University to honour seven distinguished individuals at summer graduation
Glasgow Caledonian University will recognise seven distinguished individuals for their exceptional achievements at its summer graduation ceremonies, taking place on 30 June, 1 and 2 July 2026 at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall.
Those to receive honorary doctorates are Rob Woodward, Corinne Hutton MBE, Robert McNeil MBE, Jane Shepherdson CBE, Callum Baird, Ian Beattie MBE and Enoch Adeyemi.
Their achievements span business, media, sport, fashion, charity and community leadership, reflecting the University’s commitment to the common good.
Rob Woodward CBE is an experienced business leader who served as Chair of Court at Glasgow Caledonian University from 2018 to 2025, helping guide the institution and champion its widening participation mission. He spent 11 years as CEO of STV Group and previously held senior roles at Channel 4, UBS Warburg and Deloitte Consulting’s telecoms, media and technology business. He has chaired major organisations including the Met Office and Developing the Young Workforce, and currently holds a number of non-executive chair roles across the media, education and technology sectors.
Corinne Hutton MBE is the founder of pioneering amputee charity Finding Your Feet, established after she survived life-threatening sepsis in 2013 which resulted in the loss of her hands and lower legs. Since then, she has become Scotland’s first double hand transplant recipient and completed challenges including climbing Ben Nevis and Mount Kilimanjaro as a quadruple amputee. Through Finding Your Feet, which has raised more than £5 million, Corinne has supported thousands of amputees and their families. She is also helping shape disability education within Glasgow Caledonian University’s health and life sciences programmes.
Robert McNeil MBE is a former Anatomical Pathology Technologist who worked with international forensic teams documenting evidence of genocide in Bosnia between 1996 and 2002. He later became an ambassador and trustee for Remembering Srebrenica Scotland, supporting education and remembrance work linked to the atrocities. An accomplished painter and author, his artwork and memoir Grave Faces draw on his experiences in conflict zones and have been exhibited across the UK, including in the Scottish, English and Welsh Parliaments.
Jane Shepherdson CBE is one of the most influential figures in British fashion retail, best known for transforming Topshop into a global high-street brand during her time as Brand Director from 1997 to 2007. She later became CEO of Whistles and has also worked with ethical fashion pioneer Peopletree and Oxfam. Now Chair of luxury fashion rental platform My Wardrobe HQ and a Director of the London Fashion Fund, Jane is a passionate advocate for sustainable fashion. An Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University, she also serves on the University’s Fashion Advisory Board and supports students through mentoring and industry engagement.
Callum Baird is Editor-in-Chief of Newsquest Scotland, overseeing titles including The Herald, Glasgow Times and The National. A Glasgow Caledonian University journalism graduate, he began his career on The Herald sports desk before helping launch The National in 2014 and later becoming its Editor. Since becoming Editor-in-Chief in 2022, he has led the expansion of Newsquest Scotland’s digital subscriptions and online news platforms. A strong supporter of emerging journalists, Callum has created valuable industry opportunities for GCU students and graduates and was named the University’s Alumni of the Year in 2023.
Ian Beattie MBE is Chief Operating Officer at Lindsays and Chair of UK Athletics, having previously chaired Scottish Athletics and served as Vice Chair of sportscotland and SAMH. A passionate advocate for the role of sport in improving health and wellbeing, he helped transform grassroots athletics participation across Scotland during his leadership of Scottish Athletics. Ian is also a former Race Director of the West Highland Way Race, an accomplished endurance runner, and a supporter of mental health and heart disease awareness initiatives. He received his MBE in 2020 for services to athletics.
Enoch Adeyemi is a speaker, entrepreneur and financial services leader whose work focuses on equity, opportunity and community empowerment. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, he moved to the UK in 2003 and has built a career spanning major financial institutions including Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, Barclays and Aldermore Bank. A Fellow of ACCA and Harvard alumnus, Enoch founded Black Professionals UK in 2016, which has since expanded internationally to support thousands of members across Europe, Ireland and Australia. He is also the founder of The Black Scottish Awards and co-founder of initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, wellness and young people’s participation in sports.