UWE Bristol awards honorary degrees to three recipients

A leading local expert on food sustainability is among one of three recipients of honorary degrees presented by UWE Bristol this autumn.
Joy Carey, David Lamb, and Professor Paul Olomolaiye were conferred during UWE Bristol’s graduation ceremonies between 23 and 24 November:
Joy Carey – Master of Science
Joy is an independent Sustainable Food Systems planning consultant, focusing on cities. Through local, national, and international lenses, Joy’s work over the last three decades has focused on improving the food system from community-level activity through to policy, particularly focusing on sustainable food system solutions for crises.
Joy is a founding Director of Bristol Food Network CIC (BFN), an organisation with a vision of transforming Bristol into a sustainable food city. BFN connects community projects, businesses and individuals who share this vision, empowering them to make the changes in their own networks.
Joy’s career in food began in the early 1990s in Birmingham, where growing Asian and Caribbean vegetables at a community level led to more formal training and growing organic veg in Norfolk. From 1998-2009 she worked to connect growers and consumers in Bristol with the Soil Association, leading the Local Food team and developing schemes like box schemes, farmers markets and sourcing local produce for school meals.
This vital work ranged from supporting place-based local food networks around the UK to changing public sector food procurement to securing a £1-million project to promote and explore the potential for Community Supported Agriculture schemes – all aimed at both changing food culture and influencing government policy.
David Lamb – Doctor of the University
David has had a varied career in investments and insurance stretching back to 1979. An Actuary by profession, he spent nearly 30 years building St. James’ Place and developing it from a business startup to the UK’s largest wealth management business, working to build an international group of fund management teams from the US, Japan, Europe, South Africa, Canada, and Australia.
David spent 12 years on the Board as Managing Director, working with the company across the world. SJP currently has with £150bn of assets under management and a stock market value of £6bn.
David has been a Governor at UWE for the last 10 years, and has chaired for the last three years before stepping down in July 2023. Since retiring, David has taken up a number of non-executive roles. He currently chairs Polar Capital, an asset management firm in London, and is chair of Ireland’s oldest insurance company based in Dublin.
He is a full-time grandparent, which David describes as his most important role.
Professor Paul Olomolaiye PhD – Doctor of Engineering
Paul Olomolaiye has held a range of academic leadership positions throughout his career, championing a global outlook, research excellence and knowledge transfer.
Paul gained his PhD in Civil Engineering in 1988, working briefly on a World Band Project before progressing to the University of Wolverhampton, where he spurred business growth as the Dean of Engineering and the Built Environment. In 2009, Paul joined UWE Bristol as the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Technology and later, Pro Vice Chancellor for Equalities and Civic Engagement.
Paul assisted globalisation efforts at both the University of Wolverhampton and UWE Bristol. He generated more than £50 million for Research, Knowledge Exchange and Transnational education and established collaborative courses in France, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Hong Kong. He led global student recruitment in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, expanding an African Strategy for UWE Bristol and setting up a UWE Bristol office in Lagos, Nigeria.
Prof. Sir Steve West, Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol, said:
“These individuals continue to make valuable contributions to their respective fields, championing the sustainability and global reach we value at UWE Bristol.
I hope their examples of dedication and excellence will inspire our own graduates to take those values forward into their careers.”
Related news

03 July 2025
Research lab The Brunel Centre opens to power sustainable and inclusive growth for the West of England
A new data and research centre designed to support sustainable and inclusive growth and industrial strategy in the region, has officially launched.

02 July 2025
Bristol’s trailblazing community-led climate action to expand across the West of England
UWE Bristol has been appointed as the evaluation and policy partner on a £1.75m project led by Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership.

27 June 2025
UWE Bristol and Avon and Somerset Police renew partnership to advance police education
UWE Bristol and Avon and Somerset Police have signed a new 10-year agreement, extending their successful partnership to deliver high-quality, forward-thinking police education and training.

26 June 2025
Development of innovative Devon food processing centre to tackle food waste gets UWE Bristol support
UWE Bristol is supporting the development of an innovative food processing centre in Devon that will transform food waste management and support greater food sustainability.

24 June 2025
Gestural musical gloves developed at UWE Bristol to feature at prestigious science exhibition
Groundbreaking gestural musical glove technology originally developed at UWE Bristol will be exhibited at the Summer Science Exhibition 2025 in London.

19 June 2025
UWE Bristol filmmaker wins BAFTA Student Award
Nikki Dodd, a UWE Bristol MA Wildlife Filmmaking student, has won a 2025 BAFTA Student Award for Best Documentary.

18 June 2025
UWE Bristol professor joins government’s cyber expert panel, as new plan revealed to supercharge sector
Phil Legg, Professor of Cyber Security at UWE Bristol, has been appointed by the Cabinet Office to join the Government Cyber Advisory Board (GCAB).

16 June 2025
Citizens take centre stage in groundbreaking cultural plan for the West of England
UWE Bristol is supporting Citizens for Culture – a new scheme which will empower people across the West of England to shape the region’s cultural future.

13 June 2025
Schools Outreach Manager receives MBE for trailblazing cyber security initiative for young people
A UWE Bristol manager who founded a pioneering cyber security initiative for young people has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

11 June 2025
Telling our story at UWE Bristol: RISE with us
UWE Bristol has launched RISE - standing for Research, Innovation, Skills and Enterprise - an institutional framework which shapes the University's purpose, culture and future growth.

09 June 2025
Opinion: If you want trams, support the buses
Graham Parkhurst, Professor of Sustainability, Centre for Transport and Society, reacts to news of £800 million investment in the region's transport network.

06 June 2025
Filmmaking students win Kodak Nahemi Awards
Filmmaking students have fought off tough competition from 18 institutions to win four awards at the Kodak NAHEMI Student Commercials Awards.