Students celebrate alongside UCEM at jovial 2025 Winter graduation ceremony

Posted on: 6 February, 2025

On Thursday 30 and Friday 31 January, UCEM graduates from both the UK and around the world celebrated their academic achievements at Reading Town Hall.

Graduation is the most important day on the UCEM calendar, and this Winter ceremony was no exception. Three ceremonies were held across two days, as graduates and their friends and families were joined by UCEM staff, academics and trustees to celebrate their collective accomplishments.

We’ve covered all three ceremonies in their entirety:

- Thursday 30 January
- Friday 31 January

Thursday 30 January

Afternoon ceremony

Reading Town Hall opened its doors to students at 13:15 on Thursday. Dr Stephen Jackson took to the stage as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the last time to open proceedings, as he will be vacating his role later this year. Welcoming graduates and their friends and families, he commented:

“It’s a particularly poignant occasion for me, as it marks my final address as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees – my term of office will conclude at the end of March. I have very much appreciated the opportunity to be involved with the University, and it has truly been an honour to undertake this role.”

Dr Jackson then handed over to Ashley Wheaton, Vice Chancellor of UCEM, who congratulated the graduates attending the ceremony and spoke of his faith in the latest cohort and their ability to take on the challenges of sustainability and climate change:

“The built environment, and the environment as a whole, needs you more than ever and I for one feel more confident and more relaxed knowing that UCEM graduates will continue to be at the centre of exceptional solutions for the built environment.”

Before the closing of the ceremony, Richard Harral, Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), took to the stage as a guest speaker to give one piece of advice from his 30-year career in the built environment.

“I want to talk just very quickly about what it means to be an agent of change. I have never spoken in public about the key to making real change happen, in my view, but it is something I have learnt through 30 years of hard work and experience. I am happy to share this understanding with you today so that you too can be the change you want to see. I hope you’re not going to be disappointed. It is this: do all the hard work yourself, and let others take the credit. If you learn to apply this approach, you will be amazed at what you can achieve.”

Honorary degree recipients

Along with the hundreds of students who were in attendance for the Thursday ceremony, there were two new recipients of honorary degrees from UCEM:

Patricia Brown MBE Hon FRIBA

Patricia’s strategic advisory and non-executive work spans disciplines, sectors and geographies. Her work has been a significant catalyst in urban change, beginning in 1990s London where she utilised the private sector’s interest, especially real estate partners, to be active stewards in the improvement of London. This led to game-changing initiatives, including landing BIDs into the UK, and championing tangible action in the public realm, with measures such as Legible London, that she saw as critical to liveability and quality of life, and fundamental to London’s economic competitiveness.

Patricia has an RIBA Honorary Fellowship for services to architecture and the built environment, a British Property Federation lifetime achievement award for her significant contribution to the BPF and the sector and an MBE for services to the built environment. Upon receiving her honorary degree, Patricia told the audience:

“I’d like to congratulate everybody who is graduating here today and say it is such a privilege to be able to work in the built environment, and know you make a difference to the way people live their lives. Take that seriously and enjoy it – it will be fabulous.”

Sumita Singha OBE RIBA

Sumita Singha is an architect, teacher, and writer, and the recipient of UIA: UNESCO, Women In Business and Atkins Inspire awards. Sumita received an OBE for services to architecture in 2021.

Sumita has worked in the UK and internationally. She founded Architects For Change, the Equality forum for architects at RIBA, and is past Chair of Women In Architecture. Sumita has served on RIBA committees since 1996. Currently, she is a nationally elected RIBA Councillor and the Board Trustee for Education. As Sumita commented in her speech:

“I came to the UK in 1988 from India on a scholarship to study for a M Phil. I so wanted to study for a PhD after that. But a combination of caring responsibilities, work and ill health meant that I couldn’t. So this accolade means a lot to me today. I’m wearing the same sari that my mother gave me when I left India and that I wore for my MPhil graduation. In those days, I had to get special permission to wear a sari for graduation. Today I’m also wearing today jewellery given to me by my aunt.

“I dedicate this doctorate to my mother, my aunt, and all women who have not been able to study further. Thank you to UCEM for this great honour and accolade!”

Thursday’s prize winners

Patricia and Sumita were joined on Thursday by graduate Ruth MacEachern, who was the recipient of the Sustainability Research Prize. Previously referred to as the Responsible Futures Prize, this award recognises outstanding and collegiate contributions to sustainability research through the students’ final-year projects and their collaboration during their studies.

