS, Oulaykham SIPHANDONE, Rebecca SMITH, Julia SUTHERLAND, Isabel VILELA, Noviana Eva WATI, Katherine WEBBER, Emily WRIGHT, Sophie YANAKIS

    Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; Three empirical essays on the resources curse, and islamic practices & consumer behaviour Amal Shalayan M ALGHANMI, For the thesis; Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy Organisations: Definition, Types, Comparison with Universities and Role in the Food and Health Missions in a Developing Context Arthur MOREIRA, For the thesis; What is serendipity in psychopharmacology research and development? Stephen SCHOLTE, For the thesis; As time goes by: Navigating acceleration dynamics through transition policy mixes for electric mobility Qi SONG, For the thesis; Three essays on the economics of rainfall shocks and agriculture Jonathan STERN

    Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the University of Sussex Business School.

    [The Chancellor bows his head to the Head of Department in acknowledgement and sits down.] [The Head of Department, Professor Sambit Bhattacharyya, returns to his seat and sits down.]

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students stands and approaches the lectern.]

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students: Chancellor, I will now present to you the graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony.

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance Zirui HUANG
    For the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Economics Isha BASU
    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance Jonathan HAKIM
    For Economics and Management Studies Oluwadurotimi OLUGBAKE
    For the Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Innovation Management Loveth Ebere GOODHOPE
    For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; Grassroots innovation in indigenous regions: intermediaries and critical niches in Oaxaca, Mexico Pablo AYALA VILLALOBOS

    Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex.

    I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia at this ceremony.

    [Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar stands in the middle of the stage.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar: Graduates, if you wouldn't mind standing, if you can. By the power vested in me by the Senate of the University, I formally confer degrees on all the aforementioned. Congratulations, Sussex graduates.

    [Loud Applause]

    That's great. That's great. Some of you are going to have no voices tomorrow. 

    Congratulations, everyone. And well done, family and friends, and the knights who say, Ni!, I'm sure if you get it, you get it. But that was amazing. Congratulations, graduates, as well. Fabulous. Thank you for your warmth.

    And, you know, there are lots of lovely comments that some of you, you know, made up here. It's your day. And then, you know, I get mentioned, you know, Paddington gets a mention, and Unforgotten, Taskmaster. I can't give anything away. It's so frustrating. And then thank you for the little present I got as well. How lovely is that? It's wonderful. So sweet.

    So, graduates, as your time here at Sussex draws to a close, we hope that you will keep us in your hearts and thoughts and remain connected as alumni. Traditionally, the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom. But I know after, you know, a long day, you just want to get on with it. So I'll keep it really brief. Okay. So here it goes. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. Okay. That's it.

    That's all the wisdom I got. You know, well done if you got something out of that. I mean, there was a lot of layers, obviously.
    I'm not remotely qualified to give anyone advice or wisdom. But here are some thoughts that I've had or I've been thinking about. And you're free to use it, ignore it, or even better, improve upon it. 

    We are surrounded by troubling times. You know, wars, politics, poverty, identity, inequality, climate change. And, you know, the people are complex. History is complex. Our heroes are complex. We are complex as people. And complex problems, no doubt, require sometimes complex solutions. So the challenge becomes how do we simplify that to help our own mental health? Because, you know, all of that can be, and it must feel, maybe it's just me, but it feels really overwhelming sometimes.

    And when we're overwhelmed by anything, anger, grief, fear, injustice, love, beauty, any of those things, whenever we're overwhelmed, we lose perspective, sometimes even momentarily. And if we have to make choices while we're overwhelmed, they may not be the choices we would make if we had a calm and clear mind. So although I think it's really important to feel everything, because we have a right to all of our emotions, and we should feel them, and there are justifications for feeling them, I also think it's even more important then to get centred so you're able to make choices after that. 

    The best way to get perspective back, which is the thing we lose, is to talk to someone, always has been, because even if you hear them repeating your own view, that can sometimes clarify things for you, or even better, to be quite honest for me, if they challenge my view, because then I can improve my view, or I can modulate it, or it can evolve. So that, I mean, that's really useful, talk to somebody. It's very, very difficult when you've got an overwhelmed mind, by any of those things I said, you know, if you're really angry, or you're grief stricken, or you're really upset, it's very difficult for that same head to find context.

    It's not impossible, but it's hard. And if you don't have someone around, then irony, humour, is really useful. You know, humour at its core is observing things that may be terrible, and then seeing them in a different way. And that's perspective. So if there's something awful that's happening to you, that's terrible, if you're able to look at it from a different angle, and also see it could be, and silly, and stupid, and funny, and poetic, and profound, then it's suddenly, it's not horrible anymore, but it's not just that. And that's really useful, sometimes it gives you just enough space for you to kind of centre yourself.

    The other thing I try to do, to centre myself, is I kind of practise what I've started to call radical empathy. I feel like I'm a compassion activist. And that's really difficult sometimes, towards someone whose views you absolutely, utterly oppose. But I kind of make the effort to find empathy anywhere, anyway, you know, nevertheless. There's usually a path that somebody has gone to get to that view. And I'm kind of curious about that path, because sometimes that can be quite revealing, even though I may not agree with the final view. 

    But the reason I try to access the empathy is not for some outcome, it's not to change their minds. I don't have that power. But it is to remind me of who I am. Because a lot of the time, you find that you can get drawn into someone else's agenda. And that might be, you know, again, I'm not judging them, because they may have good reason for being where they are, but, you know, their state of anger, or sadness, or, you know, criticism, or cynicism, all of those things, you know, sometimes that's their agenda. And, you know, people do want to draw other people into their little boat. 

    And so it's for me to kind of stop myself from going, no, I'm not going to get drawn into a hateful agenda, because I don't want to. And a lot of people think that, you know, being nice is kind of a bit weak, and a bit weedy. I don't think it's passive at all.
    I think being angry or hateful is really easy. And to stay angry and hateful, I think that's pretty easy as well. Being compassionate in the face of those things, that's tough. That's a tough person. That's strength to me. And it is difficult, as I said, when you do it at the beginning, because you have to remind yourself to be empathetic or to be kind.

    But the more you do it, eventually it does become easier, and it just becomes habit. It just becomes who you are. It becomes no big deal. I'm not a saint or anything, but I've just practised kind of being kind, really. So it comes naturally to me, I hope. I've also, this is the thing, I'm really fortunate, because I have met complete and utter idiots from every political party, every religion, every gender, every part of the world, every age group, every social class. I've also met really kind, funny, and humorous people from all of those groups as well. And so there isn't a group, actually there is one group that I've met, a nice one, Nazis. Never met a nice Nazi.
    I mean, never met a funny Nazi. Never met a compassionate Nazi. So they can go and collectively do one.

    But my point is that simply belonging to a club doesn't give you a shorthand for a moral or intellectual high ground over anyone else. Okay, you are an individual, and so is the other person. You don't know what they're going through, you don't know what they've been through. So it's about kind of you expressing to the universe who you are at that point. I've also found that the healthiest state to be in is one of gratitude. Because feeling grateful makes you feel lucky. 

    And feeling lucky, oh man, it's like a positive, protective force field. It's incredibly powerful to feel lucky. I feel lucky all the time.
    All the time. It's not comparative. I'm not lucky because someone else is unlucky. It's not competitive. I'm not saying I'm luckier than you. I hope you feel lucky. I just feel it. It's a state. And it doesn't depend on anything that happens or happened to me today.
    Because there's always tomorrow. It's a collective awareness of all the good things that have happened to me up until today. It will include this today.

    So all of those things, all of those great things, and I've had plenty of really difficult, challenging moments in my life. I'm aware of those. But I'm focussing on all the great stuff first. Because if that becomes your first thought, your first thought or your first step, sets a tone. So think about what you've got and what you've had that is great. What you've had is what you've got. It's present. Think about that first, and then think about the things that are difficult or upsetting or troubling or any of those things. And you find that that setting the tone gives you a solid foundation, which has been really, really useful to me.

    And the other thing is that I am focused on solutions. I honestly don't care who comes up with it. It's not about me. Who cares about my ego? My priority isn't me, my view, or who's to blame or anything. My priority is to get to the other side of the problem first. I mean, it's really useful to know how and why you got into a situation or if anyone's responsible for it. But not before we've got to the other side of the problem. And there is a better chance if we're working together.

    Maslow, famous for his hierarchy of needs, said that if your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. So you want to expand your ability to solve problems. It's also the power of diversity. Look, if something needs solving, the last thing I need is to be in a room with 10 people like me, right? Of course, we'll all get on really well. We'll all be hilarious. We'll have the best conversations about movies and the Beatles ever. But none of us will learn anything new. So if there is a problem that requires a solution, I want to be in a room with 10 people unlike me who bring their experiences and their approaches and their lives and maybe their faiths or whatever to the table to solve the solution.

    Many of you may now be thinking about, or maybe you've been asked, actually, this point about a plan. Been asked about plans? Got a plan? What's your plan? What's your plan now? You haven't got a plan? What's wrong with you? Planning, of course, is great. It's really useful, right? It allows you to see and build steps towards a goal. And, you know, people usually, when they're asked about their plans, they kind of say, well, you know, I'd like to maybe in five years to maybe own a house or maybe I'd like to be this in management or have my own company or, you know, it tends to be around career or professional stuff. And so what happens is you say that, and then your conscious and your subconscious start working towards that goal.

    That's how planning works and that's how humans with plans work, right? Very rarely do I hear people say, when they say, what's your plan, it's to be happy. And even more rarely do I hear and happy. So I want to own my business in five years' time and be happy. I want to do this in research and be happy. Because surely if you add that to your plan and be happy, then your conscious and your subconscious will also be working towards that. 

    And so suddenly you kind of, you know, don't go down a road blindly that is just about the profession and therefore your worth comes only from that because you are more than that. You always have been. You always will be. Of course, you know, the other thing is that planning is linear, right? It is. You know, it's rungs of a ladder. Step one, step two, step three, and then you get to your goal or whatever. Life is the exact opposite. Life is the disruptor. It's full of curveballs and the unexpected and weird coincidences and WTFs, World Tennis Federation for the Little Children and the Very Old People. So be fine with your plan, but be fine when it gets disrupted. It's absolutely normal.

    Who you are is always your next decision. So in that moment that your plan goes awry, just think about the choices you have to make at that point rather than getting stuck into, oh no, my plan, maybe it was a bad plan. It doesn't matter. Deal with that later. Now you just have to make a choice. Make a clear, calm, healthy choice. None of us really know, not really know what our future holds. So whatever that future is, you may as well fill it with positive steps. It may not change the outcome, but your journey to it surely will be a lot happier than the person who's anxious from the very beginning and takes every anxious step.

    Seneca said, he who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary. So reduce your suffering. I've got lived experiences of these, the unwritten future and the weirdness of life. So you may or may not be aware that many years ago, Sussex was my first choice when I was applying to universities. Didn't want to go anywhere else. And I didn't get in. Yeah, tell me about it. I mean, apparently my grades weren't good enough, so I took my business elsewhere and I waited for 25 years until all those people who were responsible for me not getting in had retired, had been deported, were in prison, or were just plain dead. And I came back in as Chancellor. So nah, take that linear planning. I'm aware that's childish. So I'm going to go nah again.

    But my point is that, you know, unknown future was not part of any plan. And also, I wanted to act and write since I was five years old. And I know this because when I was five, an uncle came to the house and said to me, I was a five-year-old, a bit weird, but he said, well, young man, what do you want to be when you grow up? And I said, actor. And my dad said, it's pronounced doctor. It happened. It's the truth. So, you know, I just thought, well, you know, it remained a dream. I really wanted to do it, but, you know, it was pushed back behind a sea of kind of impossibilities and, you know, improbabilities. And then when I was 30, I sued the last company I was working for for breach of contract. And it took about two years for it to go through the legal system. They settled out of court in the end. But for two years, I couldn't get a job.

    And I remember thinking, I've got nothing to lose, and I really don't want to be 80 years old. And looking back and thinking, you know, I really wanted to act and write, and I never tried. Let me try, right? And all I'm looking for is progress. I'm not looking for anyone else's defined nature of success. You know, I just progress. Am I doing, in a year's time, am I doing better than I was the year before? And that was 32, and nobody could have foreseen, including me, that within two years of that, by 34, I'd be in a successful TV show, and that would be the start of a long career so far, and living the dream. And again, I have to go, where were you linear planning in all of that?

    So I have kind of lived that experience. Because a lot of people fill the unknown future with fear. And so, because they kind of fear, they're kind of, oh, no, it could be worse. And so there's a fear that then makes you make choices in the present. Whereas if you look at those, that future, whatever your future is, as possibilities, then in one possibility, you could be worse off than you are now. And if you accept that, then there's another possibility in which you are better off.

    And there's probably a thousand possibilities in which it's just different. So all you need to do is to be curious enough to turn the page and find out your own story. At the end of the day, I think what we really need from each other is not that complicated. We want acknowledgement. We want people to try and understand us, to be seen, to be heard. And therefore, we should put those out to other people.

    My point is that you put that out to other people first. Because that's telling the universe who you are and what you want the world to be. It's basically compassion. And the interesting thing about compassion is the more of it you give out, the more you have. You never run out. It's like a self-replenishing well. And that means compassion for yourself as well. The thing with regrets, I just want to say something about regrets. Regrets are really pointless. Two reasons. One is they're in the past. You can't go back and change it.
    Secondly, the only reason you would want to go back and change it is because you've learned something from it. Take the learning and move on with that as opposed to going back and sitting with regrets.

    I'm going to leave you with an ancient Sanskrit proverb which is as true today as it was thousands of years ago. I'll translate it for you, obviously, because that would be easier. Too many cooks still won't make enough food for an Asian wedding. That's true.
    I wish you all happiness and good fortune, good mental health, and hope that you're surrounded tenfold by the love and kindness and humour that you give out. Well done. We're super proud.

    Go and be the best you.

    I officially declare this graduation closed.

    [Music playing]

    [The Mace-bearer returns on stage, collects the mace, and bows to the Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar. The Chancellor stands and follows the Mace-bearer off stage. Senior academics and staff on stage tip their hats as two academics/staff walk across the stage to pick up the ceremonial torches from the small, raised table. They bow to one another before bowing to the rest of the academics/staff. Both lead lines single files of all the professors in separate directions down the staircases on the left and right. The academics and staff walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.]

Download the Ceremony 8 video [MP4 4.4GB]

Thursday 24 July 2025

Ceremony 9 at 10am

Summer 2025: Ceremony 9

  •  Video transcript

    [Processional music playing]


    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and stand in front of their chairs until the music ends.]


    [The Chancellor’s opening video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Well, well, here we are. Well, here you are. I am unfortunately somewhere else, but here in spirit and in admiration. Apologies for gate crashing your day, but I just couldn't help crowbarring myself in to your celebrations. I wanted to add my warm welcome to all of you, graduands, families, and friends, and to those like me who may be following the ceremony remotely. Sussex graduations have been known over the last 15 years or so for being a festival, a bit of a party, and it's a tradition that I hope you'll continue today.

    This is your day, so express your joy and positivity when you cross the stage. Skip, dance, strike a pose, anything as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. I know many of you may have waited a long time for this moment, so really enjoy it.
    And friends and family, this is your day too. To take a moment to be prepared with your cameras for the moment your superstar crosses the stage, and make as much noise as you want when they do so. They've embarrassed you enough times in the past, so this is payback time. Have a great ceremony, and I'll catch you on the other side.

    [The Chancellor’s opening video ends.]


    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
Distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex class of 2025. My name is Sasha Roseneil, I'm the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex, and it's my enormous pleasure to welcome you here to this graduation ceremony. As our Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands.

    It's a day of celebration for you, and of you, and of all that you've achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways, from the love and support of your family, or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. Some of you have also had support from our alumni and donors, who've generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding.

    So I'm now gonna ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you're able, would you please stand up and turn and face your family and supporters behind you, and give them a big round of applause to say thank you for their support.

    [Graduands stand and give a large round of applause]

    Wonderful, thank you.

    Do be seated again. As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities.

    You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. And so we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something Sussex seeks always to uphold and support.

    We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job as a university to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, rigorous analysis undertaken, and new theories developed, and where minds can be changed and expanded. We're living in deeply troubled times.

    War and conflict, terror, death, and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger, and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern amongst Sussex students. And many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world. Sussex supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university, and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community.

    So Sussex graduates, I would like to thank you for all you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, a warm, open, and welcoming place. In the three years that I've been vice-chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities, as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, and volunteering on and off campus.

    And so many of you today are receiving a Spirit of Sussex award alongside your formal studies. I commend your commitment to these extracurricular activities and indeed sporting activities. Well done on all you've achieved alongside your formal work.

    Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting many hundreds of Sussex alumni, and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and how it shaped their lives, their careers, and their characters. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come.

    Whether you already have a job or are looking for one or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think critically and creatively, to adapt and change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with the power to shape your future. You've been taught by academics who are internationally recognized for their research, which has directly informed your education. And Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university.

    For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one ranking in the QS World University subject rankings. Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about. And one of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities.

    And Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect. This year in the QS World rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top 10 in the UK for citations. With anthropology and environmental science each ranked first and physics and astronomy ranked second in the UK.

    We're also ranked 17th in the UK for employment outcomes and in the top 5% of universities globally for sustainability. And for the past three years, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first of all business schools in the UK for research income. As our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work and much more.

    All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment. Now I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health.

    Some of you have faced loss and family disruption. Each of you has had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back you feel your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated and supported to achieve your best, that you're leaving with knowledge, skills and personal resources that will stand you in good stead and that you've made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations and those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers. People whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small positive ways every day.

    Across the globe in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, Sussex alumni are sharing the benefits of their experience here to make the world a progressively better place. I know you will do that too. So graduands, celebrate who you are today.
    Celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who've been on the journey with you. In short, celebrate.

    I now call upon the Associate Dean for Education and Students in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Farai Jena.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]


    [Associate Dean for Education and Students in the University of Sussex Business School, Professor Farai Jena stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reaches the lectern, she bows to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil.]

    Associate Dean, Professor Farai Jena:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and Management Studies Ahmed Mohamed Abdelmonem ABDELKADER, Yassin ABDELKAWI, Stephen ADU-SAFO, Ahmed Abbas Abbas Hasan AHMED, Ahmetcan AKMAN, Naji AL-FAKIH, Stuart ALEXANDER, Jake ALLEN, Bilal ALTELMESANI, Jonathan Ross Gilbert ALVIS, Harsh ANAND, Shivan ANANTHANATHAN, Ryan ANOZIA, Elizabeth APERGHIS, Amelia ARNOLD, Ella ASBRIDGE, Abdul-Aziz AULLYBUX, Ufuk AYDOGDU, Muhammad AZAN, Alya Alysha Binti AZHAR, Hadia BADRI, Chevvy BAKER, Emre BALKAS, Jude BARLOW, Emma BARRETT, Bersan BEZGINSOY, Shivain BHAGNARI, Oliver BIRD, Annabel BLACK, Charlie BOWDIDGE, Andrei BOZNIAKOV, Max BRAMLEY, Lewis BRETT, Sophia BURCHARDI, Joshua CALLARI, Harry CAMPBELL, Eve CARLIN, Marcos CAVALCANTI, Harsimar Singh CHADHA, Alexandre CHALVET, Sam CHAPMAN, Nicolas CHARALAMBOUS, Lakshay CHAWLA, Jiajue CHEN, Matthew CLARK, Beau CLAYTON, Joshua COLEGATE, Lleyton COLEMAN, Thomas COLLINS, Darian COMAN, Carlota MELO, Jacobus CROWE, Daniel CRUZ PACHECO, Javier CUETO DE YRAOLA, Edward CURD, Teresa DA PALMA VICOSO DO CARMO COSTA, Callum DAVIS, Isabella DEATH, Netai DHAWAN, Tommaso DI STEFANO, Antonio DIAZ CAMBRONERO, Bachir DJELMAMI-HANI, Dylan DOWLING, Charlie DUTTON, Ryan EDWARDS, Adam Mohamed EL GARHY, Mahmoud Khaled Essameldin ELHALABI, Ege Kaan EROGLU, Raza Amir Ali FANCY, Joshua FARMER, Charlotte FENTTIMAN, Elizabeth FOULADGAR, Taylor FREEMAN, Suet FUNG, Jamie GANNON, Qinyan GAO, Dan GARLAND, Baran GEZER, Jay GILTROW, Davide GRIFFINI, Also awarded the prize for the Best Research Project in Management with the Highest dissertation mark Jessica GRUBB, Alessandro GUGLIELMI, Stanislas Ulysse Illanes GUIAN-ILLANES, Veer GUJRAL, Namo HAMA-AMIN, M HAQ, Jessie HARDCASTLE, Milly HAWKINS, Finley HEPPELTHWAITE, Sally HERRON, Gary HOLMES, Chenxi HUANG, Tin Hou HUANG, Zixi HUANG, Kushagra JAIN, Shabiha JERIN, Zipporah JEYAKUMAR, Keira JONES, Kavana JOSHI, Joshua-Reece JUDE-JOHNSON, Tamara JUSTIN, Ayaan KALANIA, Justin KANAPATHY, Amelia KAPCZUK, Mehliya KAVSER, Abdelrahman Refaat Abdelrazek KHALIL, Shemol KHAN, Nour KHAYYAT, Henry KNIGHT, Mateusz KOBYLEC, Jivitesh KOHLI, Blazej KRUK, Amy LANHAM, Aliasger LATSAHEB, Angelina LEU, Yujia LI, Harry LIPSON-GREEN, Jiahua LU, Nairo LUQUINDA, (Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Business and Management Studies) Momen MALHIS, Santa MARIA, Oliver MASON, Abrianna MASRI, Josh MATTHEWS MURRAY, Maxwell MCINTYRE, Lucas MCLINDEN, Sean MCSWINEY, Rakin MIAH, Roxanna MIRSADEGHI, Rowan MITCHELL COTTS, Haroon MOHAMMAD, Ivy MORTIMER, Jessica MOTT, Naday NAQVI, Delina NEMARIAM, Harvey NEWMAN, Joshua NICHOLSON, Charles NUNN, Michael OCHIENG, Emma OGRADY, Luke ONEILL, Michael ONEILL, Lucas OSWIN, Theocharis PAPAIOANNOU, Diya PARKASH, George PARKER, Christopher PARSONS, Riana PATEL, Luke PEARCEY, Kaihang PI, George PIKETT, Jordan PILLING, Sergio PISTORIO, Nathan POTTS, Siddhant PRASAD, Wing Yan PUN Kelly, Ewan REDMAN, K-Ci REDWAY-BAKER, Theodore REEVES, Euan REID, Toby RICE, Emma RODGERS, Mia ROMEM, Faisuai ROONEY, Ahmad SAEED, Basil SAHHAR, Salman SAKIB, Zade SALTI, Theingi Soe SAN, Fynn SHAW, Millie SHAW, Jack SHEEHAN, Keena SHERIDAN, Jianyu SHI, Yasin Mohamed Abdelwahab SIAM, Samira SIKDER, Sarah Anna SILJEUR STRICKLER, Scarlett SMITH, Tom SMITH, Mateusz SOSZKO, Panagiotis SPANOS, Malini Sunil SUBHAS, Prem SUCHAK, Sageeran SUDAGARAN, Bela SULTAN, Emily TADAY, Guanxing TAN, Jack TAYLOR, Phoebe TAYLOR, Jason THAPA, Daniyal TOUSEEF, Natalia TRUICA, Emily TSANG, Joshua TWEMLOW, Oliver WALKER, Matthew WALSH, Jia Yun WANG, Maximilian Nikolaus WEIN, Tye WELLER, Thomas WRIGHT, XIA Yue Alicia, Yiguo XU, Lisha XU, Brian Hau Zheng YAW, Harry YOUNG, Karsten YUNG, Joe ZARA, Federico Emanuele Giuseppe ZETTI
    For Business and Management Studies (with a professional placement year) James ALLAIRE, Amilah ATTA, Hugo CARPENTER, Robert CLARKE, Aldiyar DUISENBI, Isobelle HARTE, Jasper HOOTON, Mack LETHABY, Alanna LIVINGS, Abdus NARA, Thi Bao Quynh NGUYEN, Olufeto OGUNGBAYI, Hazel PARKE, Harry PRICE, Muhammed Rayyan SALIM, Lucy SMALL, Kush THAKRAR, Maria THOMPSON, Laurence TIDEY, Samuel WHITEHEAD, Isobel WILLIAMS, Oliver WREN, Pauline Yi Wen ZHANG
    For Business and Management Studies (with a study abroad year) Tzouliano ALLKO, Allegra CARROLL, Patrick PHEE
    For the degree of Master of Business Administration Sanchita DAS, Sunday Nnabugo-Ginikachukwu EUGENE, Tenby NKALA, Roma Yellamanda SUDULAGUNTA
    For the degree of Master of Science in Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management Odunayo AYEBAMERU, Harshini Jhoti SOMINAIDU
    For Human Resource Management Andrew Isikhuemhen OKHUELEGBE, Prasann SHARMA, Jing ZENG, Anum Shaqran ZUBERI
    For Management Chukwudumebi David ORAKWE
    For Occupational and Organizational Psychology Cynthia BENSON

    Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; Geopolitical disruptions in global supply chains: A mitigation framework and empirical analysis Lukasz BEDNARSKI

    Vice-Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the University of Sussex Business School.

    [The Vice-Chancellor bows her head to the Associate Dean in acknowledgement and sits down.]


    [The Associate Dean, Professor Farai Jena, returns to her seat and sits down.]

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students stands and approaches the lectern.]
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you those graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony.
    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and Management Studies Muhammad Umar AZHAR, Lingwen CHEN, Chengrui CUI, Yamin KYAW, LEE Jun Hao, Yunfang LIU, Yuehan SHEN, Sangyeop SHIN, Shumei WANG, Bokun ZHANG, Xueying ZHANG, Tan ZHAO, Yun ZOU

    For the degree of Master of Science in Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management Oyetola Esther OYEBIYI
    For Human Resource Management Ruth Ibitamuno ADE-OTOKI, Onyeka Stephenie ANUKWU, Oluwakemi Esther AROKOYO, Mehreen PASHA
    For Occupational and Organizational Psychology Angelin Mophiya MURTHY

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and Management Studies
    Also awarded the Best Student prize for the Highest Grand Mean in BSc Business and Management Studies Momen MALHIS

    Vice-Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony, and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex.

    I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia at this ceremony.

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil stands in the middle of the stage.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
So, this is the big moment. Graduates, would you all please rise. By the powers invested in me by the Senate of the University of Sussex, I confer degrees on all of those referred to by the Pro Vice-Chancellor. Congratulations, you're all now graduates of the University of Sussex.

    [The Vice-Chancellor sits down.]


    [The Chancellor’s closing video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Hello, congratulations graduates. It's me again talking to you from the big screen. This is actually life-size, my head really is this big. Traditionally, the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom, but I know after a long ceremony you'll want to get on with your day, so I'll keep it brief lalalalala. That's it. Honestly, I don't think there's anything I can tell you that you don't instinctively already know.

    And your instincts, that inner voice, are always right by the way. But they speak with the same vocabulary, cadence, inflection and grammar as your fears, anxieties and doubts. So, how to tell the difference?

    Well, your instincts always come from a place of love. So, check in with yourself and make sure your choices, your responses are always coming from a place of kindness and love towards yourself and the world around you. I know sometimes that can be a challenge, but the more you do it, the easier it gets until eventually it's habit and just who you are.

    Our present days, and in fact the last few years, have been as anxiety-driven as I can remember. So, good mental health is more important than ever. It's understandable, looking at the world, not to get drawn into a pretty despondent place.

    The feeling that you can't do anything about it, that to change the world you have to somehow be in a position of power or influence. We can easily end up in a rage at so-called leaders or politicians or self-appointed media commentators or even some egg with a self-righteous handle on social media as they express their incompetence, lack of accountability or revel in their absence of any kind of compassion or humanity. Mahatma Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world.

    Basically, start with yourself. If you want to see a more compassionate world, you be more compassionate. You want to see more accountability, then you be more accountable.

    If you make a mistake, then fess up, modify your opinion and grow. Making mistakes is one of the most human things of all, but people seem now to be less forgiving if you do make one. How are we supposed to improve if we don't make mistakes and then learn from them?

    Now, I can't make other people be more forgiving of me, but I can certainly be more forgiving of them. I can't change anyone. That's up to them, but I can change me.

    So don't be afraid of making mistakes. Just make sure that each mistake you make is a new one. Someone who keeps making the same mistake over and over is a perfect definition of an idiot.

    And don't be defined by a bad day or a bad week, a bad month or even a bad year. I had a bad decade once, but I came out of it. All things will pass. If you honestly want to know who you really are, it's your next decision. Always. If your last decision didn't work out, learn from it and move on.

    It's not who you are anymore. Every day, you have the opportunity to be a better you. I give myself two choices, enjoy or learn.
    That's it. Therefore, I can't ever fail. If I'm not enjoying something, then what am I learning from it?

    If I'm not enjoying or learning, then why am I doing it? Stop. Take a different path. Actually, obviously, there is a third option.

    The best one, in fact, enjoy and learn. It's fundamentally why I love meeting people. The sheer fact that I can sit down with any of you here today and we together could come up with an idea that I could never have come up with on my own is magical to me.
    A small and seemingly insignificant experience that you've had or an opinion you hold, not necessarily one I even agree with, could be the one unexpected key that is going to unlock a part of me through ideas, thoughts and actions. But that essential bit of information I need, I will only hear if I'm genuinely going to listen. How tragic to miss that life-changing moment because I wasn't prepared to hear you out or if one of us was being a bit of a not very nice.

    We are already powerful. Each of us has the ability to make or break someone's day, to inspire or destroy, to encourage or to put down. Our empathy and positivity towards someone else in that ripple effect kind of way can absolutely change your world, their world and by logic the wider world too.

    So remember that even at your lowest point you have the power to express kindness. You also of course have the power to disagree, say no, call out bad behaviour. Just have all of it come from a kind place and don't let anyone take that power away from you.

    Happiness without gratitude is empty. Success without humility is arrogance. Compassion that is selective is only half-baked.
    Love without expression is just an idea. And dancing without using your arms is just weird, unless it's Irish dancing, river dance style, in which case that's fine. I hope we meet in person at some point, in which case feel free to come up and say I'm a Sussex graduate and you owe me a hug or a handshake or a high five or ignore me if you want.

    In every case I wish you all success in everything you do next. Take your compassion, your kindness and your power and express it to the world. Good luck.

    I now declare this congregation closed.

    [The Chancellor’s closing video ends.]


    [Processional music playing]

    [The Mace-bearer returns to the stage, collects the mace, and leads the platform party off the stage. The Vice-Chancellor precedes the Mace-bearer, followed by the Chancellor’s Procession in reverse order, then the Academic and Professional Services Procession. They walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.]

Download the Ceremony 9 video [MP4 3.6GB]

Ceremony 10 at 1.30pm

Summer 2025: Ceremony 10

  • Video transcript

    [Processional music playing]


    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and stand in front of their chairs until the music ends.]


    [The Chancellor’s opening video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Well, well, here we are. Well, here you are. I am unfortunately somewhere else, but here in spirit and in admiration. Apologies for gate-crashing your day, but I just couldn't help crowbarring myself in to your celebrations. I wanted to add my warm welcome to all of you, graduands, families and friends, and to those like me who may be following the ceremony remotely. Sussex graduations have been known over the last 15 years or so for being a festival, a bit of a party, and it's a tradition that I hope you will continue today.

    This is your day, so express your joy and positivity when you cross the stage. Skip, dance, strike a pose, anything as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. I know many of you may have waited a long time for this moment, so really enjoy it.
    And friends and family, this is your day too. To take a moment to be prepared with your cameras for the moment your superstar crosses the stage, and make as much noise as you want when they do so. They've embarrassed you enough times in the past, so this is payback time. Have a great ceremony, and I'll catch you on the other side.

    [The Chancellor’s opening video ends.]


    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
Madam Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025. My name is Professor Sasha Roseneil, and I'm the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex. It's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to this graduation ceremony.

    As our Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands. This is a day of celebration of you, and for you, and of all that you've achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways, from the love and support of your family, or your guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course from the teaching and support of Sussex staff.

    And some of you have had support from our alumni and donors, who've generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding. So I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you're able, would you please stand up and turn and face your friends and loved ones behind you, and offer your thanks with a hearty cheer and a round of applause.

    [Graduands Stand and give a round of applause] 

    Wonderful. Please do be seated again. As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful and supportive environment, in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish.

    Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs and identities. You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. So we have people here today, of many different nationalities, ethnicities and faiths, with a huge diversity of beliefs and opinions about almost every matter under the sun.

    And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold and support. We have a foundational commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech. It's our job as a university to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis can be undertaken, new theories developed and where minds can be expanded and changed.

    We're living in deeply troubled times, war and conflict, terror, death and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern amongst Sussex students. Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences and solutions to the urgent problems the world faces. And Sussex supports, and will always support, freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university, and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community.

    So, Sussex graduates, I would like to thank you for all that you have contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion and diversity. A warm, open and welcoming place. In the three years that I've been Vice-Chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope and possibility for a better world.

    Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities, as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, volunteering on and off campus. And so many of you are today receiving a Spirit of Sussex award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend your extracurricular activities.

    Well done on all that you've achieved alongside your formal studies. Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting many hundreds of Sussex alumni, and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex and how it shaped their lives, their careers and their character. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since.

    I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come. Whether you already have a job or are looking for one or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think creatively and critically, to adapt and change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with the power to shape the future. You’ve been taught by academics who are internationally recognised for their research, which has directly informed your education.

    And Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings. Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about.

    One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which its publications, the publications of its researchers, are cited by researchers from other universities. And Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect. This year in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top ten in the UK for citations.

    With anthropology and environmental science, each ranked first, and physics and astronomy ranked second in the UK. We were also ranked 17th in the UK for employment outcomes, and in the top 5% of universities globally for sustainability. And for the past three years, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first of all business schools in the UK for research income.

    As our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, of energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work, and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy, and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment. Now I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far.

    Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health. Some of you have faced loss and family disruption. Each of you had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here.

    But whatever your Sussex story, I hope when you look back, you'll feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated and supported to achieve your best. That you're leaving with knowledge, skills and personal resources that will stand you in good stead. And that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You’ll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations, and those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers. People whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small, positive ways every day.

    Across the globe, in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. I know you will do that too. So, graduands, celebrate who you are today.

    Celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who've been on the journey alongside you. In short, celebrate.

    I call upon the Head of the School of Life Sciences, Professor Michelle West.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]


    [Head of the School of Life Sciences, Professor Michelle West stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reaches the lectern, she bows to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil.]

    Head of School, Professor Michelle West:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the Diploma of Higher Education Carmen LEINER
    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry Jozef AVANZADO, Bilal BEN-HASSEN, Hugo CARRIE, Metin COKER, Daniella EE, Omar ELMAGHRABY, Elvira FLETCHER, Holly FOXELL, Annika GERMAN, Bailey GRAY, Aaliyah HAQ, Rhianna HOLDEN, Rachel KERNICK, Jim Jedriz Cayabyab LIWANAG, Taliyah MINOTT, Sara SALIH, Joshua SOLOMON-OSBORNE, Zara SYED, Fatimah TASNIM, Mihaela VASILEVA, Lauren WILSON
    For Biology Amelia BALDWIN, Kristupas BALTRUSAITIS, Frank BUNTING, Marina CHERNOVA, Nina COLLINS, Beth DALY, Alan DOMINIAK, Marcus EASTON, Geronimo ESTRADA OSPINA, Molly GRIBBEN, Jessica HOGAN, Elliot JONES, Rebecca KLECAN, Bella MACHIN, Francis MARJORAM, Thalassini MAVROSTOMOU, Matyas NEZHODA, Adam PACKHAM, Charlotte PALMER, Anabelle REED, Kate ROWE, Olivia RUSHMERE, Emily RUST, Alfred SEDLEY, Emily STOW, Hannah TERRILL, Zahra TERRY, Oliwier ZOLADEK
    For Biology (with a professional placement year) Also awarded the School prize for Biology Eleanor COLLARD
    For Biology (with a study abroad year) Pratham DHAWAN, Amy ELLIOTT
    For Biomedical Science Elliott ABBOTT, Janna ABU OBEAD, Oluwayemisi AINA, Noora AL-KAABI, Kaltham AL-SAYED, Samuel BABALOLA, Nongnapat BANTIDSAKSAKUL, Elif BAYAT, Maddison BEKKER, Daniel BELLO, Maria BRICENO PEREIRA, Findlay BROWN, Lyra BURNS, Ethan-Blu BURSTOW, Oscar CAIN, Eldora CH'NG, Ansel CHAN, Anisah CHELQI, Thirat CHOISAENG, Tamzin CLARK, Keesha COKER, Jessica DALZIEL, Charlotte EDLER, Kai EDMEAD, Ipek ERSEVEN, Ashley FRANKS, Charlie FREIDSON, Lisandra GADELKARIM, Fernando GARDINI, Charlie GORMAN, Also awarded the School prize for Biomedical Science Malcolm GRAINGER-WRIGHT, Sienna GREIG, Benjamin GRIST, Matthew HALLAM, Phoebe HARRISON, Ryan HENDERSON, Hanna HEYDARI, David HOWORTH, Hnin HTIKE WAI, Crystal HULLS, Luka ILIC, Katie IRELAND, Marie-Luise JURKSCHAT, Anya KAKKAR, Eleni KALOPEDIS, Oliver KAMALA, Kamilya KANAT, Raihan KHAN, Shalom KIWANUKA, Akerke KOISHIYEVA, Tom LEESI, Isabella MADDALENA, Sharuka MAHARAJAN, Isabel MEREDITH, Kasra MOHAMMADI ZAKERI, Ameen MOOKHITH, Shraddha Maitreye MURALIBABU SUJATHA, Ronan MURPHY, Lilly NGUYEN, Benjamin NOAKE, Denise Ijeoma OBANYA, Sophie OSGOOD, Jemima PARRY, Heli PATEL, James PILBROW, Eva POCCESCHI, Shozna RAHMAN, Miran SAADOUN, Sreya SADAN, Emma SANSOM, Samantha SCHWARZ, Cameron SCOLLICK, Shahzeen SHAIKH, Michelle SILVEIRA, Holly SMITH, Siobhan THOMAS, Phoebe TITHERIDGE, Chizitelum UDE, Sophie VAUSE, Lucas VINGE FRYER, Jai Prakash VYAS, Shao-I WANG, Joshua WILLIAMS, Nandini YADAV, Bahaeddine ZAOUI, Anika ZECH
    For Biomedical Science (with a professional placement year) Danielle BATCHELOR-MORGAN, Chikondi MALIKI
    For Chemistry Ross CARLTON, Also awarded a place on the Kroto-Walton Junior Research Associate Scheme Nathan DALTON, Daniele DUMITRA, Hannah EADES, Mitchell GREEN, Anushan KANAGARAJAH, Also awarded a place on the Kroto-Walton Junior Research Associate Scheme and the School Prize for Chemistry BSc Maria PAVLIDOU, Justine ROXBOROUGH, Lara SEMBHI
    For Chemistry (with a professional placement year) Florence AINA
    For Ecology and Conservation Tharini BUSAWAH, Scarlett DOWLING, Geoffrey PORRAS, Esther RUSSELL, Also awarded the School prize for Ecology and Conservation Amy WALKER
    For Ecology and Conservation (with a professional placement year) Elysia SCOTT
    For Genetics Sasha BOWLER, Ella CANNELL, Katana LEVERIDGE, Sinan WESTON
    For Genetics (with a study abroad year) Safiya HODGSON
    For Medical Neuroscience Francesca ADAMS-STONE, Simone BOULOS, Declan BURNS, Matilda DUDLEY, Sadie FORSHAW, Clara-Henriette FREIIN VON WEICHS ZUR WENNE, Natalie FRIEDL, Yonas HAILE, Joely HOGSDEN, Taylor JENNINGS, Sugamya JUNJU, Also awarded the School prize for Neuroscience Daniel KELT, Francesca MURLEY, Mohammad NASSER, Chelayne NELSON, Davittah Adily NJOKA, Malak OULFKIH, Maria RIVERO LOPEZ, Dondu SAGLAM, Mienh SAREE, Amanda SHITTU, Alexandra SILVA ROMERO, Lydia WOOD, Havisha YOGANANTHAN, Mahnum YOUSAF
    For Neuroscience Charlie ACE, Francesca ADAMS, Mina ALLEN-SINGH, Jenna Omar ALLOUBA, Orla ANDREW-MILNE, João Pedro ARAÚJO SANTOS MARTINS MIRANDA, Ioana BALAN, Aiden BLAY, Justine BUCKLEY-ANKRAH, Charles Kimutai DANIELS, Ray DAS, Fatma DEMIR, Joe DUNCAN, Philippa EDWARDS, Charlotte ELOIE, Savannah EMUEZE, Gabriella FAGAN, Elaina FRANCISCHELLI, Jude GUNNER, Sophie HAIG, Karina HALES, Maisha HUSSAIN, Grace HUTCHINGS, Nadia JASINSKA, Krisha KAMLESH, Fatmata KARGBO, Beatrice LEWIS, Willow LLOYD, Megan MONAIGHAN, Matthew MOUHOUT, Yasmin MPAGI, Alishba NAJAM, Justina NASSIF, Emircan SAMRA, Darcy SANDERS, Imogen SHARPLES, Sanjana UDHAYA BASKAR, Sarita VILLAEYS JULIA, Miriam VISSER GALIANA, Ethan WILDING, Fo Loo WILLIAMS
    For Neuroscience (with a study abroad year) Ella HALL, Caoimhe LOVELL, Alfred TRAVIS
    For Zoology Olivia BARKER, Oscar BONGARD, Katherine FELLINGHAM, Isabella GULLESS, Charlotte HALL, Daisy HOLT, Lily HOPKINS, Shea LOFTUS, Robin LONG, Louis MANNING, James MANULI, Charlotte MATTHEWS, Galatée OGER-LIBOR, Zoe SAKS, Iris WEYENETH
    For Zoology (with a professional placement year) Alice HOGGARTH, Emma JANSSEN
    For Zoology (with a study abroad year) Also awarded the School prize for Zoology Julia ENTWISTLE, Ellie GOJKOVIC, Hazel LOADMAN, Codey SHARP
    For the degree of Master of Chemistry in Chemistry Katie DAVIES, Kyle FITZGERALD, Robin HANCOCK, Nitya JAIN, Also awarded a place on the Kroto-Walton Junior Research Associate Scheme and the Murrell Prize for Theoretical Chemistry at Masters Level Fiona MURDOCH
    For Chemistry (with an industrial placement year) Hannah ALEXANDER, Roxanne IFILL, Hamshad MOHAMMED
    For Chemistry with Summer Research Placements Also awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Downland prize for the best MChem presentation in Organic or Inorganic Chemistry and the School prize for Chemistry (Masters Level) Theo WEBB
    For the degree of Master of Science in Biochemistry Molly ABRAHAM, Shylee DOBSON HOLFORD, Christah EDGAR, Kayleigh FLOYD, Also awarded the School prize for Biochemistry Madeline HARRISON, Neve NORRIS, Marisa SCOTT
    For Biology Deanna-Fae DOVI-DOTSE, Lydia KNOWLES, Trinity THOMSON
    For Biomedical Science Haya AUDI, Jessica BIRD, Alissa FRANCIS, Dawood KAMAL
    For Ecology and Conservation Also awarded the School prize for Ecology and Conservation Apollonia PALMER
    For Genetics Jake CROSTHWAITE, Also awarded the School prize for Genetics Lucy HOTCHKISS
    For Medical Neuroscience Andrea FONTAINE
    For Zoology Louise ENGLISH, Poppy LANKSTEAD, Also awarded the School prize for Zoology Caitlin LAVELLE
    For Research in Neuroscience Chelsie Iris HIRONS-MAJOR
    For the degree of Master of Science in Cancer Cell Biology Blessing Iyetunde OLATUNJI
    For Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology Adetunji Hammed ALAO, Artemis WOLANOW
    For Global Biodiversity Conservation Ching Hin YUEN
    For Neuroscience Ferhat OZGER

    Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; Control of the activity of the MRN complex at human telomeres Majedh ALSHMERY, For the thesis; Exploring the spatiotemporal dynamics of meiotic recombination George BROWN, For the thesis; Ecological drivers of macroinvertebrate communities in ponds Marcus DOLE, For the thesis; Peripheral ephaptic interactions during rapid odour onset asynchrony in the olfactory system of Drosophila melanogaster Lydia ELLISON, For the thesis; Structural and functional studies of human greatwall kinase William FOSTER, For the thesis; Investigating the role of RNA stability and decay within the cellular stress response Hope HAIME, For the thesis; Understanding and improving foraging opportunities for bees and other flower-visiting insects in agricultural landscapes Ciaran HARRIS, For the thesis; Investigating the potential of the truncated Tau construct, Tau186-391, as an in-vitro model for 4R Tauopathy Tahmida KHANOM, For the thesis; Mining the Wnt signalling responsive surfaceome for novel drug targets in acute myeloid leukaemia Samuel Nugboton OLAITAN, For the thesis; Horizon scanning for invasive non-native species Jodey PEYTON, For the thesis; Investigating β-catenin:RBP/RNA interactions in myeloid leukaemia Okan SEVIM, For the thesis; An investigation of critical pathways for mitochondrial DNA maintenance in brainstem nuclei in Lewy Body Dementia clinical subtypes Eloise Jade STEPHENSON, For the thesis; Synthesis, structure and reactivity of low-valent lanthanide metallocenes Siobhan TEMPLE, For the thesis; Elucidating the roles of HP1BP3 in alternative lengthening of telomeres Jack WOOTTON

    Vice-Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the School of Life Sciences.

    [The Vice-Chancellor bows her head to the Head of School in acknowledgement and sits down.]


    [The Head of School, Professor Michelle West, returns to her seat and sits down.]

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion stands and approaches the lectern.]

    Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion:
Vice-Chancellor, I now present to you graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony.
    For the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Economics Anastasia HARRIS
    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and Management Studies Adam Fahmy ZARTARIAN
    For Chemistry Marley DIANELLOU
    For Neuroscience Igor NEPOCHATYKH

    Vice-Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex. I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia at this ceremony.

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil stands in the middle of the stage.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
So this is the big moment. Graduands, would you please stand? By the powers invested in me by the Senate of the University of Sussex, I confer degrees on all those mentioned by the Pro Vice-Chancellor.

    Congratulations, you are now graduates of the University of Sussex.

    [The Vice-Chancellor sits down.]


    [The Chancellor’s closing video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Hello. Congratulations graduates. It's me again talking to you from the big screen. This is actually life-size. My head really is this big. Traditionally, the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom. But I know after a long ceremony, you'll want to get on with your day, so I'll keep it brief. La la la la la la la la la. That's it.

    Honestly, I don't think there's anything I can tell you that you don't instinctively already know. And your instincts, that inner voice, are always right, by the way. But they speak with the same vocabulary, cadence, infection and grammar as your fears, anxieties and doubts. 

    So how to tell the difference? Well, your instincts always come from a place of love. So check in with yourself and make sure your choices, your responses are always coming from a place of kindness and love towards yourself and the world around you.

    I know sometimes that can be a challenge, but the more you do it, the easier it gets until eventually it's habit and just who you are. At present days, and in fact, the last few years have been as anxiety driven as I can remember. So good mental health is more important than ever.

    It's understandable, looking at the world, not to get drawn into a pretty despondent place. The feeling that you can't do anything about it, that to change the world you have to somehow be in a position of power or influence. We can easily end up in a rage at so-called leaders or politicians or self-appointed media commentators or even some egg with a self-righteous handle on social media as they express their incompetence, lack of accountability or revel in their absence of any kind of compassion or humanity.

    Mahatma Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world. Basically, start with yourself. If you want to see a more compassionate world, you be more compassionate.

    You want to see more accountability, then you be more accountable. If you make a mistake, then fess up, modify your opinion and grow. Making mistakes is one of the most human things of all, but people seem now to be less forgiving if you do make one.

    How are we supposed to improve if we don't make mistakes and then learn from them? Now, I can't make other people be more forgiving of me, but I can certainly be more forgiving of them. I can't change anyone.

    That's up to them, but I can change me. So don't be afraid of making mistakes. Just make sure that each mistake you make is a new one. Someone who keeps making the same mistake over and over is a perfect definition of an idiot. And don't be defined by a bad day or a bad week, a bad month or even a bad year. I had a bad decade once, but I came out of it.

    All things will pass. If you honestly want to know who you really are, it's your next decision. Always. If your last decision didn't work out, learn from it and move on. It's not who you are anymore. Every day, you have the opportunity to be a better you.

    I give myself two choices. Enjoy or learn. That’s it. Therefore, I can't ever fail. If I'm not enjoying something, then what am I learning from it? If I'm not enjoying or learning, then why am I doing it? Stop. Take a different path. Actually, obviously, there is a third option.
    The best one, in fact. Enjoy and learn. It's fundamentally why I love meeting people.

    The sheer fact that I can sit down with any of you here today and we together could come up with an idea that I could never have come up with on my own is magical to me. A small and seemingly insignificant experience that you've had or an opinion you hold, not necessarily one I even agree with, could be the one unexpected key that is going to unlock a part of me through ideas, thoughts and actions. But that essential bit of information I need, I will only hear if I'm genuinely going to listen.

    How tragic to miss that life-changing moment because I wasn't prepared to hear you out. Or if one of us was being a bit of a not very nice. We are already powerful. Each of us has the ability to make or break someone's day. To inspire or destroy. To encourage or to put down.

