Spice trader and business owner, Milan Shah, awarded with Honorary Fellowship

​​​The University of Northampton is pleased to have awarded Milan Shah with an Honorary Fellowship at this year’s Summer Graduation Ceremonies.

A long standing ambassador for Northamptonshire, Milan has contributed to the county and its wider region in a variety of roles, most recently as Chair of the Board of Governors of the University. Previously he was President of Northamptonshire Chamber and chaired the consolidation across the East Midlands of business support into a single delivery body. He also spent a decade on the Board of Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership and its various precursor economic development vehicles, supporting the long term prosperity of the county.

A spice trader by profession, Milan runs a small ingredients business managing international supply chains for major food manufacturers. He has a keen awareness of the challenges facing global food and farming, having been a director of the EU lobby for agri-produce traders, Comité Européen de Liaison des Commerces Agro-Alimentaires, President of a global commodity trade association, the International General Produce Association, and a Council member of the Grain and Feed Trade Association, covering the international trade in cereal crops.  Milan has also chaired the Council of Trustees at the Vegetarian Society and been a Board member of the Food and Drink Forum, a regional food group. He is currently working on the UN’s International Year of Pulses in 2016.

Milan is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors and a Chartered Director with a focus on corporate governance. He is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, specialising in international commodity trading disputes. He has been recognised as a Member of the Order of the British Empire and read Philosophy, Politics and Economics before entering the spice trade.

Milan said: “A combination of surprise, humility and delight was my first reaction to my Honorary Fellowship and then really a sense of responsibility because over the years I have seen the calibre, experience and stature of the fellows we have already honoured at the University of Northampton.

“For our graduates today as they embark on their careers, the attributes I would advise would be patience, flexibility and wisdom – the patience to get to know yourself as a person, the flexibility to switch to Plan B if the need arises and the wisdom to know when you have enough.”

Professor Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton, commented: “In addition to celebrating the outstanding achievements of the graduating class of summer 2015, we are also recognising high profile individuals who have made a positive impact on others. The recipients of these honorary awards will inspire our graduates as they begin the next exciting stage in their lives, making their own mark on the world.”

Listen to Milan Shah talking about his career.