Friday 31 January

Morning ceremony

Proceedings began on Friday for the morning ceremony at 09:45. This time it was the turn of Amanda Clack, Chair of the Board of Trustees, to open the ceremony. Addressing the audience, she spoke of the wealth of opportunities the event’s graduates now had before them in the sector:

“With your new globally recognised vocational qualifications in the built environment, you now have a passport to work anywhere internationally to help shape the world around us for the betterment of our communities by combining the physical, human, and digital learnings. It is an important role and we are pleased to have been able to prepare you for the challenge.”

As the ceremony came to a close, Justin Sullivan, President Elect of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), took to the stage to voice his support for the day’s graduates as guest speaker, highlighting their importance for the future of the built environment:

“Graduates, families and friends, it is my honour to address you today on one of the most significant days of your lives.”

“Our priorities at RICS are attracting the next diverse generation into the future of our profession. The future of the world as we know it depends on new, diverse, vibrant talent like yourselves, so it’s so great to see you all here.”

Afternoon ceremony

For Friday’s afternoon ceremony, it was Amanda Clack’s turn to take to the stage for the last time as Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Amanda is stepping down from her role and will be succeeded by Peter McCrea OBE, who she asked the ceremony’s attendants to applaud and gave her best wishes to.

“I am delighted that UCEM is in the best possible health with a bright and exciting future ahead. As Chair of Trustees, I could not have left UCEM in better or more capable hands than with Peter McCrea as my successor… I’ve known Peter for 20 years, and absolutely trust that this man will not only take on the legacy, but build on it, make it his own, and most importantly take UCEM on to ever greater heights.”

The final ceremony was closed by guest speaker Professor Sadie Morgan OBE, who, speaking of her willingness to speak out for what she believed in throughout her career, urged the new cohort of graduates to do the same:

“Everything always comes full circle, and holding onto those values and finding ways you can convert them into action is what will eventually define you as a practitioner. Staying true to what you believe in I think is something that no power big or small can ever take away from you… you as emerging thinkers and professionals really do need to understand what you can bring to the table what your world view is and how you are best placed to bring it to action.”

Honorary degree recipients

Dr Wei Yang OBE FAcSS FRTPI MCIHT

Dr Wei Yang OBE is Chairman of Wei Yang & Partners, and co-founder and CEO of the Digital Task Force for Planning. Wei is an internationally renowned town planner and urban designer who champions a place-based, whole-systems approach to tackle the grand challenges of our times. She is an influential thought leader and a powerful advocate for climate action, nature-based solutions, health and well-being, and social equality.

Currently, Wei serves as Chair of the Construction Industry Council (CIC). She was President for 2021 of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and was named a Net Zero Hero by Digital Leaders in 2022. Wei was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List 2025 for services to town planning. On receiving her honorary degree, Wei commented:

“I am delighted to have been awarded an honorary doctorate by UCEM. As a town planner, this recognition is a testament to our shared vision of creating sustainable and resilient communities. It underscores the importance of innovative urban planning in shaping a better future and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive.”

Mina Hasman ARB RIBA FRSA LEED BREEAM WELL AP

Mina Hasman leads sustainability and wellbeing operations at SOM, where she directs the firm’s global climate action strategies. Her work spans across Europe, the UK, Asia, and the Middle East, offering expertise in sustainable design across diverse climates and regulatory contexts.

A recognised expert, Mina chairs the CIC Climate Change committee, and serves on the RIBA Council and the UNEP/GlobalABC’s COP Task Force. She is also the Commonwealth Association of Architects’ (CAA) Regional Vice President for Europe and tutors at various academic institutions, including The Bartlett (UCL) and the Manchester School of Architecture. On receiving her award, Mina commented:

“It is an extraordinary honour to receive this recognition from UCEM, an institution that embodies excellence and the transformative power of education to shape a more sustainable and equitable world. My journey has shown me that true success is never achieved in isolation—it is born from collaboration, fuelled by passion and sustained by dedication.

“To the graduates and alumni, remember: no dream is too big, nor contribution too small and no challenge is insurmountable when we come together with a shared purpose. Every step you take, however small, can create ripples of transformation. Together, with bold vision and collective effort, you hold the power to not just imagine a better world, but to build it.”

Friday’s prize winners

On Friday, three more graduates received the Sustainability Research Prize – Alexandra Hamilton, Sarah Kearsey and David Goodenough. Elena Rous-Eyre was also the recipient of the Highest Performing Student on BSc (Hons) Construction Management award.

Donna Modesté received the coveted Chapman Adkin Award – instituted to recognise the performance of those who have shown special enterprise in completing one of UCEM’s programmes. Donna, a BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying graduate, has long been an active member of the UCEM community during her studies, as a member of the Responsible Futures Working Group and a Student Officer for Sustainability.