ALUMNI NEWS
Honorary degrees
The Professor Robert Boucher
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Distinguished Alumni Award
July 2022
Dr Alexzandra Hildred (BA Prehistory & Archaeology, 1978; Hon LittD 2022): Head of Research and Curator of Ordnance and Human Remains at the Mary Rose Trust.
This award acknowledges the achievements of alumni who have made outstanding contributions to business and community life.
Professor Sir Simon Lovestone (BSc Microbiology 1982, Hon MD 2022): Professor of Translational Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and led the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Translational Research Collaboration in Dementia (TRCD).
Since graduating from Sheffield, Rob has led a successful and distinguished career in the financial services industry. For almost 30 years he has worked with financial institutions including HSBC, Paribas, Merrill Lynch and ultimately Goldman Sachs where he currently holds the prestigious position of Partner, now working as the Head of the Financial and Strategic Investors Group in the Americas. Rob is an enthusiastic supporter of the University and gives back in thanks for the fantastic education that he received and the opportunities that it created for him. Rob has regularly given talks to current students, reflecting on his career and sharing his experiences to help them achieve success in their careers. He has also given his time to fundraise for the University – most notably, in 2018 he ran the Marathon du Médoc in France and raised over £200,000 for the Sheffield scanner. He has also personally funded a range
October 2022
©MARY ROSE TRUST
Dr Ayesha Husaini (PhD Education 2009, Hon LittD 2022): Founder and Director of Manzil Centre.
Dr Alexzandra Hildred
Rob Pulford (BA Business Studies 1994)
Volunteer of the Year Award Winner, Matthew Donovan Matthew graduated in 1992 with a BA in French and Spanish. He has been a mentor on the E-mentoring programme since 2014 and always offers to help out and sign up for events. We’d especially like to recognise Matthew’s outstanding contributions this year, when he not only undertook his usual mentoring role, but also supported the new Coach Cafe initiative as well as a Careers Service event for final years.
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Matthew explains why he gave his time this year: “I am privileged to have had the opportunity to study at Sheffield and have since been employed by worldrenowned companies, living and working in several countries. I have learnt so much about work ethics and the importance of diversity and culture. I am proud to be able to give something back in the form of being ‘someone to ask’. I hope my experiences provide students with guidance and direction in an increasingly uncertain world. Knowledge is only power when shared. I enjoy learning about students’ real-life situations and helping them find their way. It has helped me learn and grow as a professional and as a human being.”
of initiatives to support low-income students, including many scholarships, employability and internship support, as well as supporting research such as the Desert Garden project. Rob is an exceptionally passionate and dedicated alumnus and supporter of the University, and we are delighted to recognise his commitment to Sheffield with this Distinguished Alumni Award. For information on how to make a nomination and to see previous winners, visit: sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/ our-alumni/distinguished