    Our empathy and positivity towards someone else, in that ripple effect kind of way, can absolutely change your world, their world and by logic the wider world too. So remember that even at your lowest point you have the power to express kindness. You also, of course, have the power to disagree, say no, call out bad behaviour.

    Just have all of it come from a kind place and don't let anyone take that power away from you. Happiness without gratitude is empty. Success without humility is arrogance. Compassion that is selective is only half-baked. Love without expression is just an idea. And dancing without using your arms is just weird. Unless it's Irish dancing, river dance style, in which case that's fine. I hope we meet in person at some point, in which case feel free to come up and say I'm a Sussex graduate and you owe me a hug or a handshake or a high five or ignore me if you want. In every case, I wish you all success in everything you do next.

    Take your compassion, your kindness and your power and express it to the world. Good luck. I now declare this congregation closed.

    [The Chancellor’s closing video ends.]


    [Processional music playing]

    [The Mace-bearer returns to the stage, collects the mace, and leads the platform party off the stage. The Vice-Chancellor precedes the Mace-bearer, followed by the Chancellor’s Procession in reverse order, then the Academic and Professional Services Procession. They walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.]

Download the Ceremony 10 video [MP4 3.6GB]

Ceremony 11 at 4.30pm

Summer 2025: Ceremony 11

  •  Video transcript

    [Processional music playing]


    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and stand in front of their chairs until the music ends.]
[The Chancellor’s opening video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Well, well, here we are. Well, here you are. I am unfortunately somewhere else, but here in spirit and in admiration. Apologies for gate crashing your day, but I just couldn't help crowbarring myself in to your celebrations. I wanted to add my warm welcome to all of you, graduands, families, and friends, and to those like me who may be following the ceremony remotely. Sussex graduations have been known over the last 15 years or so for being a festival, a bit of a party, and it's a tradition that I hope you'll continue today.

    This is your day, so express your joy and positivity when you cross the stage. Skip, dance, strike a pose, anything, as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. I know many of you may have waited a long time for this moment, so really enjoy it.

    And friends and family, this is your day too, to take a moment to be prepared with your cameras for the moment your superstar crosses the stage, and make as much noise as you want when they do so. They've embarrassed you enough times in the past, so this is payback time. Have a great ceremony, and I'll catch you on the other side.

    [The Chancellor’s opening video ends.]


    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
Mr. Deputy Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, supporters, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025. My name is Professor Sasha Roseneil, and I'm the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex. It's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to this graduation ceremony.

    As our Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, has just reminded us, today is all about you, our graduands. This is a day of celebration of you and for you, and of all that you've achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways, from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff.

    And some of you have had support from our alumni and donors who've generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding. So I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you are able, would you please stand up and turn and face your family and friends behind you, and offer your thanks. Give them a big hearty cheer and a round of applause.

    [Graduands stand and applaud]

    Wonderful, please do be seated again. As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish.

    Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. So we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. 

    And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something Sussex seeks always to uphold and support. We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job as a university to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our staff and students can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis can be undertaken, new theories developed, and where minds can be expanded and changed.

    We're living in deeply troubled times, war and conflict, terror, death, and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger, and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern among Sussex students. Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world. And Sussex supports, and will always support, freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university, and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community.

    So Sussex graduates, I would like to thank you all for all that you've contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, a warm, open, and welcoming place. In the three years that I've been vice-chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in a wide range of other activities, as student ambassadors and representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, volunteering on and off campus.

    And so many of you are today receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to the community. I commend your commitment to your extracurricular activities. Well done on all you've achieved alongside your formal studies.

    Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting many hundreds of Sussex alumni, and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and how it shaped their lives, their careers, and their characters. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come.

    Whether you already have a job or are looking for one, or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think critically and creatively, to adapt and change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world, with the power to shape your future. You've been taught by academics who are internationally recognised for their research, which has directly informed your education, and Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University rankings.

    Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about. One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities. And Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect.

    This year in the QS World rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top 10 in the UK for citations, with anthropology and environmental science each ranked first, and physics and astronomy ranked second in the UK. We're also 17th in the UK for employment outcomes and in the top 5% of universities globally for sustainability. And for the past three years, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first of all business schools in the UK for research income.

    As our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the future of digital work and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment. Now, I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far.

    Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health. Some of you have faced loss and family disruption. Each of you had a unique route here to Sussex and through your time here. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back, you'll feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, simulated and supported to achieve your best. That you're leaving with knowledge, skills and personal resources that will stand you in good stead. And that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations. And those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers.

    People whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small positive ways every day. Across the globe in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. I know you will do that too.

    So graduands, celebrate who you are today. Celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who've been on the journey with you. In short, celebrate.

    I call upon the Head of the School of Engineering and Informatics, Professor Ian Wakeman.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]


    [Head of the School of Engineering and Informatics, Professor Ian Wakeman stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reaches the lectern, he bows to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil.]

    Head of School, Professor Ian Wakeman:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Product Design Max DAVIS, Emelie TORLOT, Sachi Sandeep WADHAVKAR
    For Product Design (with an industrial placement year) Sian RAMM, Also awarded the Product Design Team Award for the Most Professional Conduct in the Final Year Iona TAIT
    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Bilal AHMED, Ahmad AL-DOUKH, Mohamed Tarek Mohamed Wahby ALI, Sorya ALIZADA, Aaron ATA-BAAH, Damilare BABALOLA, Miles BAMBAGA-FLOWER, Jo BURNETT, Callum BUTTERS, Smit CHAUDHARI, Yik CHUNG, Also awarded the Crowd Sports prize for top Computer Science Project and the BCS Chartered Institute for IT prize for a top five Computer Science or IT Project John CORY-WRIGHT, Carla CRISTOBAL HERNANDEZ, Archie DAVIES, Rafik DEBOUB, Evgenii DEMUSHKIN, Anne-Marie DUGGAN, Michael DYE, George FRANCIS, Arjan GHARIAL, Owen GIBSON, Axel GUMIIT, Lia HAWKES, Finnian HOLLAND, Eoin HOWARD SCULLY, Yanling JIN, Jack JOHNSON, Thomas JORDAN, Nathaniel KNOWLES, Kyo Ka-Wing LEE, Angelo LINDUP REEVE, Harry LLOYD, Gabriel MARDAKHAEV, Cristian MATTOSCIO, Tasio NOGUES SUMMERSCALE, Alexander NOLES, Jian OLI, Jonas PAPINIGIS, Alex PERELLO BAQUE, Maximilian RAHNEBERG, Neel RAICHURA, Aliyah RUTHERFORD, Lewis RYE, Amy SCOTT, Sam SETHNA, Joshua SHACKLEFORD, Fayzullakhon SHAMSIEV, Thomas SHORE, Marcell SIHOMBING, Joseph SMITH, Noah SMITH, Jiho SON, Koushic SUMATHI KUMAR, Faiz SYED, Taha TALHA, James TAYLOR, Ivan TEIXEIRA, Stanley TUCKER, Oliver TURNER, Ilja VALASENKO, James WARRILOW, Thomas WHITE, Taisei YOKOSHIMA, James ZARIFA, Pingyaqi ZHANG, Yuheng ZHOU
    For Computer Science (with a study abroad year) Jack WATSON
    For Computer Science (with an industrial placement year) Finlay GALLETLY, Selin HADJILAR, Aidan JACKETS, William PIECKIELON
    For Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Afnan AHMED, Buthaina AL-DARWISH, Saleh AL-SULAITI, Abdulrahman Mohamed J. A. AL-THANI, Fatema ALAALI, Dana AMASHA, Mustapha AMIN, Mehnaz AMIN, Harvey APIVOR, Tariq AYYAD, Taehee BAE, Ziad BAKR, Ryan BEAVIS, Ehad Mubaraz BHANDARI, Aya BILAL, Lia CARTER, Javier CASTRO SANTOS, Harry Hoi Bong CHAN, Gavin EDGAR, Mohamed Ihab Hassan ELLEITHY, Ahmed Ayman Ahmed ELSAWAF, Ricardo ESCUDERO ALEJOS, Rebecca FINNIS, Anthony GUERGES, Phoebe HARDING, Bradley HOPPER, Han Han Swan Yee HTET, Pavel JERMOLAJEV, Isabella JOHNSON, Tess JONES, Rayan KHAN, Omar KHANZADA, Varisara KHOMRATTANAPANYA, Jiarui LAO, Hanze LI, LIM Tsz Hei Mike, Kai MAN, Mohamed Osama A MANSOURI, Isselmou Ahmed Amin MOHAMED AHID, Sam MOORE, Sultanbek MYRZAKHMET, Madeleine NOREN, Also awarded the BCS Chartered Institute for IT prize, for a top five Computer Science or IT Project and the prize for an outstanding Informatics Project Maksut Richard Lane O'CONNOR, Chibueze OPARA, M M Sakibur RAHMAN, Chouaib RAMZI, Rhiana Kichiku RENSON, Isaac RICHARDSON, Bocheng SHI, Devansh SONI, Tymur SOROKA, Piyathida SUWANNAKAT, Amy UPSON, Arnold VELASCO, Paula Xho VILAJETI, Dominic WALKER, Xiyi XIONG, Simal Naz YILDIZ
    For Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (with a study abroad year) and Also awarded the prize for Outstanding Performance in Year 3, the CASM prize for the top Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Project and the BCS Chartered Institute for IT prize for a top five Computer Science or IT Project Iadi CIAN, Ervinas MARTUSEVICIUS
    For Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (with an industrial placement year) Sayem AHMED, Isabel LAHMANN, Also awarded the BCS Chartered Institute for IT prize for a top five Computer Science Project and the prize for an outstanding Informatics Project Med Saad LATIOUI, Stefania Alexandra STROIA, Shelly THEINGI, Sophia WILLIAMS
    For Computing for Business and Management Ali ABOTALEB, Adam BELL, Abigail BELTON, Sebastian BOGDAN, Andrea CHEUNG, Cezary DABROWSKI, Samuel HANDLER, Arsene INTWALI NKWAYA, Kian LINDO, Nan Su Su Thae MAUNG, Petroc MERRITT, Areej TARIQ, Jasmin WILLIAMS, Archie WILLS
    For Computing for Business and Management (with an industrial placement year) Ehfaz CHOUDHURY
    For Engineering Kenneth CHAO, Parsa SALEH SARI
    For Games and Multimedia Environments James ALLEN-CAVELL, Yin Chung Anson CHAN, Joseph COOPER, Aiden DADSWELL, Jun FOO, Nathan Yew Jun HOR, Thomas JOLLEY, Elliot LEE, Joshua LONG, Pon Nye Min LWIN, Also awarded the Hare Digital prize for the top Digital Media Project and the BCS Chartered Institute for IT prize for a top five Computer Science or IT Project Jelita PURCHES
    For Games and Multimedia Environments (with an industrial placement year) Harrison BAKER, Ho Ching HO, Oluwaseorefunmi Olufunke SOYANNWO
    For Product Design Roksana BARTELA, Alexander DOREE, Christopher EL-NAHHAS, Also awarded the IED Award for the Best Final Year Student project John FORDE, Alexander GRIFFIN, Callum GROOM, Isaac JENKINS, Calvin NICHOLSON, Kael PATERSON, Also awarded the prize for Outstanding BSc/BA Finalist Louis PILKINGTON, Clara POP, Harry RYAN, Jamie SCHULP, Archie SKINGLEY, Toby TURNBULL, Also awarded the Product Design Team Award for the Most Circular Final Year Project Maxwell WALTON, Rory WILSON-TIDSWELL
    For Product Design (with an industrial placement year) Sierra KEBBIE
    For the degree of Bachelor of Engineering in Automotive Engineering Also awarded the IMechE prize for the Best Automotive BEng Project Liam ARNOLD, William GAFFNEY, Tunde GANIYU, Raidur HABIB, Gia LE, Weirong LIANG, Sunil MISTRY, Also awarded the IMechE prize for the Best Automotive Engineering BEng Finalist Student Kiran PATEL, Muhammad SAUD, Kailun SHEN
    For Automotive Engineering (with an industrial placement year) Sergio SANTAMARIA DIEGUEZ, Rustem ZHAXYLYKOV
    For Electrical and Electronic Engineering Nawaf ALZAHRANI, Luke DAVISON, Bora ISILAK, Rendani MATSHIDZE, Senhao SHE, Also awarded the MacQuitty prize Stanley SHEARMAN, Mervyn SMITH
    For Electrical and Electronic Engineering (with an industrial placement year) Also awarded the prize for Outstanding BEng Finalist and the IET Prize 2025 for Best Student Senumi TEBUWANA
    For Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Robotics Ehi ABU, Jaafar AL-SUDANI, Dominic DEW, AnjolaOluwa Tolulope FAJOBI, Ahmed HASSAN, Reuben LIBRACK-BALROOP
    For Mechanical Engineering Hassan Mohammed H S AL-GHANIM, Saoud AL-HAJRI, Turki AL-SADA, Also awarded the IMechE prize for the Best Mechanical Engineering BEng project Lucas ALBERY, Hessa ALMANSOORI, Ben BARTLETT, Esah BASHIR, Jules BRADLEY, Vincent BRECKELL, Jack BRYARS, Jacob CATLIN, Man Ho Sam CHAN, Daniel CONNOLLY, Samuel CRABB, Ayudh GARBUJA, Also awarded the IMechE prize for the Best Mechanical Engineering BEng finalist student Amy GREEN, Eliot HALITI, Mohamed HEGAZY, Yousef KARBON, Ethan MANN, Patryk MLYNARCZYK, Olivia Maegan MULIJANA, Jing MUORTAT, Amirmahdi NAHVI, Brian OHUIMUMWEN, Oluwatobi Laju OJOFEITIMI, Tom PARAPPURAM, Beth PETTERS, Abdulsamad Rukaiya RABIU, Ayoub SALMI, William SIMS, Paulina SZUKALSKA, Alexander WEST, Dylan WRIGHT
    For Mechanical Engineering (with an industrial placement year) Blessing CHINAKA, Harrison DREW
    For Mechanical Engineering with Robotics Waleed Ahmed Hussein AHMED, Prita AKHTER, Khalifa AL-KUBAISI, Shivesh BALAMURUGAN, Freya BUTTINGER, Youssef Ahmed Ramzi Mahmoud ELDIB, Omar Osama Mohamed Kamal ELMANAKHLY, Zhengyang GONG, Nathaniel JOHNSON, Also awarded the IMechE prize for the Best Mechanical Engineering with Robotics BEng Project Chon Weng LEI, Ruilong MA, Shawnel Liam MASCARENHAS, Also awarded the IMechE prize for the Best Mechanical Engineering with Robotics BEng finalist student Frederic MITCHELL, Archie MORSE, Mustafa MULLICK, Feras Mohamed Rashad RADWAN, Sayandip SINHA, Geordie STOGDON, George WISA, Kareem YOUSEF
    For the degree of Master of Computing in Computer Science Also awarded the Brian Roberts prize for the top MComp Computer Science Graduate Edward ALDEN-TEMPLEMAN, Ilan GOREN, Lyes SALMI
    For the degree of Master of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Also awarded the Brian Roberts prize for the Best MEng Graduate Daniel BARCLAY, Arman RIAZI
    For Mechanical Engineering Also awarded the IMechE prize for the Best Mechanical Engineering Meng finalist student Joseph RAMET
    For Mechanical Engineering with Robotics Also awarded the IMEchE prize for the Best Mechanical Engineering with Robotics Meng finalist student Lily BRADLEY, Also awarded the prize for Outstanding MEng Finalist Yunus Cem CUBUKCU, Daniel HAWKINS
    For the degree of Master of Science in Advanced Computer Science Robert RYAN, Deepak SIKHA, Aman THAPA MAGAR
    For Advanced Electronic and Electrical Engineering Aisha SOHAIL
    For Artificial Intelligence and Adaptive Systems Oluwaseun AINA, Chen Yu YONG
    For Computer Science (Conversion) Violet GIELGUD, Uchechukwu Ifunanya OKEKE
    For Computing with Digital Media Ruicheng YUAN
    For Engineering and Business Management Oluwaseun Daniel ADEJORI, Abiodun ADEYEYE
    For Management of Information Technology Gaurav MANANDHAR, Saranya PRAKASH, Haruna SEIDU, Ashutosh SHARMA
    For Robotics and Autonomous Systems Auntara PAL
    Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; A New Arabic Online Consumer Reviews Model to Aid Purchasing Intention (AOCR-PI) Ahmad Mohammed Saeed ALGHAMDI, For the thesis; FARE-KE framework for affordable, reliable kinesthetic evaluation Jose Luis BERNA MOYA, For the thesis; Cognitive Micro-Behaviours of Graph Comprehension Assessment and Usability evaluations and also a very active member of the university volleyball team Fiorenzo COLARUSSO, For the thesis; Competence assessment by stimulus matching (CASM): A novel approach to language assessment by chunk transcription Hadeel Bakr M ISMAIL, For the thesis; Towards generalisation in machine learning under subpopulation shifts: active, passive, and spectral bias perspectives NG Yeat Jeng, For the thesis; Informative path planning for autonomous mapping of unknown areas Mobolaji ORISATOKI, For the thesis; An investigation into the aero-thermodynamics of turbine rim seal ingestion using experimental, computational and modelling techniques Daniel PAYNE, For the thesis; Optimisation of a linear compressor and application in a Joule-Thomson cryocooler for 50 Kelvin Nibin QIAN, For the thesis; Conversational end-user programming for homes: prototyping and evaluation of a visually-augmented voice interface Qifan SHU.

