Four new honorands are conferred into the UON family

After a break due to the pandemic, the University of Northampton (UON) is pleased to announce the latest people who have received honorary degrees and awards.

The University recognises individuals who have achieved excellence in their field and those who have contributed their expertise to the University and the region.

The four honorands for the February 2022 ceremonies represent a variety of professional and personal backgrounds from leather science and technology to human resources and business systems and who have now been conferred into the University of Northampton family.

Sylvia Hughes – Honorary Fellowship

Sylvia was a Governor of the University of Northampton from 2010-2019. Latterly she held the position of Deputy Chair and Chair of the Board of Governors.  She was a Northamptonshire County Councillor and Councillor for East Northamptonshire and was its Chairman and is currently the Mayor of Raunds.

Her human resources and strategic resourcing career spans the financial services, telecommunications, high-tech and service industries where she has undertaken a variety of senior and board level roles. She also authored the highly regarded report ‘Through the Looking Glass. Leadership Today, Leadership Tomorrow’.

Of her Fellowship Sylvia said: “I have been extraordinarily lucky in my career,  I have had the opportunity to change organisations profoundly, thereby changing, and I hope  improving people’s working lives.  Being able to put my experience to good use at the UON during its early development as a Changemaker Campus has been a high point in my career.  Receiving this fellowship in recognition of my contribution is both an honour and a privilege.”

Andrew Scarborough – Honorary Fellowship

Andrew was a Governor of the University of Northampton from 2009-2018 and was latterly Deputy Chair and Chair of the Board of Governors. He is also a magistrate and has been Chairman of the Wellingborough Bench and was a Chair of Governors of a local special school and a trustee of several local voluntary organisations.

He has 30 years’ experience in management and leadership roles in the public sector.  More recently he served for eight years as Chairman of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust which is responsible for Mental Health, Learning Disability, Sexual Health, Drugs and Alcohol and other Community Services in the County and for four years was a member of the Board of the East Midlands Development Agency.

Of his Fellowship Andrew commented: “It is a very great honour to be put forward for this Honorary Fellowship.  The University of Northampton does so much to change lives and enable potential to flourish and it has been a real privilege to be able to play even a small part in its success.”

Federico Brugnoli – Honorary Doctorate

Federico is arguably the most distinguished consultant to the global leather industry in the field of sustainability in the value chain.  In this, he reflects the ethos of the University’s Institute for Creative Leather Technologies: sustainability, international/global issues, innovation and strategic thinking.

Federico has long been a colleague of UON Emeritus Professor Tony Covington in international projects and thereby has been associated with the leather department.

Of his Honorary Doctorate Federico said: “I am extremely grateful to the University of Northampton for this unexpected recognition of a many years of work, sacrifice and passion. A real honour and a new impulse of motivation for the future”

Naz Islam – Honorary Bachelor of Arts

Naz is a born and bred Northamptonian whose family hails from Bangladesh. He has lived in Northampton all his life and has a long-standing relationship with the University of Northampton.

With his reputation and national and international reach in terms of his support for charities, Naz’s work and ethos align with UON’s Changemaker values. Naz is also former co-director of the Centre for Policy Promotion and Prevention which promotes cooperation between marginal communities and wider society.

Of his Honorary Bachelor of Arts Naz commented: “It is a huge honour and privilege to receive this award. I left school without a qualification to my name and have spent 25 years building up my businesses and charity interests in the town I am proud to call home, so to have this honour from the University of Northampton means a great deal to me and my family.

“I am extremely grateful to the University for the support they have shown to Bangladesh, allowing us to raise the national flag in recognition of our 50 years of independence, and I hope that relationship continues to flourish for generations to come.”

Find out more about past honorands on our website.