Every year, honorary degrees are awarded to inspirational people for special recognition of their exceptional achievements in their field.

Professor Chris Day, Vice Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, said: “These honorary degrees recognise the dedication and talent of some truly outstanding individuals.”

Professor Dame Anne Johnson

Professor Dame Anne Johnson is Professor of Epidemiology and Director of the Centre of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at University College London.  After training in medicine in Cambridge and Newcastle, she specialised in Epidemiology and Public Health, and has worked in research in the epidemiology and prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections and other infectious diseases for over 35 years. 

Known internationally for her ground-breaking work, Professor Dame Johnson was awarded the Alwyn Smith Prize by the Faculty of Public Health in 2016 and was made Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours List. In December 2020 she was elected President of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Professor Dame Johnson was made a Honorary Doctor of Medicine.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be honoured in this way by Newcastle University and  to receive this degree in the city of my birth. The University taught me to be a doctor in the 1970s , through a highly innovative, integrated approach to  teaching medicine.  That experience gave me so many of the building blocks on which my career studying the epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases was  based.”

Anna Jones

Anna Jones served as CEO of Hearst Publishing from 2014-2017 which included 24 publications within its brand portfolio including: Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping. Anna expanded the reach of the world-famous magazine group through strategic diversification, growing digital audiences and developing events and licensing divisions.  Anna stepped down from Hearst in 2017 to establish Allbright, an education and networking organisation that provides a platform, skills and connections to working women. 

Anna has also been a powerful voice in advancing female entrepreneurship – particularly in supporting more female founders to raise capital finance to start and scale companies, and is a former International Business Management student of Newcastle University.

Anna Jones was made an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law.

She said: "I have so many fond memories of my time as a student at Newcastle University, and I am therefore delighted to be back here again and to be given this honorary degree. 

"One of my driving forces has always been to support women in achieving their professional ambitions - be that in the corporate world or as entrepreneurs - so it’s a particular honour to be given this award by a university that has supported and encouraged so many of its students - both past and present - to think big and achieve their career aspirations."

Sir Nigel Wilson

Sir Nigel Wilson led the investment programme into Newcastle, ensuring the delivery of Newcastle HELIX by forging a ground-breaking and highly effective partnership with the University and Newcastle City Council.

Over the last decade, the site of the old Newcastle Brewery has been transformed into a global exemplar of sustainable urban innovation, connecting academia, industry and the public sector, and creating thousands of jobs.

Born in the region and a devoted fan of Newcastle United FC, Sir Nigel has been a prominent advocate for the North East. He is recognised nationally and internationally as an expert on urban regeneration and has served on the business advisory groups of successive Prime Ministers and on the current Levelling Up Advisory Council.  He was knighted at New Year 2022.

Sir Nigel was made an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law.

He said: "Having grown up and being educated in the North East I am thrilled to receive such a prestigious award from Newcastle University.  I remain both intellectually curious and commercially engaged in important economic and socially useful projects across the North East. 

"The University is and will remain a critical friend and commercial partner, I love the friendship, honesty and kindness of the people I work with.”