    Vice-Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the School of Engineering and Informatics.

    [The Vice-Chancellor bows her head to the Head of School in acknowledgement and sits down.]


    [The Head of School, Professor Ian Wakeman, returns to his seat and sits down.]

    [The Vice-Chancellor stands and says:]
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
I call upon the Professor of Astronomy and Public Understanding of Science, Stephen Wilkins, to present Kathy Whaler.

    [Professor Stephen Wilkins stands, goes to Kathy Whaler’s seat, bows to her, and shakes her hand. Kathy Whaler stands, and both move to the centre of the platform, bowing to the Vice-Chancellor. Professor Wilkins moves to the lectern, and Kathy Whaler stands facing the audience, placing her right foot on the mark on stage.]

    Professor Stephen Wilkins:
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kathy Whaler is globally recognised for her outstanding contributions to our understanding of the Earth's magnetic field. Her work spans continents and disciplines, from modelling the dynamics of the Earth's core to leading fieldwork in remote and challenging environments. Her research has not only advanced geophysics, but has also deepened our understanding of the processes that shape our planet over geological time scales.

    Kathy's academic journey began here at the University of Sussex, where she completed a BSc in Mathematical Physics. She then went on to complete a doctoral degree at the University of Cambridge. Kathy has since built a remarkable career, holding positions at prestigious institutions and ultimately becoming Chair of Geophysics at the University of Edinburgh, a position she held with distinction since 1994.

    With this appointment, Kathy was the first woman to be elected to a Chair of Geophysics in the UK, and during her time in the position, she became the first woman head of a department at the University of Edinburgh. Her research has explored how changes deep within the Earth's interior affect the planet's magnetic fields, insights that are essential not only to academic understanding, but also to knowledges we rely on every day, from satellite communications to navigation systems. During her career, Kathy has received many honours, including being elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2005, an OBE for Services to Geophysics in 2018, in 2023 the Wollaston Medal, which is the highest award for the Geological Society of London.

    She served as President of the Royal Astronomical Society, and on her birthday in 2006, the year she completed her term as President, the International Astronomical Union named minor planet 5914 Kathy Whaler after her. Kathy was on the Mission Advisory Group for the European Space Agency prior to the incredibly successful Swarm Earth Explorer mission that launched in 2013, and was the first female President of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, starting her term in its centenary in 2019. Serving in these roles, and as a key figure in numerous international scientific bodies, promoting collaboration, integrity, and excellence across the Earth sciences, Kathy has championed global collaboration and upheld the highest standards of scientific influence.

    Her influence is not confined to her fieldwork or research outputs, is deeply felt in the mentoring and support she offers to young scientists, particularly women entering geosciences. At a time when the scientific community must engage with some of the greatest challenges that humanity has ever faced, from climate change to natural hazards, Kathy's work is more relevant than ever. As we celebrate our graduates today, the scientists, thinkers, and change makers of tomorrow, it is fitting to honour someone whose career exemplifies the qualities we hold dear at Sussex.

    Intellectual curiosity, global citizenship, and a drive to make a positive difference in the world. Her contributions to geophysics, to education, and to the global scientific community make her a truly worthy recipient of this honour. Vice-Chancellor, it is with great pride that I present for the award of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, Professor Kathryn Whaler.

    [The Vice-Chancellor stands, and Kathy Whaler stands in front of her. The Vice-Chancellor shakes her right hand.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
By the powers invested in me by the Senate of the University of Sussex, I confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa.

    [Kathy Whaler bows to the Vice-Chancellor, who sits down. Kathy Whaler shakes hands with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, who hands her the degree scroll. Guests applaud. Professor Wilkins returns to his seat and sits down at an appropriate moment during the applause. Kathy Whaler moves to the lectern.]

    Kathy Whaler:
Vice-Chancellor, I'm absolutely delighted to be receiving this honour, especially as I have such fond memories of my undergraduate days. Though not so much of the original East Slope accommodation of which I was one of the first occupants, we were invited to decide its name for many fanciful suggestions, some reflecting the already clear poor quality of the accommodation. The winner was East Slope.

    Anyway, I cheered when I learned it was to be demolished and the rabbit hutches replaced by a lovely ensuite accommodation. Graduates, I hope that, like me, you were supported by your families during your studies, represented for me here by my niece. I also hope that, like me, you've made friends for life.

    I've known my friend Marion since Freshers' Week. After graduation, our paths diverged, meaning we've not met up often over the years, but when we do, it always seems like it was just yesterday when we last got together. So I'm really pleased she and her husband have joined me today.

    From what you've heard, you might imagine I've had a linear career, but it's actually been littered with chance encounters, changes in direction and unexpected opportunities. My PhD thesis was based on measurements at 106 observatories, continuously recording the magnetic field. Believe it or not, that was big data in those days.

    I needed some really clever codes to model them on available computers. But things were about to change as the Space Age beckoned, with NASA launching a satellite measuring the magnetic field in 1979. The mission chief scientist was on sabbatical in Cambridge as I finished my PhD, invited me to his laboratory, and that was my path into satellite magnetometry.

    So how did I end up doing fieldwork in East Africa when I was so utterly useless practically that I switched from studying physics to mathematical physics in my first year here, so I didn't have to do any lab work? The full story is too long to recount, but I'd done some computer coding on an internship in California during my PhD. When I moved to the University of Leeds as a lecturer, one of my new colleagues suggested I acquired data on a project they were running in Zimbabwe with the technique my code worked on.
    My protestations that this was all computer-based and I had no idea how to operate the equipment fell on deaf ears. So not long after I found myself gathering data in a UNESCO World Heritage Site National Park accompanied by the grunt of hippos in the river Zambezi. This led to invitations to participate in a number of multidisciplinary projects in East Africa where it's been immensely satisfying to integrate the results of different methods to gain a better understanding of the continental rifting process.

    Also at Leeds, one of my geological colleagues decided I could help him with some modelling simply because in his view I was a mathematician and the differential equations were those I was using in geomagnetism. Work on these completely different topics from where I started out has become amongst my best recognised. So my advice to you fellow graduands is to embrace opportunities as they arise even if they seem daunting at first and don't be afraid to take detours or change directions in your career.
    A degree from Sussex has underpinned my extraordinarily rewarding and fulfilling life and I hope it does the same for you too. Thank you.

    [Guests applaud. Kathy Whaler returns to her seat, bowing to the Vice-Chancellor as she passes in front of her.]

    [The Vice-Chancellor stands and says:]
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
I call upon the Head of the Department of Physics in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Professor Stephen Huber.

    [Head of the Department of Physics, Professor Stephen Huber stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reaches the lectern, he bows to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil.]

    Head of Department, Professor Stephen Huber:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Tanvir AHMED, Eleanor BIDELEUX, Alex BRENNAN, Tazmin CLAYTON, Harry FLOWERS, Rhys FORD, Also awarded the prize for outstanding BSc Project in Mathematics Nadji GUEMAR, Arlie Ralf GURNEY, Elwood LEDGER, Alexander LEER, Harry MARSH, Charles REED, Elena SALVADORI, Joseph SHANAHAN, Also awarded the prize for outstanding performance on the BSc Mathematics degree Miguel VIEIRA PEIXOTO WAREING
    For Mathematics with Economics Alexandros KYRKOS, Benjamin TREVILLION, Maksymilian ZELISKO
    For Mathematics with Economics (with a study abroad year) Rojs BOIKO
    For Mathematics with Finance Jack BENSTEAD, Michael DONAGHY, Constance YOUNG
    For Physics Luka ATTARD-MALTA, Michael BARR, Parth Sandeep BHAWSAR, Christopher COGSWELL, Jessica KNIGHT, LI Tiantian, Alex MCKELLAR, William PAGE, Tyler PICK, Harry ROBINSON, Millie SPRINGETT, Ashley WALTON, Cameron WARD
    For Physics with Astrophysics Julia CHEPURNA, Jasmine EDWARDS, Eve FISHER, Caleb HADLAND, Sumiran LIMBU, Patrycja MALESZA, Benjamin MILLWARD, Joseph NEALE, Also awarded the prize for outstanding BSc Project in Physics & Astronomy Nadine SMITH
    For Theoretical Physics Also awarded the Andrew John Symonds Memorial Prize for outstanding performance on BSc courses Chloe WIDDOWSON
    For the degree of Master of Mathematics in Mathematics Also awarded the prize for outstanding MMath Project Saul DOUGLAS
    For Mathematics (research placement) Also awarded the prize for outstanding performance on the MMath degree Dylan HUTCHESON, Also awarded the Hirschfield prize for Mathematics Robert MAIDMENT
    For the degree of Astrophysics (with an industrial placement year) Giulia LOCATI
    For Physics Emona ALEKSANDROVA, Also awarded the Peter Thomas prize for the outstanding MPhys Project Joshua ARCHMAN, Mahirul KHAN
    For Physics with Astrophysics Fenella LEONARD, Also awarded the Civic Engagement Prize Ashley PERRY, Joseph RILEY, Freddie VOSPER
    For Physics with Astrophysics (research placement) Also awarded the Roger Tayler Prize for outstanding performance on MPhys degree Lana POUNDER
    For Theoretical Physics Elliot SAGE-LING
    For the degree of Master of Science in Astronomy Bobbie Jo Marie BRACKETT, Puthiyavan THIRUPPATHI
    For Corporate and Financial Risk Management Khalid Ali H ALAMRI
    For Data Science Azeez Oke ABDULLAHI, Temitope Oluwagbotemi ADEBAYO, Oluwatosin Christianah ADEBIYI, Emmanuel Ejoyovwi AGBOVINURE, Ayobamidele Opeoluwa AJAYI, Amieghemhen Bob AKHIBI, Sharmin AKTER, Tochukwu Kingsley ALANEME, Oyebola Funke ALLEN, Htun Pa Pa BO, Ademola Arafat BOLAJOKO, Doubra Perekuna ETUWATIMI, Salem Saleh IBRAHIM, Peace Ofure ITOYAH, Isaac JONES, Ritu MASHALKAR, Victor Ifeanyi NDUKA, Stephen Ozioma NWANKPA, Celestine Ifeanyi OJIAKU, Francois Emeka OKIWELU, Temitope Martha OLUWAFEMI, Victoria Seun OMOROSI, Param Veer Singh Shekhawat V
    For Financial Data Analysis Maheen Raza QURESHI
    For Human and Social Data Science Camila Andrea HERRERA SAAVEDRA, Nowsheen SHARMILA
    For Mathematics Jui CHAKRABARTY
    For Particle Physics Tanya REEVES
    For Physics with Education Cornelius KIPRONO

    Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; Towards the implementation of the microwave quantum illumination protocol using a trapped electron Raquel ALVAREZ GARCIA, For the thesis; Improving star-galaxy separation and galaxy group catalogues with multi-band photometry Todd COOK, For the thesis; Measurement of the one lepton final state of ttZ with Z → vv with the ATLAS detector Zoe EARNSHAW, For the thesis; Quantum gas microscopy for magnetic field imaging and current density mapping of nanostructures Poppy JOSHI, For the thesis; Measuring the muon neutrino magnetic moment in the NOvA near detector Robert KRALIK, For the thesis; Performance studies of a dual-readout calorimeter for the IDEA detector and development of a test beam online monitoring tool Andreas LOESCHCKE CENTENO, For the thesis; Measurement of top quark pair production in association with bosons in multi-leptonic final states using ATLAS Run 2 data Gianna LOESCHCKE CENTENO, For the thesis; Secure quantum-enhanced networks of remote sensors Sean MOORE, For the thesis; Reactor antineutrino oscillation detection in liquid scintillator at SNO+ James Edward PAGE, For the thesis; Scalable ion microchips for quantum computing Martin SIEGELE-BROWN, For the thesis; Entanglement on a surface chip using scalable control technologies for trapped ion qubits Daisy SMITH

    Vice-Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

    [The Vice-Chancellor bows her head to the Head of Department in acknowledgement and sits down.]


    [The Head of Department, Professor Stephen Huber, returns to his seat and sits down.]

    [The Provost, stands and approaches the lectern.]
Provost:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony.

    For the degree of Master of Arts in Music and Sonic Media in the School of Media, Arts and Humanities Catherine IRETON
    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Kayla QUARSHIE
    For Games and Multimedia Environments Jun FOO
    For the degree of Bachelor of Engineering for Mechanical Engineering with Robotics Yassin ABDELMAABOUD
    For the degree of Master of Science in Data Science Uday Kiran CHERUKURI, Pavan Teja DIVI
    For Financial Data Analysis Funke Bunmi OREFUWA.

    Vice-Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony, and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex.

    I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia at this ceremony.

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil stands in the middle of the stage.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
Graduands, would you please stand. By the powers invested in me by the Senate of the University of Sussex, I confer degrees on all those referred to by the Provos chancellor. you are all now graduates of the University of Sussex!

    [applause]

    [The Vice-Chancellor sits down.]


    [The Chancellor’s closing video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Hello, congratulations graduates. It's me again talking to you from the big screen. This is actually life-size. My head really is this big. Traditionally, the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom. But I know after a long ceremony, you'll want to get on with your day. So I'll keep it brief lalalalalala. That's it. Honestly, I don't think there's anything I can tell you that you don't instinctively already know.

    And your instincts, that inner voice, are always right, by the way. But they speak with the same vocabulary, cadence, infection, and grammar as your fears, anxieties, and doubts. So how to tell the difference?

    Well, your instincts always come from a place of love. So check in with yourself and make sure your choices, your responses are always coming from a place of kindness and love towards yourself and the world around you. I know sometimes that can be a challenge.

    But the more you do it, the easier it gets until eventually it's habit and just who you are. Our present days, and in fact, the last few years, have been as anxiety-driven as I can remember. So good mental health is more important than ever.

    It's understandable looking at the world not to get drawn into a pretty despondent place. The feeling that you can't do anything about it, that to change the world you have to somehow be in a position of power or influence, we can easily end up in a rage at so-called leaders or politicians or self-appointed media commentators, or even some egg with a self-righteous handle on social media, as they express their incompetence, lack of accountability, or revel in their absence of any kind of compassion or humanity. Mahatma Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world.

    Basically, start with yourself. If you want to see a more compassionate world, you be more compassionate. You want to see more accountability, then you be more accountable.

    If you make a mistake, then fess up, modify your opinion, and grow. Making mistakes is one of the most human things of all, but people seem now to be less forgiving if you do make one. How are we supposed to improve if we don't make mistakes and learn from them?

    I can't make other people be more forgiving of me, but I can certainly be more forgiving of them. I can't change anyone. That's up to them, but I can change me.

    Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Just make sure that each mistake you make is a new one. Someone who keeps making the same mistake over and over is a perfect definition of an idiot. Don't be defined by a bad day or a bad week, a bad month, or even a bad year. I had a bad decade once, but I came out of it. All things will pass.

    If you honestly want to know who you really are, it's your next decision. Always. If your last decision didn't work out, learn from it and move on. It's not who you are anymore. Every day, you have the opportunity to be a better you. I give myself two choices. Enjoy or learn. That’s it. Therefore, I can't ever fail.

    If I'm not enjoying something, then what am I learning from it? If I'm not enjoying or learning, then why am I doing it? Stop. Take a different path.

    Actually, obviously, there is a third option. The best one, in fact. Enjoy and learn. It's fundamentally why I love meeting people. The sheer fact that I can sit down with any of you here today and we together could come up with an idea that I could never have come up with on my own is magical to me. A small and seemingly insignificant experience that you've had or an opinion you hold, not necessarily one I even agree with, could be the one unexpected key that is going to unlock a part of me through ideas, thoughts, and actions.

    But that essential bit of information I need, I will only hear if I'm genuinely going to listen. I mean, how tragic to miss that life-changing moment because I wasn't prepared to hear you out or if one of us was being a bit of a not very nice. We are already powerful.
    Each of us has the ability to make or break someone's day, to inspire or destroy, to encourage or to put down. Our empathy and positivity towards someone else in that ripple effect kind of way can absolutely change your world, their world, and by logic the wider world too. So remember that even at your lowest point you have the power to express kindness.

