Paul Walker

Paul Walker, the former chief executive of Sage Group plc and a major investor in the digital technology sector in both the UK and US, served as Newcastle University’s Chair of Council from August 2017 to July 2024. 

Currently the chairman of the Perform Group plc – a sports digital media company and also Chair of the RELX Group, Paul is also a non-executive director of Experian plc.  He also sits on the board of US-based Sophos plc which is a specialist in security software technology.  He previously was Chairman of Halma plc (a market leader in specialist Safety, Health and Environmental technologies).  Until September 2010, Paul was Chief Executive of The Sage Group plc, a position he held for sixteen years after joining Sage in 1984 as Company Accountant and CFO in 1987.

Paul has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Newcastle University. He served as a lay member of the University’s Council since 2011 and has been the chair of the Science City Partnership between the University and Newcastle City Council, since its inception in 2004. He was made a Doctor of Civil Law on Friday 18 July.

Paul Walker said: "I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the University of Newcastle, an institution that holds a very special place in my heart. Serving as Chair of Council for seven years was a privilege, and I remain immensely proud of all we achieved together."

Henry Dimbleby MBE

Henry Dimbleby is a British businessman and cookery writer who is a co-founder of Leon Restaurants and the Sustainable Restaurant Association. 

Henry has analysed the UK food system and not only made worthy recommendations for the National Food Strategy to government, but has turned the report into accessible reading. In doing so he has raised awareness of the importance of the UK food sector and highlighted the challenges it faces, offering sustainable solutions to food production, rural livelihoods, the nation’s health and the strain on the national health system and our planet. 

He was made an Honorary Doctor of Science on 16 July 2025.

Henry Dimbleby said:  "It is such a thrill to receive this honorary doctorate from Newcastle University. As one of the UK’s leading institutions in agriculture and food science, Newcastle’s research in the coming years will play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges facing our food system. I’m grateful that my work is seen as contributing to this vital mission."

Huffty McHugh

Huffty McHugh was the Centre Coordinator at West End Women and Girls Centre from 1985 to 2024.

She is a leader, a visionary and an inspiration to so many and has devoted more than 40 years of her life to helping women and girls in need, making outstanding contributions to community work in the city and region, and has a leading reputation as a passionate, innovative and hard-working community leader in the North East and beyond.

By shining a light on inequalities faced by women, and challenging stereotypes around race, gender and sexuality, she developed the Centre and has demonstrably led vital social change from the economically deprived West End of Newcastle.

Huffty is also a trailblazer in the LGBTQ community. As the first openly gay woman to be a presenter on UK television (Channel 4’s The Word 1993-4), she has broken stereotypes and paved the way for future generations. Her visibility and advocacy have had a profound impact on the acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in our society.

She was made an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law on Tuesday 15 July.

Huffty McHugh said: “I am so honoured and privileged to receive this honorary doctorate from Newcastle University as a proud Geordie and on behalf of the thousands of women and girls both past and present who attend West End Women and Girls Centre from the local area and all over the world.

“This award recognises that gender equality is an ongoing fight for social justice not only here in the U.K but globally. If I may echo the words of Dr Martin Luther King, a previous recipient of this award,  ‘No one is free until we are all free.’”

Professor David Olusoga OBE

David Olusoga is a Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester and is probably the most currently well-known UK social historian, filmmaker and commentator focusing particularly on issues of 'race' ethnicity, culture and integration. He was made an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law on Monday 14 July.

Professor Olusoga said: "It's very special to receive a degree from Newcastle University, which members of my family went to. And, of course, this is my hometown."

He was born in Nigeria to a Nigerian Father and White British mother but moved to Tyneside aged five and lived in a council estate where he suffered the profound racism which has since indelibly shaped his writing and broadcasts, as well as his own activism. 

David worked initially for BBC TV, presenting programmes such as the World's War (focusing on the role of Black and Asian soldiers in the First World War) and, notably, with Mary Beard and Simon Schama, Civilisations, a more ethnically-focused response to Kenneth Clark's much earlier series on Civilization.  He has written widely in all formats, including journal articles, newspapers, books, and popular outlets, being concerned that his writing is as accessible as possible to the widest range of readers.

Professor Richard Oreffo OBE

Professor Richard Oreffo is the founder of the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation, established following the death of George Floyd in 2020. He was made an Honorary Doctor of Science on Thursday 10 July. 

The Foundation aims to support 100 Black British students who are financially disadvantaged through university – supporting them with fully funded tuition fees and a scholarship to provide support for their living costs. Newcastle University was the first institution to actively engage with the new foundation, and patrons of the Foundation include Adrian Lester CBE, Professor David Olusoga OBE and Sir Geoff Palmer OBE. 

In just three years since the foundation was launched, it has already achieved its target of supporting 100 Black British students through higher education.

Professor Oreffo said: "I am so honoured and privileged and delighted to receive this honorary doctorate. The thing to remember is that talent’s everywhere but opportunity is not and what Newcastle has done is help us on that journey, to set the scene to allow talented students to enter university. So this recognition is wonderful and I’m so delighted to be in the footsteps of some tremendous alumni that have come through Newcastle."

Notable figures

On Friday 18 July, Paul Walker, the former chief executive of Sage Group plc and Newcastle University’s Chair of Council from August 2017 to July 2024, will be made a Doctor of Civil Law.  

Currently the chairman of the Perform Group plc, Paul has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Newcastle University. He served as a lay member of the University’s Council since 2011 and has been the chair of the Science City Partnership between the University and Newcastle City Council, since its inception in 2004.

Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University said: “What an honour to welcome such esteemed figures to our campus and to celebrate their outstanding  contributions to society. It is my great pleasure to welcome them to the Newcastle University community.”