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University of York award honorary degrees to four distinguished figures

University of York award honorary degrees to four distinguished figures

Posted on 7 January 2026

Four leading figures from the world of literature, academia, and business have received honorary degrees from the University of York as part of its January ceremonies.

The University has celebrated four distinguised figures at its winter ceremonies

The fastest-selling author in Indian publishing history, Amish Tripathi; globally renowned mathematician, Professor Sir Simon Donaldson; internationally recognised ecologist, Professor Sue Hartley OBE; and Group Chief Executive Officer of Aviva, Dame Amanda Blanc DBE, were honoured for their outstanding contributions to society.

The University of York confers the honorary degree of Doctor of the University honoris causa on individuals whose achievements reflect exceptional distinction in their field and align with the University’s values.

Amish Tripathi is an author, former diplomat and broadcaster, and the fastest-selling author in Indian publishing history. His 12 books have sold more than eight million copies worldwide, and he is regularly listed among Forbes India’s most influential celebrities.

A seasoned broadcaster, he has hosted documentaries including the award-winning Legends of the Ramayan. He is also co-founder of Tara Gaming, which is developing India’s first AAA video game, Age of Bhaarat. He has previously served as Minister (Culture and Education) at the Indian High Commission to the UK.

Innovation

Professor Sue Hartley is an internationally renowned ecologist and Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on how plants adapt to their environments and defend themselves against natural enemies.

She has served as a trustee of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a board member of Natural England, and President of the British Ecological Society. She received an OBE in 2019 for services to ecological research and public engagement.

Professor Sir Simon Donaldson is a globally celebrated mathematician specialising in differential geometry. After graduating from the University of Cambridge and completing his PhD at the University of Oxford, his graduate research revealed unique geometric phenomena in four-dimensional spaces.

Appointed Professor of Mathematics at Oxford at the age of 28, he was awarded the Fields Medal in 1986 and knighted in 2012. He is currently Chair in Pure Mathematics at Imperial College London and has received numerous international honours, including the Breakthrough Prize and the Wolf Prize.

Most influential

Dame Amanda Blanc DBE is Group Chief Executive Officer of Aviva, a major UK insurance, wealth and retirement business and a significant employer in York. Born and raised in the Rhondda Valley in Wales, she began her career at one of Aviva’s ancestor companies before holding senior leadership roles at AXA and Zurich.

As Aviva Group CEO, she was named among the Financial Times’ 25 Most Influential Women of 2022 and The Sunday Times Business Person of the Year in 2023, and was awarded a damehood in 2024.

Honorary degree ceremonies take place from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 January 2026. If any media wish to attend, please contact the Press Office for further information.