    You also, of course, have the power to disagree, say no, call out bad behaviour. Just have all of it come from a kind place and don't let anyone take that power away from you. Happiness without gratitude is empty.

    Success without humility is arrogance. Compassion that is selective is only half-baked. Love without expression is just an idea.
    And dancing without using your arms is just weird, unless it's Irish dancing, river dance style, in which case that's fine. I hope we meet in person at some point, in which case feel free to come up and say, I'm a Sussex graduate and you owe me a hug or a handshake or a high five or ignore me if you want. In every case, I wish you all success in everything you do next.
    Take your compassion, your kindness and your power and express it to the world. Good luck. I now declare this congregation closed.

    [The Chancellor’s closing video ends.]


    [Processional music playing]

    [The Mace-bearer returns to the stage, collects the mace, and leads the platform party off the stage. The Vice-Chancellor precedes the Mace-bearer, followed by the Chancellor’s Procession in reverse order, then the Academic and Professional Services Procession. They walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.]

Download the Ceremony 11 video [MP4 5GB]

Friday 25 July 2025

Ceremony 12 at 10am

Summer 2024: Ceremony 12

  •  Video transcript

    [Processional music playing]


    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and stand in front of their chairs until the music ends.]


    [The Chancellor’s opening video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Well, well, here we are. Well, here you are. I am unfortunately somewhere else, but here in spirit and in admiration. Apologies for gate crashing your day, but I just couldn't help crowbarring myself in to your celebrations. I wanted to add my warm welcome to all of you, graduands, families, and friends, and to those like me who may be following the ceremony remotely. Sussex graduations have been known over the last 15 years or so for being a festival, a bit of a party, and it's a tradition that I hope you'll continue today.

    This is your day, so express your joy and positivity when you cross the stage. Skip, dance, strike a pose, anything as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. I know many of you may have waited a long time for this moment, so really enjoy it.

    And friends and family, this is your day too, to take a moment to be prepared with your cameras for the moment your superstar crosses the stage and make as much noise as you want when they do so. They've embarrassed you enough times in the past, so this is payback time. Have a great ceremony, and I'll catch you on the other side.

    [The Chancellor’s opening video ends.]


    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
Mr. Deputy Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025, my name is Professor Sasha Roseneil, and I'm the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex. It's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to the Brighton Centre today. As our Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, has just reminded us, today's all about you, our graduands. 

    This is a day of celebration for you and of you and of all that you've achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course, from the teaching and guidance of Sussex staff. And some of you have had support from our alumni and donors who've generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding.

    So I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you're able, would you please stand up and turn to face your family and friends behind you and offer your thanks with a big hearty cheer and a round of applause? Wonderful, please do be seated again. As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish.

    Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities. You come here each year from over 130 countries around the world. So we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths, with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun.

    And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold and support. We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job as a university to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our students and staff can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, and rigorous analysis undertaken, new theories developed, and where minds can be expanded and changed.

    We're living in deeply troubled times, war and conflict, terror, death, and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger, and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern among Sussex students. Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems that face the world. And Sussex supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community.

    So Sussex graduands, I would like to thank you all for everything that you've contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, a warm, open, and welcoming place. In the three years that I've been vice-chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better future. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, volunteering on and off campus.

    And so many of you are today receiving a Spirit of Sussex award for your positive contributions to our community. I commend that commitment to your extracurricular activities. Well done on all that you've achieved alongside your formal studies.

    Over the past three years, I've had the great privilege of meeting hundreds of Sussex alumni. And I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex, and how it shaped their lives, their careers, and their character.

    Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you, today's graduands, will feel the same in the years to come. Whether you already have a job or are looking for one, or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident that you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think critically and creatively, to adapt and change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge, and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with the power to shape your future.

    You've been taught by academics who are internationally recognized for their research, which has directly informed your education. And Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings.

    Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice, and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about. One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities. Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect.

    This year in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subject areas in the top 10 in the UK for citations, with anthropology and environmental science each ranked first, physics and astronomy ranked second in the UK. We're also ranked 17th in the UK for employment outcomes, and in the top 5% of universities globally for sustainability. And over the past three years, each year, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first of all business schools in the UK for research income, as our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the digital future of work, and much more.

    All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy, and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment. Now, I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health.

    Some of you have faced loss and family disruption. Each of you had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope when you look back, you'll feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, simulated and supported to achieve your best, that you're leaving with knowledge, skills and personal resources that will stand you in good stead, and that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future.

    You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations, and those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers, people whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small positive ways every day.

    Across the globe in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. And I know you will do that too. So graduates, celebrate who you are today, celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here.

    Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who've been on the journey with you. In short, celebrate. I call upon the head of the School of Psychology, Professor Alison Pike.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]


    [Head of the School of Psychology, Professor Alison Pike stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reaches the lectern, she bows to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil.]

    Head of School, Professor Alison Pike:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology Merna Samara ABU BAKER, Saima AHMED, Leyla AHMET, Latifa ALKHALIFA, Millie-May ALLEN, Sade ALLISON, Fatima ALSALLAT, Annie AMATO, Monica BALBASTRO, Charisma BALL, Amber BANKS, Samantha BARNARD, Peach BARUELA, Lucy BENJAMIN, Isabel BIBBY, Lana BISSET, William BONE, Lily BONNER, Maria BOTSIALA, Jura BROGAN, Anna BUTTON, Grace CARR, Joe CARTER, Sophie CHILDS, April CHRISTIE, Ella CONNORS, Lauren COOPER, Ella COOPER-LAW, Erin CREEDON, Emilie CROCKETT, Fifion DAVIS, Holly DAVIS, Harry DAY, Verity DEHANEY, Bea DEL GAIZO, Katie DENNEHY, Charlotte PAYNE, Anna DIACONO, Rosie DOYLE, Ibukunoluwa DUROJAIYE, Ella EDWARDS, Imogen FENNELL-WHITE, Bethany FERGUSON, Joel FERRIS, Mia FERRIS, Blair FIANDER, Anja FLETCHER, Andrea FLORENDO, Abbie FREER, Megan FRENCH, Tilly FRONDA, Anja GAINSBURGH, Sneha GAJMER, Alice GARLICK, Matthew GIBBS, Olivia GIBBS, Sorcha GILMARTIN, Ivy GOUGH, Ella GRAY, Emma GRAY, Kacper GRYNIEWICZ, Ayse GUNAYDIN, Jodie HAKHAM, Hannah HALL, William HARGREAVES, William HARRIS-MOSS, Edward HARRISON, Holly HARRISON, Joel HARRISON, Julietta HARVEY, Sabrina HASABALLA, Megan HATTON, Abbi HAYES, Georgia HEBDEN, Samuel HEDDON, Ben HENCKEN, Lana HICKINBOTHAM, Luke HIGGINS, Marie HILL, Monami HIRAMATSU, Isobel HOPES, Lilla HOPKINS, Lily HOWE, Onur INCE, Tia Caprice JACKSON-QUIGLEY, Ndeyfatomata JALLOW, Emily JOHNSON, Rose JONES, Shantel Ellissa JUBILAN, Muneera Ali Ebrahim AliKANOO, Joseph KEHOE, Florentina Christel KEILEN, Sophie KENYON, Chaneise KERR, Courtney KILLE, Chloe KITCHENER, Aliya LEE, Grace LESLIE, Georgina LEVER, Molly LEWIS, Mia LEWZEY, Tsz Wai LI, Emma LITTLE, Charlotte LLOYD-HALLETT, Adam LONG, Molly LUCKETT, Emily LUCOCK, Emilia LUNGU, Grace MADANAYAKE, Rayyan MAHOMED, Armaan MANGAT, Alicia MARSH, Georgia MARSH, Annabel MCGAUGHEY, Yasmin MCHENRY, Kyla MCHUGH, Aisling MCKEE MORGAN, Ishani MCLENNAN, Troy METZ, Niamh MITCHELL, Rebecca MITCHELL, Madalina MOLNAR, Kayla MORLEY, Lily MORONEY, Tisharra MORRISON, Rie NAKAYAMA, Emma NEWBURY, Harry NICHOLLS, Ella NIGHY, Harriet NOBBS-HOBDEN, Jack NORRIS, Emma PAGANO, Henry PALMER, Eva PAPADOPOULOU, Sonny PARRETT, Nina PATEL, Taylor PAYNE, Suzana PERL, Amelia PHARRO, Matilda PHILLIPS, Mollie PITTS, Alise PLIKSA, Ella POTTER, Emma POWLES, Imogen PROBERT, Toni PROSSER, Bethan REASON, Aimee REGAN, Benjamin RICHARDSON, Hollie Niobie RICHARDSON, Luke ROBERTS, Sarah ROCK, Vanessa RUTKOWSKA, Mariam SARAJ, Maximilian SCHRIMPFF, Alexander SEATH, Kai SEN, Isabelle SHEARMAN, Ella SHEEN, Emily SHOESMITH, Samuel SIMS, Kajoriya SIVALINGAM, Evie SMITH, Polly SMITH, Megan SMYTH, Hallie SNELLING, Bhupinder SOOMAL, Olivia SPENCE, Grace SPOONER, Maisy STEEL, Isabel STENHOUSE, Sam STENNING, Molly STRACHAN, Bronson TAN, Liana TERRY, Eloise THORNTON-JARVIS, Michaela TOBIN, Shianne TOMLINSON, Ihsan UDDIN, Emma VIDLER, Florence VINE, Edith WANNELL, Caitlin WATKINS, Elizabeth WEBB, Logan WEBLEY, Eloise WEIR, Jazmyn WELSFORD, Ella WEST, Katie WEYMOUTH, Charles WICKHAM, Sarah WILLIAMS, Ella WINGFIELD, Erin WINTER, Elizabeth WOOLAWAY, Martha WOOLLETT, Evie WRATHALL, Mahima YASMIN, Ava ZUNIGA.

    For Psychology (with a professional placement year) Poppy ANDERSON, Shriya BHUDIA, Jiana CANSON, Freja CLARKE, Milly COLLINS, Also the recipient of the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Award for an Outstanding Project on Mental Health or Wellbeing Ryan COOPER, Maela DAKIN, Aziza DAOUDI, Lana DARK, Julian María DE PABLO CARRION, Nickesh DHANOA, Megan DODDS, Ellie DRAKE, Oliver FOX, Michelle GHANY, Lucy GILLAM, Marisa GONCALVES BERENGUER, Dana HENEIDI, Joanna HALEY, Eleanor JONES, Also the recipient of the British Psychological Society Undergraduate Award for Overall Degree Performance and the George Butterworth prize in Developmental Science Jessica KARPATHIOS, Faylee KIRK, Alexandra KORNILAKI, Yasmin LAVICTOIRE, Jemima LOCKE, Rita MALASI, Ainsley MCNALLY, Teddy MCNERNEY, Jessica Jennifer MILLAR, Sophie Maimouna NDIAYE, Freya NELSON, Jaydra NURARIFA, Deanna PATEL, Charlotte PHILLIPS, Rhianon POTTER, Hameedah RABBANI, Simra RAJA, Anika Dhyani RAWAL, Catherine Kaira RUBIT, Evelyn SAUNDERS, Munhail SORIYA, Sonia Mariam SYED, Ray TESO BUITRAGO, Hannah VARNEY, Connor VERMAUT, Zuzanna ZIELINSKA.

    For Psychology (with a study abroad year) Georgia BULLAMORE, Dielza CERIMI, Camila COULET AGUDELO, Edward COURTNEY, Eleanor GARROOD, David KINNON, Bethany KNOWLES, Samuel MARINE, Alicia Cisem OZMEN, Emily WILSON
    For Psychology (with Clinical Approaches) Sophia-Grace ABDUL, Viktoria BACHKOVA, Owen BATTEN, Tonima BEGUM, Ella BENTLEY, Oliver BLYTH, Joachim BOULANGER, Elliot BRENNAN, Ione BUCHANAN, Leah BUGDEN, Katie CARD, Harry CLIFTON, Lynn EL HAJJAR, Lara FITZGERALD MURPHY, Yehoshoua FROIMOVICI, Lani FRYER, Jessica GRACE, Richard Dragos GRAYDON, Kalebila HELAL, Leo JAMES, Freya JARDINE-CLARKE, Abbi NEALE, Noshin RIDITA, Jessica RILEY, Tilly RODGERS, Jasmine SPEIRS HOLLANDS, Emily STOYANOV, Aisha WAQAR PEREZ, Jada WICKHAM, Priyanka WILLS, Bailey WINCH, Ash ZHURAVLEVA.

    For Psychology with Clinical Approaches (with a professional placement year) Sophie BURROWS, Bernice BUSSELL, Georgina RULE, Katie SHORT, Freya SMITH, Joeh TURNER, Libby WARMAN, Cindy XHEBRO.

    For Psychology with Criminology Daniella SEMRANI.

    Vice-Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the School of Psychology.

    [The Vice-Chancellor bows her head to the Head of School in acknowledgement and sits down.]


    [The Head of School, Professor Alison Pike, returns to her seat and sits down.]

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement stands and approaches the lectern.]


    Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you the graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony.

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in the School of Life Sciences Noor NAJDI.

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence in the School of Engineering and Informatics Alessio ZHOU.

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology in the School of Psychology Alessandro BONTEMPI.

    For Psychology (with a study abroad year) Eleanor GARROOD.

    Vice-Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex. I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia at this ceremony.

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil stands in the middle of the stage.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
. Graduands, can you please stand.

    [Waits for all to stand]

    By the aulthority vested in me by the Senate of the University of Sussex, I confer degrees on all those mentioned by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor. You are now graduates of the University of Sussex!

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor bows to the Vice-Chancellor and sits down. The Vice-Chancellor sits down.]


    [The Chancellor’s closing video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Hello, congratulations, graduates. It's me again talking to you from the big screen. This is actually life-size, my head really is this big. Traditionally the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom, but I know after a long ceremony you'll want to get on with your day, so I'll keep it brief. La la la la la la la la. That's it.

    Honestly, I don't think there's anything I can tell you that you don't instinctively already know. And your instincts, that inner voice, are always right by the way. But they speak with the same vocabulary, cadence, infection and grammar as your fears, anxieties and doubts.

    So how to tell the difference? Your instincts always come from a place of love. So check in with yourself and make sure your choices, your responses are always coming from a place of kindness and love towards yourself and the world around you.

    I know sometimes that can be a challenge, but the more you do it, the easier it gets until eventually it's habit and just who you are. Our present days and in fact the last few years have been as anxiety-driven as I can remember. So good mental health is more important than ever.

    It's understandable, looking at the world, not to get drawn into a pretty despondent place. The feeling that you can't do anything about it, that to change the world you have to somehow be in a position of power or influence. We can easily end up in a rage at so-called leaders or politicians or self-appointed media commentators or even some egg with a self-righteous handle on social media as they express their incompetence, lack of accountability or revel in their absence of any kind of compassion or humanity.

    Mahatma Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world. Basically start with yourself. If you want to see a more compassionate world, you be more compassionate. You want to see more accountability, then you be more accountable. If you make a mistake, then fess up, modify your opinion and grow. Making mistakes is one of the most human things of all, but people seem now to be less forgiving if you do make one.

    How are we supposed to improve if we don't make mistakes and then learn from them? Now I can't make other people be more forgiving of me, but I can certainly be more forgiving of them. I can't change anyone. That's up to them, but I can change me. So don't be afraid of making mistakes. Just make sure that each mistake you make is a new one.

    Someone who keeps making the same mistake over and over is a perfect definition of an idiot. And don't be defined by a bad day, or a bad week, a bad month, or even a bad year. I had a bad decade once, but I came out of it. All things will pass. If you honestly want to know who you really are, it's your next decision. Always.

    If your last decision didn't work out, learn from it and move on. It's not who you are anymore. Every day you have the opportunity to be a better you. I give myself two choices. Enjoy or learn. That's it. Therefore, I can't ever fail. If I'm not enjoying something, then what am I learning from it? If I'm not enjoying or learning, then why am I doing it?

    Stop. Take a different path. Actually, obviously, there is a third option. The best one, in fact. Enjoy and learn. It's fundamentally why I love meeting people. The sheer fact that I can sit down with any of you here today and we together could come up with an idea that I could never have come up with on my own is magical to me.

    A small and seemingly insignificant experience that you've had or an opinion you hold, not necessarily one I even agree with, could be the one unexpected key that is going to unlock a part of me through ideas, thoughts and actions. But that essential bit of information I need, I will only hear if I'm genuinely going to listen. I mean, how tragic to miss that life-changing moment because I wasn't prepared to hear you out or if one of us was being a bit of a not very nice.

