Baroness Amos is Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator for the UN. She has campaigned on human rights, social justice and equality, and has held various high-level government positions. From 2001 to 2003, she served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, with responsibility for Africa, the Caribbean, Consular Affairs, the Commonwealth and Britain’s overseas territories. She was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997.

Sat Bains is the internationally acclaimed chef/patron of Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms in Nottingham. He has two Michelin stars, the ultimate five AA Rosettes and nine out of 10 in the Good Food Guide. Sat has long championed the use of quality local produce on his menus. He has appeared at global congresses, securing the region’s place on the international stage. Sat is passionate about training and the industry and works with local colleges and universities.

June Spencer OBE was born in Sherwood, and went to Nottingham Girls’ High School. She studied Drama, obtaining an LGSM diploma in Performers’ Elocution before a season in Rep at Nottingham’s Little Theatre. She has worked for the BBC since 1943 and has played Peggy in The Archers for 61 years. Watch an interview at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nKJltm_3bI

Keith Hamill OBE graduated from Nottingham (Politics, 1974) and was SU President (1974-75), President of the University Council (2003 to 2011) and Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee (1988-2003). A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, he became a partner with Price Waterhouse, Director of Financial Control of Guinness and Chief Financial Officer of United Distillers, Forte and WH Smith.

Ann Greenwood graduated from Nottingham (Joint Honours, Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1976). She stayed on and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1979, becoming an associate of the Institute of Taxation in 1981. In 1987 Ann became Financial Director with Campbell Scientific Ltd. Ann was a lay member of the Council of the University (1999-2011). She is a trustee of the SU and does voluntary work with Nottingham Workplace Chaplaincy and Young Enterprise. She is chair of audit for Principia Rushcliffe, an NHS group.

Robert Harris was born in Nottingham in 1957 and read English at Cambridge. In 1978 he became a reporter on BBC’s Newsnight and Panorama, and has worked on the Observer and the Sunday Times. In 2003 he was Columnist of the Year (British Press Awards). His novel, Fatherland, was published in 1992. His work has been translated into 37 languages. He is an Honorary Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Steve Holliday is Chief Executive of National Grid plc, a Non-Executive Director of M&S plc, chairman of the board of trustees at Crisis and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers. He joined National Grid Group in 2001 after a seat on the Board of British Borneo Oil and Gas. He voluntarily leads a number of skills, STEM and sustainable energy related activities for Business in the Community and chairs the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy. He is chair of The Technicians Council and the Young Offender Programme.

Prof Alexander MacKenzie Johnston OBE graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1968 and worked in a veterinary practice before joining the Royal Veterinary College in 1979, being appointed Emeritus Professor on retirement. He served as an independent expert on UK and EU scientific committees and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Desmond Wilson came to the UK from Jamaica at 17. He arrived in Nottingham in 1957, working as a miner, bus driver and precision engineer. In 1971 he took over a Radford cafe and gained an insight into the problems faced by the city’s black and ethnic minorities. His work culminated in the opening of the Afro-Caribbean Community Centre in 1978. He was also involved in the Racial Equality Council and the Joint Indian Pakistani Afro-Caribbean Communities project. He was a Labour city councillor (1991-2007), and Lord Mayor. He retired in 2007 to do community work in Jamaica.

Graham Cartledge CBE was born in Nottingham and joined Gordon Benoy & Partners in 1974, becoming Chairman in 1992. He has worked with UK government bodies to promote British businesses across the world. Benoy works closely with our School of Architecture. In 2007, the Cartledge family established the Benoy Foundation, a grant-making charitable trust that supports tangible, lasting projects using buildings, sustainability, community and education. He was awarded the CBE (services to architecture and charity).

John Knight CBE JP has had a 25-year career across the statutory and voluntary sectors. After graduating from Nottingham (Zoology, 1982) he worked at the Department of Health. He headed the Policy and Campaigns Department at Leonard Cheshire Disability for 16 years. He has advised and lobbied governments on disability and social policy and was a member of Advisory Bodies to the Ministers for Disabled People and Civil Society. He is a Board Member of the Charity Commission, founding member of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group and once a Trustee of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations.