Winter Graduations 2025 conclude
The University welcomed two more distinguished leaders to campus as Winter Graduations concluded in celebratory style, awarding honorary degrees to Allison Kirkby, Chief Executive Officer of BT Group, and Professor Tom Steele, Director of Estates and Facilities at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
The University’s Graduations remain one of the most anticipated events in the academic calendar, bringing together students, families, staff and alumni to celebrate achievement, aspiration and the power of education. This year’s honorary graduates embody the spirit of the Common Good, inspiring the next generation as they begin their own journeys.
BT chief executive Allison Kirkby received an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration at this morning's ceremony. In 2024, she made history by becoming the first woman to be appointed to the role and is currently spearheading a £15 billion rollout of fibre broadband to 25 million UK homes.
Recalling her working-class upbringing in Glasgow, she told graduates she knew from an early age that further education was the key to unlocking better jobs.
She embarked on a five-year apprenticeship in management accounting at Glasgow College of Technology, one of GCU's founding institutions, and a drinks manufacturer.
Allison told Glasgow Royal Concert Hall: "It was the start of what would become a lifelong journey of learning and leadership for me.
"Learning doesn't just happen in the classroom or lecture halls... I believe real learning comes from taking yourself out of the classroom, out of your comfort zone, and throwing yourself into a life and a career where you can develop skills, resilience, and a personal toolkit of lived experiences and stories that help you to continuously learn, lead yourself and inspire others.
"Never give up on your dreams, no matter what life might throw at you along the way and remain interested and interesting, as you pursue a life of learning and leadership."
Professor Tom Steele, a Glasgow Caledonian University graduate and a respected senior figure within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has devoted four decades to reshaping healthcare infrastructure across Scotland. As Director of Estates and Facilities, he has overseen complex, transformational projects across the health service and has been a guiding influence in sustainable design, engineering and innovation. Professor Steele continues to support the University through his membership on the School of Science and Engineering advisory board and his longstanding contributions to student mentorship.
In an inspiring acceptance address, Professor Steele reflected on a career shaped by early ambition, hard work, and an enduring connection to GCU: “Honoured or humbled seem inadequate words to express how I feel standing here today. Although this award is presented to me, my achievements have always been a team effort. To my mentors, my colleagues, and of course my wife and family, thank you.”
Reflecting on his roots in Dalmellington and his early years in the NHS, Professor Steele recalled the moment he realised the need to pursue further education: “In the early 1990s, I hit a glass ceiling. Studying at Glasgow Caledonian University was the turning point. Completing that degree was a career game-changer.”
Now responsible for one of the most complex estates in the public sector, he encouraged graduates to consider careers within the NHS: “It still gives me great pleasure every day to put on my ID and know that, in some small way, I contribute to improving patients’ experiences.”
He also shared the principles that have guided him throughout his career: “Set a high bar for integrity. Do the right thing. Be kind. Treat everyone with respect. Love what you do and get good at it. Always keep an enquiring mind.”
Closing with words of motivation, he urged graduates to embrace new opportunities with confidence: “Your career will not be linear. There will be uncertainty, and you may fail, but FAIL is simply an acronym for First Attempt At Learning. And when opportunity presents itself, grab it with both hands. Hard work works.”