    We are already powerful. Each of us has the ability to make or break someone's day, to inspire or destroy, to encourage or to put down. Our empathy and positivity towards someone else in that ripple effect kind of way can absolutely change your world, their world and by logic, the wider world too.

    So remember that even at your lowest point, you have the power to express kindness. You also, of course, have the power to disagree, say no, call out bad behaviour, just have all of it come from a kind place and don't let anyone take that power away from you. Happiness without gratitude is empty.

    Success without humility is arrogance. Compassion that is selective is only half-baked. Love without expression is just an idea.
    And dancing without using your arms is just weird, unless it's Irish dancing, river dance style, in which case that's fine. I hope we meet in person at some point, in which case feel free to come up and say, I'm a Sussex graduate and you owe me a hug or a handshake or a high five or ignore me if you want. In every case, I wish you all success in everything you do next.

    Take your compassion, your kindness and your power and express it to the world. Good luck.

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:

    I now declare this congregation closed.

    [The Chancellor’s closing video ends.]


    [Processional music playing]

    [The Mace-bearer returns to the stage, collects the mace, and leads the platform party off the stage. The Vice-Chancellor precedes the Mace-bearer, followed by the Chancellor’s Procession in reverse order, then the Academic and Professional Services Procession. They walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.]

Download the Ceremony 12 video [MP4 4.2GB]

Ceremony 13 at 1.30pm

Summer 2025: Ceremony 13

  •  Video transcript

    [Processional music playing]


    [A procession of University senior academics and staff in ceremonial robes enter the auditorium, walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduands and guests, ascend the stage via staircases on the left and right respectively, and stand in front of their chairs until the music ends.]
[The Chancellor’s opening video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Well, well, here we are. Well, here you are. I am unfortunately somewhere else, but here in spirit and in admiration. Apologies for gate-crashing your day, but I just couldn't help crowbarring myself in to your celebrations. I wanted to add my warm welcome to all of you, graduands, families, and friends, and to those, like me, who may be following the ceremony remotely. Sussex graduations have been known over the last 15 years or so for being a festival, a bit of a party, and it's a tradition that I hope you'll continue today.

    This is your day, so express your joy and positivity when you cross the stage. Skip, dance, strike a pose, anything as long as it's within the bounds of decency and legality. I know many of you may have waited a long time for this moment, so really enjoy it.

    And friends and family, this is your day, too, to take a moment to be prepared with your cameras for the moment your superstar crosses the stage and make as much noise as you want when they do so. They've embarrassed you enough times in the past, so this is payback time. Have a great ceremony, and I'll catch you on the other side.

    [The Chancellor’s opening video ends.]


    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, stands and approaches the lectern to make an introductory speech.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
Madam Mayor, distinguished guests, colleagues, parents, friends, and above all, our graduands, Sussex Class of 2025. My name is Professor Sasha Roseneil, and I'm the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sussex. It's my great honour and enormous pleasure to welcome you to this graduation ceremony for the School of Psychology and the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

    As our Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar, has just reminded us, today's all about you, our graduands. This is a day of celebration of you and for you and all that you've achieved during your time at Sussex. It's also a moment to acknowledge that many of you have benefited in countless tangible and less tangible ways from the love and support of your family or guardians and carers, from the encouragement of your friends, and of course from the teaching and guidance of staff.

    And some of you have had support from our alumni and donors who've generously provided scholarships, bursaries, and hardship funding. So I'm now going to ask for some participation from you. Graduands, if you're able, would you please stand up and turn and face your family and friends behind and offer your thanks with a big hearty cheer and a round of applause.

    [Graduands stand and applaud]

    Please do be seated again. As a university, we at Sussex are committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and supportive environment in which every member of our diverse community is able to flourish. Sussex students represent the most wonderful variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and identities.

    You come each year from over 130 countries around the world. So we have people here today of many different nationalities, ethnicities, and faiths with a huge diversity of belief and opinion about almost every matter under the sun. And that diversity of thought is a very special thing, something that Sussex seeks always to uphold and support.

    We have a foundational commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom. It's our job as a university to create an environment in which diversity of belief and opinion can be explored, to nurture the conditions under which our staff and students can respectfully discuss and debate difficult ideas, where conventional wisdom can be challenged, propositions tested, where rigorous analysis can be undertaken, new theories developed, and where minds can be expanded and changed. We're living in deeply troubled times.

    War and conflict, terror, death, and the destruction of habitats, economic hardship, hunger, and inequality, as well as climate crisis and environmental degradation, all quite rightly give rise to enormous concern among Sussex students. Many Sussex students hold passionate opinions about the causes, consequences, and solutions to the urgent problems the world faces. And Sussex supports and will always support freedom of expression that is lawful and respectful of others, mindful of the humanity and diversity that's at the heart of our university and that binds us together across nations and faiths as a global community.

    So, Sussex graduates, I would like to thank you for all that you've contributed to making our university a place of community, inclusion, and diversity, a warm, open, and welcoming place.

    In the three years that I've been Vice-Chancellor, I've witnessed how Sussex students are the very embodiment of energy, hope, and possibility for a better world. Alongside your academic work, many of you have taken part in an impressive range of other activities, as student ambassadors and student representatives, as organisers and leaders of student societies and groups, volunteering on and off campus.

    And so many of you are today receiving a Spirit of Sussex Award for your positive contributions to the community. I commend your commitment to your extracurricular activities. Well done on all you've achieved alongside your formal studies.

    Over the past three years, I've also had the great privilege of meeting many hundreds of Sussex alumni, and I've been overwhelmed by the depth of their love for their alma mater, by their appreciation of their time at Sussex and how it shaped their lives, their careers, and their character. Alumni have repeatedly told me about encountering new ideas and ways of thinking at Sussex that transformed their worldview, about making lasting friendships and building networks that have accompanied them ever since. I sincerely hope that you too, today's graduates, will feel the same in the years to come.

    Whether you already have a job or are looking for one or are taking time to explore the world, you can be confident you're leaving a university with a global reputation, equipped to think critically and creatively, to adapt and change, to work across the boundaries of established knowledge and to understand the importance of a global perspective, enabling you to exercise your agency as a citizen of the world with the power to shape the future. You've been taught by academics who are internationally recognised for their research, which has directly informed your education, and Sussex has much to be proud of as a research-intensive university. For the ninth consecutive year, we've been ranked first in the world for development studies, one of only 24 universities around the world to have a number one subject ranking in the QS World University Rankings.

    Development studies, which seeks understandings of and progress towards global equity, social justice and sustainability, is very much at the heart of what Sussex is about. One of the key measures of the excellence of a university is the extent to which the publications of its researchers are cited by researchers from other universities, and Sussex really does punch above our weight in this respect. This year in the QS World Rankings, we have eight subjects in the top ten in the UK for citations, with anthropology and environmental science each ranked first, physics and astronomy ranked second in the UK.

    We're also ranked 17th in the UK for employment outcomes and in the top 5% of universities globally for sustainability. For the last three years, the University of Sussex Business School has been ranked first of all business schools in the UK for research income, as our academics research urgent issues of global trade and tariffs, energy demand and climate change policy, AI and the future of digital work, and much more. All this means that Sussex research is improving the lives of people around the world, advancing technology, influencing policy, and making a real difference to the protection of our natural environment.

    Now I know that many of you graduating today have had difficult life journeys so far. Some of you have struggled with your mental or physical health. Some of you have faced loss or family disruption. Each of you had a unique route to Sussex and through your time here. But whatever your Sussex story, I hope that when you look back, you'll feel that your studies were intellectually challenging, that you were stretched, stimulated and supported to achieve your best, that you're leaving with knowledge, skills and personal resources that will stand you in good stead, and that you made friendships that will stay with you long into the future. You'll now take many different paths as you join our community of more than 200,000 alumni worldwide.

    Sussex alumni include Nobel laureates and Turner Prize winners, grassroots campaigners and activists, heads of state and vice presidents, leaders and creative practitioners in the arts, writers and journalists, academics and scientists, entrepreneurs and founders of businesses and charities, chief executives of national and multinational organisations, and those with less high profile but no less significant lives and careers, people whose actions and relationships remake and renew the social fabric in small, positive ways every day. Across the globe in more than 160 countries and in all walks of life, our alumni are sharing the benefits of their Sussex experience to make the world a progressively better place. And I know you will do that too.

    So, graduates, celebrate who you are today. Celebrate the commitment, the hard work and the self-belief that got you here. Celebrate those who helped you reach this moment and those who've been on the journey alongside you. In short, celebrate.

    I now call upon the head of the School of Psychology, Professor Alison Pike.

    [Graduands and guests applaud.]


    [Head of the School of Psychology, Professor Alison Pike stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As she reaches the lectern, she bows to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil. As she reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause and shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil.]

    Head of School, Professor Alison Pike:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Business Management Jack ARTHERTON, Olivia BEST, Lauren BROWN, Holly CHURCHILL, Katherine DAW, Joanne FINLEY, Kornilia Danai GALATSOPOULOU, Oliver IZZARD, Samantha LACEY, Navita SIBY, Paris WHYTE-WILDING, Imogen WOODFORDMegan HOBBS, Valerie Takudzwa MUCHATUKWA, Isabel PEART.

    For Psychology with Business Management (with a study abroad year) Alan RANDALL.

    For Psychology with Criminology Eleanor APPS, Mia BATES, Abigail BELLIS, Olivia CAMERON, Talia CANNON, Elizabeth CHILDS, Elliot COSTA, Laura COX, Lauren CURTIS, Ciara DICKSON, Luke DONAGHEY, Neve DREW, Georgia EWMETT, Maddison HAVARD, Ellie HILL, Molly JACKSON, Scekaniah JEEWOOTH, Emily LAMB, Alberto LOPEZ, Casper MASSEY, Alexandre MEDEIROS, Amelie MORRIS, Paige MOULDS, Patrycja OZIMINSKA, Madeline PENMAN, Leah PHOULLIA, Millie PITT, Nathan PRIMUS, Harry PRODGER, Olivia SCHRIER, Bonnie SCOTT PIRIE, Eve STANLEY, Heather SWORD, Uma TIREVICIUTE, Melina VANEZIS, Nicholas VELLACOTT, Maya WEGIER.

    For Psychology with Criminology (with a study abroad year) Aleece BATES.

    For Psychology with Neuroscience Jocelyn ARMSTEAD, Edona BAJRAMI, Idil Birsu BALABAN, Satakshi BHATT, Ashita CHAWLA, Carter COULTHARD, Kaella CURTIS, Sophie DE FREITAS, Isabelle ELLIOTT-HANSON, James FLITCROFT, Calypso FOWLER, Philippa GREEN, Kendra HARRISON, Charlotte HOLLAND, Maryam JAMES, Martha JENKINS, Madeleine JOSEPHS, Isabella KING, Leya KOUMOUROU, Owen LANGFORD, Florence LEON, Amy LLOYD, Jack LORENTSON, Misti LOVETT, Iman MAKDISI, Lucy MCCRONE, Ashling NEILL, Arushi PANT, Marcel POKRZYWINSKI, Edward POOLE, Florence POULTER, Leah REYNOLDS, Hannah ROPER, Also awarded the Stuart Sutherland prize for an Outstanding Third Year Project and the Tony Gale Memorial prize for the Best Third Year Project Jordan ROWE, Daisy SIMS, Madeleine SMITH LONDONO, Leah WALKER, Hannah WILLIAMS, Jasmine WOOD, Rose WOOD.

    For Psychology with Neuroscience (with a professional placement year) Sara ABI OSMAN, Also awarded the SAGE Publications prize for Outstanding Application of Statistical Methods Alice COX, Charlie PAGET, Levina TAHA, Janka GOLDMANN, Kitty LLEWELLYN, Paulo PATEL CORDOVA.

    For the Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health Wellbeing Practice Evan SMITH, Patrick STRANACK.

    For Psychology of Kindness and Wellbeing at Work Lucy FALLON, Eve GRIFFITHS, Saffron LOASBY, Louisa MURPHY, Jennifer SALTMARSH, Vicky SULLY.

    For the Postgraduate Diploma in Children’s Wellbeing Practice Andrina AMSDELL, Leah ATALIOTIS, Remi DUANGPHRACHANH, Sophie COOK, Caroline GENET, Sarah HALL, Shalim Comfort MAKAVIRE, Tanya MANSOUR, Wiktoria OHIRKO, Kiera WETHERILL.

    For the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Therapy Molly Harriet FULLER MACCOURT, Balvinder JASSAL, Rhian WILLIAMS-TURNER.

    For the degree of Master of Science in Foundations of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health Reem Hilal Ali AL SABTI, Megan HOLLIDAY, Jasmin JOSE, Elif Irem KAPANCI TAK.

    For Psychology (Conversion) Joseph MULLAN.

    Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; Investigations of memory abilities in adults at-risk of Alzheimer’s disease Jessica DALY, For the thesis; Self-perception and mental images of the self in young people with depression Rebecca DEAN, For the thesis; Teachers as the intervention: can teachers’ professional knowledge, beliefs and attitudes be influenced to enhance their effective teaching of reading comprehension? Megan DIXON, For the thesis; An exploration of methodological practices in domestic cat (felis catus) cognition research Jemma FORMAN, For the thesis; “Attention training with real-time fMRI neurofeedback: protocol optimisation and implementation in adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)” Christina KAMPOURELI, For the thesis; Diurnal rhythms of interoception and response inhibition and the impact of an occupational intervention Joanna MCLAREN, For the thesis; Effects of a mild decrease in brain blood or oxygen supply on hippocampal function Letitia MCMULLAN, For the thesis; Development and evaluation of FOR MAMA, a community-based mental health intervention for pregnant adolescents in Malawi Wezi Chikukula MHANGO, For the thesis; Predicting development and psychological treatment outcome of common mental health problems in older adults Alexandra SCHMIDT, For the thesis; Perception of colour in natural, colour-inverted and virtual environments Beata WOZNIAK.

    Vice-Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the School of Psychology.

    [The Vice-Chancellor bows her head to the Head of School in acknowledgement and sits down.]


    [The Head of School, Professor Alison Pike, returns to her seat and sits down.]

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil stands and says:]


    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
I'm delighted now to present for the fellowship of the University of Sussex Caroline Lehany.

    [Caroline Lehany and the Vice-Chancellor move to the centre of the stage]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
Caroline has served the University of Sussex with distinction since the early 1980s. Her unwavering commitment, leadership and dedication to the university community have been exemplary throughout her long and impactful career. As head of graduation and corporate events, Caroline has become synonymous with the university's most high-profile ceremonies, and you're witnessing what a special occasion they are.

    She didn't know about this. Under her direction, Sussex's twice yearly graduations have grown into nationally recognised flagship events, consistently lauded for their warmth, inclusivity and flawless execution. As the lead organiser of these most important events in the academic calendar, Caroline has exercised her incredible attention to detail, alongside her impressive ability to stand back and see the whole picture, to continually refine and finesse every aspect of our graduation ceremonies, ensuring that the experience and perspective of every participant is carefully attended to and made as excellent as is humanly possible.

    The experience of graduands is always front and centre at Sussex ceremonies, along with that of their guests, and tens of thousands of Sussex alumni and their families and friends have benefited from this over the years. As have several hundred distinguished honorary graduates and their guests, who always comment on how superbly well looked after they are when they attend one of our ceremonies. But Caroline has also made sure that everyone who takes part in our graduations as staff members, both the platform party and all those working front of house and behind the scenes, are also properly catered for and cared for.

    Volunteering to be part of the great team that puts on graduation ceremonies is hugely popular among Sussex staff, and it isn't at all universities, and that is down to Caroline. Speaking personally for a moment, as a new, freshly minted, slightly less grey-haired Vice Chancellor three years ago now, I must admit to being pretty daunted by the prospect of my first graduation season. All the complex choreography of the ceremony, the risk of slipping up and making a mistake and showing myself to be a novice Vice Chancellor who didn't know what she was doing.

    But Caroline was both incredibly thoughtful and thorough in how she prepared me for my graduation debut. She was kind and gentle with me, reassuringly calm and clear about my role and what I had to do when, always gently steering me from place to place, handing me my black folder at just the right time, taking it away from me after each ceremony to prepare the material for the next one and making sure that I didn't put it down somewhere and lose it, as well as producing a glass of something sparkling just at the right moment at the end of the week, so we could all unwind and celebrate having made it through our own graduation Olympics. Under Caroline's direction, I learned an important part of my job and I'm hugely grateful to her for this, and to the extent that I don't every time make a complete fool of myself at each ceremony, I have Caroline to thank for that.

