Angel Gurría, Ingrid Roscoe, Elaine Oran and Leslie Dixon complete this year's line-up for the annual honorary degree ceremonies, which will take place in on 15th and 16th July 2010.

Spanning the diverse fields of journalism, economics, business, arts, religion, and science, the seven people to be honoured this year by the University of Leeds all have one thing in common - they have each changed the landscape of their chosen field through their professional excellence. 

Lesley Dixon

Lesley Dixon was chief executive of the Leeds University Union from 2000 to 2009 before taking up a position as chief executive of Liverpool social care charity PSS. Her time at Leeds culminated in LUU winning the 2009 NUS Higher Education Students' Union of the Year Award. Lesley studied Business at the University of East London before becoming the Commercial Manager of King's College London's Students' Union in 1989. She is also a Trustee of the Together Women Project - a charity working with female offenders - and leading mental health charity Mind. Lesley Dixon will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

Angel Gurría

Angel Gurría is Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  Born in Mexico, Angel Gurría graduated with a MA in Development Economics from the University of Leeds in 1974.  Under his leadership, OECD has helped governments around the world foster prosperity and fight poverty, becoming an active participant in both the G-8 and the G-20 Summit processes. Before taking up his current position he had a distinguished career in Mexican politics, as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance and Public Credit.  Angel Gurría will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

Elaine Oran

Pioneering scientist Dr Elaine Oran leads a team that invented computational technology for the simulation of complex reactive flows, a universally important field that has applications in areas as diverse as rocket propulsion, astrophysics and material engineering.   A senior scientist at the U.S. Naval Research Lab, Dr Oran is also a visiting professor at the University of Leeds.  She was educated at the Bryn Mawr College in Wales and Yale University and is a dedicated supporter of women in science campaigns.  Dr Oran will receive an honorary doctorate of sciences.

Ingrid Roscoe

Ingrid Roscoe is Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and a leading arts writer. She came to the University of Leeds in 1980 to study Fine and Decorative Arts before completing a PhD on eighteenth century British sculpture, which was later published by the Walpole Society. Dr Roscoe lectured at Leeds throughout most of the 90s and became the first lady Lord-Lieutenant in the north of England in 2004. She is also trustee the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Honorary Colonel of Leeds University Officer Training Corps. Dr Roscoe will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

Stuart Rose

Sir Stuart is Executive Chairman of Marks & Spencer and was knighted in 2008 for services to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility. He was born in Hampshire and attended a Quaker boarding school in York, before beginning his career with M&S in 1972. Spells at Burton Group, Argos PLC, Booker PLC and Arcadia Group followed before Rose re-joined M&S as chief executive in 1994. Rose will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

John Sentamu

John Sentamu is the Archbishop of York and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He was born in Uganda where he was educated by British missionaries and teachers. He studied law at Makerere University in Kampala and practised at the Bar and at the Bench before he came to the UK in 1974 to study theology at Cambridge. In addition to his career in the church, Dr Sentamu was also an adviser to the Stephen Lawrence Judicial Inquiry and he chaired the Damilola Taylor Murder Review in 2002. He was Bishop for both Stepney and Birmingham before being confirmed as the 97th Archbishop of York in 2005. Dr Sentamu will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

John Simpson

Simpson is the BBC's World Affairs Editor and one of the world's most experienced and authoritative journalists. Born on 9 August 1944, John was brought up in London and Suffolk, and educated at St Paul's School and Magdalene College, Cambridge where he read English. His first job with the BBC was as a trainee sub-editor in Radio News in 1966. Four decades later, he has reported from 120 countries across the globe, from 36 war zones, and has interviewed more than 150 kings, presidents and prime ministers. Simpson will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.

For more information

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Notes to editors

The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise showed the University of Leeds to be the UK's eighth biggest research powerhouse. The University is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University's vision is to secure a place among the world's top 50 by 2015.