Honorary Graduates

A double-BAFTA award winning director, Hamish Hamilton has produced and directed many of the biggest live shows on the planet – including the Oscars, MTV Video Music Awards, and the Super Bowl Halftime Show – and critically acclaimed content and events for a host of major international recording artists.

In 1998, the University of Stirling graduate founded the production company Done and Dusted, which today has offices around the world and has created events on every continent.

He is recognised for his outstanding contribution to television producing and directing.

"Don't be afraid to be the person that you want to be and define the life that you want to create for yourself." Hear from Hamish addressing the latest University of Stirling class of 2019.

CEO of Whitbread plc, Alison Brittain CBE is one of the UK’s pre-eminent business leaders and influencers. She is one of just five female chief executives to be listed on the FTSE 100.

Throughout her career, which also included a highly successful time working in the banking industry, Mrs Brittain has championed diversity. In 2017, Veuve Clicquot named her Businesswoman of the Year, praising her as “a role model for women striving to reach the top of large organisations across a range of traditionally male-dominated sectors”.

Mrs Brittain is recognised for her outstanding contribution to business and leadership.

"Finally, I would just say, enjoy the ride. Enjoy the fact that you are going to have a fantastic life!" Watch Honorary Graduate Alison Brittain CBE addressing the latest University of Stirling class of 2019.

Lilian Thuram – who played for Barcelona, Juventus, Parma and Monaco during his illustrious club career – is the most-capped French footballer, with 142 appearances for the national team between 1994 and 2008. He has an impressive list of honours, including winners’ medals from the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.

In 2008, at the end of his football career, the former defender – a Unicef ambassador – set up the Lilian Thuram Foundation, which educates against racism and promotes equality.

Mr Thuram is recognised for his outstanding contribution to football, as well as his commitment to tackle racism through education.

Watch our interview with Lilian Thuram where says he is “deeply honoured” to receive an honorary degree from the University of Stirling.

Pete Cheema OBE has vast knowledge and experience of the retailing sector, having owned and managed a number of award-winning stores over the years.

He was appointed to the role of Chief Executive of the Scottish Grocers Federation in 2015 – having previously served as President between 2006 and 2008 – and has transformed it into a modern, relevant and highly influential trade body. In addition, Mr Cheema is a board member of the Scottish Retail Consortium and Scotland’s Town Partnership, and also sits on a number of Scottish Government committees.

Mr Cheema is recognised for his outstanding contribution to the convenience store sector in Scotland.

"My advice to the students would be to follow their dreams, doesn't matter what career path they choose. I think it's important to stay true to themselves." Hear more from Pete Cheema.

As the leading scholar in the field of retail geography, Professor John Dawson worked as Professor of Distributive Studies at the University of Stirling – where he founded the Institute of Retail Studies – and later as the first Professor of Marketing at the University of Edinburgh, where he remained for two decades.

Professor Dawson’s primary research interests revolve around location and management issues in retailing and he has published an extensive body of work – including textbooks, peer reviewed journal articles and industry reports.

Professor Dawson – who was the leading light in the establishment of the main European Association for Retail Researchers, and the recipient of the Royal Geographical Society’s prestigious Back Award – is recognised for his outstanding contribution to the establishment and pursuit of retail research in the UK and internationally.

Professor Dawson said: “I am extremely honoured to be awarded this distinction by the University of Stirling. Watch our interview with Professor Dawson.