    To the extent that I do, I have only myself to blame. A graduation may be at the front of our minds right now, but Caroline's contributions to Sussex extend well beyond this biannual extravaganza. Over the years, she's led many of the university's most memorable and strategically significant events, too many to list here, but including the installation of two chancellors, Lord Attenborough and Sanjeev Bhaskar, the grand opening of our beautifully renovated Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, to our first graduation ceremonies in China, and the university's 50th anniversary celebrations, which welcomed two and a half thousand alumni from around the world, to mention just a few.

    To each of these, just as with graduation, in addition to her unparalleled organisational abilities and professionalism, Caroline has always brought her unmatched empathy and personal warmth, which together have ensured that her events have always left a lasting and hugely positive impression on everyone who takes part. And Caroline's leadership team that she has built is magnificent in her image. Their excellence has recently been recognised by a Best of Europe Region Case Award for our annual Holocaust Memorial Day event.

    But Caroline's versatility and organisational skills, as well as her deep instinctual empathy and ethic of care for others, were especially evident when she was asked if she would take on operational leadership of Sussex's COVID testing centre during the pandemic. She accepted this request without hesitation and she delivered all that was asked of her and more, earning her further institutional and external recognition. In sum, Caroline's professionalism and her ability to deliver consistently outstanding events, even during the most personally challenging times, balancing operational complexity with human connection, have rightly earned her a reputation as one of the sector's leading events professionals.

    Caroline approaches every challenge with energy, humility and infectious enthusiasm, rallying colleagues and partners alike to achieve what often seems impossible. We have been so deeply fortunate at Sussex to have benefited from Caroline's commitment to the University for so many years. For that we are profoundly grateful and proudly grateful.

    This ceremony is Caroline's final graduation as she'll be leaving the University next week after over 40 years at the heart of our community. So this seems like the right time and place to present her with this much deserved accolade. Caroline, you're deeply respected and appreciated right across the University.

    You're loved by your colleagues and you've played a unique role in the history of Sussex. Thank you for all that you've done for us. There will never be another Caroline.

    You're unique and irreplaceable and we'll miss you enormously. We want to keep you connected to Sussex and we want to honour and celebrate your contribution to Sussex. And it's with this intention that I present you for a fellowship of the University of Sussex.
    Caroline, by the power invested in me by the Senate of the University of Sussex, I confer on you a fellowship of the University of Sussex. Thank you so much.

    [Guests applaud. Caroline Lehany returns to her seat]

    
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
I now call upon the Dean of the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Professor Richard McManus.

    [Dean of the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Professor Richard McManus stands and approaches the lectern to present the graduands. As he reaches the lectern, he bows to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil. As he reads the names aloud, the graduands walk across the stage to applause, shake hands with the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, and bow.]

    Dean, Professor Richard McManus:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery Gina ABDEL-HADY, with Distinction overall; Distinction in year 5; and Prof Alasdair Smith Award for Best Performance in the Programme Overall Jimena ABELEDO VILARINO, Arusa ABID, Ifeoluwa ADEROUNMU, With Distinction overall ; Distinction in year 5; and BSMS Award for Best Overall Performance in year 5 Helan AHMAD, Noorzia AHMADI, Hasanat AHMED, Sekinat AKINWUNMI, Athina ANGELIS, Mustafa ARSHAD, Benjamin ASPIN, Rodrick AVAKIAN, Olivia BAILEY, Joshua BAKER, Katherine BAL, Elliot BARRATT, Nandana BEJOY, Harry BENNETT, Amira BESSIFI, Sundeep BHUTTA, Wiktor BOGALECKI, Ana BRANKOVSKA, Bianca BUENCAMINO, Blair Ting-yu CHEN, Farhan CHUGHTAI, Ashley CHUKWU, Emine CICEK, Samantha COOPER, Carina COX, with Distinction in year 5 Charlotte CRANFIELD, Anna CUTTS, Vanessa DAM, with Distinction overall Maria DE OLIVEIRA MENDES, with the; BSMS Contribution in the Field of Creative Arts Award Matthew DEMPSEY, Shaira DOHERTY, with Distinction in year 5 Lucy Jane DOWD, Regina DZEBLEY, Gereon EBELING, Fatima EL IBRAHIM, Benjamin ERIN, Jessica FALSHAW, Anya FEARN, with Distinction in year 5 and BSMS Sports Award Alexandra FORD, Eloise FREEMAN, Simran GABRIE, Yustina GEORGE, Also awarded; BSMS Award for best contribution to the student body and University life Hannah GLOVER-ADAMS, Sasha GRAHAM, Also awarded; BSMS Award for Outstanding Personal Achievement Rachel GREGG, Ruhan GUNATILLAKE, Charlotte HAIGH, Isobel HALL, Krystyna HANWELL, Josie HARDCASTLE, Emma HARRIS, with Distinction in year 5 Elena HAZIMIN, Christopher HILL, Nicola HOBBS, Rafiq HODJA, Also awarded; BSMS Award for most significant contribution to the community Sana Akal JAAN, Martyna Maria JACKIEWICZ, Ishaq JAMA, Pierre JEAN-MARIE, Jessica JEFFERIES, with Distinction in year 5 Amy JOHNSON, with Distinction in year 5 Izzie JORDAN-EVANS, Laurel KAWSER, Also awarded; BSMS Award for Outstanding Personal Achievement Najib KHAN, Roya KHAN, with Distinction overall Spencer KING, James KNIGHT, with distinction overall and in year 5 Ella KOLLSTAD, Harriet KWARTEMAA, Alec LAM, Naseer LASHARI, Joseph Reginald LAURETA, Marcella LEA, Amanda MARSHALL, Samuel MARTIN, Jedidah MASEMOLA, Sonia MASTRONIKOLI, Molly MCCARTNEY, Caitlin MCGIRR, Kimia MEHRABI, Vanesha Bhagirath MEHTA, Peace MGBEDIKE, Emily MOLTON, Dilogen MURALEETHARAN, Hasini NETTIKUMARA, Chris-jesse NWACHUKWU, with Distinction overall Irene OBASEKI, Christabel OJUKWU, Zahra OTHMAN, Jonah PADFIELD, Josephine PARTRIDGE-JAMES, Krishan PATEL, Raul PATEL, Shruthi PAUL, Auguste PAULIKAITE , Bradley PAYNE, Patris PEIMAN, with Distinction overall Jemima PERROTT-JONES, with the; BSMS Societies Award Mimi Khanh Linh PHAN, Menreat PHILIPS, Aaron PHILLIPS, Sofia PLOKHOVA, with Distinction overall and in year 5 Caitlin PORTER, with Distinction overall Jacob PORTER, Peter PRESTON, Pubudika PUNCHIHEWA, with Distinction overall Caitlin PURL, Abdul Basit QURESHI, Wahid RAHIMI, Also awarded; BSMS Award for most significant contribution to the community and the Sue Eckstein Award for Medical Humanities Melissa RAJALINGAM, With Distinction overall and Distinction in year 5 Muhammad RATTER, with Distinction overall and in year 5 Frederic REUTHER, Also awarded; Distinction in year 5 Santiago RODRIGUEZ PENA, with Distinction overall and in year 5 Molly ROWETH, Gurleen SAHOTA, Amy SANDERS, Lakshana SANKAR, Klaudia SERWIN, Mohamed SHAHIN, Shatha SHAHIN, Varoune SHANMUGANATHAN, Abrahim SHARIFEE, Rafiq SHEIKHALI, Vidhushan SIVACHANDRAN, Holly SMITH, Laurence SMITH, Shashin SOOD, Matthew SQUIRES, Pratibha SRIKANTHAN, Leo STALLARD, Gabriela STANISLAVOVA, Nicoleta STEGARESCU, Benjamin STEWART, with; Distinction in year 5 Lucinda STUART, Suvan SUNTHARALINGAM, Malgorzata SZYMANIAK, Chon Teng TAM, Also awarded; BSMS Outstanding Service Award Awa TANSIE, Also awarded; Sue Eckstein Award for Medical Humanities Holly TARN, Vullnet THACI, Jessica THOMPSON, Nhulan TRAN, Archisha TRIPURNENI, Julius TUBEILEH-HALL, Lora UMELUE, Ilona VARDANYAN, Nidhi VIVEK, Prutha VYAS, Natasha WAHAB, with; Distinction in year 5 and BSMS Sports Award James WAINWRIGHT, Emma WALKER, Charlotte WASHER, Harry Edward Charles WATSON, with Distinction in year 5 James WATSON, Fiona WAWERU, with Distinction overall Holly WEBSTER, Rebecca WEBSTER, Ruby WESTHEAD, Margo WHITE, with Distinction overall and Distinction in year 5 Alexandra WHITWORTH, with Distinction overall Dakshin WICKRAMASINGHE, Vihan WIJESINGHE, Christine WONG, Zulaikha YASIR, with Distinction overall Evan ZAKI
    For the Postgraduate Certificate in Cardiology Mughees KHALID, Komeil ALATTAR, Katy Helen SEEDHOUSE, Stephanie ESTABROOK, Mazin MOHAMED.

    For the Postgraduate Diploma in Paediatrics and Child Health Lianne WHITE.

    For the Postgraduate Diploma in Dental Implant Reconstructive Surgery Aslam KHAN.

    For the degree of Master of Science in Clinical Radiology Hannah ADAMS.

    For the degree of Master of Science in Cardiology Sarah BRIGGS, Auns GHAZANFAR.

    For the degree of Master of Science in Clinical Education Yarrow SCANTLING-BIRCH.

    For the degree of Master of Science in Paediatrics and Child Health Nicole SLOMAN, Katherine WESTMANCOAT.

    For the degree of Master of Science in Public Health Clare FOWLIE.

    Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy For the thesis; Measuring perceived fatigue and fatigability in people with relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis: a multi-modal approach Gemma BROWNBILL, For the thesis; Determinants of dementia attitudes in young people Esra HASSAN, For the thesis; From research participants to research partners: Exploring female migrant mental health needs and service access in South England through a collaborative and mixed method process Patrick NYIKAVARANDA, For the thesis; Women's experiences and engagement with a disease management intervention for podoconiosis in Rwanda: Understanding the influence of intersectionality Corinna THELLMANN.

    Brighton and Sussex Medical School Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery graduands, I would like to invite you all to stand and join me in reciting the Hippocratic oath.

    [Wait for BMBS graduates to stand – text displayed on screens for graduands to read]

    I solemnly promise to serve humanity, caring for the sick, promoting good health, and alleviating pain and suffering to the best of my ability. I will practise medicine with integrity, humility, honesty and compassion, working with my colleagues to meet the needs of patients. With this profession comes considerable responsibility and I will not abuse my position, and will act in a professional manner at all times. I will ensure that age, gender, race, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, nationality or social standing will not influence my duty of care.

    I will respect patients’ values, beliefs and traditions whether or not they differ from my own and I will strive to assist my patients in making informed decisions. I will endeavour to earn and keep, and never abuse, the trust placed in me as a doctor. I will seek constantly to improve my medical knowledge and skills, whilst recognising the limits of my own ability.

    I recognise the importance of sharing my expertise with colleagues and students to provide the best patient care. I have chosen to make this declaration and will abide by it.

    Thank you, graduands, please be seated.

    Vice-Chancellor, this concludes the list of graduands from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

    [The Vice-Chancellor bows her head to the Dean in acknowledgement and sits down.]
[The Dean, Professor Richard McManus, returns to his seat and sits down.]

    [The Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion stands and approaches the lectern.]


    Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion:
Vice-Chancellor, I will now present to you graduands who were unable to be presented earlier in the ceremony.

    For the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and Management Studies in the University of Sussex Business School Muhammad Talha ARSHAD.

    For the degree of Master of Science in Foundations of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health Halimat Omoniyi SANUSI.

    For the degree of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in the Brighton and Sussex Medical School Adedeji ADESOKAN, Sonika THAPA.

    For the Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatry Oluwafeyikemi GBOLAGUNTE.

    Vice-Chancellor, you have now met all the graduands at this ceremony and the moment has come for the formal conferral of degrees of the University of Sussex.

    I therefore ask you to confer degrees on those presented to you and to the other graduands who have indicated their wish to graduate in absentia at this ceremony.

    [Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil stands in the middle of the stage.]

    Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sasha Roseneil:
Graduands, would you please rise. By the authority invested in me by the Senate of the University of Sussex, I hereby confer degrees on all those mentioned by the Provost chancellor, you’re now graduates of the University of Sussex!

    [applause]

    
[The Chancellor’s closing video plays.]

    Chancellor, Sanjeev Bhaskar:
Congratulations, graduates. It's me again talking to you from the big screen. This is actually life size.
    My head really is this big. Traditionally, the Chancellor is supposed to leave you with some parting words of wisdom. But I know after a long ceremony, you'll want to get on with your day, so I'll keep it brief lalalalalala. That's it. Honestly, I don't think there's anything I can tell you that you don't instinctively already know. And your instincts, that inner voice, are always right, by the way.

    But they speak with the same vocabulary, cadence, infection and grammar as your fears, anxieties and doubts. So how to tell the difference? Your instincts always come from a place of love.

    So check in with yourself and make sure your choices, your responses are always coming from a place of kindness and love towards yourself and the world around you. I know sometimes that can be a challenge, but the more you do it, the easier it gets until eventually it's habit and just who you are. Our present days and in fact, the last few years have been as anxiety driven as I can remember.

    So good mental health is more important than ever. It's understandable looking at the world not to get drawn into a pretty despondent place. The feeling that you can't do anything about it, that to change the world you have to somehow be in a position of power or influence.

    We can easily end up in a rage at so-called leaders or politicians or self-appointed media commentators or even some egg with a self-righteous handle on social media as they express their incompetence, lack of accountability or revel in their absence of any kind of compassion or humanity. Mahatma Gandhi said, be the change you want to see in the world. Basically, start with yourself.

    If you want to see a more compassionate world, you be more compassionate. You want to see more accountability, then you be more accountable. If you make a mistake, then fess up, modify your opinion and grow.

    Making mistakes is one of the most human things of all, but people seem now to be less forgiving if you do make one. How are we supposed to improve if we don't make mistakes and then learn from them? Now, I can't make other people be more forgiving of me, but I can certainly be more forgiving of them.

    I can't change anyone. That's up to them, but I can change me. So don't be afraid of making mistakes. Just make sure that each mistake you make is a new one. Someone who keeps making the same mistake over and over is a perfect definition of an idiot. And don't be defined by a bad day or a bad week, a bad month or even a bad year.

    I had a bad decade once, but I came out of it. All things will pass. If you honestly want to know who you really are, it's your next decision. Always. If your last decision didn't work out, learn from it and move on. It's not who you are anymore. Every day, you have the opportunity to be a better you. I give myself two choices, enjoy or learn. That's it.

    Therefore, I can't ever fail. If I'm not enjoying something, then what am I learning from it? If I'm not enjoying or learning, then why am I doing it? Stop. Take a different path. Actually, obviously, there is a third option. The best one, in fact, enjoy and learn. It's fundamentally why I love meeting people. The sheer fact that I can sit down with any of you here today and we together could come up with an idea that I could never have come up with on my own is magical to me. A small and seemingly insignificant experience that you've had or an opinion you hold, not necessarily one I even agree with, could be the one unexpected key that is going to unlock a part of me through ideas, thoughts and actions.

    But that essential bit of information I need, I will only hear if I'm genuinely going to listen. I mean, how tragic to miss that life-changing moment because I wasn't prepared to hear you out or if one of us was being a bit of a bit of a not very nice. We are already powerful.
    Each of us has the ability to make or break someone's day, to inspire or destroy, to encourage or to put down. Our empathy and positivity towards someone else in that ripple effect kind of way can absolutely change your world, their world and by logic the wider world too. So remember that even at your lowest point you have the power to express kindness.

    You also, of course, have the power to disagree, say no, call out bad behaviour. Just have all of it come from a kind place and don't let anyone take that power away from you. Happiness without gratitude is empty. Success without humility is arrogance. Compassion that is selective is only half-baked. Love without expression is just an idea and dancing without using your arms is just weird, unless it's Irish dancing, Riverdance style, in which case that's fine.

    I hope we meet in person at some point, in which case feel free to come up and say I'm a Sussex graduate and you owe me a hug or a handshake or a high five or ignore me if you want. In every case, I wish you all success in everything you do next. Take your compassion, your kindness and your power and express it to the world. Good luck.

    I now declare this congregation closed.

    [The Chancellor’s closing video ends.]


    [Processional music playing]

    [The Mace-bearer returns to the stage, collects the mace, and leads the platform party off the stage. The Vice-Chancellor precedes the Mace-bearer, followed by the Chancellor’s Procession in reverse order, then the Academic and Professional Services Procession. They walk down the aisles betwixt the audience of seated graduates and guests and exit at the back of the auditorium.]

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